Five Years of Silence

In a forest-side restaurant in the Silverglade Pack, I sat quietly in the corner of the main hall, savoring my food.

That’s when Aiden Monroe walked in with Janine Swettenham and a few of his close buddies.

"Isn’t that Wren Hollowfang?" one of them blurted out. "The one who followed Aiden all the way to the Silverglade Pack and stayed by his side for eight whole years?"

Aiden seemed surprised to see me, too. His lips curved up just slightly, but then he quickly forced a blank expression and said flatly, "Yeah, that’s her. I knew she’d come crawling back eventually."

Laughter broke out around the table as they all looked at me.

"Didn’t Wren disappear without a word back then? Now that Aiden’s become the pack’s top warrior, she probably cries herself to sleep every night with regret!"

"Wren, do you even come to places like this often? This is a high-end spot, and judging by your look, you’re usually the kind they stop at the door, right?"

"Don’t tell me that without Aiden, you can’t even afford a decent dress? Look at you. You must really be doing terribly."

I glanced down at what I was wearing. Because of the pregnancy, I wore a loose blouse. My face was bare without a trace of makeup. I did look a little worn out and tired.

However, they had no idea that my mate, Nolan Crane, had personally hired a bespoke tailor to design and sew this comfortable, well-made outfit.

Back when I used to accompany Aiden to meet his friends, I always made sure to dress to impress, for his sake. Even if the fabrics were uncomfortable, I endured it just to look good for him.

I didn’t need to anymore.

One of the girls I used to be close with smiled at me and said, "Wren, now that you’re back, Aiden must be thrilled. He’s been looking for you all these years, asking around everywhere."

Aiden’s smile faltered. He coughed awkwardly but didn’t deny it. Then, just like that, he changed the subject. "Janine’s pup, Rowan, is starting at Moonpup Hollow Preschool. Ours should be about the same age, right? Bring him back tomorrow. The two of them can grow up together."

He was so sure that all these years, even after I’d left, I’d still be raising his child, patiently waiting for his forgiveness and his acceptance.

Alas, I was no longer that love-struck girl who revolved around his world. Seeing him again stirred nothing in me, not even a ripple. If anything, I felt mildly annoyed.

Not wanting to drag this out, I gently dabbed my mouth with a napkin and stood to leave.

That was when Janine, who had been silent this whole time, suddenly spoke up, "You’re really down on your luck, huh? All these years, and you’re still only ordering the cheapest dessert on the menu. Why don’t you come work for us as a maid? I could use someone to play with my son."

She gave me a slow, disdainful once-over, eyes full of contempt. "Be our maid, and I’ll make sure you can finally afford real food here."

Five years had passed, and Janine had only grown more overbearing. Clearly, with Aiden backing her, she’d been living quite well.

I frowned in disgust. Since becoming Luna to the Black Rose Pack, there wasn’t a luxury I hadn’t tasted. Still, the desserts here reminded me of a moment I could never forget.

Back when I was at my lowest, the pastry chef here had once offered me a sweet treat. Even after five years, I still couldn’t forget that flavor. This time, I’d come back for that alone, out of pure nostalgia.

Janine leaned closer to Aiden, deliberately brushing against his arm, a glint of smugness in her eyes.

"Oh, I almost forgot! You used to have a room at our place, but Rowan wanted a study, so I remodeled it. If you come back, the only space left is one of the servant quarters. It's a bit cramped, but that’s okay, right, Wren?"

Aiden chuckled under his breath and shot me a glance. "What’s she got to be upset about? She disappeared over a petty fight. Now that she’s hit rock bottom and come crawling back, a little hardship is exactly what she deserves."

Those words…

My heart skipped a beat. So, to him, secretly getting registered as mates with Janine after an eight-year relationship with me was just a petty matter? Was this how little I mattered in Aiden’s world?

Well then, it was all in the past and was not worth mentioning anymore.