Chapter 3

By the time the weekend rolled around, I’d fallen into my new routine as a senior. School, training, studying, smiling. I did everything I was supposed to do. I played the role of the Alpha’s son’s girlfriend, the future Luna, the “golden girl.”

On the surface, everything looked perfect. I was excelling in my classes, still getting those approving glances from teachers, still hearing the whispers of admiration in the hallways. But the truth was that every day felt like performing on a stage, and the lights were starting to burn.

Lincoln insisted that I meet him after school at his car. He said it was because he wanted to spend more time together, but it meant that I didn’t get to walk home with my friends anymore. Instead, I sat in his car while he drove, the music always too quiet, the silence too sharp.

He always held my hand as he drove, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. It looked affectionate, but it also meant I couldn’t check my phone or text anyone back.

“Why were you talking to Macy during class today?” He asked one afternoon, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

I blinked in confusion for a moment.

“We were working on a project together. You know that.”

“I’m not saying you did anything wrong. I just don’t think she’s a good influence on you.” He said, slowly looking at me with that grin on his face like he thought it was perfectly normal.

“She’s been my friend since first grade.” I said softly, looking out the window.

“Exactly. You’ve grown up. She hasn’t.” His voice softened, almost coaxing. “You’re different now, Reagan. You’ve got bigger responsibilities. Macy still acts like a child.”

I didn’t know how to respond. I just nodded, because it was easier than disagreeing.

When we got back to my house, he parked outside and turned off the engine, looking at me for a long moment.

“I just want you to be careful who you trust.” He said finally. “People pretend to be your friend, but most of them just want what you have.”

He brushed a hand against my cheek, smiling in that perfect way that made everyone else melt.

“You’re mine, and I’m yours. That’s all that matters.” He said, his eyes softening.

I forced a smile, even though something inside me twisted.

Later that evening, I went for a walk along the forest trail behind my house. It was something I used to do all the time before Lincoln and I started dating. Just me and the trees and the quiet hum of crickets. And for the first time all day, I could breathe.

The sun started setting behind the trees, making the forest seem a little darker than it really was. The light flickered through the leaves, gold and fading. I tugged my jacket tighter and closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the wind rustle through the branches.

Here, no one was watching. No one was correcting me.

I should’ve felt peaceful. But even out here, I couldn’t shake the thought of him.

Every time my phone buzzed, I half-expected it to be a message from Lincoln asking where I was, who I was with, what I was doing. I hated that. I hated that a part of me was scared not to answer.

I turned around and started heading back before the dark crept in. The quiet that had once felt comforting now felt suffocating, pressing against my chest. Just like everything else in my life was becoming.

On Sunday night, there was another pack gathering. Everyone was there. The Alpha and Luna, pack elders, warriors, students. The main hall was glowing with fairy lights and music, the energy warm and cheerful. I smiled automatically as we walked in, Lincoln’s hand wrapped firmly around mine. But the memory of the last gathering was still lingering in my mind. I could only hope that it wasn’t going to happen again. But honestly, Lincoln is a little too unpredictable to know what he is going to say.

I had spent an hour getting ready. Lincoln liked when I dressed simply, saying I didn’t need makeup or flashy clothes. “Natural beauty suits you better.” He always said. So I wore a pale blue dress, soft and plain, with my hair loose down my back.

He kissed my temple when we entered. “Perfect.” He whispered.

Everyone greeted us with smiles and admiration. I laughed where I was supposed to, smiled where it was expected. But every now and then, I caught someone’s eyes lingering a moment too long, like they were looking for cracks in the perfect picture.

When we reached the buffet table, Lincoln leaned close, his voice low but edged with amusement.

“You’re not going to pile your plate like last time, are you?”

I froze for a second, looking at the food before I put the plate back down.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good. You’re too beautiful to ruin your figure.” He smiled.

He said it sweetly, with that same smooth charm that made everyone nearby laugh. But I caught the older Luna watching me for a heartbeat too long, her eyes unreadable, before she turned away.

