Chapter 4

Three days remained before my departure.

I returned to my parents' house to collect my personal documents.

When the car pulled up outside, Mom was discussing Kayla's dress with a designer who had come over for a fitting.

They were planning to hold a newborn pup welcome party that evening, the same night I would be leaving.

I hadn't told her I was coming. When she saw me, the smile on her face faltered for a moment. "What brings you here?"

As soon as the words came out, she seemed to realize how they sounded and quickly took my hand. "I mean, you're still recovering. Traveling back and forth must be exhausting for you."

I told her I had come to collect my passport and degree certificate.

Dad came out of his study. After hearing what I had said, he asked if I was planning to get away for a while.

"Yes. I'll stay up north for some time."

In truth, I had already contacted Martha Finch, who ran an independent bookstore in Northshore City.

Before my biological parents found me, I had worked there as a clerk for two years. She had agreed to keep the little apartment upstairs for me. Once I recovered, I could return to work.

She hadn't asked why my Alpha mate wasn't coming with me.

She had only asked whether I wanted to keep the old bookshelf in the room.

I told her I did.

After hearing that, Mom seemed relieved. "Getting out for a while might be good for you. When you come back feeling better, you can help Kayla choose a new cradle for Noah."

I pulled away and followed Dad into the study.

My documents were at the bottom of the safe and buried beneath several photo albums.

As Dad searched for them, I noticed the cover of one album.

[Kayla's 18th Birthday.]

That year, I had been washing dishes at a restaurant on the outskirts of the city. I was saving up for the following year's tuition.

After going missing at the age of five, I had been moved between several foster families. It wasn't until three years ago, when the authorities reopened missing werewolf cases, that a DNA test finally led them to me.

The day my parents came to bring me home, Mom had cried so hard she could barely stand.

I had cried too.

Back then, I truly believed I would never have to move from one temporary home to another again.

Only after returning home did I realize that while my parents had spent years searching for me, they had also spent years raising Kayla.

The room they had originally kept for me was filled with her trophies.

They promised to sort everything out gradually.

Later, I moved in with Lucien, but the trophies were never removed.

"Found them." Dad handed me my documents. He then suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Do you remember how we promised to take you skiing up north the year you came home? Next year, I'll clear my schedule so we can finally go."

I put the documents in my bag. "We'll see."

Before I left, Mom approached me with the dress and held it against me. "This color suits you too. Wear it to Noah's party."

It was a long, dark blue dress.

She had finally remembered my favorite color, but by then, I no longer wanted to stay for her sake. "I'm not going."

The smile faded from Mom's face. "Erin, Kayla has been worried that you're still angry. What will everyone think if you don't show up?"

I met her gaze. "Mom, I just lost my pup. If I sit there, I might not be able to stop crying."

Her hand finally dropped.

The dress slipped from her grasp, and its hem trailed across the carpet.

I didn't explain any further. I turned around and walked out the front door.

Mom called after me from behind.

For a moment, I thought she was finally going to ask whether I'd been sleeping well these past few days.

Instead, she said, "Then just have Lucien come over. Kayla needs someone to keep her company."