Chapter 2
As I stepped out of the house, I picked up an ice cream cone. I have a strange penchant for savoring ice cream outdoors in the winter. That feeling of freezing to the core and then slowly warming up again is oddly exhilarating. As I took a bite, I sighed inwardly, knowing full well that Alpha Titus Reynolds was slipping away from me, especially after I introduced him to Luna Elaine Powell.
Elaine and Titus were both the kind of golden children everyone admired. They had the same striking looks, excelled in their studies, and achieved success in their pack roles—exactly the kind of werewolves my mom had always dreamed of for me. She often wished for a daughter like Elaine and a son like Titus. They were two of the three massive obstacles in my life, casting shadows that left me breathless.
We had known each other for quite a while. Elaine and I went back to elementary school, and I met Titus in high school. They were always the stars at pack gatherings, adored by everyone. It wasn’t until Titus and I started seeing each other—which was more of a charade, involving a dinner invitation and a few too many glasses of whiskey—that these two obstacles collided, creating a mess.
It wasn’t really love, more like a deal. Get a werewolf buzzed enough, and anyone starts to look like Jennifer Connelly. That was the only way I could get him. Unfortunately, I ended up pregnant.
When my mom found out, she was ecstatic. Even if her daughter wasn’t exceptional, an exceptional son-in-law was something to brag about. She took charge and caught Titus off-guard at his pack’s headquarters. Titus was on the rise in his pack as a respected Alpha, and he was cornered into taking responsibility for me. My mom strategized and cornered him into commitment, while I proudly showcased Titus’s qualities to Elaine.
I flaunted so much that she got curious and wanted to meet him. I should have known better than to agree, to host those dinners—not just one or two—and to let Titus drive Elaine home repeatedly. All while she was constantly bickering with her mate. I even bragged to Titus about Elaine’s allure and how many high-ranking werewolves had failed to win her over.
I remember the gleam of a challenge in Titus’s eyes, eager for the chase. I should have known Alphas love the thrill of pursuit. And now, here we are—they’re together, and I’ve dragged myself back home with my suitcase.
Standing at the base of my building, I took a deep breath before discarding the ice cream stick. There was a bottle of pills in my pocket that was just adding clutter, so I tossed that too.
When my mom saw me dragging my suitcase through the door, her face registered shock. "Where’s Alpha Titus?" she demanded.
Seeing her stern expression, I couldn’t help but flinch. Reluctantly, I explained everything. My mother trembled with rage and slapped me hard across the face.
"Have you lost your mind? Why on earth would you introduce Luna Elaine to him?!"
Furious, she paced the room, her face like thunder. "No, this can’t happen! I have to go find Alpha Titus! We can’t let this go!"
She turned to me, glaring intently. "You’re coming with me! He’s the best chance you’ll ever have, and you can’t let this slip away!"
"I... I don’t think I can go..." I muttered weakly.
My mom’s brows knitted together. "I’ve already told your father about Alpha Titus. Are you trying to let that woman laugh at me?"
The "woman" she referred to was my dad’s long-term mistress, Omega Rose Collins. Dad hadn’t been home in years, practically living a second life with Rose, just short of a mate bond. They even had a son together, which had been the reason for my mom’s heartbreak back then.
Although my dad kept us from meeting Rose or my half-brother, my mom still found out about him—Beta Bryson, bright and handsome, with everyone having high expectations for his future. My dad adored him immensely.
As for me, I could barely remember my dad’s face anymore. That child, who had taken my father away, was the third massive obstacle over my head—another golden child.
Every time my mom learned something new about him, she came home to scold me for not measuring up. This had been going on since I was three, and by now, I was used to it. But there was nothing I could do. I wasn’t pretty, I wasn’t smart, I was socially awkward, and I couldn’t change that.
I just couldn’t.
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