Chapter 2

The next morning, Eric prepared breakfast for me as usual.

It was as if nothing had happened.

"You previously said you wanted venison pie, so I learned how to make it."

I didn't touch it.

"The marking ceremony is canceled. It's over between us."

Eric's expression stiffened, but he quickly pretended nothing had happened and placed the plate in front of me.

"It won't taste good once it gets cold. Try some."

I frowned and slapped his hand away.

"I said it's over. Don't you get it?"

Eric said nothing.

"Fine. Then I'll leave," I said.

"Come on." Eric quickly stopped me. His eyes welled with tears a little.

"Evelyn, I don't know what happened.

"But whatever it is, I'll wait for you. Be it a day, a year, or even longer. I can wait."

I looked at Eric's lonely silhouette and thought about what he had said to Candice the night before.

Suddenly, he felt like a stranger.

I no longer knew which Eric was the real one.

That afternoon, I met my friend Lily Langdon at a cafe.

Since I had decided to leave, I wanted to say goodbye to her.

"Have you really decided to go back to the academy?"

After I said yes, Lily pursed her lips. She hesitated for a while before finally speaking.

"You know, the werewolf I've been dating recently is a healer from the neighboring Moonshadow Pack. He said he saw Eric with another shewolf!"

I stood up.

"Give me the address."

When I arrived, I happened to see Eric accompanying Candice into the healer's den.

The door wasn't fully closed, so I could at least hear their voices.

"Congratulations. You're with pup."

The healer's voice came through the door.

"You're five weeks with pup, and the fetus is developing steadily."

I then heard Candice's delighted voice.

"Eric, did you hear that? You're going to be a father!"

Eric hummed softly. His raised intonation revealed that he was excited too.

The two of them left the examination room, and I followed slowly behind them.

I didn't know what Eric whispered into Candice's ear.

Candice suddenly shoved him aside, and her voice trembled with anger.

"What do you mean? Are you seriously telling me to let Evelyn raise the pup?

"That's my pup! Eric, how can you be so cruel?"

Eric quickly pulled Candice into his arms.

"Candice, you misunderstood me. Once we hand over the pup to Evelyn, she won't have time to keep track of where I go, so I'll have more time to come see you.

"Besides, I don't want the pup taking your attention away from me. You can only be mine."

My body went rigid.

So the pup I had found at the pack's gates in my previous life had been Candice's.

Back then, Eric had told me that the Moon Goddess had blessed us with a pup and that we should raise him well.

I never imagined that was all part of his plan.

I clenched my fists. My entire body trembled from the pain of being deceived.

Hidden in the shadows, I watched them walk away hand in hand before bursting into laughter.

It had all been a lie.

The happiness I had believed in during my previous life had all been deliberate deception and betrayal.

I watched them disappear into the distance and clenched my fists.

It was time for this lie to end.