“Well, “I would not have paid his tuition if I had known he was so ungrateful.” “I’ll make him say sorry the right way!””
At that moment, I smelt something familiar. My wolf stirred inside me, recognising it right away. George stood in the doorway, looking both relieved and worried.
“Scarlett,” he said in a soft voice. “You’re back.”
I turned my back on him and said, “I have nothing to say to you.”
Dad saw a chance. “George! Okay, you’re here. Make her see reason. Tell her to stop talking about breaking up with her family.
George carefully stepped forward. “This time, I’m not here to take sides. “I’ve learnt my lesson.”
I laughed and said, “Too late for that.”
He got closer, his eyes begging. “Our bond as friends is sacred.” We were chosen by the Goddess herself. Do you still not feel the pull?
“Stop with the empty gestures. Father, if you don’t sign the severance papers, we’ll take this to the pack council.”
I was about to leave when Mother grabbed me.
“Where are you going? You just got back.”
“I didn’t bring any luggage, did you?” I said with a sneer. “You really don’t care at all, do you? I have a condition that gets worse in the cold, and you didn’t even notice. Mother, you’re even more disappointing than I thought.”
I looked away. Dad ran after me.
“Can’t we talk about this?”
Diane showed up right then, and her face was twisted with rage.
“You dare show your face! What kind of family leaves their pack elders behind? A few months in the wild, they would kill rogues like you!”
I hit her, and my claws drew blood.
“You dare to lecture me? At least I didn’t leave my family to live a life of luxury, chasing after another pack’s family and pretending to be an orphan to join their life!”
“You hit me again!” she cried as she turned to Father. “Are you going to let her hit me twice?”
“He has no right to get involved. Since you’re here, help me get him to sign the papers to end the relationship. Don’t make this last until I have to go to the pack council. We’ll eventually break up, and making things worse will only make me think less of them.”
George got in the way of us. “Scarlett, please. I messed up badly. I should have been there for you.”
“But you didn’t. A real friend always stands up for their partner, not just when it’s easy.”
I heard Diane yell as I walked away, “Just end things with her already! What do you even miss about that she-wolf? I can’t believe it. Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand her? Why won’t you agree to end things?”
“You don’t get it. I might not like her, but I can’t just end our relationship.”
As I walked away, their argument faded.
George called out behind me, “Scarlett, this isn’t over. A mate bond can’t be broken so easily.”
I didn’t look back.
Three days later, my dad stood at the door of my office with a lunchbox.
“Daughter!”
He ran over and shoved the lunchbox into my hands.
“Come home. Both Mother and Robert miss you.”
I looked at the lunch box. “This must have taken a lot of work for Mother.”
“It did, but you’re worth any price.”
I laughed a lot. “Father, we’ve lived together for years, and this is the first time you’ve brought me food. I used to dream of feeling your care, but you never showed it. What’s the point now? I don’t want it anymore.”
I threw the lunchbox back at him. “Stop pretending. We’re no longer together.”
“I know you’re mad that Diane is with us and making you sleep in the cold. I was awful—I see that now. Give me a chance to make it right! She won’t come to our house anymore. If you don’t want to see her, I’ll stop talking to her. I can’t lose you!”
“You mean you can’t lose my money? You can’t lose your perfect ATM that pays your bills and feeds your family? You can’t lose your money tree?”
“No, I can’t stand it because I love you.”
“Shut up! You make me sick! If you keep pushing, I’ll tell the whole pack what Diane did.”
Father’s face went pale. “When did you get the bond memories?”
“Are you not so sure now? Don’t you love me the most? I’m just telling the pack about Diane’s past. Why aren’t you happy?”
“Get rid of that memory right now!”
