Chapter 2

Actually, Grant and I had fought about Tessa plenty of times.

The worst was when I found him holding her outside the patrol station.

Her face was buried in his shoulder, and he was rubbing her back. He didn't let go until I said his name.

I was so angry my voice shook. “You really don't think that's crossing a line?”

He frowned. “She just went through a breakup. She was crying her eyes out. What's wrong with giving her a hug? We've known each other since we were kids. Why do you have to make everything into something it isn't?”

“Lena, you're about to become Luna. My mom keeps asking you to learn how to help run the pack, and every time you say you're too busy at the clinic. But somehow you've got time to stand here arguing about who I hugged and for how long.”

“If you paid half as much attention to the pack as you do to me and Tessa, my mom wouldn't have to keep asking.”

Then he turned and walked away.

I stood there, my chest hurting so badly I could barely breathe.

I remembered the day he'd asked me to be his mate. He'd promised to build me a greenhouse in our backyard so I could grow herbs all year round.

That promise felt like it belonged to another lifetime.

Grant didn't speak to me for five days. In the end, I missed him so much that I bought him flowers and went to make up with him.

He took the bouquet, patted my head, and sighed.

“Stop acting like a child every time something upsets you. You're going to be Luna. It's time you grew up.”

Then he pulled me into his arms, his voice softening.

“You know you're the only woman I've ever loved.”

I buried my face against his neck, feeling strangely calm. Almost numb.

Two days later, I came across a patrol route spreadsheet in the team's shared Google Sheets.

It listed several coastal packs. Grant and Tessa had been chatting in the comments beside the destinations, turning a work document into their own private conversation.

Seacliff Pack:

Tessa: Can we stop here on our next patrol? I want to see the cliffs.

Grant: Sure. I'll adjust the patrol schedule.

White Bay:

Tessa: We've been there so many times already. Let's skip it. Those lobster rolls at the place we tried last time were awful.

Grant: Noted. Someone isn't very good at picking restaurants.

Tessa: It had great reviews!

Moonfrost Pack:

Tessa: I want to see the northern lights!

Grant: Then we'll stay an extra night.

By the time I reached the last comment, my stomach had turned. The words blurred, and for a moment, everything went black. It took a long while before the sick feeling eased enough for me to think clearly again.

White Bay was somewhere I'd dreamed of visiting. Grant had already taken another woman there again and again.

Once I'd collected myself, I booked a trip to White Bay.

I watched the sunset from the pier and walked along the beach late at night. And I realized something: traveling alone could be pretty nice.

When I got back, I accepted the transfer to Snowridge Pack.

My supervisor teased me. “Weren't you the one who said you couldn't bear to leave Grant? We couldn't talk you into going before.”

I smiled. “I felt differently back then. Now I want to see what else is out there.”

I'd be fine without Grant. Why had I ever thought otherwise?

She nodded and signed my transfer request.

“The head healer over there went to the same academy as you. I think you'll get along.”

Grant and I had been together for five years. It wasn't easy to imagine becoming strangers again.

I decided to tell Grant in person.

But when I went to his office, his assistant said he wasn't there and hadn't said where he was going.

I was about to leave when Tessa came out of his office. The little rabbit hung from her bag.

She smiled when she saw me. “Grant's in a meeting. I'm heading home anyway. Why don't you come over for a bit? My place is just down the road.”

She slipped her arm through mine like we were close friends and led me away before I could object.

The first thing I noticed inside her apartment was a pair of men's slippers by the door.

I was about to ask about them when I spotted a familiar cushion on the sofa.

I stopped in my tracks.