Chapter 2

By the third day, the inner thoughts hadn't faded at all. If anything, they grew sharper and clearer.

As long as someone came within a few feet of me, their raw, unfiltered thoughts would automatically channel into my brain.

When the cashier at the grocery store scanned the items in my shopping cart, they forced a tight smile. [Why the fuck is it so crowded today?]

A neighbor glanced at the grocery bags in my arms. [Poor thing. She cooks dinner for the Alpha every night, but he never comes home.]

Even strangers could see through my life, yet it had taken me five whole years to realize the truth.

…

On Saturday afternoon, Alder was unusually home for once.

He was in his study answering emails when I brought him a cup of black coffee. It was how he liked it, without sugar or milk, and strong enough to power him through the long council meetings.

"I bought you some coffee," I said softly.

Alder took the mug, though his eyes never once left his laptop screen. [Again? Does she seriously need to barge in here every hour?]

This time, the shock his inner thoughts brought didn't hit me nearly as hard. But somehow, that was exactly what terrified me.

Still, I maintained the smile on my face and quietly closed the door.

With a soft click, that door didn't just separate us. It severed whatever was left between our hearts.

At 2:00 pm, the front doorbell rang.

I opened the door and found a she-wolf standing on the porch. She had golden curls, wore a cream-colored dress, and had flawless makeup.

It was Danika Lightwish, Alder's long-time childhood friend and Creative Director of Noirwood Enterprise. She was the perfect she-wolf everyone once called his matching half.

"Maeve!" she chirped brightly. "It's been so long."

But her thoughts slammed into my mind. [Five years, and this bitch is still occupying the place that rightfully belongs to me!]

I had to force every muscle in my body to maintain the polite smile on my face. "Danika, please come in."

She slipped off her high heels and stepped into the house, her eyes sweeping across the bright floor-to-ceiling windows and the high vaulted ceilings.

[Nice house. I'll kick her out of here sooner or later.]

She handed me a small blue gift bag.

"This is a birthday gift for Alder, a tie. I picked it out myself last month. It's made of pure Valerician silk, and they only produce 50 of these worldwide every year."

Her thoughts were [That's worth more than your allowance as a housewife for years. Let's see you try to compete with that!]

I accepted the paper bag. "Thank you, Danika. His birthday is still weeks away. I can't believe you actually remembered."

She let out a soft laugh. "Well, we've known each other for 12 whole years."

Deep down, she thought. [And what about you? How long have you known him? Five years? Five years make you nothing but an outsider.]

Before I could respond, Alder made his way down the stairs.

The moment his eyes landed on her, a subtle shift of emotion flickered across his face. It was faint and barely noticeable, but I clearly heard his inner thoughts.

[She's here. That dress looks absolutely stunning on her.]

My throat tightened.

Over the past few years, right before every Noirwood pack gathering, I would ask Alder countless times, "Do I look nice today?"

He would always give the same answer. "You look fine."

…

The three of us sat in the living room, sipping the tea I had brewed.

Soon, Danika and Alder were engaged in a lively conversation about Noirwood pack commercial strategies, luxury brand operations, and Miramarian investor conferences…

Mid-conversation, she brought up a highly renowned fantasy art brand, named "Moonfall on Leviathan".

Alder's eyes lit up with genuine intrigue, and he began pressing her for details with intense enthusiasm. He spoke more words to Danika in those few minutes than he had to me in the past week.

While Danika spoke eloquently, her thoughts skimmed past my ears.

[Do you see that, Maeve? He only likes talking to me. There will be no place left for you in this house once I secure the "Moonfall on Leviathan" partnership.]

My fingers gripped the teacup tightly.

"Moonfall on Leviathan"—that name struck a deep chord in my nerves.

Over the past two years, that brand had taken the Avonlean market by storm.

Graphic novels, limited-edition prints, luxury fashion collaborations… Every piece of merchandise sold out online within minutes of launching.

Noirwood Enterprise had negotiated for months to secure an exclusive license with the brand, with Danika personally leading the negotiations.

But neither of them knew that I was the anonymous artist behind "Moonfall on Leviathan".

…

After bonding with Alder, I had stopped painting and publishing public artwork.

One night, he pulled me into his arms, kissed my forehead, and gently murmured, "You don't have to work anymore, Maeve. Leave everything to me."

Back then, I had been deeply moved by his sentiment. But now, I could read the truth hidden beneath those words.

[Your little hobby sketches don't matter anyway.]

From the very start, my manager, Randall Cullen, went to great lengths to protect my true identity. Every piece of artwork I created was published under the pseudonym "Stardust".

In just five short years, the valuation of my artwork skyrocketed. Replica prints were sold for a staggering price of thousands of dollars, original canvases fetched six figures, and brand collaboration deals generated profits up to millions of dollars.

Every penny earned sat untouched in private accounts under my name.

Alder had no idea the accounts existed. No one in the Noirwood pack knew that their Luna, who scrubbed kitchen counters, brewed coffee, and smiled through every insult, was the legendary artist they crossed continents to track down.

An hour later, Danika got up to leave. She paused at the door and turned around to give me a gentle smile.

[Enjoy your final days while they last, Maeve.]

I waved politely. "Safe travels."

The door clicked shut.

I leaned against the freezing foyer wall and closed my eyes. For five years, I had loved someone who had never loved me back.

It would all end today.