Chapter 2

The movers carried boxes in and out, stacking them in my new apartment.

It was a small place in the human part of town, a forty-minute drive from pack territory. The rent wasn't cheap, but it was quiet. No pack drama. No one looking at me like, "Look, that's the she-wolf Kyle dumped."

I sat on the only unpacked box and looked around.

There was almost nothing of Kyle's on the walls.

An old pair of boots he'd left here. A mug he'd used. A scarf he'd forgotten. Five things total.

And I'd bought every single one of them myself.

He'd never given me anything.

For Lina's birthday, he'd bought her a silver wolf pendant. "A silver wolf in the moonlight suits you perfectly," he'd said. For my birthday, he'd said "Happy birthday" and nothing else. Not even a cake.

I'd confronted him. He'd said, "All that formal stuff is meaningless. We're real — we don't need gifts to prove it."

But Lina needed gifts.

I laughed bitterly. My phone rang.

It was my mom.

"Selina, have you and Kyle talked more about the wedding?"

Not long ago, Kyle had finally approached the pack elders about marriage. I thought it was the end of the hard times. I thought he'd finally seen my worth.

But his proposal had no ceremony. No ring. No flowers. Not even down on one knee.

He'd just said it from behind me while I was cooking. "The elders say we should become mates. Get ready for it."

No "Will you marry me?" No look at my face.

Like he was telling me about a decision already made.

I'd been hurt, but I'd nodded. Because I thought, seven years. He's finally taking the step.

Now I was just relieved.

A man who wouldn't even pick me up when I had a fever — was I supposed to give birth alone while he was off somewhere else?

"Mom, no wedding. I'm breaking up with him."

Long silence.

"Why? Did he hurt you?"

"No. I just realized we don't fit."

My mom sighed.

She knew me. She knew that when I said "don't fit," the decision was already made.

I had chased Kyle in the beginning.

He was the eldest son of the Wilson family, the future pack alpha. The first time I saw him was at an inter-pack gathering. He stood on the platform, moonlight on his face, looking like a warrior from a legend.

I spent three years getting close to him, learning his world. I learned their language, their rules, their hunting methods.

After graduation, he took a job in the northern pack. Without a second thought, I turned down a position my advisor had recommended for me, packed my suitcase, and followed him.

My mom didn't speak to me for two weeks. I said only one thing: "Mom, if I miss out on him, I'll regret it forever."

Now I knew the regret wasn't missing out on him. It was wasting seven years.

My phone buzzed again.

Kyle: Come to the main hall. The elders want to see you.

I didn't reply.

Ten minutes later: Selina? Where are you?

Still nothing.

Then a third, clearly annoyed: Lina says you're not in the territory. Where the hell are you?

I stared at the message. It was almost funny.

He wasn't looking for me because he was worried. He was looking for me because Lina told him I wasn't there.

He hadn't even noticed on his own.

I turned off my phone and kept unpacking.

When the last box was in, I collapsed on the new couch.

Last time I moved, I'd asked Kyle to help. He'd said he had patrol. "Move it yourself. It's not heavy."

I'd moved thirty boxes alone. My back gave out. I spent a week in bed.

But when Lina moved, Kyle brought five pack warriors.

"Moving's hard for a woman. We should help out."

I'd watched him carry the heaviest boxes back and forth, sweat dripping down his chin, and felt nothing but a cold recognition.

So he did know how to help someone move.

He just wouldn't do it for me.