Camilla
“Camilla, how have you been?”
“I’m doing well. I just got an invitation to join a special unit at LUPA. Can I talk to you about it in person?”
We talked about the recruitment offer for about half an hour. After that, the conversation drifted to life in general. I didn’t tell Antoine my real reason for wanting to join, though he clearly found it strange.
Five minutes later, a new email notification popped up on my tablet—the application form. I was about to open it when I heard laughter echoing from the stairs.
“There’s no point in asking her to join. She’s uptight, always says she’s allergic to alcohol. She just doesn’t know how to enjoy life—not like you, Jen.”
Santiago’s voice bounced off the stairwell. I hadn’t fully closed the bedroom door. I saw Jennifer’s shadow near the door disappear as soon as he called her down.
Curiosity tugged at me, and I went downstairs. There they were, drinking wine together. Judging by the empty bourbon bottle on the table, Santiago was already drunk.
“Camilla’s always been an introvert,” he said.
“You’ll need extra patience with her. Push her too much and she’ll just get jealous of me being with you. After all, she’s the mate I chose.” Jennifer chuckled
“It should’ve been you, Jen. Not Camilla. Why did you turn me down? Was I never good enough for you?”
“Yeah... regrets are real. But we can’t turn back time, can we?”
They stared at each other for a few seconds. And then—it happened. Santiago kissed Jennifer. Neither of them knew I was watching from the stairs.
Without making a sound, I turned around and headed back to the bedroom. I wanted to believe I was seeing things. But no—it happened. Santiago regretted choosing me.
He came upstairs not long after, barely able to walk. Jennifer helped him up—she was still sober enough to support his weight.
“Santiago’s just drunk. He’s been upset, that’s why he drank so much,” she said casually. “Don’t take what he or Gabbe said earlier too seriously. I don’t want you getting jealous of me, Cam.”
I didn’t respond. How could she say that when she’d just kissed him behind my back?
I knew Santiago and Jennifer had a long history. They’d been together back in the academy. Jennifer had always been brilliant in sports, especially archery. Thanks to her influence, Gabriella took up archery and became a promising junior athlete.
And me? I became a housewife—a retired diplomat for the Allegiant Howls pack. I gave up my career to build a family with Santiago, who at the time was the Lead Warrior of our pack.
Jennifer and I were nothing alike. I was always buried in paperwork—handling inter-pack collaborations, delivering data-filled speeches at global Lycan forums. My life was all structure and order.
Jennifer? She was a free spirit. Representing Allegiant Howls in global archery tournaments, raking in dollars with every victory.
When Jennifer turned Santiago down to chase her career, he came to me. I was the one who listened to his heartbreak over drinks at the bar—though I didn’t drink, being allergic to alcohol. I stayed sober and heard him pour out everything Jennifer had left behind.
Jennifer went away for a year to focus on the world championship. I was on leave at the time. Santiago and I grew closer. We built a relationship, even though he wasn’t my true mate.
Still, I chose him. I said yes to his proposal six months later, even though it meant going against my father—Alpha of the Allegiant Howls pack. Dad forced me to choose: give up my title as his heir or forget about mating with Santiago. I gave it all up for love.
And now I realize...
I chose wrong.
**
“Camilla, could you go pick up some Cuban cigars and the roast beef bread from Montclair?” Santiago asked a few hours before the gathering. “Valerio’s a fan of cigars, and Gabriella loves that chocolate tart. Besides, you could use some fresh air, right?”
I nodded, though I knew what he was really saying: Get out of the house. I don’t want you embarrassing me in front of my friends.
The cigars and the tart came from opposite ends of town. It would take a while, especially on a busy weekend afternoon.
An hour later, after dealing with long lines and nightmare parking, I returned with two paper bags in hand. Dusk had settled in. The house looked dim from the outside. I quietly opened the front door, not wanting anyone to notice me.
My steps slowed as I heard Santiago’s voice coming from the living room.
“Camilla’s gotten too comfortable being a housewife. I think once we’re in Shanghai, I’ll make it official—I’ll claim Jennifer. It’s time I let Camilla go.”
I froze in place.
“You serious, bro?” another voice chimed in. Valerio. His old friend from the academy.
“Jennifer and I have already talked. We’re starting fresh in Shanghai. And Gabriella will finally have a mother she can actually be proud of.”
Laughter followed. Bright and carefree—Jennifer’s.
“Relax. I’m not planning to be an evil stepmom,” she said with a giggle. “As long as Camilla doesn’t come to Shanghai, everything will be just fine. She’s... awkward.”
More laughter. Then the clink of glasses in a toast.
I stood behind the hallway wall like a ghost haunting her own house. Quietly, I turned and slipped into the kitchen. I set the grocery bags on the counter and lowered myself into a chair, silently.
My hands were trembling. I stared at the chocolate tart wrapped neatly with a pink ribbon. I thought it would be a sweet surprise for Gabriella.
Turns out—I was the one in for a surprise.
They’d already made up their minds. I was being phased out, piece by piece. Once Santiago drained me dry, once Gabriella saw Jennifer as her new mother, there’d be no place left for me here.
I sat there for a long time. Not a single tear fell. Only the hollow feeling in my chest, like something was slowly being carved out from the inside. Empty. Cold. Like I wasn’t really here anymore.
Then, a new message from Antoine lit up the screen of my tablet.
[I'll be sending you the full regulation details for the position you asked about. Once you accept the offer, Camilla, I’m counting on you—just like I did back then.]
