Chapter 1

Through the half-opened car window, Ella leaned out and called back to me.

“Sorry, Celine, my bad. I just wanted to hit the bar and relax. But don’t worry. I’ll have Alpha Leon bring you something to eat when we get back!”

Before I could respond, Alpha Leon smiled and ruffled her hair.

“You little glutton. Just because you love food doesn’t mean everyone else does.

“Don’t mind her. She’ll eat and then start claiming she’s acting up from her wolfsbane poisoning again. I don’t have time for that kind of act.”

So it wasn’t that he hadn’t noticed how unwell I looked. He just thought I was faking it out of jealousy.

In the past, I would’ve already broken down, crying and arguing, trying to explain.

However, this time, I said nothing and only nodded.

“Alright. Have fun.”

Leon froze for a moment, then smirked again.

“Good. As long as you don’t start anything.”

The car drove off.

Before leaving, Leon had lowered all the windows, afraid Ella would feel stuffy.

I got carsick easily, and somehow it was always especially worse in Leon’s car. He never lowered the window for me, though.

“Carsick? Sounds fake. Can you stop being so delicate?”

I understood now.

I took off the ring on my ring finger and tossed it into the passing garbage truck.

Early the next morning, I went to the pack to hand over my resignation.

Ever since Leon took over from the previous Alpha, I had been his secretary.

“You’re resigning? Does Alpha Leon know?” the Beta asked in shock.

“He’ll know when the new secretary arrives.”

With that, I left without looking back.

When I got home, I ran into Leon. He was carrying the fresh scent of my body wash.

He adjusted his wrist, then looked down at me.

“Something urgent came up last night, so I didn't return for fear of interrupting your sleep.”

This was the first time in five years he had explained himself to me.

I nodded, saying nothing.

“Where did you go this morning?” he asked.

I looked at him.

After every banquet, I would wake before dawn and make warm meat soup for him.

It made sense why he would ask, since he had come back this morning and not seen anything.

“I went to deal with some matters.”

I turned to leave, but Leon, who had been frowning, suddenly grabbed my wrist, his face darkening.

“Celine, that’s enough.

“It’s just a date change. It’s not like I’m not going to mark you, so it’s pointless for you to keep this up.”

However, I wasn’t making a scene, and I truly didn’t plan to let him mark me anymore.

I thought it would be better to make things clear, and was just about to speak when a soft, complaining voice sounded.

“Alpha Leon! This is all your fault!

“The thing you bought me this morning is the wrong size!

“This style doesn’t fit me at all! You really don’t understand me, Alpha Leon!”

Ella walked out wearing Leon’s shirt, only two buttons loosely fastened, her collarbone exposed. She went straight to him, hooked her arm through his, and swayed lightly.

Leon’s frown instantly smoothed out. His voice turned gentle, a tone I had never heard from him before.

“Why didn’t you sleep a little longer? I’ll get you the right size next time.”

He even reached out to fix her slightly messy hair, the motion natural and familiar. It was as if they were the ones who had spent five years together.

I watched them, my heart tightening as if gripped by something unseen.

Yet the sharp pain from before was gone. Only a numb emptiness remained.

It was then that Ella noticed me. A hint of smugness flashed in her eyes before she feigned surprise.

“Oh, Celine, you’re here too? Sorry, I thought it was just the two of us at Leon’s place.”

She stressed “just the two of us”, as if claiming something.

Leon didn’t deny it. He only glanced at me with impatience, like I had interrupted them.

I pulled my hand from his grip, my fingertips cold.

“I just came to get something. I’ll be leaving soon,” I said calmly, without a ripple.