Lilia waited the entire night, but Alpha Dax never returned. Her phone remained silent—no messages from him, just a friend request from an unfamiliar account. The username was "SweetTooth," and the profile picture featured a pure white West Highland Terrier. She didn’t recognize the name, but the wolf companion in the photo looked all too familiar.
Tears slipped into her mouth as she crouched down and called out to the Westie playing with a ball, "Buddy, come here." Buddy dropped the ball and trotted over to her, his soft fur brushing against her hand. The tears flowed more freely, and Buddy seemed to sense her sadness. He jumped onto her lap, licking her tears away.
Buddy was Alpha Dax’s wolf companion, now five years old. Lilia had heard he only got Buddy because Viviana, a Gamma from a rival pack, liked the breed. Dax cherished Buddy immensely. Lilia often saw him holding Buddy, quietly wiping away tears. She thought he was just afraid of losing Buddy one day, unable to bear it. But looking back, it seemed he was using the wolf companion to remember someone.
The morning light broke through, but still, there was no sign of Alpha Dax. Rubbing her tired eyes, Lilia accepted the friend request. As she opened the profile, the photo collage confirmed her suspicions. The person who added her was indeed Viviana.
Alpha Dax hadn’t returned last night because he was with her. They had gone to the pack’s training grounds, a place Dax’s family had invested in. Seeing the dazzling lights and the grounds shining brightly in the photographs, Lilia couldn’t quite describe how she felt.
She recalled the countless times she’d asked Alpha Dax to go to the training grounds with her for a run. The grounds were a cherished childhood memory for her, and she wanted to share that joy with him. But each time, he’d either impatiently refuse or hand her a pass, saying, "Such a simple place; you go by yourself."
Seeing Alpha Dax’s joyful smile in the photos, Lilia finally accepted that the person he loved wasn’t her.
After pulling herself together, she headed back to the pack’s school campus. She hesitated outside Beta Dixon’s office for a long time before finally knocking and entering to discuss her plan to study abroad. In the fall of her senior year, Alpha Dax had suddenly told her he wanted to stay on and serve as a Beta after graduation. Although surprised, Lilia had begun to study hard, aiming to stay at the pack’s school with him.
Beta Dixon had guided her through four years, witnessing her relentless dedication. Initially, she had secured a spot in the pack’s advanced training program, which would allow her to stay on as a faculty member after graduation. But now, she didn’t need it anymore.
After she finished speaking, Beta Dixon was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed, "It’s good for young wolves to explore the world beyond the pack. There’s so much out there."
Lilia thanked him and booked a flight for three days later to go abroad. Alpha Dax, in these three days, let her say goodbye to you properly.
