Chapter 5: Engagement

The documents Saya was holding contained old pack records. The date was seventeen years ago. In the section listing the names of wolves who had been banished, there was a familiar surname.

Saotome.

"Your father is a stray wolf who was banished by the previous Alpha of the Kujo family. Didn't you know?"

I didn't know. My mother never wanted to talk about my father. She would always brush it off with vague words like he had left home for work, or that we might see him again someday.

"So what?"

I replied with all my might, trying to sound strong, but my voice was trembling. Saya smiled with satisfaction and waved the documents around.

"It's no coincidence that you're an outcast. It's in your blood. Don't you want to know why your father was abandoned by his group?"

I wanted to know. But I didn't want to hear it from this person.

"If you want to know, look it up yourself."

"You're just putting on a brave face. Oh well. You'll soon have no place to belong anyway."

With those words, Saya left with her entourage. Hatori gently placed his hand on my shoulder, but my mind remained completely blank.

That afternoon, a notice of an emergency meeting was circulated throughout the school. No one was told the reason. As the students gathered in the auditorium, murmuring amongst themselves, I sat in a corner seat with Hatori.

The moment the head of the Kujo family—Ren's father—appeared on the stage, the atmosphere in the auditorium instantly became tense. Standing beside him was Himuro Saya, her face beaming with pride.

I had a bad feeling about it.

"Today, we have an important announcement to make regarding the future of the Kujo family."

The head of the family's voice was low and carried an undeniable weight.

"We officially announce the engagement between Ren, the next Alpha, and Saya, the daughter of the Himuro family."

The auditorium erupted in murmurs. Some applauded, others couldn't hide their astonishment. I couldn't believe my ears. I glanced to my side and saw Hatori looking at me with a worried expression.

I looked for Ren on the stage. He was staring straight ahead with an emotionless face, as if he had known about this announcement from the beginning. No, he must have known from the beginning. Of course. He is the heir to the Kujo family, and I am merely an outcast, only being protected.

"This is an important engagement that will strengthen the bonds between the two packs and solidify the order of wolf society."

As the head of the family continued speaking, all I could do was clench my fists. What was the point of being told we were mates, or of all the time I spent in that training ground?

After the meeting ended, I pushed my way through the crowd and left the auditorium. I wanted to be alone before someone called out to me. I ran to the training ground in the woods and sat down, leaning against a crumbling wall.

Why do I feel so frustrated? I never believed the whole "we're a couple" thing from the start.

I heard footsteps and looked up to see Ren standing there. He was out of breath, and I could tell he'd been running.

"Let me explain."

"Is there anything to explain? You simply made the right choice for the group."

"That wasn't the right choice."

"So then what is it?"

Ren was speechless. He clenched his fists and lowered his gaze. His appearance was completely different from the perfect face of the next Alpha that he had shown in the auditorium.

"My father went ahead with this on his own. I haven't given him any answers yet."

"But I didn't refuse."

"I wasn't in a position to refuse at that time."

"So, when can I refuse?"

Ren could not answer my question. That silence spoke volumes.

"That's enough."

I stood up and tried to walk past him. He grabbed my arm, but I shook him off.

"Don't touch me. I don't care about being a mate or protection anymore. I've always intended to live on my own."

Having said that, I started running towards the dorm. I didn't look back. I felt like if I looked back, I would see that troubled look on his face again.

That night, the moment I lay down on my dorm bed, a strange feeling I'd never experienced before spread from deep within my body. It wasn't a chill, nor was it a fever; it was more like something was creaking or groaning inside my body.

When I put my hand to my forehead, it was surprisingly hot. I tried to sit up to call Hatori, but I couldn't muster the strength. My vision blurred, and the ceiling began to spin.

The last thing I saw was the moon, not yet fully waxing, floating outside the window.

I didn't understand what was happening to my body at that time.