When a winter storm grounded every flight, the five of us from the Lakecrest pack were stranded overnight in the Denver airport.
The blizzard had severed our long-distance mind-links. Pack law dictated that companions care for the sick and weak, but it also stated that no member could be left alone in danger.
My fiancé, Travis Vale, stood in line at the service counter for forty minutes and came back with four blankets.
Five years ago, he had signed a courtship declaration at the Lakecrest pack registry, vowing to complete the formal marking after our wedding. We had no fated bond. We had only his choice and my trust.
Travis shook out two blankets and draped them over Jenna Collins, then handed the other two to Evan Bennett and his sister, Brooke.
Jenna had a weak wolf and recovered poorly after shifting. The registry had classified her as a vulnerable member, entitled to priority care.
Travis met my eyes and just shrugged.
“They only had four left when I got to the front. Natalie, your wolf’s always been strong. You’ll be fine for one night.”
At three in the morning, Jenna said she was hungry.
Evan went to the vending area and came back with four sandwiches.
Travis took his, bit into it, then called Evan back.
“Get Jenna another one. Her blood sugar drops easily. When she’s weak, she can’t even shift right.”
Evan nodded and swiped his card again.
I sat in the drafty gate area, the cold wind seeping through my coat, and watched that sandwich land in Jenna’s hands. My stomach had been cramping with hunger, but in that moment, it just felt numb.
I thought about the train to New York, when they’d booked four tickets and I had to scramble to buy my own at the last minute.
I thought about every pack dinner where they ordered for everyone else, only to realize no one had asked what I wanted.
There had always been five of us in this little circle, but their concern only ever stretched far enough for four.
Just before dawn, an announcement crackled over the speakers: the flight to Chicago was boarding.
The four of them headed for the gate, laughing and talking among themselves. No one looked back. No one used the newly restored short-range mind-link to make sure I was following.
I didn’t call out to them.
I took out my phone and opened the transfer offer from our London headquarters. The position came with work sponsorship from the Thames Riverside pack, which meant I could finally sever my residency ties to Lakecrest.
I hit Accept.
If there was no place for me in their lives, then I could leave.
My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 34 The hotel shuttle had barely left the airport when Marissa forwarded me the meeting attachments. “Lakecrest council requested the review,” she said. “They folded Jenna Collins’s case, TerraGrid’s conflict of interest issues, and the protection-contact system into the same file.” I scrolled through
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 33 And no one had to wait until the end to find out if there was anything left over for them. We sat around a small table, eating dinner and discussing whether the next day’s meeting should be moved online. A younger analyst, nervous
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 32 A year later, TerraGrid completed its North American integration. The new management shut down positions with no real responsibilities and re-audited all suppliers, authority structures, and territory licenses. By the time the company returned to stable cash flow, I was in London attending the
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 31 “I’m the one who took it, which is why I testified and accepted my share of responsibility. You’re the one who kept it, refused to return it, and publicly claimed it belonged to you. So you’re responsible, too.” Jenna stood there, stunned. For
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 30 Jenna’s case was resolved before winter arrived. The building surveillance had captured everything. The police had seized the metal tumbler from her hand. And her own video had proven that even after her arrest, she was still blaming me. She ultimately accepted a
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 29 Northstar did not restore the contract. Evan soon resigned from TerraGrid’s board and threw himself into GridForge’s debt restructuring. Before he left, he had a shouting match with Travis outside the conference room. Marissa had been nearby with her team and heard
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 28 After news broke that Travis had been removed, Evan flew to London that same night. He didn’t have my address, couldn’t get into Northstar’s offices, and couldn’t find me through any pack link. The next morning, he stood across the street from the
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 27 The audit lead closed the file. “Understanding the company does not entitle you to conceal information from the acquiring party and the Lakecrest council.” Evan suddenly stood up. “If you remove Travis now, TerraGrid’s supply chain will fall apart. You can’t base
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 26 When Travis appeared on the video screen, he looked as if he had aged a decade overnight. His lawyer sat to his left. Evan sat at the other end of the conference table. A Lakecrest council inspector was also present. The audit lead
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My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 25 “Do you want me to find a restoration specialist?” I had been about to say no. Then I changed my mind. “Yes. Find a good one.” Having boundaries didn’t mean every damaged thing had to be discarded. The person who
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