Chapter 1

It was peak vacation season, and the bus station was packed with werewolves.

I, Elena Robinson, was jostled around until my stomach churned. All I could do was lean against my suitcase to ease the nausea.

Right then, my phone lit up with a message from the resort.

The staff wanted to confirm tonight's dinner menu and our itinerary for the next three days.

Our family vacations had always been like this.

From travel routes and hotels to meals, I was the one who researched and planned everything according to their preferences.

After thinking it over, I highlighted a few dishes and asked them to leave out the ingredients my younger sister, Caroline Carter, disliked.

Right after I sent the message, my mate, Kyle Robinson, called. "Where did you put the motion sickness pills you brought this morning? Caroline's feeling really car sick."

My heart clenched. "You'll find them in the first-aid kit on the back seat."

I heard my son Ethan Robinson's voice in the background. "Dad, does Mom get carsick too?"

I tightened my grip on my phone. I suddenly recalled how Kyle used to be the one who knew my physical condition best during the first few years we formed our mate bond.

Before every long trip, he would prepare motion sickness pills for me in advance.

But now, he had actually forgotten why I always carried them.

"Mom, hurry up and teach me how to make Caroline feel better!" Ethan raised his voice anxiously.

Despite the discomfort in my stomach, I forced myself to explain every step in detail.

I told him how to support Caroline so she wouldn't fall and to open the window to let in some fresh air.

Ethan, who usually complained that I nagged too much, didn't utter a single word of protest this time.

Not long after that, I heard Caroline coughing violently through the phone.

Ethan spoke again. His voice was full of panic. "Mom, you're awful! Why isn't Caroline getting better yet?"

Before I could explain, Kyle questioned me coldly. "Are you doing this on purpose? Just because we didn't have time to look after you, you're taking it out on Caroline?"

I froze and felt cold all over.

In his eyes, I was deliberately putting Caroline through this just because I was throwing a tantrum.

Growing up, my parents always told me that I was the older sister and had to give in to Caroline.

If she liked something of mine, I was expected to give it to her.

If she made a mistake, I was the one who had to take the blame.

Everyone told me that, as the older sister, I was supposed to be mature and understanding.

Kyle had been the only one who cared about me and stood up for me.

When we became mates, he even made me a promise. "From now on, you're my Luna. I'll never let anyone bully you."

But now, he had given all the care and affection he once reserved for me to Caroline.

"Kyle, don't blame Elena. I'm the one who insisted on coming with you."

Caroline tried to defend me weakly, but Ethan cut her off. "Mom's just being selfish! She's always been jealous of you!"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Kyle didn't immediately correct our son, and that told me everything I needed to know.

"Ethan, don't talk to your mom like that."

When Caroline said that, Ethan immediately fell silent.

In the past, no matter how much trouble he caused, he would always talk back whenever I tried to correct him.

But around Caroline, he suddenly became an obedient pup.

"That's enough, Elena. When you get here, you're going to apologize to Caroline," Kyle uttered.

Before I could even respond, he hung up.

My fingertips were ice-cold and trembling as I opened my suitcase.

At the very top was a carefully wrapped pastry box.

Inside were all the pastries I'd baked that morning for Kyle and Ethan.

The night before our trip, Ethan had begged me to make him something sweet.

I'd gotten up early and skipped breakfast just to bake these pastries for them.

I stuffed the pastries into my mouth one by one.

Right then, a notification appeared in my email inbox.

The Royal City Weapons Research Lab had sent me another offer.

For years, they'd repeatedly contacted me, hoping I'd join them as a weapons consultant.

I'd always turned them down, using my responsibilities to Kyle and Ethan as an excuse.

But now, if there was no longer room for me in this family, perhaps it was time I returned to where I truly belonged.

I clicked on the email and replied to it.

[I accept your offer.]