We sat with a group of younger pack members. The conversation drifted easily. School, training and definitely rumors. Lincoln had his arm around me, his thumb tracing patterns against my shoulder. I tried to focus on the conversation, but he leaned in close and whispered something in my ear, loud enough for others to hear.

“You should’ve seen her this morning. She tripped going up the stairs and almost took out a freshman.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

I laughed too, because what else could I do? I couldn’t call out Lincoln in front of everyone. I knew I couldn’t argue with him in public or start a fight or anything. But I could feel the heat crawling up my neck, the humiliation and betrayal burning deep. Lincoln chuckled, squeezing me closer.

“See?” He said, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Everyone loves you as much as I do.”

The laughter faded into conversation, but my pulse stayed fast. All I could think about was how small I felt, how easily he turned me into a joke just to make himself shine.

When I excused myself to get some water, I caught my reflection in the window, smiling. It was flawless, exactly what everyone wanted to see. But my eyes looked hollow.

The next few days blurred together.

Lincoln found new ways to ‘spend time together.’ Sometimes it was studying at his house, where he’d sit too close and tell me to stop looking at my phone because ‘it’s distracting.’ Other times, he’d take me for drives out to the woods, claiming we needed to ‘get away from everyone’.

It should have felt romantic. Instead, I felt smaller every time. And sometimes I was even worried. I don’t know why. But being alone with him in the woods was really worrying. I don’t know why he scared me like that. I mean, he’s never put a hand on me or anything like that. But it was just something that didn’t make me feel very comfortable at all.

When I mentioned missing my friends, he sighed, brushing my hair off my shoulder. “They don’t understand you the way I do. They don’t know what it’s like being with someone like me. You’re different, Reagan. You can’t expect them to keep up.”

I nodded, but inside, something started to crack.

It wasn’t the words themselves. It was the way he said them, so gentle, so convincing, that I almost believed him. Almost.

At night, I’d lie awake, staring at the ceiling, hearing his voice in my head. The corrections. The teasing. The soft words that always sounded like love until you really listened.

And sometimes I wondered if maybe the problem wasn’t him. Maybe it was me. Maybe I was too sensitive. Too ungrateful. He loved me, everyone could see it. He made sure everyone saw it.

So why did I feel like I was disappearing?

I got up one night and went down the hall to my parents bedroom. I wanted to get another opinion about it. Obviously not using any names. But I wanted to ask them about a friend of mine that this was happening to and that I was worried about.

I knocked on the door but there was no answer. So I opened the door and there was no one in there.

I wasn’t surprised. I never saw my parents. I never knew where they were. Honestly, I didn’t even know if they were in the pack at the moment.

They’ve probably gone on holidays and forgot to tell me or some shit like that. Or forgot that they had a daughter at all. I wouldn’t put it past them.

It was a few nights later, after another study session at his place, when I realized how deeply that fear had settled into me.

He was driving me home, one hand on the wheel, the other resting possessively on my thigh. The radio played quietly, a love song that didn’t feel like love at all.

When he parked outside my house, he didn’t move to kiss me goodnight like he usually did. He just looked at me for a long moment, his eyes dark in the dim light.

“Can I ask you something?” He said finally.

“Of course.” I whispered.

His voice was soft. Almost gentle, but his eyes showed a different side. His wolf was pushing to the front.

“Would you ever think about leaving me?”

My heart practically stopped.

“What?” I asked shocked.

He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. No kindness. No nothing.

“I just want to know. If you’d ever think about… not being with me.”

Every instinct screamed at me to stay calm. I forced a laugh, shaking my head.

“No, of course not. Why would I?”

He studied me for a long moment, eyes searching my face. Then he leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear.

“Good.” He whispered. “Because I don’t think I could handle losing you.”

The words were soft, almost tender, but something in his tone made my blood run cold. Like there was a threat hidden in there as well.

I nodded quickly, smiling the way he liked, even though my hands were trembling.

When he finally kissed my cheek and told me goodnight, I climbed out of the car, trying to keep my composure. Not to let him know how scared and nervous I was. The night air hit my face like a hard slap.

As I walked toward my front door, I didn’t look back.

But I could feel his eyes on me the entire time.