Chapter 2

When Lawson and I first met, we were both ordinary werewolves.

He worked a modest job within the werewolf pack. Meanwhile, I sorted medicinal herbs in the healer's den every day to save my dad, who was suffering from wolfsbane poisoning.

When Lawson learned about my family's situation, he never looked down on me. To help pay for my dad's treatment, he trained during the day and worked part-time every night.

I also worked tirelessly until I finally became a qualified healer, but my dad still passed away during that process.

Our dedication caught the attention of the pack's Beta, who transferred both of us into the pack's most important operations.

That was how Lawson and I began to rise.

Together, we worked hard for resources and opportunities. From ordinary werewolves, Lawson eventually became Alpha of the pack.

The night he successfully defeated the former Alpha, we held our engagement celebration.

Later, however, he became occupied with expanding the pack's territory and training stronger warriors. Our marking ceremony was postponed again and again.

Over the next seven years, his pack grew increasingly powerful.

At last, we were finally able to hold our marking ceremony.

But by then, I no longer felt even the slightest excitement.

Early the next morning, I received a package. Inside were the photos Lawson and Judy had taken the day before.

In the first picture, Judy was kissing Lawson on the cheek while Lawson wrapped an arm around her waist.

The two of them leaned against each other sweetly. They looked exactly like a couple preparing for their marking ceremony.

My wrist felt stiff. A chill ran down my spine.

I continued flipping through the stack of photos. Every photo showed the same intimate poses.

The only difference was that the photographer had digitally replaced Judy's face with mine. Every single pose had been edited to make it look like I was the shewolf beside Lawson.

This was true except for the first photo.

My face turned pale, and my wolf spirit trembled.

Before I could call Lawson and demand an explanation, someone knocked on the door.

It was Lawson.

I grabbed the photos tightly while forcing my tears back.

Lawson stood in the doorway and looked down at me with a relaxed smile. "Feeling better now?

"You stormed off yesterday. Luckily, Judy stayed behind and cleaned up the mess."

He walked inside. His gaze landed on the photos, and he casually picked them up to admire them.

"What exactly is this supposed to mean?" I asked.

He smiled and pulled me into an embrace. "Come on. Stop being upset. Everything's been taken care of.

"You ran off yesterday. Judy spent hours standing in for you. Then she stayed up late helping the photographer edit the pictures.

"Otherwise, how could you have received these today?

"You were even jealous of her yesterday," he said affectionately before gently tapping the tip of my nose. "You should really learn from her."

My blood ran cold. My throat felt so dry that I couldn't speak.

How could Lawson say those things like they were perfectly reasonable?

I shoved him away and tore the photographs into pieces before throwing them at him.

"There's no need to edit Judy's face. Just use the original photos.

"You two look much better together anyway."

My voice trembled despite my best efforts to steady it as I threw the remaining photos into the trash.

Lawson stood frozen.

His frown intensified.

"Monica, you've gone too far!

"You caused all this trouble, and we cleaned up after you. Not only are you ungrateful, but now you're making an even bigger scene. How exactly have we wronged you?"

Every sentence Lawson spoke grouped himself and Judy together as we.

Somehow, I turned out to be the outsider.

I no longer had the energy to argue. I was tired.

He'd said almost the exact same thing back when he handed Judy responsibility over one of the core operations that had originally been under my management.

She ended up mishandling part of the business.

When I expressed my dissatisfaction, Lawson had said, "Judy did it for the pack. Otherwise, how could you live comfortably as my Luna? Instead of being grateful, you're criticizing her.

"How exactly have we wronged you?"

After hearing that, my heart had gone completely numb.

From then on, I never offered another suggestion.

Just like today, I had no desire left to argue.

I continued throwing the remaining photos into the trash.

Lawson couldn't contain the anger in his eyes anymore.

He seized my wrist. "Why exactly are you jealous?

"You're about to become my Luna. What more could you possibly want?"

"Let go of me!" I flung his hand away and shouted at him.

For the first time, Lawson looked genuinely stunned.