Chapter 2

The windows in the old apartment let in a cold draft.

I spent the entire night cleaning the place and squeezing my few belongings into the wardrobe.

The following morning, I returned to Xavier's house.

The smart lock still didn't recognize my fingerprint.

I rang the doorbell, and a servant hurried over to answer it.

"Chloe? What brings you here?"

She looked a little uneasy.

"I need to pick up a few things."

I walked straight to my bedroom and pushed open the door.

Overnight, the room had been completely stripped of any trace of me.

The oil paintings I'd hung on the walls were gone, replaced by posters of Elise's favorite celebrities.

The entire room had even been repainted in colors of her choosing.

I turned my head and noticed the music box sitting on the bedside table.

It was the one my mother had given me shortly before she died.

I reached out, closed its lid, and held it against my chest.

"What are you doing?"

Elise stood in the doorway, dressed in her loungewear.

The moment she saw the music box in my arms, her eyes turned red.

"Xavier lent that to me. I can't sleep without its music playing at night."

"That belonged to my mother."

I kept my voice calm.

Xavier heard the commotion and walked out of his study.

"What's going on?"

Elise immediately stepped behind him, her voice trembling.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it belonged to Chloe."

Xavier frowned at the music box in my arms.

"Chloe, it's just a music box."

"Elise hasn't been sleeping well lately. Just let her borrow it for a few days."

"I'll buy you an even better one. Something more expensive."

My fingers tightened around the music box.

"It was my mother's."

Xavier's expression stiffened for a moment before he softened his voice again.

"If Mom were still here, she'd feel sorry for Elise, too."

"Be good. Don't act like a child."

I watched him reach out for it.

Then, slowly, I loosened my fingers.

He took the music box from me and placed it directly into Elise's arms.

"Thank you, Xavier."

Elise broke into a smile. Her triumphant gaze flickered toward me.

I turned away and walked to the bookshelf. From the bottom shelf, I pulled out a brown paper folder containing my identity records and slipped it into my backpack.

"We have guests coming over tonight."

Xavier called after me.

"It's Elise's official welcome dinner. She's finally being recognized as a member of the Silver Moon Pack."

He paused.

"Since you're already here, why don't you stay for dinner?"

I stopped.

"I have something to do..."

"Chloe, don't spoil everyone's evening."

I hesitated, then looked him in the eye.

"All right."

At seven that evening, the banquet hall was brightly lit.

The long dining table was covered with lace tablecloths.

Xavier sat at the head of the table.

The seat to his left was reserved for core Pack members. It had always been mine.

I walked over and had just begun pulling out the chair when Elise squeezed past me, nervously twisting her fingers.

"Chloe, I don't know anyone over there. I'm a little scared. Could I sit here?"

I turned my head and immediately noticed the crescent-shaped blue sapphire brooch pinned to her chest.

A wave of disgust washed over me.

It was a piece of jewelry my parents had paid a fortune for at an auction while they were still alive.

When they gave it to me, they had told both Xavier and me that I was to wear it during my mating ceremony.

I never expected Xavier to give it away to someone else.

He walked over and patted my shoulder.

"Elise is shy. Why don't you take the empty seat at the far end?"

I looked at him, then at the sapphire on Elise's chest.

Without a word, I walked to the end of the table and took a seat among the ordinary Pack members.

Throughout the entire evening, Xavier introduced Elise to one Pack member after another.

Nobody paid any attention to me sitting in the corner.

Even the waiter serving red wine overlooked my glass.

After dinner, the guests gradually began to leave.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked to the entrance to put on my shoes.

"I probably won't be coming back here anymore."

I spoke with my back to Xavier.

He was helping Elise remove the brooch and place it in a jewelry box.

Hearing my words, he turned around and smiled casually.

"That's understandable. You're about to have your mating ceremony with Caleb. You'll be busy preparing for it."

"Besides, Elise is sensitive. She keeps feeling like she's taking your place."

"Maybe she'll feel more comfortable if you don't come around so often."

I watched his carefree smile and swallowed the rest of what I had wanted to say.

The next morning, the status of my Moon Harbor Pack application was updated.

【Stage One approved. Please provide a relocation consent form signed by your current Alpha, along with your personal records.】