Chapter 1

Cassandra Jones stood outside the hotel ballroom, blinking several times as she tried to focus on the large sign welcoming their class reunion. The words looked slightly blurred, and she quickly reached into her handbag for her thick-rimmed glasses.

She put them on and rubbed the lenses with a small cloth before putting them back over her eyes. Her vision became clearer, though everything still seemed a little less sharp than it had before the fire seven years ago.

Are you sure you want to go inside? Emery, her inner wolf, asked through their mindlink.

Cassandra sighed and adjusted her glasses. I have to. Beta Joseph personally invited me. He was the one who accepted me for work at the National Library when I desperately needed a job. I don't feel right refusing him.

Seven years ago, a terrible fire had changed Cassandra's life forever. She had suffered serious injuries to her eyes, leaving her with permanently impaired eyesight.

Since then, thick-rimmed glasses had become something she could never leave home without.

She took a deep breath and entered the ballroom.

The moment she stepped inside, familiar faces filled her vision. Former classmates were laughing, drinking, and catching up after years apart.

Then Cassandra saw him.

Alpha Brad Pierson.

Her steps almost stopped.

Brad looked completely different from the young man she had known seven years ago. He was now the powerful Alpha of the Black Moon Pack and the successful CEO of Pierson Group.

Standing beside him was Hilda Crew, his beautiful fiancée and the future Luna of the Black Moon Pack.

Cassandra instinctively looked down at herself.

Her simple blouse, modest skirt, old shoes, and thick glasses suddenly made her feel painfully out of place.

That's Alpha Brad, Emery whispered.

Cassandra swallowed. I know.

She quickly walked toward her assigned table, hoping she could sit quietly and leave without attracting attention.

Unfortunately, Darlene Smith noticed her almost immediately.

“Well, look at this,” Darlene said loudly. “Is that really Cassandra Jones?”

Several classmates turned around.

Darlene walked closer and looked Cassandra over from head to toe. Then she intentionally wrinkled her nose and pretended to smell the air.

“Ugh. What is that smell?” Darlene asked. “Cassandra, you smell disgusting.”

A few people laughed.

Cassandra's fingers tightened around her handbag. “Darlene, please stop.”

Darlene ignored her. “And look at those clothes. They look so cheap. Couldn't you afford something better for a class reunion?”

Cassandra lowered her eyes.

Darlene leaned closer to her glasses. “And you're still wearing those thick glasses? I thought maybe after seven years you would have improved your appearance.”

Delta Troy Cruz's expression immediately hardened.

“That's enough, Darlene,” he said.

Darlene looked at him with annoyance. “Why are you defending her, Delta Troy?”

“Because you're being cruel for no reason,” Troy answered. “If you don't like her clothes, then don't look at them.”

Darlene scoffed. “I only heard that Cassandra works as a janitress at the National Library now.”

“She is a librarian,” Troy corrected firmly. “And even if she were a janitress, that wouldn't give you the right to humiliate her.”

Cassandra gave Troy a grateful look. “Thank you, Troy.”

“You don't need to thank me,” Troy said quietly. “You haven't done anything wrong.”

Darlene rolled her eyes and returned to her seat, but she wasn't finished.

“Whatever,” she muttered. “Some people never move forward.”

Cassandra pretended not to hear her.

Her eyes accidentally drifted toward Brad again.

He was talking to Hilda, and the sight of them together brought back memories Cassandra had spent seven years trying to bury.

Brad had once held her hand and promised that they would build a future together.

Now he was engaged to another woman.

Cassandra quickly looked away.

Don't look at him, Emery warned.

“I wasn't,” Cassandra whispered.

Darlene smiled cruelly. “Don't tell me you still haven't gotten over Alpha Brad after seven years.”

“I have nothing to say about that,” Cassandra replied.

“Of course you don't,” Darlene said. “A woman like Hilda is much more suitable for an Alpha.”

One of the classmates laughed sarcastically and glanced toward Cassandra. “She's right. Just look at Hilda. She's so pretty and sophisticated. She actually looks like someone who belongs beside Alpha Brad.”

Another classmate nodded with a mocking smile. “Exactly. Hilda has the looks, the family background, and the confidence. She's completely different from Cassandra.”

Darlene crossed her arms, pretending to look confident even though a trace of jealousy flickered in her eyes. “Well, yes, Hilda is definitely worthy of sitting next to our Alpha,” she said, trying to sound completely sincere.

