Chapter 4

By the time Alexander arrived, Sophia was practically on her knees at my feet, crying hysterically.

His face darkened instantly. He stormed over, pulled her up, and shielded her behind him.

He glared at me, his jaw clenched.

"Emily, I told you to come at me if you have a problem. Don't take it out on her."

"Just name a price for how much she spent of yours over the years. I'll write you a check right now."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Alpha Blake is indeed generous. Too bad what you two owe me can never be paid back in this lifetime."

Alexander’s expression soured, and he was about to retort when Sophia suddenly screamed,

"Enough!"

Her body shook, but she forced herself to look at me.

"Emily, I don't care if you hate me. I'm not giving him up. From now on, we are even."

She ripped off her apron, grabbed Alexander’s hand, and the two of them walked out without looking back.

I sat by the window. Outside, two high school girls in uniforms were sharing an ice cream, laughing and chatting.

Suddenly, I felt a cold wetness on my cheek. I reached up and realized I was crying.

Sophia and I had met at the Werewolf Academy. We were young werewolves, sharing a dorm room.

I was the latest bloomer in the entire academy.

While others completed their first shift in their early teens, I couldn't summon my wolf.

If my father hadn't died saving the Elder Alpha, I wouldn't have even had the chance to study there.

I was a joke to everyone.

"The late bloomer," "the wolf-less freak," "the dead weight"—they said it to my face and behind my back. They tripped me during training, knocked my tray over at lunch, and threw my belongings out the window at night.

I learned not to cry, because crying never brought help.

Only Sophia was different.

She was a Beta’s daughter, from a high-ranking family, and one of the earliest to shift. She always had plenty of followers, but she chose me.

The first time she stood up for me was when a senior Alpha's son threw my backpack into a mud pit.

Sophia walked right up, picked up the bag, wiped it clean, shoved it into my arms, and glared at the boy. "She's my friend. Touch her again and see what happens."

From then on, she dragged me to train with her, eat with her, and complete missions together.

She always said, "You're just a little slower than the others, but you'll end up stronger than all of them. I know it."

She would lick her ice cream and pat my shoulder carelessly.

"Don't cry, Emily. I can tell you have the potential to be a warrior. When you become the strongest warrior in the Pack, just remember to buy me the best BBQ."

In my teenage years, Sophia was my first hero.

She was the most important person in my life.

When I got home, all traces of them were gone.

I stared at the empty house, feeling dazed.

When I first bought this place, I had set aside a bedroom specifically for Sophia.

Alexander had been annoyed back then.

I had just smiled and said it was my promise to her.

At her wedding, I was her maid of honor.

After catching her bouquet, I promised her that as long as I was alive, she would always have a home to return to.

But now, the one without a home was me.

There were still things Alexander hadn't packed yet.

The medals we won at the academy tournament,

Our vacation photos,

Our matching toothbrushes in the bathroom,

The blanket left on the couch, and the book on the coffee table.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could picture them fooling around on this very sofa.

I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom, dry-heaving until my stomach burned.

I looked up at my reflection in the mirror—pale, exhausted, and barely recognizable.

Alexander was the previous Alpha's son, and I had once sworn to serve him forever.

I had also successfully been chosen by the Elder Alpha to be the next Beta.

The day Alexander became Alpha, he confessed his love to me.

The usually stoic guy had actually blushed.

"Emily, you're the smartest, toughest girl I've ever met. Give me a chance to take care of you."

So, Alexander became both my Alpha and my boyfriend.

We carried the Pack's responsibilities together, learning how to be leaders.

He was my partner in battle, my fated mate.

Because of him, I had once thought about giving up my dream of becoming the strongest warrior just to be his Luna, helping him manage the pack. I had truly planned to spend the rest of my life with him.

I stared at my reflection and clenched my fists.

They were once my reason for living, the motivation behind my hard work.

Yet, they had dealt me the most fatal blow.

Why should I let them get away with it?

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time.