My dad finally lost his patience and slammed the table as he stood up. "Are you saying Ophelia is lying to you? That our whole family is lying to you? Hunter is good, and he treats us with respect. Ophelia just recently accepted his affections, but our family thinks highly of him."Worried that Dad would get too upset and affect his health, I quickly stepped forward and gently rubbed his back. "Yuri, stop bringing up our past. It was just a joke between the elders that shouldn't be taken seriously. You were the one who said that yourself, remember?"The gathering ended on a sour note.As we stepped outside, snow began to fall from the sky.Just as I got into the car, Yuri came running out without a coat, staring at me with reddened eyes. "Ophelia, I was just tempted to try something new, that's why I was fooled. It wasn't until I lost you that I realized how truly precious what I already had was."His voice was hoarse, and his entire body was trembling. "Please, give me another ch
I wasn't sure if it was because of retirement or if the climate in the Yellowstone Pack was truly that great, but my parents looked noticeably healthier.If it weren't for having to return to the Moonfang Pack for the house transfer during Christmas, they wouldn't have wanted to go back at all."I'll just go back and handle it myself. I can manage it," I said while reviewing the paperwork.My parents exchanged a glance. "Forget it, we'd still worry. Besides, Alpha invited us to spend Christmas together. The more the merrier, so we'll just go with you."It had been nearly half a year since I'd seen Yuri.I used to think I couldn't live without him, but time had proven that he really wasn't all that important."Ophelia! You've gotten even more beautiful! It's been so long, and I've missed you so much!" The Luna was enthusiastic as ever. She grabbed my hand the moment I walked in.Yuri, in contrast, was acting unusually nervous. He stood at the back in a white shirt, smiling care
That night, after I got home and settled everything, I finally felt confident enough to boldly pursue whatever I wanted.I didn't have the energy to care about anything else. My focus was fully on buying a house and opening a dance studio. After a month of thorough preparation, our whole family began the process of moving.My parents couldn't hide their joy on the plane. From then on, all they needed to do was enjoy their life.And I would work hard to support them.***I received messages from Yuri."Where did you go?""I heard you moved? That's just gossip, right?""Please reply…"Annoyed, I didn't hesitate to block him.Unexpectedly, half an hour later, Yuri called using his mother's phone.My mother looked at me awkwardly. I couldn't refuse outright, so I took the call."Mom said you moved. That's a joke, right?" That familiar voice made me feel as if a lifetime had passed.Yuri said anxiously, "Our families have been neighbors for decades, and we… Mom even said she
"Ophelia, long time no see." Lucia appeared in front of me, slipping her arm around Yuri's and giving me a sweet, well-behaved smile.I returned the smile politely and set my wine glass down on the table. Then, I took a deep breath and refocused on my conversation with the senior.Because of that, I didn't notice Yuri staring at me from behind.I had two glasses of wine and still felt fairly clear-headed. I touched up my makeup when I went to the restroom to wash my hands.Everyone was talking about how they would visit one of our old professors together.It was the very one who used to teach me dance and was now the president of the Dance Association.She'd always thought highly of me during college, so of course I would go.After making sure my makeup was perfect, I pushed open the door."Ophelia?" Lucia suddenly appeared in front of me in her floral dress."Hello," I replied.Just as I tried to move past her, she grabbed my wrist.I winced from the pain and tried to shake
I shrugged. "You changed the passcode, ignored my calls, and blocked my messages."Yuri tiptoed over the shattered furniture, crossed the living room, and stuffed the groceries into the fridge.He rubbed his forehead and explained, "I was on a date with Lucia. What if she heard us constantly in contact and got the wrong idea?"My heart stopped for a moment. When I went on dates with him, I used to beg him to take it seriously, but he always had time for other matters. "We're getting along pretty well. Lucia's shy, so I have to treat her sincerely to win her over slowly. She's not like you. That's why I don't contact other women when I'm with her."He sighed and looked at me with a smile in his eyes. "Ophelia, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll cook now. Eat before you go."Then, as if he were afraid I would reject him, he added, "Think of it as a farewell meal. Just give me that much."As I watched his busy figure, I could feel my nose sting and my eyes growing red.An ho
That day, I locked myself in my room.Not long after I returned, my parents came back too. "The Yellowstone pack is thousands of miles away. If we go there, coming back will be a hassle," my mother said cautiously as she looked at me.My father hid behind his newspaper but kept sneaking glances at me too.I put on my coat. "The climate there is great. Isn't it your dream to retire somewhere with good weather?"Smiling, I looped my arm through my mother's and said sweetly, "And I'll be able to do something I love. I'm thinking about opening a dance studio. As for whether I'll have more chances to perform, you both know that's never really mattered to me."My mother frowned and hesitated, "But Ophelia, you…"I glanced at the time. "Alright, I've already made up my mind. I'm serious about this. You don't need to worry about me. If anything, you two should be thinking about money."I kissed my mother lightly on the cheek. "I've got something to do, so I'll head out now."I hoped