Chapter 4

Joanna Bennett POV

I woke up the next day to a cold pillow.

I picked up my phone and saw a message, sent at three A.M.

[Last night was an emergency. Couldn't make it back this morning. I'm sorry.]

I looked at it for two seconds, then locked the screen.

The apology was real, and so was his inability to return.

There were always so many things ahead of me, so many that "I'm sorry" had become a common phrase.

After training that evening, I carried my bag home. As I changed shoes in the entryway, I heard voices in the living room.

I walked in and saw Chloe sitting on the sofa, wearing loose loungewear, with a suitcase at her feet.

Caleb stood beside her, his expression tightening the moment he saw me.

"Chloe… she's not quite settled since she came back, she always has trouble sleeping alone," he fumbled for his words. "She lost touch with her pack friends during her years abroad, and now I'm the person she's closest to. I thought I'd let her stay in the guest room for a few days, until she adjusts, then—"

"Okay."

I put down my bag.

Caleb tensed all over, his lips slightly parted, as if he was scrambling for excuses in his mind.

But I agreed too quickly, so quickly that the expression on his face instantly froze, like he'd choked on cold air, unable to utter a single word.

Chloe stood up from the sofa, her voice soft. "Caleb, can I invite a few friends over for dinner? A welcome home party for me. I'd feel more at ease if you arranged it."

Caleb hadn't answered yet when I spoke. "Sure, I'll prepare it."

Chloe smiled, a fleeting flash of triumph in her eyes.

That evening, Chloe's invited friends arrived one after another.

They were all Caleb's old friends, along with some members from other packs who had attended school with them.

The living room quickly grew lively, everyone gathered around Chloe.

They talked about her experiences, how she'd gotten thinner, how she was still as beautiful as ever.

I was in the kitchen, cutting fruit, pouring drinks, and changing plates.

I entered and exited the living room many times; no one asked if I wanted to sit down and chat with them.

After a few rounds of drinks, someone, a little drunk, slung an arm around Caleb's shoulder.

"I say, Caleb, if you and Chloe hadn't broken up back then, you'd probably have kids by now, right? Hahahaha—"

The living room fell silent for an instant.

Caleb's face changed, and he sharply looked at me.

I was coming out of the kitchen, carrying a platter of sliced watermelon.

I placed the platter on the coffee table and smiled.

"Yeah, what a shame."

My tone was light, like commenting on a movie.

But no one dared to speak again.

The man awkwardly drank his drink, and it took a while for the atmosphere to ease.

Caleb stared at my profile for a long time.

I was smiling.

But there was nothing in that smile.

No jealousy, no resentment, not even a trace of caring.

Like an outsider hosting guests.

After the dinner broke up, I was washing dishes in the kitchen.

Chloe leaned against the doorframe. "Joanna, do you know that Caleb and I are fated mates?"

The water faucet ran. My hands didn't stop.

"The Mating Ceremony was all planned," Chloe said loudly. "I was the one who broke up with him. I wanted to go abroad, he begged me to stay, but I refused."

I turned off the faucet and placed the last plate in the rack.

I turned around, drying my hands, and looked at Chloe. "So?"

Chloe met my gaze, her smile confident, even carrying a hint of pity.

"So I'm back." She took a step forward. "This spot in this home is mine; it's time for you, the replacement, to make your exit."

The kitchen was silent for a few seconds.

I folded the hand towel and hung it back on the hook.

"You're right," I said. "It is time for me to make my exit."

Chloe's smile stiffened. "Joanna Bennett, you'd better understand your place. You're just an orphan with no family, you—"