Chapter 2

Early the next morning, I went to the patrol unit to hand over my duties.

Ever since Kenny became Alpha, I had served as his Beta.

"You're leaving? Does Kenny know?" Joey Canberra looked shocked.

"He'll know once I'm gone."

After saying goodbye to Joey, I headed to the training grounds. While there, I ran into Kenny, who had just come out from the shower. His fur was still damp.

He shook his wrists and glanced at me. "I drank too much last night, so I stayed out and didn't go home."

In seven years, this was the first time he had ever explained himself.

I nodded and said nothing.

"Do you have a mission this morning?" he asked.

I looked at him.

Every single morning, I woke up early to prepare breakfast and soup for him.

I had done that ever since Kenny became Alpha at eighteen.

When he didn't see me this morning, it felt odd to him.

I simply nodded. "Yeah."

I turned around to leave, but Kenny suddenly frowned. His expression darkened as he grabbed my arm.

"Ella, that's enough. It's just a rescheduled marking ceremony. It's not like I'm not marking you at all. It's pointless to make a fuss like this."

I wasn't making a fuss, and I wasn't planning on being marked anymore.

Just as I was about to speak, a soft, clingy whine cut in.

"Kenny! It's all your fault!

"The roses you picked for me this morning aren't even the kind I like!

"I like red roses. Don't forget that next time, okay?"

Leah walked out of the changing room in Kenny's clothes.

The moment Kenny saw her, he shoved me aside and ran over to scoop her up in his arms.

His tone turned urgent and stern. "You're not feeling well, and yet you're still running around barefoot? What if you get worse?"

I chuckled.

At the beginning of the month, when I was badly injured, I curled up in bed in pain and begged Kenny to help me get some painkillers.

He frowned at me back then. "Does it hurt that much? It's just a minor wound. Can't you endure it? You're such a hassle."

When I came back to my senses, Kenny had already carried Leah far away.

I looked away and ignored the sharp ache in my chest.

After booking my flight, my phone displayed Leah's latest Instagram post that included a caption.

[Just because I said I liked red roses, Kenny said he's going to plant an entire garden full of them for me! Being cherished like this feels amazing!]

Leah posted it deliberately for me to see, but I didn't care.

I liked the post. I then returned to my own profile and removed the background photo of Kenny and me.