Chapter 5

Emma Wilson POV

Hearing her voice, James quickly composed himself, releasing his hands from my shoulders.

Noticing his action, I couldn't help but curve my lips into a mocking smile.

Standing beside us, Olivia's gaze darted between us, finally asking him curiously, "James, aren't you going to introduce me?"

James frowned, his throat bobbed. He looked a bit unnatural as he said, "She's Emma. A Pack warrior. A healer."

Hearing his introduction, I found it absurd and laughable.

Four years of shared hardship, four years of unreserved sacrifice, and in the end, in his words, I was just a healer.

James avoided my gaze, turning to ask Olivia, "Why did you come out here?"

Olivia pouted playfully, "I saw you run out, thought something was wrong, and wanted to check."

With that, she naturally linked arms with James.

James's body stiffened for a moment. He looked at me hesitantly, his lips moving as if to say something.

But I wouldn't give him the chance to speak. I turned my back and left without looking back.

After leaving the bar, I didn't return to the town apartment. Instead, I went to the hideout where James and I had lived for four years.

It was a mountain villa a little further from town, purchased by James's father.

It was remote enough not to be discovered by enemies, but close enough to monitor the situation at the Packhouse.

So we lived there.

Though most of the time, to avoid being found by patrolling shifters, we hid in the basement.

Unlocking the door with a key, a scent of old times rushed in.

The hideout wasn't large, only one story, but it was filled with our tough yet sweet memories.

I remembered one time, James held me from behind, his chin resting on my head, whispering, "Emma, I've put you through so much living here. Someday, I'll give you the best of everything in the world."

Later, on the night James organized the revenge operation to reclaim the Pack, when he asked what I wanted, I only asked for this villa.

Because this place held great sentimental value for me.

So James gave it to me, and the keys remained with me.

Now, it seemed, this sentiment was more like a sarcastic joke.

I curled up on the old sofa in the living room for a night. This was my last time mourning our past.

The next day, I contacted an agent and put the villa up for sale.

"The price is negotiable. My only request is to complete the transfer of ownership as quickly as possible."

"Understood."

The agent was very efficient, quickly arriving to take photos and assess the property.

After all that was done, I was about to leave when I saw an unexpected figure.

Olivia leaned against a white sports car, seemingly having waited for a long time.

I didn't want to see her at all, and was about to leave, when Olivia suddenly greeted me proactively, "I heard you and James lived here for four years, so this place must mean a lot to you, right?"

My footsteps stopped. I slowly turned to face her. "What do you want?"

Olivia looked down, gently caressing the ring on her ring finger, her expression smug. "Even though you and James went through a lot together, it's a shame the Moon Goddess arranged me as his mate. I'll soon be the Luna of the Mooncrest Pack."

"Well, congratulations then," I replied indifferently. "Wishing you both happiness in advance. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Emma, didn't you expect this yourself? You spent four difficult years with him, but still lost to me?"

An ache pulsed in my chest, but I suddenly laughed. "You've always liked to snatch things from me since we were kids. Now that you're grown, you're snatching my man. What's so surprising about that? After all, you and your mother, Maggie, both love to steal other people's men."

Seeing Olivia's suddenly enraged eyes, I couldn't help but feel a deep irony.

James never knew that I was once the Alpha heir of the Silvermoon Pack.

But after my mother passed away, my father, Robert, brought Olivia and her mother into our home, and we lived together.

Olivia always tried to take everything from me growing up, and Robert always favored Olivia, making me give in again and again.

So, as an adult, I left the Silvermoon Pack and cut ties with them.

"Olivia, you're so proud of picking up my cast-offs. Don't you find it disgusting?"

I finished my sarcastic remark and turned to leave.

"Stop! What do you mean 'cast-offs'?" Olivia, enraged, rushed over and grabbed me. "You just couldn't win against me! You lost!"

I sneered. "I lost to you?"

Olivia gritted her teeth, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. "This time, I'm going to make you lose even more thoroughly!"

Suddenly, before I could react, Olivia grabbed my hand and forcefully pushed it against herself.

Then, Olivia staggered backward, her back slamming hard against the car, letting out a pained scream.

To anyone watching, it clearly looked like I had forcefully pushed her to the ground.

"Olivia!!!"