Chapter 3

Joanna Bennett POV

I went to the training field despite my injury.

My ankle was thickly bandaged; I didn't participate, only supervised training all day from the sidelines.

Someone asked if I wanted to take the day off, but I said no, sitting there was still work.

I returned home at 8 PM; the entryway light was off.

Only my shoes were on the shoe rack, and there were no messages from him on my phone.

Another day and night he hadn't come home.

I was pouring water when I received Alpha Leo's mind link.

"Have you really decided to leave?" he asked me.

"Yes. I… I want to go somewhere I can better utilize my abilities."

In the Frostveil Pack, I seemed destined to be just a squad leader.

Because the pack's Beta and Delta held considerable influence, it was difficult for me to surpass their positions.

"More than that, we want you to be safe," Alpha Leo said. "That's also why we didn't arrange for you to inherit your mother's position; we couldn't let her only daughter continue to face danger."

I was silent for a moment, then genuinely said, "Thank you, Alpha Leo. Even if I leave the pack, I will always love you and Luna Elena."

Alpha Leo sighed. "Alright, gather your documents. Beta Cole will arrange everything for your departure."

Ending the conversation, I walked into the bedroom.

I opened the bedside table: identification, bank cards, and some documents related to the squad I managed.

And, of course, the investigation into the attackers' identity…

I placed the documents one by one into a folder.

Mid-packing, I suddenly paused and scanned the room.

Caleb had a slight obsession with cleanliness; he disliked having too many cluttered items at home.

When I first moved in, I bought a floor lamp, but he said it didn't match, so I returned it.

Later, I wanted to grow flowers on the balcony, but he said it would attract bugs, so I didn't.

Over five years, I had learned to curb my presence in this home.

Only now, as I packed, did I realize how few of my belongings there were, not even enough to fill one suitcase.

A few changes of seasonal clothes, a pair of spare combat boots, a jewelry box, identification documents, and some files from when I became a patrol squad leader.

That was all.

Five years, condensed into half a suitcase.

The bedroom door suddenly opened.

Caleb walked in, pausing when he saw the scattered documents on the bed.

"What are you busy with?"

"Organizing some materials," I said, not looking up. "I thought we could travel together for Christmas, so I'm preparing in advance."

"Christmas?" Caleb glanced at me. "It's only July—"

He was cut off by his phone ringing.

Chloe's name lit up the screen.

"Caleb, I'm not very familiar with tonight's patrol route, can you come help me?"

The voice on the other end wasn't loud, but in the quiet room, it was clearly audible.

Caleb hung up and looked at me, his lips moving.

He looked guilty, yet he couldn't put Chloe aside.

"Go," I said, folding a document and slipping it into a bag. "Work is important."

Caleb stood still, his brows furrowed, perhaps sensing something was off.

If it had been the old me, I would have frowned and said, "She's a werewolf warrior too, why can't she handle such a small thing?"

"There are so many warriors in the pack, why does she always call you?"

But this time, I said nothing.

My eyes didn't even leave the documents.

"I might not be back tonight," he said. "Dinner together tomorrow morning?"

"Okay."

Caleb left, relieved.

The door closed softly.

Listening to his footsteps fade, I packed all the remaining materials into the folder and sealed it.