Claire P. O. V
I let out a sigh and leaned back in my chair. No matter how long Chen Lien and I had been friends, it felt like I could never really understand what was happening in her head. We might as well have been strangers.
“What if I don’t treat her right?” I muttered, glancing up at the ceiling with another long sigh. I shouldn’t have acted so childishly in front of Ethan and his friends, who had always been decent to me. Not that I could call what they did a real favor.
It was too early to hit the hay, but I felt awkward to walk outside. Embarrassed and guilty about my behavior, I just sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window at the tall trees in the forest.
I had been living in a dorm but found peace whenever I wandered into the little forest behind it. A short stroll there would help clear my mind instead of obsessing over the silly stuff about Ethan and Lucy.
After thinking, I finally left the room and headed to the forest to clear my head. I wasn’t sure what kind of creature might lurk out there, but I felt confident I could handle myself.
As I approached the backyard, I noticed no Wolf Guard or Warrior around the mansion. Not even a servant was in sight, and everyone was hiding away from prying eyes. But it worked out for me since I could stroll to the backyard and get to the forest behind it without interruptions.
“I hope you’re not thinking of running away from this Pack.”
I was taken aback when I heard a voice I recognized. When I turned around, it was none other than Chen Lien. I had no idea where he popped up from, but he was sitting and tugging at some grass beneath him.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you have some stuff to sort out with the Alpha?”
“Stuff? Nah, Ethan just wants to chat about the cash flowing into his pockets. It’s not really business; it’s just him chasing after profit like it’s the only thing that matters.”
I shook my head, feeling lost. I couldn’t understand what this guy was saying. Business and making a profit were foreign concepts to me. My life has been about serving God, helping the sisters, and being that link between the church and the divine.
“I’m sorry, but maybe this isn’t a topic we should dive into, so I think I’ll head out.”
“Do you want to check out the forest?” he asked, stopping me as I left. “Absolutely, yes,” he repeated.
“Why would I want to go to the forest? Is that going to make things harder for you?”
“No! Not for me, but for you.” He replied. “You can slip through the mansion’s fence and head into the forest, but you should know that surrounding this housepack is a nearly untouched forest. So, there could be a lot of wild animals, including venomous snakes and other creepy creatures.”
“Have your Wolf Warriors ever patrolled that area?”
Chen Lien shook his head. “This isn’t my Pack, so I have no idea and honestly, I don’t care.”
“Why did you say that to me?” Even after his warning, I mentioned heading into the forest.
“Don’t be foolish in a place you don’t know. Instead of wandering into that forest, how about we explore the city and grab some ice cream?”
“What do you mean?”
“Doesn’t that girl love ice cream and treats? Let’s go hunt for some and enjoy ourselves.”
“No, thank you-”
I wasn’t done talking when he suddenly stood up, grabbed my hand, and started walking with long, quick strides toward the parking lot. I tried to pull back, but Chen Lien didn’t have it; he just kept tugging me along until we reached the car, and then he took off driving.
“Wait! I don’t have any money!” I protested.
“Money doesn’t matter. As long as you claim to be Ethan Randall’s Luna, everyone will respect you.”
I fell silent at that. Luna? Me? Seriously? But doesn’t Ethan already have a fiancee who’s supposed to take that role in the Pack? The only reason Ethan brought me here was out of pity after my whole family had died in the dorm.
As we drove into the city, Chen Lien kept humming a song I didn’t know. When we finally arrived, I was blown away. This city was massive, way more significant than the small town I’d been living in.
After we drove past the main street, Chen Lien took the car to a more minor road lined with shops, shopping centers, and lively spots like schools and parks where locals hang out to unwind.
As we strolled along this road, I noticed several parks buzzing with people chatting and letting their kids play. Interestingly, about eighty percent of the crowd were Werewolves, while the rest were humans.
As I gazed out the window at the scene, Chen Lien pulled the car over to the side of the road, right by a playground bustling with people enjoying their afternoon. Several food vendors were set up along with the crowd, offering a simple selection of sandwiches, crepes, and drinks.
“Ethan is intentionally keeping the business area separate from where everyone gathers,” Chen Lien remarked after shutting off the engine.
“Looks like you really admire this Pack if you’re so in tune with how the Alpha runs things,” I replied, but my comment just made Chen Lien chuckle.
Chen Lien has really gentle features. Even though I’m pretty sure the business he’s involved in with Ethan is risky, his smile and laughter made me feel like he is a decent guy.
“Hey, how about we grab some food and just chill while we watch everyone else?”
Honestly, I was starving since I skipped lunch after heading to my room, ignoring the invites from Ethan, Lucy, and their guest, Chen Lien, to join them for a meal.
“I already told you, I don’t have money.” I replied, which just made Chen Lien chuckle again.
He unbuckled my seat belt without asking, swung the car door open, and told me to get out and join him for food and drinks.
“No one’s gonna charge you for just grabbing a bite,” he said, tugging my hand to get me to follow him.
It was the first time someone treated me like a friend. Usually, Agatha and Jane were pretty harsh, but this guy made me feel valued. Should I show my gratitude?