Chapter 3

After arriving home from the venue, I saw Sienna and Duke sitting by the dining table as soon as I stepped through the front door.

They were reading a document, but their bodies were pressed tightly against one another.

I had built this house meticulously—to make a world for myself and Duke without anyone.

And because I had yet to leave, I despise the thought that Duke brought someone in my turf without my approval.

Sienna noticed me first, and pulled flirtatiously on Duke's necktie, purring, "Duke…"

Duke sighed exasperatedly, but the next moment he smiled at Sienna adoringly as if used to such pranks. "Stop it. I'm reading."

Sienna shot me a provoking grin in turn, and only then did she tell Duke, "Fiona's back."

Duke promptly leapt aside to pull away from Sienna, even as he looked up at me panickily, "I left something here, and Sienna came since she was worried."

I frowned but stayed silent, while Sienna got up too. "It's alright. I'll leave since Fiona doesn't welcome me."

However, as she turned, she suddenly dropped to a crouch, clutching her ankle as she yelped, "Ouch! I think I sprained my ankle!"

"Sienna!" Duke promptly leapt towards her, scooping her up in his arms and ready to move her to the couch. "Just wait. I'll get you some medicine!"

I smirked as I stopped Duke—refusing to let Sienna get her scent on the two-person couch.

After all, werewolves were well-built and heal faster than other races, so a sprain would heal in under a minute.

But Sienna was just so good at pretending that Duke got nervous easily.

However, Duke was at once frowning and snapping, "Fiona! How could you be so cold?! What's wrong with letting Sienna rest?!"

He brushed past me and put Sienna on the couch, holding her foot and studying it. "It looks fine. I'll get you the doctor if it still hurts."

"I'm alright, Duke. You worry too much," Sienna blushed as she withdrew her foot and looked pointedly at me, as if afraid.

I had enough, and turned to leave.

However, I barely made a few steps when Duke came chasing me down, "Don't get the wrong idea, Fiona! There's nothing between me and Sienna! I was just worried because she's like a sister to me!"

"Yeah," I nodded calmly.

Duke paused, and then asked gingerly, "You're not upset? You'd be jealous if I did that before…"

"You'd just do it anyway, wouldn't you?" I shot back.

Then, seeing him panic, I shrugged. "Just kidding. Are you staying for dinner?"

Duke looked away in guilt. "There's still work to do. But I'll definitely come home."

I wanted to smile, but couldn't—for him, even coming home now was alms to me.

Why would I want to stay if he was so reluctant?

So I began to pack my bags, but Sienna texted me halfway, attached with a photo of the car trunk full of champagne roses.

[Look, Fiona. Duke still remembers champagne roses—these are my favorite.]

[Thank you for grooming such a perfect partner. He's so much more romantic than before.]

I didn't reply, and quietly ticked another day off the calendar.

-

That night, Duke broke his promise again—in fact, he didn't come home over the next few days either.

As I solemnly cleared signs that I lived in my house and ticked the days off the calendar, I finally understood—when you were disappointed enough, you wouldn't even want to leave anything for the other person to remember you by.

And the day I was supposed to leave, I called Duke, intending to tell him I was breaking up with him and put a perfect full stop to those six years we shared.

However, before I could speak, he was bellowing at me, "Fiona! Do you have to be so pushy?! I told you that I'm busy with the pack, and I don't have the time to spare for the marking ceremony!"

"But you had to go behind my back to get a dress and tell them to send it to my office! What do you want from me?!"

I was taken aback. I forgot that I had asked the tailor both Duke and I admired to design the dress a year ago.

I wanted it to be a surprise, so I had them send it straight to Duke's office.

Hence, I lied, "Don't get the wrong idea here. My friend is getting marked next month, but she must have made a mistake instead.

"Really?" Duke asked, suspicious.

"Yeah."

Duke sighed lengthily in relief, hearing that I was firm on the matter. "Sorry, I was too tired handling negotiations with our neighboring pack's Alpha about an alliance. Can you forgive me?"

"Just give me more time, and we will hold the marking ceremony. Just sit tight and wait for me back home, okay?"

I hung up nonchalantly. If he even cared about me one tiny bit, he'd realize that I have no friends who were going to be marked.

Soon, Sienna's text came.

[You don't get to force Duke to Mark you just because you want to be Luna. Did you think he would do it just because you bought a dress?]

[Quit dreaming. He told me long ago that I'm the only Luna for him and the Forest Pack.]

[Just state your price. What do you want for you to leave? 100 grand?]

I laughed as I read the text.

Sienna just didn't get it—I was not her, because I was not desperate to become Luna.

I stayed only because I loved Duke, just like how I loved that wedding dress.

But now, I didn't want that wedding dress—or Duke, for that matter.

Hence, the next day, I ticked the final day off the calendar even before sunrise.

Before I left—without ever looking back, I sent Duke one final text, before blocking his number.

From now on, this pack where I didn't belong wouldn't ever see me or my personal effects again.