Chapter 2

"Look, maybe I messed up, okay? When we get back from the trip, I'll take you out for a nice dinner. That should make up for it, right?"

"Just try to snag another ticket. Anna and I will wait for you at the gate."

His tone was so patronizing, like he was doing me some huge favor by throwing me a bone.

"No need." The words came out ice-cold.

Chase didn't get it at first, barely keeping his temper in check.

"No need for what? I've explained everything to you - why are you still being such a brat about this?"

"Do I need to tear into you before you'll listen?"

His anger didn't spark anything in me. I felt completely numb inside.

"Take the tickets and go. Don't wait for me. Hope you two have a blast."

"Quinn, what the hell is your problem?"

Chase's voice got even sharper.

"This whole trip was your idea, and now you're bailing? Are you screwing with me? Stop acting like a spoiled princess. You came from nothing - stop being such a pain in the ass!"

Ha!

I couldn't help but snort inwardly.

If I came from nothing, then there are barely any rich people left in this world.

I pushed down the bitter laugh and tried to keep my voice steady:

"I'm not bailing. I mean I'll figure out my own way there. Might not be on the same train as you guys. You and Anna just go ahead and have fun - I'll probably get there later than you."

Seeing me cave and say exactly what he wanted to hear, Chase was satisfied.

"Now that's my girl."

"You know, you're way too stubborn. Nobody else would put up with your attitude but me."

"Alright, I gotta help Anna pack. You better get on booking that ticket."

"Mm."

I couldn't bring myself to say another word - just made some emotionless sound through my nose.

After hanging up, I couldn't help thinking about how things used to be.

He wasn't always like this.

I first met Chase when I was eight years old.

Back then, Mom and Dad were busy building our pack. Every day they were either dealing with border wars against rogue wolves or expanding our pack's business ventures in the human world.

My parents thought it was too dangerous for me to stay at the pack compound, so they sent me to live with my grandparents in a remote rural area. I only got to see Mom and Dad once a year, at Christmas.

The other kids said I was some abandoned kid with no parents. They wouldn't play with me.

Not only that, but they formed their little cliques at school, excluded me, bullied me.

I remember this one time, some older girls cornered me in the bathroom demanding money.

I didn't have any, so they wouldn't let me leave.

Chase suddenly showed up, shoved the bullies away, and saved me.

That was the first time we met.

From then on, we became best friends, playing together every day.

He was the one bright spot in my dark childhood, bringing me the only joy and warmth I knew.

Later, Mom and Dad's pack became the strongest and wealthiest in the entire Northern Territory. The companies they've established in the human world span multiple industries.

I moved back to continue school at the pack territory, forcing me and Chase apart.

But I never forgot about Chase.

I kept asking my parents to secretly help his family, to help him.

With our family's hidden support, Chase went from elementary school in the countryside, to middle school in town, to high school in the city.

When he finally transferred to the big city where I was, I excitedly asked Dad for my first real favor - to transfer to Chase's school and class.

When I got my wish and tried to greet him, barely containing my excitement, he acted like he didn't know me.

He'd forgotten me.

I didn't give up.

If he'd forgotten, then we'd start over.

A few months later, I confessed to him first, and we naturally became a couple.

We've been stumbling along together ever since.

But what I never expected was this:

Chase hadn't just forgotten me - he'd changed completely.

These past few years, I've been hiding my identity, wanting to struggle alongside him, to grow together.

Dad couldn't talk me out of it. When he couldn't stand watching anymore, he donated fifty million to the school.

He specifically created a scholarship program for the two of us, hoping our lives would improve.

But still.

Chase changed.

Completely and utterly changed.

He was no longer the light that brought me warmth and joy.

He hurt me over and over again, bringing me nothing but pain.

The more I loved him, the less he valued me.

It wasn't until now that I finally woke up completely and saw everything clearly.