Chapter Three

Tracy Xander’s POV 

After all these years, the man had not changed. He was still composed to the point of distance, dignified, restrained, and even more controlled than I remembered. 

Five years ago, when I visited my mother’s brother, Tim, within his quiet territory near the outskirts, I met a man he had saved. He had slipped from a mountain path during a hunt and nearly died from the fall, his wolf too weak at the time to recover on its own. 

That man was Sean. 

Only later did I learn who he truly was. 

The Johnson pack stood at the peak of the northern territories, their power woven into every alliance, every trade route, every unspoken rule that governed the balance between packs. And Sean, their only heir, held influence over nearly half of the northern lands. 

A man born to rule. Even the passing lights that brushed across his face seemed to frame him in quiet authority. 

I ended the link with Jackson and offered him a polite smile. “It has been a long time. How have you been?” 

Sean’s gaze rested on me only briefly. 

“Fine.” The reply was short, clean, distant. 

I pressed my lips together and said nothing more. Jackson must have risen higher than I thought to be close enough to someone like Sean. 

Once inside the car, I took the back seat. My posture remained straight, almost rigid, my hands resting neatly on my knees, like a student sitting before a strict instructor, careful not to make a single mistake. 

Sean said nothing, yet his presence filled the entire space, heavy and impossible to ignore. 

By the time we reached the hotel, I let out a quiet breath, thanked him, and reached for the door, ready to leave. 

Sean’s eyes narrowed slightly. Was I truly that afraid of him? 

… 

The elevator doors slid shut, leaving only the two of us inside. 

Silence settled again, thicker this time. 

Sean spoke first. 

“How is Tim?” I stilled. 

For a brief moment, my vision blurred as a faint layer of moisture gathered in my eyes, but I forced it back before it could fall. 

“He passed away half a year ago.” My voice remained steady, but something beneath it cracked quietly, something heavy and bitter that had never fully faded. 

It had happened too suddenly. The grief had not left. If not for Tim, if he had not taken my mother and me in all those years ago, we might have had nowhere to go. 

Sean’s gaze shifted, surprise flickering across his expression before settling into something darker. 

He had not known. He had spent the last few years away from the territory, cut off from everything here. 

Regret crossed his face as he lifted his hand and gently rested it against my head in a brief, unfamiliar gesture. 

“I am sorry.” The touch startled me. 

I froze for a heartbeat before lowering my head quickly, unsure how to respond. 

The elevator chimed. 

Third floor. 

… 

As we walked past one of the banquet halls, my steps slowed, then stopped entirely. 

Something pulled at me. Sean followed my line of sight. 

Laughter spilled from the room, light and careless, carrying the unmistakable ease of celebration. A group of wolves gathered around a table, their voices overlapping as they cheered and teased. At the center sat a large cake, candles flickering softly. 

And there,  A man stood close to a woman, fastening a necklace around her neck. 

Their backs faced the door, but I did not need to see their faces. I knew. 

The sight struck quietly but deeply, like something sharp sliding into my chest without resistance. My eyes stung, a faint redness creeping in at the edges. 

Sean glanced down at me. 

“You know them?” I steadied myself, forcing my voice into calm, into something distant enough to hide everything beneath it. 

“Yes.” A brief pause. 

“That is my mate. Alpha Chandler Gaunt.” Another pause. 

“And the woman… his chosen companion. My half-sister.” 

Inside the room, Alpha Chandler carefully fastened the necklace around Yvonne Xander’s throat. 

That necklace, He had reserved it months ago. He had told me it was meant for my birthday. 

And now, he was placing it on someone else. A bitter smile touched my lips. 

For years, Alpha Chandler’s betrayals had never truly been hidden. The pack knew. The whispers had never stopped. My dignity had been stripped away piece by piece until there was nothing left to defend. 

And in one month— It would all end. No more pretending. No more enduring. 

I swallowed the bitterness, tore my gaze away, and continued walking without another word. 

Sean’s eyes lingered on my back before he spoke. 

“Tracy.” I turned. 

He stepped closer, his voice low, steady, carrying a weight that made me pause. 

“Tim may be gone, but I still owe him my life.” His gaze held mine firmly. 

“He valued you the most. So I will grant you one wish. Anything you want.” I blinked, caught off guard. 

Then slowly, something shifted in my eyes, a faint light returning where there had only been exhaustion. 

So he meant it. A soft breath escaped me, something close to relief. 

“Alright… thank you. Truly.” 

… 

When we arrived at the table, warmth greeted me immediately. 

“Uncle Morgan, Aunt Lily, Jackson,” I said with a gentle smile. 

Lily quickly pulled me down beside her, her hands warm as they wrapped around my arm, her brows knitting together almost instantly. 

“You have lost so much weight. Have you not been eating properly again?” 

I touched my cheek, momentarily unsure how to answer. I had not. 

Work had consumed me, hours slipping past unnoticed until the hunger became sharp and painful, clawing at my stomach. I had grown used to it, used to dulling it with medicine, convincing myself it was nothing serious. 

If not for the examination last week, I would still believe it was something minor. 

The healer had been clear, Irregular eating, Suppressed emotions, Too much bitterness. Just like before, when Yvonne’s mother took my father. 

And now, Yvonne had taken my mate. 

The irony was almost enough to make me laugh. I had nearly destroyed myself over them. What a waste. 

From now on, aside from the medicine, I only needed two things. 

Regular meals. And a lighter heart. The moment I stopped caring, even the weight pressing on my chest seemed to ease. 

“Tracy?” Lily’s voice softened, pulling me back. 

“Are you listening?” I blinked and smiled lightly. 

“I am. I have been eating better lately. It is just the heat and lighter clothes that make me look thinner.” Morgan slid a menu toward me, his tone warm. 

“Order whatever you like. Do not worry about saving Jackson’s money. Today is his celebration.” He chuckled. 

I accepted the menu, my expression softening. 

“Congratulations, Jackson.” Jackson grinned. 

“Do not hold back. Order anything.” I glanced down at the menu and quietly chose a few simple dishes.