Chapter 2

"Thea, what are you doing squatting here?"

Eleanor's voice came from above my head, startling me.

"I... I'm watching the ants move," I quickly wiped my eyes with my sleeve. "They're so smart, they know it's going to rain..."

I looked up to see Connor standing at the doorway, his face pale as a ghost.

He rushed over in two quick steps and grabbed my arm. "What did you hear?"

His grip hurt, but I didn't dare cry out. "Nothing... nothing at all... I was focused on watching the little ants..."

Connor suddenly let go, his eyes red.

Eleanor sighed. "Thea, go wash your hands and eat."

"I... I'm too full from the honey dates." I kept my head down as I ran into the house. "I want to lie down for a bit..."

After closing the door, I heard Eleanor say outside, "You scared her..."

Connor's voice was muffled. "Mother, I..."

I didn't listen to the rest. I climbed onto the bed and pulled the blanket over my head, thinking: I'm not stupid. I know he's afraid I heard those words.

But the more I thought about it, the more wronged I felt. Back then, he was the one who wanted me to be his mate...

When we were little, our families lived close by in the Moonstone Pack territory, and he always liked to play with me.

That winter was especially cold, and the pond froze over with thick ice.

He was being playful and stepped on the ice, then suddenly fell through.

Without thinking, I jumped into the ice hole to pull him out. I managed to save him, but I was shivering all over from the cold and came down with a high fever when I got home.

For three whole days and nights, my forehead burned like fire.

After the fever broke, my mind started getting fuzzy, and my memory got worse.

The pack children didn't want to play with me anymore, but Connor didn't mind.

He would fiercely chase away the kids who bullied me and secretly give me candy.

Once, his mother held my hand and cried. "This girl became like this because she saved Connor... When you grow up, I'll have Connor mark you and take good care of you for life..."

I blinked and asked Connor, "If I become your mate, can I play with you every day?"

He nodded seriously. "Yes, and I can buy you candy every day too."

So I happily agreed. "Then I'll be your mate when I grow up."

When I came of age, I really did put on the ceremonial white dress and let him mark me as his mate.

He liked to call me "little fool," but he always remembered to bring me honey treats from the nearby town.

In winter, when he was afraid I'd be cold, he would warm up the bed for me first.

Until later, when his elder brother Caleb mated with Vivian.

Vivian was beautiful, spoke gently, and embroidered flowers so well they could attract butterflies.

Connor started comparing me to her all the time.

"Look how virtuous Vivian is. Not like you - you can't even embroider a handkerchief properly."

"Vivian never talks too much. Why do you chatter all day long?"

I secretly tried to learn embroidery. My fingers got covered in blood spots from the needle pricks, but the patterns I made were still crooked.

I also tried staying quiet all day, but then he would tease me instead. "Little fool, you're cuter when you talk more."

So I always thought he just complained with his mouth but still loved me in his heart.

But hearing those words today, I finally understood. He had always liked she-wolves like Vivian.

His fake death was just so he could be with Vivian properly, without having to face me, this little fool.

For this whole year, all those silly things I said to his memorial stone every day - Caleb heard them all.

He used to make fun of me before, and now underground, he's probably laughing even harder.

The more I thought about it, the more wronged and hurt I felt, and I started crying again.

I cried until I fell asleep in a daze.

The next day, Dad came to see me.

Seeing my eyes swollen like walnuts, he asked me again, "Girl, do you want to find a new mate?"

Every time he asked before, I would shake my head. "If I leave, no one will keep Connor company and talk to him. He'll be lonely."

But this time, I rubbed my sore eyes and looked up at him. "Would he... would he think I'm stupid?"

Dad's eyes immediately turned red, and his rough palm gently touched my head. "No, he'd be too happy to have you."

I pulled off the white mourning flower I'd worn for a year, threw it into the stove, and nodded. "Okay, then I'll find a new mate."