Chapter2

During my recovery days in the pack clinic, Harvey never showed up. But he did call. His voice, cold and arrogant, echoed in my ear. He didn't believe I'd lost my memory. Instead, with that superior tone, he ordered me to apologize to Cecilia. "Lois, this charade ends now. Don't test my patience. Go apologize to Cecilia. Now." I could hardly believe the garbage filling this man's head. Did he really think I'd still revolve around him like before? I hung up on him. Out of boredom, I listened to the gossip in the pack clinic. All the werewolves talked about was Harvey and Cecilia, praising them as "the Moon Goddess's blessed pair," "the strongest Alpha and the gentlest medicine woman." I asked Clara to dig up gossip about Harvey and me. What I heard was completely different. In those malicious whispers, I was the obstacle destroying Harvey and Cecilia's "sacred love," a madwoman unworthy of a powerful Alpha. Only then did I understand. As Harvey's legitimate fiancée, not only had he cast me aside, he'd allowed malicious rumors to slander me within the Pack, while he paraded around openly with another woman. Fine. This fiancé was disposable. Before leaving the hospital, Clara warned me, "Lois, since your wolf made the choice for you, promise me you won't soften towards that bastard again. I swear, I can find you an Alpha a hundred times stronger than him!" "Oh, Clara, I love you!" I laughed heartily. "Bring him on! I'm done with that two-timing jerk!" After leaving the clinic, I returned to the familiar residence from my memories. The moment I opened the door, a nauseating stench of sweat and cheap perfume hit me. From the bedroom came Cecilia's revolting moans. The two were disgustingly entangled. Cecilia saw me and pretended to panic, shrieking as she grabbed the sheets to cover herself. "Oh, Lois! It's not what you think! Harvey was just comforting me, we..." Harvey pushed himself up impatiently. He roared at me, not an ounce of shame for being caught. "What are you doing back? Didn't you say you lost your memory and needed the medicine man?" I stated calmly, "I'm just here for my things. Don't mind me. Continue your performance." Logically, I should have felt the agony of betrayal. But my heart was eerily calm, as if watching a farce unrelated to me. This scene convinced me it wasn't their first time. While packing, I realized the bitter truth: this house was filled with Harvey's things. Alpha trophies, leather armor, his favorite strong liquor. My belongings? A few clothes that fit into a small leather bag. Harvey barged in. My heart gave a painful lurch. He stared at me with that scrutinizing gaze. "Lois, still playing these childish games? Pretending amnesia?" "Listen, Lois, I know you're angry. But Cecilia is a medicine woman! If her hands were injured, her entire career would be over! Do you understand?" I felt a bone-deep chill and absurd hilarity. I looked at him coldly. "So, me nearly being torn to shreds matters less than her 'precious' hands? Harvey, you're a complete bastard." Harvey faltered. "That's not what I meant." But I was done listening. I picked up my bag and walked past him. "I don't need a fiancé who uses me as a shield. You and Cecilia can be together forever. The whole Pack reeks of her cheap scent; it's soaked into you too. Harvey, we're done!" With that, I pulled my single suitcase and left without looking back. Ignoring his threatening roar: "Lois! You'll regret this!" After the final break with Harvey, I moved in with Clara. "That bastard Harvey!" Clara fumed after hearing my story. "They just took over everything you built? It's not fair!" "Calm down, Clara," I said, surprisingly composed. "I bled for this Pack. I won't just hand it over to that man ruled by his lust and his little lover." The next day, I returned to Pack headquarters as usual. I'd barely sat down when John nervously handed me a document. It stated that Harvey, the Alpha, had decided to appoint Cecilia as our Pack's Head Medicine Woman, with a monthly stipend of one million from the Pack treasury for her personal expenses. "One million?" I snorted derisively. That was enough to hire an elite squad of werewolf warriors. I picked up a pen and drew a huge X across the document. "Denied." John's jaw nearly hit the floor. His expression told me exactly what I'd been to them before: a love-blinded idiot. Soon, Cecilia burst into my office, weeping theatrically. She kept saying "Oh, my dear Lois," begging for forgiveness, pleading with me not to let personal grudges affect Pack business. She meant my refusal to appoint her. Others might not know, but she knew. Her pathetic healing skills couldn't even handle a child's scraped knee, let alone warriors injured in battle. The Pack rumors praising her "exceptional skill" were bought and paid for by Harvey. A million for her? I'd rather feed it to dogs. "Oh, dear Lois, the whole Pack knows Harvey wants to appoint me! If you cancel it now, what will people think? You can't bring personal feelings into Pack affairs. Harvey will be furious!" Tch. Bursting in crying. Every word was a challenge and a threat. As if her displeasure spelled doom for me. "Whether Harvey is happy is none of my business. Don't you know your own worth? Did Harvey paying a few packs to brag that you're the Moon Goddess's favored medicine woman actually make you believe it?" "Cecilia, know your place. If it weren't for Harvey protecting you, do you think you'd have the right to barge in here and yell at me?" Cecilia's face twisted instantly. She glared at me furiously, but the next second, she switched back to a pitiful expression, tears flowing as she covered her face and crouched, sobbing. I cursed inwardly. Damn. Sure enough. The next moment, Harvey slammed the door open, roaring. "LOIS! What are you doing?! First fake amnesia, then threaten me with a breakup, now obstructing Cecilia's appointment and insulting her?! When did you become so vicious?" "I'm vicious? You know exactly how Cecilia's 'reputation' was made! You paid off other Packs to praise her 'skills,' yet she can't even handle a basic wound! I don't care how you screw her in private, but don't waste our Pack's wealth on this woman just so she can show off at gatherings!" A flicker of panic crossed Harvey's face. "How do you know that?" Ludicrous. He used money from our Pack treasury to pay for it. How could I not know? Cecilia was now kneeling on the floor, crying pathetically. "Please, don't fight because of me! I won't be Head Medicine Woman, okay?" "Cecilia, you misunderstand. It's not about you refusing it. Even if you begged me naked, I wouldn't approve!" "A useless waste doesn't deserve a single coin from this Pack." Harvey was incensed. "Lois, don't forget! This Pack is mine! It's not your call!"