Chapter 2

Standing on the sidewalk, I suddenly laughed.

For the past three months, I had been so exhausted trying to prove my worth, desperate not to be just a dependent, that I had completely ignored the obvious details.

For instance, every weekend, Ethan would claim the pack had business and disappear for the entire day.

Whenever I asked, he would dismiss me with, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Or that time I went to drop off something at the Packhouse and saw two sets of toiletries in his quarters—one blue, one pink.

But I had never let myself think too deeply about it.

There was also the time I ran into Zara at the local supermarket.

She was tossing items into her cart, and when she saw me, she greeted me warmly.

"Grace! You're shopping too?"

I nodded.

She glanced at my cart and smiled. "Ethan doesn't like that brand of oatmeal. Next time, let me buy it for him."

I froze on the spot.

How did she know what brand of oatmeal Ethan liked?

She giggled. "He’s eaten this brand since he was a kid. He’s used to it."

Since childhood.

Right. They grew up together.

She knew his tastes, she knew his favorite brands, she knew his habits.

And I knew nothing.

I thought as long as I loved him, I could learn these things slowly.

But someone else had already spent twenty years learning everything I was supposed to know.

Another time, I met Zara downstairs after finishing my shift.

She was coming down from our apartment, carrying a trash bag.

Seeing me, she shook the bag and smiled. "Ethan said the kitchen trash needs to be thrown out regularly, or it starts to smell. I was passing by, so I grabbed it for him."

I stared at the trash bag in her hand.

That was our kitchen trash.

She was even doing that for me.

I didn't say a word. When I got upstairs, I stood at the door for a long time.

My hand shook so badly that I couldn't even turn the key in the lock.

Then there was the time Zara walked up to me with a shopping bag.

"Grace, I bought Ethan a pair of slippers. His old ones were worn out, so I grabbed these while I was out."

She pulled them out of the bag to show me.

They were a pair of dark gray house slippers.

I recognized the style.

The slippers Ethan was currently wearing were the ones I bought him three months ago.

He had said they were comfortable and wore them constantly.

Now, he was replacing them.

With the ones she bought.

"You shouldn't have," I said.

"Oh, it's no trouble," she laughed. "Just a minor thing."

A minor thing.

Everything was just a minor thing to her.

Picking up oatmeal, taking out the trash, buying slippers.

Stealing his life away from me, one minor thing at a time.

...

Shaking off my thoughts, I kept walking.

After crossing two blocks and turning three corners, I arrived at the bus terminal.

As I stood in line, I remembered how long the line had been when I first arrived three months ago.

Because I was about to see the man I loved, I hadn't felt tired at all. I had been so hopelessly naive.

When Ethan picked me up, he spun me around in his arms.

Until a girl waved at him.

"Ethan! What a coincidence, Grace and I were on the same bus!"

It was Zara Hayes.

Ethan smiled and took her luggage, explaining to me:

"I forgot to tell you, Zara came along this time too. It's not easy for a young girl to move here by herself."

Zara smiled sweetly. "Grace, I hope we can get along."

My smile stiffened slightly, but I nodded politely.

On the way, I watched them chat quietly.

When she spoke, Ethan would turn his head to listen intently.

When she pointed at the clouds, he would look in the direction of her finger.

The attention that was supposed to belong solely to me was quietly shared with her.

My chest tightened.

But I tried to be happy for him.

After all, having someone he grew up with around would give him some support in the Pack.

During the first couple of months, I tried to pass the Silver Creek Pack's assessment.

But after failing to secure a spot several times, I was left with no choice.

Since awakening my wolf at eighteen, I had always been one of the top warriors in my old pack. I had never experienced failure like this.

Eventually, having no other option, I brought it up to Ethan.

That night after dinner, I sat down next to him.

Hesitantly, I said, "Um... could you... maybe help me out?"

"As a Beta's mate, the application process to join the pack should be a bit easier..."

I couldn't finish the sentence.

In my entire life, I had never asked anyone for a favor or a shortcut.

Even though this was something I rightfully deserved.

"Yeah," he murmured, keeping his head down as he went through his paperwork. "If you want, I'll ask around later."

I felt a slight wave of relief.

But that "later" turned into a month-long wait.

Meanwhile, as far as I knew, Zara had been accepted into the pack long ago, even though her combat skills were practically nonexistent.

The answer had been right in front of my eyes all along. I just didn't want to see it...

The line moved forward.

It was my turn.

The ticket agent looked at me, waiting for my ID.

"Travel between the pack territory and the human town is strictly regulated by the Silver Creek Pack. You don't have a Silver Creek transit pass, so you can't board any transport."

I stood at the window, silent.