Chapter 2

The werewolves had a tradition of skiing together after the first snowfall of the year. The pack was holding a skiing event that day, and Annie was joining in too.

I was putting on my protective gear when someone suddenly took it from me. Randy was holding a better set, and he helped me strap it around my knees.

"Annie and I picked this out for you. She said this is safer."

Before I could say anything, Annie called out, "Alpha Randy, can you teach me how to ski downhill later?"

Randy immediately walked over to her, and I stood where I was, watching them ski away.

He was the one who taught me how to ski. Back then, he was so eager to teach me that he nearly fell against an icy rock. I rushed over, grabbed his skis, and saved him just in time.

Randy had held me tightly in his arms and told me I'd saved him once again and that I was the only warmth in his life.

Now, his attention was all on Annie.

The snow covered a layer of ice, making the slope rough and uneven. Randy waited at the finish line and arranged for Annie and me to practice skiing together.

As we skied, Annie moved closer to me and spoke in a voice low enough that only I could hear, "Nora, sometimes, I really pity you. You waited year after year like a fool and got nothing out of it. I didn't have to do a thing, and he gave me a necklace of his own accord."

I glanced at the delicate moon necklace around her neck. It was clearly made with expensive materials and fine craftsmanship.

Randy had promised that on the day of our marking ceremony, he'd have the most beautiful moon necklace made for me so the Moon Goddess would always watch over me.

But now, the gift that should have been mine was with Annie.

She chuckled and crashed her skis into mine. The world spun around me as we both tumbled into a snow ditch.

The ice and snow sliced open my forearm, and I felt a dull ache in my bones. But the pain in my chest was worse. I felt like my breath was blocked.

Randy rushed toward me, a rare hint of panic on his face. He crouched down, checked my bleeding arm, and helped me up.

My eyes reddened as I struggled to stay alert. "Annie deliberately bumped into me."

Randy's expression darkened, and he grabbed my shoulders. "Nora, this is not the time to act out."

He checked on Annie, who was crying nearby. Once he saw she wasn't badly hurt, he turned to me. "Annie wouldn't do something like that."

"Randy, you have to hear me out. This isn't an accident. She deliberately bumped into me."

Annie began to cry, acting as if she'd been terribly wronged. "Nora, are you upset because I'm wearing this necklace? Alpha Randy gave it to me as a reward for training hard. If you don't like it, I'll take it off."

She tried to unclasp it.

"Just leave it on." Randy stopped her, his voice casual. "Nora acted impulsively this time. Don't take it to heart."

He carefully examined Annie's wounds. When he noticed her ankle was hurt, he picked her up. "Let's get your wounds treated."

Randy left without looking at me again.

My hopes gradually faded as they walked away.

Annie shed a few tears, and he believed her. Even though I'd been hurt too and tried to defend myself, he still wouldn't believe me.