Chapter 1

The day Felix got engaged, he went out of his way to send some troublemakers after me. By the time I was done at the pack’s legal office and got home, night had fallen.

As I arrived at the Blue Moon Pack’s territory, I overheard someone asking Felix where I’d been. Felix, the Beta of our pack, laughed and said, "Afraid she’d cause a scene, I kept her tied up with pack business for the day. By the time she gets back, it’ll all be settled."

Standing outside the door, I forced a bitter smile and shook my head. I blocked Felix on every platform, turned around, and boarded a plane to another city. That night, I heard Felix lost it when he couldn’t find me. Usually composed, he went crazy, whispering with bloodshot eyes, "She’s probably upset, throwing a tantrum. She’ll come back once she cools down, she has to."

But he didn’t know, I wasn’t running away in anger—I genuinely wanted nothing more to do with him.

---

After dealing with the pack’s legal issues, it was already dark. On Felix’s engagement day, I was so shaken that I got into a car accident while taking a turn. The other driver was difficult, dragging the ordeal out.

Felix’s phone was unreachable the whole time. His social media was flooded with pictures of him and his fiancée, Clover, a Delta in our pack. Each image was a stab to my heart.

I was at my breaking point, my bottled-up grievances and anger demanding release, so I hailed a cab to his place. The door to the packhouse was slightly open, voices spilled out. Felix sometimes invited friends over for coffee or to watch sports.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but when they started talking about me, I froze.

"We all thought you’d end up with Juniper. You grew up with her, she’s truly beautiful, but she’s quite the firecracker," Gideon, a Delta and Felix’s friend, said.

"She’s been spoiled, always causing a stir," Jesus, another Delta and friend, added.

Felix slouched on the couch, glancing at his watch, an impatient frown creasing his handsome face. Calculating the time, he knew I’d be arriving soon to confront him. Just thinking about it was tiring.

"It’s odd, with you getting engaged to Clover, surely Juniper would cause a scene? But she’s been missing all day, where did she go?" Gideon asked.

Felix laughed, "To dodge her drama, I sent her to handle pack business for the day. By the time she comes back, everything will be settled."

"Smart move, Felix is the only one who can manage Juniper," Jesus praised.

"Felix, have you considered that your engagement to Clover might have truly broken Juniper’s heart, making her leave for good?" Gideon asked.

Felix recalled my tearful face, a wave of irritation hitting him. Then he sneered, completely indifferent, "That’s exactly what I hope for."

Hope for it? Seven years of effort and that’s my reward.

I withdrew my hand from the door, turned around, and left. Early autumn hadn’t chilled the air yet, but I felt cold to the bone.

Years of back and forth with Felix, fighting and arguing, I was the only one left by his side. I thought we’d make it through. But he plotted to keep me occupied just to get engaged to someone else.

How pathetic am I to let him treat me like this over and over?

The sky began to drizzle, the forecast predicting a temperature drop later with possible early frost. Once frost starts in this coastal city, it doesn’t stop.

I used to dread winter; Felix would wrap me in his open coat, always kept a blanket in his car just for me. Now, those moments I mistook for happiness won’t reach the finish line.

The rain beat down, strands of hair sticking to my forehead, my steps slowing slightly. I shook my head and forced a bitter smile.

How did life end up like this? Gone was the spirit from before. All those disputes over love felt like a joke now.

I tightened my damp coat around me, and a thought settled deep in my mind.

I’m going somewhere warm. Where there’s no winter, no frost. And no Felix.