She tilted her head and continued with a sharp smile, “And at least Hilda knows how to stay by his side. She actually agrees to be with him instead of causing problems.”

The classmates laughed quietly, and Darlene's eyes shifted toward Cassandra.

“She would make a much better Luna for the Black Moon Pack,” Darlene added, intentionally making sure Cassandra heard every word. “Someone like Hilda understands what it means to stand beside an Alpha.”

Darlene looked Cassandra up and down before giving a thin smile. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have that kind of grace.”

Another classmate chuckled. “Imagine Alpha Brad walking into a formal pack event with Hilda. They would look perfect together.”

“Exactly,” the other agreed. “Cassandra simply doesn't have that presence.”

Darlene crossed her arms tighter, secretly irritated that everyone was praising Hilda so openly, but she quickly buried the jealousy behind another smug smile.

“Well, I agree with all of you,” Darlene said. “Hilda is worthy of being beside our Alpha. I would much rather see someone like her with Brad than have someone like Cassandra standing next to him.”

Her gaze landed sharply on Cassandra, and the meaning behind her words was impossible to miss.

Cassandra remained silent, refusing to give Darlene the reaction she clearly wanted. She simply lowered her eyes and walked away, while Darlene watched her leave with a satisfied expression.

Troy frowned. “Darlene, leave her alone.”

Cassandra could feel everyone's eyes on her.

Her chest tightened.

“I need to use the restroom,” she said quietly.

She stood before anyone could stop her and walked away.

The farther she went from the table, the harder it became to keep her emotions under control.

She entered the women's restroom and stood before the mirror.

Her reflection looked tired.

Cassandra removed her glasses and wiped the lenses again.

You're shaking, Emery said.

“I know.”

You don't have to stay.

“I just need a few minutes.”

She splashed cold water onto her face and put her glasses back on.

Then she heard the restroom door open.

Cassandra froze.

Two male voices came from outside the restroom area.

She recognized one immediately.

Brad.

She stepped toward the corner, remaining out of sight.

“Brad,” his friend said, “after all these years, haven't you moved on from the past?”

Cassandra's breathing stopped.

Brad gave a short laugh. “Seven years have passed. What's there that I can't forget?”

His friend continued, “Then what do you think about Cassandra now?”

Cassandra gripped the edge of the counter.

Brad was silent for a moment.

“Honestly, she looks really ordinary now,” he finally said. “If today were the first time we met, I probably wouldn't even give her a second glance.”

Cassandra's heart cracked.

Her hand slowly moved toward her glasses as her vision blurred with tears.

Don't cry, Emery whispered.

Cassandra closed her eyes.

She had come here only because Beta Joseph had invited her.

She had not expected to hear those words from Brad.

Then Brad's friend asked, “You really don't have any feelings left for her?”

“No more,” Brad answered. “That was seven years ago.”

Cassandra's lips trembled.

She quietly stepped away from the corner when she heard them leave.

She waited several seconds before leaving the restroom herself.

She did not return to the reunion.

Outside the hotel, Cassandra took a deep breath and wiped her tears. She had barely walked toward the street when her phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

Patrick.

Her ex-husband.

Cassandra hesitated before answering.

“Hello?”

“Cassandra, where are you?” Patrick asked, his voice filled with concern.

“I just left the reunion.”

“Are you okay?” he asked. “I heard you were going tonight.”

“I'm fine.”

Patrick sighed. “You're saying that again.”

Cassandra remained silent.

Then his voice became more serious. “Have you found enough money for Billy's treatment?”

Her expression immediately fell.

“Not yet,” she admitted.

“How much are you still short?”

“Fifteen thousand dollars.”

Patrick was quiet for a moment. “Cassandra, that's a lot of money. Are you sure you can raise it by yourself?”

“I have to.”

“You've already been working overtime at the library,” Patrick said worriedly. “You can't keep exhausting yourself like this.”

“Billy needs the treatment,” Cassandra whispered. “I can't give up on him.”

Patrick's voice softened. “I know you love your brother. But please don't destroy yourself trying to save him.”

Cassandra looked up at the dark sky, tears gathering in her eyes again.

“I'll find the money, Patrick.”

“I hope you do,” he said quietly. “Just promise me you won't do anything reckless.”

“I promise.”

After the call ended, Cassandra stood alone outside the hotel.

Seven years ago, she had lost the man she loved. The fire had taken her eyesight, changed her life, and left her family struggling.

And now she had returned to the place where her past had begun, only to discover that Brad had moved on without her.