Chapter 4

A week later, Kyle's mother — the pack's elder, Evelyn Wilson — called me.

"Selina, come to the main hall for dinner tomorrow. I want to talk about the wedding."

I hesitated a long time. In the end, I said yes.

Even if I was ending this, I owed the older woman a proper explanation. She'd been kind to me these seven years.

The next evening, I arrived at the main hall on time.

Evelyn held my hand and chatted, dropping hints about the wedding. I was trying to figure out how to tell her it was over when Kyle walked in with Lina.

"Mom, Lina wanted to try your cooking, so I brought her along." Kyle smiled like it was nothing.

Evelyn's face tightened.

Lina immediately went into sweet mode. "Evelyn, I hope I'm not intruding. I can leave if this is a family thing."

"You're here now, sit down." Kyle pulled out a chair for her. Right next to me.

No — one seat away from me.

One empty seat between us.

Like that seat was saved for me, but also like anyone could sit there.

Evelyn cleared her throat. "Kyle, we're here to talk about you and Selina's wedding. Why did you bring someone else?"

"She's not someone else." Kyle picked up the menu. "Lina's new to the pack. She should get to know the family."

He ordered dish after dish. All Lina's favorites.

Lina liked spicy food. Kyle liked spicy food. I did not.

Every time the three of us ate together, I'd sit there drinking water, tears streaming down my face from the heat.

"Kyle, order fewer spicy dishes." Evelyn frowned and glanced at me.

Kyle seemed to just remember. "Fine, add a sweet soup. Selina likes sweet stuff."

Bitterness flooded my chest.

At the very end, he threw me a bone.

"Kyle," Lina said hesitantly, looking at him, then at me. "Selina's lactose intolerant. That soup has milk."

Only then did Kyle look flustered. He flipped through the menu. "Oh, right, we'll change it to — "

"Don't bother."

I stood up.

Seven years.

Seven years wasn't enough for him to remember I couldn't eat spicy food or drink milk.

My own dietary restrictions had to be pointed out by another woman.

I looked at Evelyn, my voice steady. "I'm sorry, Evelyn. I won't be staying for dinner."

"Kyle and I are done."

I turned and walked out of the main hall.

Behind me, Kyle shouted, "Selina! Get back here!"

I didn't look back.

As I pushed through the doors, I heard Lina say, "Evelyn, don't be mad. Let me go talk to her."

Talk to me.

She couldn't wait for me to leave.

I reached the parking lot. My phone buzzed.

Kyle: What the hell is wrong with you? Come back.

I didn't reply.

Another one: Selina, stop being dramatic. Mom's angry. Come apologize and we'll move on.

Apologize.

I should apologize.

I stared at the screen and laughed.

He really didn't see the problem. Or maybe he just never wanted to.

In his eyes, I was just a petulant, unreasonable, permanent accessory.

I blocked his number.

As my car pulled away, I took one last look at the Wilson territory's main hall.

All the lights were on.

But none of them were lit for me.