Chapter 2

There were very few buses heading to the weapons research lab. The next available one wasn't until tomorrow morning.

I returned home and began packing my things. That was when Kyle called again.

"Have you bought your ticket? When will you get here?"

I paused what I was doing.

Suddenly, I wanted to know how Kyle would react if he found out I'd changed my destination.

I opened my mouth, but Kyle interrupted me before I could speak. "Call the resort first and ask them to postpone our itinerary by a day."

"Why?"

"Caroline wants to visit the snowy mountains in the north."

The north.

I'd wanted Kyle to take Ethan and me there for a family skiing trip for ages.

He always told me that the pack was too busy and he couldn't get away. We'd have to wait until another time.

I'd waited two years, but that day never came.

Yet now, all it took was one casual suggestion from Caroline for him to change his plans.

"Why don't you contact the resort yourself? I–"

Before I could finish saying that I wasn't going, Kyle lowered his voice. His tone turned impatient. "Elena, since when have you become so petty? Are you willing to ruin Ethan's vacation over a single seat?"

He still thought I was upset about the seating arrangement.

"The resort doesn't allow itinerary changes. You can cancel the booking if you want."

I simply told him the truth.

Mooncrest Manor was a popular vacation destination.

I'd spent three months securing our reservation.

"Forget it, Kyle. You shouldn't have to change your plans because of me." Caroline tried to persuade him in a gentle voice.

Instead, it only made Kyle angrier.

His voice turned even colder as he barked an order at me. "Either you change the itinerary, or you don't get to join us at all!"

He abruptly ended the call.

I stared at the family photo on my phone's wallpaper and became momentarily lost in thought.

It was a family portrait we'd taken three years ago.

Kyle had loved that picture so much that he'd had it printed and placed in the most prominent spot in our living room.

I turned around to look at the living room.

At some point, it had become filled with Caroline's belongings.

Countless times, I'd told myself that Kyle only looked after Caroline because of me.

Ethan was only so close to Caroline because I had encouraged their relationship.

Only now did I realize the truth: they were simply tired of having me around.

A notification popped up on my phone.

Caroline had published a new photo on her Instagram account.

In the background, a range of snow-covered mountains stretched into the distance.

Kyle stood beside Caroline while his arm rested naturally on her shoulder.

Ethan stood between them. He was holding both their hands and smiling brighter than I'd seen him smile in a long time.

There was a caption.

[Thank you, my dearest family.]

Comments quickly started pouring in.

[Such a happy family of three!]

[This Alpha and Luna make such a perfect couple.]

Kyle's profile appeared among those who liked the post.

I stared at the photo while recalling how both our families had once tried their hardest to match Kyle and Caroline together.

Back then, everyone had been convinced that Caroline would become Kyle's mate.

But Kyle had stubbornly held on to my hand and declared in front of everyone that I was the only one he would ever accept as his Luna.

Yet now, someone else was standing by his side.

I wiped away the tears in the corners of my eyes and typed out a congratulatory comment.

The moment I posted it, Kyle called. "Elena, have you lost your mind? Do you want the other packs to laugh at us?"

"I meant every word." My voice was unusually calm. "Kyle, let's sever our mate bond."

Kyle paused before softening his tone. "My relationship with Caroline isn't what you think it is. Just come over. We can talk about this in person."

Before I could refuse, I heard my son complaining. "But Dad, if Mom comes, we won't be able to have fun with Caroline."

"Ethan Robinson."

I clenched my fist and called Ethan by his full name. This was something I had never done before.

I could clearly hear his nervous breathing through the phone.

Suppressing the emotions surging inside me, I spoke calmly. "I'm not going over."

I would be leaving this family very soon.