Chapter 3

Or maybe not.

The fear was fleeting on Damian’s face, and then he laughed, one short breath of amusement like I’d said something he couldn’t possibly take seriously.

“Emery, think about what you are saying.” His voice cut through the tension like a blade. “You think you can just walk away but where are you going to go? Your family business is finished. My pack was the one who stepped in and cleared your parents' debts.”

My hand tightened around my phone.

He wasn’t wrong.

After my parents death, our shops had fallen apart almost overnight.

There were loans to repay, suppliers demanding payment, properties tied up in debt.

Then the Moon Stone pack stepped in when I thought I would drown in it.

But it wasn’t like they’d done it for free. The biggest three shops my family owned had gone to them.

Damian’s mother certainly hadn’t forgotten because she never failed to remind me of it.

Whenever she was angry with me, Hailey made sure I was aware that without the pack, I would have ended up with nothing.

Now, Damian eventually began to do the same thing.

“You’ve had three years of living comfortably and it’s all thanks to my parents. We both know you can’t just cut me off.” He continued, sounding so certain.

But I stared at him through my screen without blinking.

“I know what your family did and I’ve appreciated them enough. If you’re wondering what it means, it’s that I’m not going to stay because I owned them.”

Damian’s expression turned sour at my response.

He opened his mouth to speak when Chloe’s voice cut through the air.

“Damian. Is everything okay? It sounds like Emery is upset.” The concern in her tone was almost convincing.

Damian sighed dismissively. “I’ll handle her. She’s just being unreasonable.”

The last word stung. Suddenly, Chloe was the calm understanding one and I was the unreasonable woman throwing a tantrum.

My teeth grounded, but I forced myself to relax and not say a word.

Damian’s attention returned to me. “Listen, upon my return, I don’t want to have to go through the hassle of coming to seek you out at your parents’ house.”

“That won’t be necessary.” I shook my head.

His eyes narrowed to slit, probably wondering what I meant but I didn’t explain and just hung up.

I grabbed a jacket and left the living room.

Leah had come over and was waiting downstairs. She took one look at me and immediately stood. “Are you going somewhere?”

I nodded. “I need to get my things.”

“Then I’m coming with you.” She didn’t think about it twice or ask questions.

I didn’t tell her to stay behind either. I grabbed the camera I’d brought to my parents house with me.

Leah glanced at it, and I explained, “It’s a record of my contribution to the pack. I’ve kept it intact for years.”

As little as the camera was, it contained payments, transfers, expenses I’d covered. Even things I’d bought for Damian when he claimed he was too busy to get them himself.

I’d never once imagined I’d need any of it. But I’d learned a long time ago that when people constantly reminded you of what they’d done for you, it was wise to make them remember what you’d done too.

Leah's smile was full of satisfaction. “Good. Let’s get going.” She picked up her bag and set out with me.

The cab driver said our bill upon arriving at our destination.

I paid him before getting out of the car with Leah.

Once we had gotten inside the gate, Leah waited outside the door.

The packhouse was still the same. The building was huge, and the inside was full of expensive furniture and sparkling polished floors. Together with family photographs hung perfectly across the walls.

I fully walked into the living room and found Hailey seated on the couch, with Damian’s brother, Tristian Anderson.

The moment they saw me, Hailey snickered. “So you’ve finally decided to come back.”

I ignored the remark. While Tristian leaned against his seat. “Mom, let her speak. She’s probably realized her mistake.” He said mockingly.

I refuted almost immediately.

“I didn’t realize a thing. The mating ceremony is still cancelled.” I firmly told them as I stopped in the middle of the room.

Silence fell over them. Then Hailey’s eyes darkened.

“After everything this pack and this family has done for you? Have you forgotten we took you in instead of leaving you to die? You could have drowned in debts, Emery. Is this how you’ll repay us?” She glowered at me.

That was it. I was sick of hearing them tag me as ungrateful.

“You keep talking about the debt but I already spent three years repaying you.” I told her, calm but sharp enough to cut.

Tristan stiffened. Hailey stared at me as though she hadn’t heard me correctly.

“You’d better watch what you say. Canceling the ceremony will humiliate the pack and the entire family. Moreso, no omega has ever had such privileges as you were thrown. Think about it well because once it’s all done, don’t think we are going to accept you back.” Hailey warned, her eyes burning with rage.

I stared back at her in astonishment.

She must have thought berating me would make me rethink.

If anything, all it did was harden my heart more.

I shifted closer to Hailey. Leaning down to her eye level, I flashed her the biggest smile.

“The mating ceremony is truly off. Rest assured, I won’t be back to plead.” I said with emphasis.

Then I moved backward.

Her face tightened instantly, her frustration boiling over.

Tristan glared at me with so much spite that screamed he could snap my head off if given the chance.

But I just turned around, headed toward the staircase.

“Where are you going?” Hailey’s voice rose behind me.

I stopped and spared a look at her over my shoulder. “To get my things. I never belonged here anyway. And as for the cash gifts, they shall all be returned.”