Chapter 3

"Is Garrett planning to hold a mating ceremony with Aria?"

My sharp eyes caught the formal wording on one of the photos Marcus was showing me. The elaborate script read "Sacred Bonding Under the Moon Goddess" with their names intertwined.

The clear details made me feel even more like a fool.

Marcus nodded enthusiastically, completely missing my stricken expression. "Yeah, they've known each other for years. Apparently it's going to be the grandest ceremony our territory has ever seen."

He swiped to another photo showing elaborate floral arrangements and ceremonial altars.

"Look at this setup. Garrett must have spent months planning this."

My stomach twisted as I recognized some of the flowers. White moonbells - the same ones Garrett used to bring me, claiming they were "just something pretty I found."

Now I knew where he'd gotten the idea.

From my brother's enthusiastic stories, I heard about a completely different version of Garrett.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in admiration. "You know, I always thought Garrett was too focused on pack duties to care about romance. But this guy is absolutely devoted."

"What do you mean?" The words scraped out of my throat.

"Well, you remember all those business trips he's been taking? Turns out half of them were just excuses to visit Aria in the Northern Territories."

Marcus pulled up more photos on his phone, each one a knife to my heart.

"He's participated in every single one of her important celebrations for the past two years. Her birthday, her healer graduation, even her grandmother's memorial service."

The room started spinning around me.

All those times Garrett had apologized for missing my important days. All those times he'd claimed urgent pack business.

"Even that study in his den - you know, the one he never lets anyone into?"

I nodded numbly. I'd always wondered about that locked room.

"Apparently it's full of Aria's photographs. Marcus showed me when we helped him move some furniture last month. The guy's got it bad."

My brother's voice faded to a distant buzz as memories crashed over me.

The study door that was always locked when I visited.

Garrett's phone calls that he'd take in private.

The way his eyes would light up when certain messages came through.

All of it suddenly made horrifying sense.

Finally, Marcus's expression shifted as he noticed my silence. A shadow of concern crossed his features.

"That crazy she-wolf who's been chasing him is really pathetic, though."

I flinched at his words, knowing he was talking about me without realizing it.

"She sacrificed everything for him - gave up her healer training, moved in to take care of him, organized his whole life. But he never even acknowledged her publicly."

Marcus shook his head with genuine pity.

"She never earned his respect, let alone his love. It's actually kind of sad."

My brother's tone was subtle, but I could taste the disdain Garrett must have expressed when talking about me. The casual dismissal. The irritation.

I was just an inconvenience he tolerated.

I rubbed my eyes roughly, stopping the tears before they could fall and give me away.

My chest felt tight, like I couldn't get enough air.

Marcus suddenly reached over and ruffled my hair, his voice turning gentle as he looked into the distance.

"Sage, love is actually very obvious when it's real. When someone truly cares about you, they show it in ways that can't be hidden or denied."

He turned back to me with serious eyes.

"Giving up everything for a male who doesn't love you back isn't worth it. A she-wolf should never have to beg for basic respect and consideration."

His words hit me like a physical blow.

That simple observation shattered what was left of my composure completely.

I knew exactly what I'd been doing these past three years.

Begging. Pleading. Hoping.

Making excuses for his coldness.

Convincing myself that his small kindnesses meant something more.

But I'd only been moving myself. He'd never felt anything at all.

The realization was devastating.

I tilted my head back, letting the morning air dry the tears that had escaped despite my efforts.

"You're right, Marcus. He's not worth it."

The words felt like admitting defeat, but also like the first honest thing I'd said in years.