Fifteen Years of Being the Pack's Joke

A notification popped up on my phone.

"Your mating ceremony cancellation request cannot be withdrawn once submitted. Are you sure you wish to proceed?"

"Yes."

"Your cancellation request has been initiated. Both parties will receive confirmation in three days."

I stared at the green check mark on the screen before turning off my phone.

Through the closed door, I could clearly hear laughter and the clinking of glasses coming from the living room.

I pushed the door open.

Colorful streamers decorated the living room. The dining table was covered with roasted meat and champagne, all of Serena's favorites.

My father stood with his wineglass raised high. My mother was busy piling more meat onto Serena's plate.

My fiancé, Adrian, sat beside Serena, smiling as he handed her a napkin.

The sound of the door opening interrupted their celebration.

All four of them turned toward me.

"Elara? Weren't you supposed to graduate from the training camp tomorrow?"

"They let us finish early."

I changed my shoes and hung my backpack on the hook by the entrance.

Right beside it hung Serena's limited-edition coat.

It took up almost the entire rack, leaving my bag squeezed into the far corner.

My father was unusually cheerful. He picked up a gold-embossed document and held it out for me to see.

"You're just in time. Come congratulate Serena."

"She's been nominated for this year's Inter-Pack Youth Council."

I paused while taking off my shoes.

The Silvermoon Pack only had one nomination for the Youth Council each year.

For the past three years, I'd ranked first in all three of my assessments: combat control, werewolf law, and crisis coordination.

Just two weeks ago, the department supervisor had hinted that the nomination would be mine.

Seeing the color drain from my face, my father casually explained,

"You're already accomplished enough. You don't need another qualification to prove yourself."

"But Serena just transferred to a new position this year. She needs this opportunity more than you do."

In the past, I would have nodded immediately.

As an adopted stray wolf, I was supposed to give up every resource and honor for this family in exchange for the privilege of staying.

But now, looking at their perfectly matter-of-fact expressions, I felt my throat tighten.

Serena smiled at me.

"Elara, you don't mind, do you?"

My mother immediately reached over and patted her hand.

"Why would she mind? You earned it yourself."

"That crisis simulation proposal you submitted was so good that even the review panel couldn't find fault with it."

The crisis simulation proposal.

The one I'd spent three sleepless nights working on, revising it more than a dozen times on my own.

I turned to Serena.

"That was my proposal."

The dining room fell silent for two seconds.

Adrian cleared his throat.

"Elara, that proposal would just be sitting in your file otherwise."

"Serena can put it to good use. It'll help her pass the evaluation."

"We're family. There's no need to be so particular about these things."

My mother nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. Serena getting selected would be good for the whole family."

"Besides, you haven't lost anything."

I looked at them for a long moment before forcing a bitter smile.

"Fine."

That evening, the whole family went out to celebrate at a restaurant downtown.

On the drive home, Serena started fiddling with the car stereo.

"Elara, I've been so busy with the Youth Council lately. Can I borrow your new car for a few days?"

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

"I've been meaning to..."

"Of course," my father interrupted from the back seat.

"Elara will be resting at home for the next few days anyway. She doesn't need the car."

Adrian opened the glove compartment and took out my spare key.

"Here, take it. I can drive Elara around for a few days."

Not one of them thought to ask the actual owner of the car.

When we got home, Adrian walked me to the entrance of my apartment.

"You seemed a little quiet tonight. Are you upset about the nomination?"

"No."

He smiled and ruffled my hair.

"You're better than Serena at practically everything. You don't need to compete with her over some meaningless title."

"Once we have our mating ceremony, you can move in with me."

The proposal I'd spent three sleepless nights preparing and the first-place rankings I'd worked three years to earn were nothing more than meaningless titles to him.

"Got it."

I stood in the night breeze, watching his taillights disappear around the corner.

My phone vibrated.

"Miss Elara, your five-year transfer has been confirmed. Your flight is scheduled for three days from now."