Chapter 3

In the past, I never fought with Lawson.

No matter how angry I was, I would always patiently talk things through with him. Whenever he made me upset, he'd lower his voice and coax me.

But today, no amount of coaxing would change anything.

This relationship was over for me.

Lawson was about to say something else when his gaze landed on the one photo that hadn't been edited in the trash can. It was of him and Judy.

Understanding softened his expression.

"So that's why you're upset. This one must have slipped through by mistake. I'll have someone replace Judy's face with yours later.

"Alright, don't be upset anymore.

"Everyone makes mistakes. Judy was already exhausted, and she stayed up all night worrying about your situation.

"Our marking ceremony was supposed to be a way for me to say goodbye to her."

He wanted to give Judy a proper farewell, but he was going to use our marking ceremony for it.

The thought alone was ridiculous. He owed Judy a farewell, but I didn't owe her anything.

Back then, I had helped him secure the resources in the healer's den. When he couldn't manage them, I personally sought out my former professor and built the finest team of healers for him.

When traitors within his pack leaked confidential documents and the territory was nearly lost, it was me who led the werewolf warriors through the night and defended the borders until dawn.

Meanwhile, Judy, the childhood friend he had grown up with, was busy sleeping with the Alpha of another werewolf pack.

She didn't even ask about Lawson's crisis after the fact.

Somehow, he seemed to have forgotten all of it.

He believed that if he coaxed me a little longer, everything would simply go back to normal.

I looked at him but said nothing. I didn't want to stay in the same room with him for another second. I gathered my belongings and headed home.

Before leaving, I said, "I don't need this show of concern.

"And if you want to say goodbye to someone, don't sacrifice my marking ceremony for it."

Lawson was convinced I would never actually leave. After all, he believed I had nowhere else to go.

After he became Alpha, I had willingly handed over every resource under my control. I wanted him to appear stronger within the pack.

I deliberately hid my own abilities so that he could firmly establish himself as Alpha, but he'd forgotten that everything he achieved today was because of me.

I packed my luggage. Even then, Lawson never called. He assumed I was simply throwing another tantrum and that I would never truly leave.

Lawson's mom had already prepared the ceremonial gown.

Her health had been failing, yet she still forced herself to walk over and ask me to try it on.

She had always treated me kindly. If she hadn't been running out of time, Lawson probably wouldn't have rushed to hold the marking ceremony.

My own mom had passed away long ago. In Lawson's mother, I had experienced a little of the maternal love I'd lost.

Unable to refuse the hope in her eyes, I reluctantly put on the gown.

I told myself it was simply to fulfill the wish my own mom had never lived to see.

She straightened the hem of my gown and smiled with satisfaction. "Monica, this gown suits you perfectly."

I pursed my lips and smiled.

She sighed. "I had it made according to Judy's measurements, so I was worried it wouldn't fit you."

The smile on my face disappeared.

She continued, "Lawson and Judy grew up together. There are regrets between them, but that's all in the past. Let this ceremony be their farewell. If you wear the gown in Judy's place, you'll be doing a good deed."

My wolf spirit shuddered violently. I stared at her in disbelief.