Chapter 2

On the way home, Alex's phone pinged. He had a message. I did not need a prophecy to tell me it was probably Elsa. She was probably asking Alex if he had gotten him yet.

Suppressing my discomfort, I picked up the phone to answer her when I saw it. A message that chilled my heart.

"She has not been back for years now. All I have left to play is a sudden Marking Ceremony. Don't tell anyone it's just a fake Marking Ceremony." The text said. I found it hard to breathe at that moment. Even after I thought I had calmed down, I could not stop my body from trembling.

Tears stung my eyes. I had waited for him for years only to be bait for his true love? No wonder he suggested out of the blue a few days ago that we should finally bond and become mates.

"I hear she is in the werewolf school group chat. Just leak some small information about it so she can see it," Alex had texted his friend this.

So it was all a plan. My waiting, my patience, my love for him, and I was only good enough to be bait. I felt the urge to laugh. For some reason I was not surprised. This was the Alex I knew; always indifferent and cold to me. I took in a deep breath and put his phone back down. Letting go of him was much easier now.

When we got home, as though possessed, I followed Elsa's suggestion and made herbal tea for him. Like she had said, he tossed all night. Every toss felt like a slap to my face.

When morning came and Alex woke to the honey water by his bedside, his eyes went cold.

"Who taught you this?" He asked, but I did not reply.

"Don't listen to stupid remedies from others!" He fumed and stormed away. I looked at the glass of honey water, and I felt the cup was mocking me.

Alex went about his day like nothing happened. I was not sure if he recalled what he did last night. I, for one, refused to mention it.

Once he hears me on the phone with my pack discussing my move, he pauses by the door.

"Are you going somewhere?" He had asked me.

"Just a business trip," I answered, and he walked away, only to return a moment later to remind me of a wedding activity I had put behind me: taking the pre-wedding photos.

“Let’s change today’s photoshoot location to my lakeside. It’s a place that means a lot to me,” he said softly—and in that moment, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

If Elsa had not insisted on me following her on Instagram, I would not have seen she had posted that she would be visiting her lakeside today.

He was clearly going there for her. But he made it sound as though he was going to some place sentimental. But then again, who could say it was not sentimental to both of them?

I nodded and continued what I was doing.

When we arrived at the lakeside later that day, we met up with the photographer, and I left to change into my dress. When I returned, Alex was gone.

I looked around and found him with Elsa and knew this photography session was over. He was naturally pulled to her in a way he never was with me.

"Sorry to waste your time. I will pay now," I apologized to the photographer and paid him before letting him go.

After the photographer left, I picked up my dress and walked towards Alex, standing with Elsa under a tree. Heels and grass did not do well together, and the mermaid-style dress only made walking more uncomfortable. My feet were quickly injured.

After a lot of walking, I reached them. Even before I got there, I could see so clearly from afar how happy he was. He smiled so easily, I almost thought it was the wrong man. But it really was Alex. His scent had not changed, so it really was him.

When I arrived under the tree, he was finally alert enough to notice me. Usually he would have been able to smell me coming, but he was distracted.

He frowned and looked somewhat worried that I might let slip that I was to become his mate.

"This is my old classmate," he hurriedly said, and I nodded.

"Why are you here?" He asked wearily. At this moment, he looked at me as though I was his foe. I suppressed my frustration and forced a smile.

"Something urgent came up at work. I need to head back. I didn’t bring my phone in this dress, so I had to come tell you in person."

Surprise seems to flash through his eyes. I understood why. Alex was quite attractive. And during these past years I would act like a hen protecting her chick when other women were involved. But right now, when I would usually confront him on the spot, I did not do anything.

Why embarrass each other when we were parting soon?

He stiffened slightly before he softened and relaxed. He nodded, and I turned to leave. I had walked quite far, but my wolf ears still caught him say,

"She is a friend and dragged me into a photoshoot for a bridal shop ad. Nothing serious."

The embarrassed smile suddenly froze on my face. I tried to pretend nothing had happened and held back my tears.

Was I just part of a photoshoot for an ad?

It turned out I was the fool—a total fool in this game!