---- Leno and his mother were left to suffer bullying in the pack. He used to say he hated his father the most. He swore he would establish his own pack, become an Alpha, and stay loyal to his Luna forever. But ironically, he had become the very thing he'd once despised. His expression darkened with sadness, but he quickly collected himself and started talking to me again about the past. Elisa sat just outside the window, perfectly centered-she only had to slightly turn her head to see him. Leno kept his body turned away from her, but every time he got emotional, his gaze would involuntarily drift toward Elisa outside the window-his eyes full of unhidden admiration. After all, he was still in his 20s, and he hadn't yet learned how to hide his emotions. ---- Every day after that, Leno brought me all kinds of gifts to the cabin. Precious gemstones, rare weapons-every item had once been a promise he made to me in that very cabin. I was the youngest daughter of the Black Wolf pack's Alpha. I had used the Black Wolf pack's resources to help him recruit talent and build his pack. As such, he had promised to give me every gift in the world I ever wanted. Yet the moment I refused to break our mate bond, he immediately turned to compete for the Black Wolf pack's resources. When I questioned him, all I got in return was his condescending mockery and his disgusted gaze as I sobbed in front of him. Elisa followed us every day, clearly seething with rage, yet always looking at Leno with tearful, pitiful eyes. ---- Leno's glances at her grew longer and longer, and the struggle and pity in his eyes became increasingly obvious. I saw through his internal struggle-and so did Elisa. She looked at me smugly without saying a word, but the smile on her face said it all. "Flora, what do you even have to compete with me?" she mocked.