Chapter 2

On the busiest shopping street in Silverpine territory, there was a boutique that made custom gowns for werewolf bonding ceremonies.

When I pushed the door open, Claire was already curled up on the sofa, with a stack of gown catalogs spread out in front of her.

"Ivy, you're finally here! Come look, I found a few that would look amazing on you."

Ethan had barely stepped in behind me when Claire turned the catalog toward him and pointed to an ivory silk gown.

"What do you think of this one? It's backless, and the waist is gorgeous. She'll take everyone's breath away at the Moon Goddess's altar."

Ethan leaned in for a closer look. His eyes lit up.

"Nice. I like this one."

The two of them agreed on the spot. It never occurred to either of them to ask me first.

The gown consultant handed me a glass of warm water and asked quietly:

"Miss Ivy, is there a style you'd like to try? We can also adjust anything to your taste."

I was about to answer when Claire made the decision for me.

"Let's go with that one! Ivy's always had a great figure. I promise she'll look stunning in it."

The consultant glanced at me. When I didn't object, she led me to the fitting room.

The gown really was beautiful. Light silk fell from the shoulders, and the hem was embroidered with fine laurel flowers.

But the bodice was so tight I could hardly breathe.

I tried adjusting it a few times. It still didn't feel right.

In the end, I walked out wearing it anyway.

Ethan was sitting next to Claire, listening closely as she walked him through different headpieces.

He didn't look up until I came over.

His eyes rested on me for only a moment.

"Looks good. Let's just go with it."

Then he turned back to Claire and picked up right where they had left off.

Claire, at least, got up and walked a slow circle around me. After looking me over, she reached out and pinched my side.

"Ivy, could they take it in a little more here? Or have you not been watching what you eat lately?"

She was smiling as she said it, but her voice was loud enough for everyone in the shop to hear.

Without thinking, I pressed a hand against my aching waist.

"It's not my weight."

The consultant stepped in right away. "This style runs very narrow. Miss Ivy's waist is perfectly normal."

"We can switch her to a more comfortable cut."

"Oh, I see."

Claire pulled her hand back like nothing had happened and turned to Ethan.

"Oh, right, you haven't picked your suit yet, have you? There's a menswear tailor next door. Want to go take a look?"

"Sure. Might as well get it done together."

Ethan said yes without a second thought.

Soon the two of them had their heads together over the catalog, even getting excited about which tie to pick.

And I was still standing in front of the mirror, letting the consultant straighten out the train pooled on the floor.

"You could try the off-the-shoulder one, you know."

She lowered her voice and nodded toward the display window.

"It won't pinch your waist, and it shows off your neck. It's perfect for a bonding ceremony."

She was right.

I looked at myself in the mirror and forced a small smile.

"Thank you. I'll think about it."

By the time we left the boutique, Claire had already planned lunch for us.

"There's a new oyster bar down by the river. I heard the beef tartare is really good too."

"I already booked a table. Want to go try it?"

Ethan agreed right away. Only when he saw me still standing there did he seem to remember something.

"Wait, don't you hate raw stuff like that?"

Before I could answer, he had already made other plans for me.

"Why don't you go find something you like around here? We won't be long anyway. We'll come get you after."

I looked at him and said nothing.

Claire seemed to sense it wasn't right. She quickly hooked her arm through mine.

"Ivy, come with us. If you don't want oysters, you can get grilled fish or soup."

"It's your big day. How can we let you eat alone?"

It almost sounded like she cared about my feelings more than Ethan did.

But Ethan turned it down for me.

"Forget it. She hates the smell of seafood. Her nose is sensitive to begin with. Sitting there would just be torture for her. Don't make her force it."

Claire put on a disappointed face.

"Okay then. That's too bad."

She let go of my arm almost at once and followed Ethan toward the car parked by the curb.

When they got to the car, she reached up to fix the collar of Ethan's jacket and lightly brushed a bit of lint off his shoulder.

Ethan didn't even look down.

He just turned his body a little, the way you do when you're used to it, so she could reach.

I stood there and watched them get into the car side by side.

Ethan never looked back.

In the end, I went alone into a plain little burger place on the corner.

I found a small table by the window and ordered a cheeseburger and fries.

I had only taken a few bites when my phone lit up.

It was a message from Lily.

"Sis! Claire says you went gown shopping today? How'd it go? Got any pictures? Send them over!"

I looked at the message and thought about what she had said in the group chat last night.

She could call me Sis to my face all sweet and close, and laugh at me behind my back without a second thought.

I didn't reply. I just turned my phone face down on the table.

The ice in my cup slowly melted. The sweet soda turned flat and tasteless.

About an hour later, Ethan called.

"We're done eating. Where are you? I'll come find you."

"Still on the shopping street. But you guys go home first."

"Why? Is there something else you need to buy?"

I looked out the window at the people passing by and came up with an excuse.

"I want to pick up a few things at the grocery store."

"All right, go ahead. I'll pick you up tonight."

He paused.

"Gown shopping wore you out today. How about I take you out tonight for your favorite charcoal-grilled steak?"

"Okay."

After I hung up, I stayed right where I was.

The truth was, I didn't need anything, and I had no interest in going to the grocery store.

I just couldn't face sitting next to Ethan and Claire again, watching them act like no one else was in the room. It wore me out just thinking about it.