One Touch, One Truth Chapter 02

One Touch, One Truth Chapter 02

Cora froze.

Her eyes instantly reddened, as though she had never expected me to say something like that.

Tristan stepped in front of her almost immediately.

“Felicity, Cora studied abroad in Europe. She’s used to dressing like this. It isn’t as complicated as you’re making it.”

I watched him instinctively shield her and almost laughed.

Of course I knew Cora had studied in Europe.

I was the one who had sent her there.

Back then, she couldn’t afford her first year’s tuition, so I used the savings I’d spent two years building to pay it for her.

The day we said goodbye at the airport, she hugged me so tightly she could barely stand.

“Felicity, you’re the best friend I’ll ever have. When I come back, I’ll be your maid of honor.”

Later, whenever Tristan traveled to Europe for Alpha meetings, I had sincerely asked him, “Cora’s all alone over there. She’s unfamiliar with everything. If you have time, could you look after her for me?”

He had ruffled my hair and laughed, saying I was too kind for my own good.

I had laughed too, believing the only reason they had crossed paths was because of me.

After that, every time Tristan went to Europe, he made a point of stopping to see Cora.

At first, he even sent me photos to keep me updated.

“The grocery store near Cora’s campus closed early, so I brought her a few things.”

“Cora’s been under a lot of pressure lately. I took her out for dinner.”

Later, Tristan began appearing in Cora’s social media posts more and more often.

He carried her luggage, accompanied her to the hospital, and on the day of her graduation, the person standing beside her in the photos was Tristan.

It wasn’t that I had never felt uncomfortable. My wolf had warned me more than once.

But every single time, I convinced myself that Cora was my best friend, and Tristan was only taking care of her because of me.

Only now did I realize that crossing the line never happened overnight.

Cora was still standing by the entrance of the packhouse, her eyes rimmed with red.

“Felicity, if it bothers you, I’ll leave right now.”

She said she would leave.

Yet she didn’t take a single step.

Tristan frowned.

“It’s already so late. Your bathroom’s broken. Where else are you supposed to shower? Just go ahead.”

I didn’t answer.

Instead, my gaze fell on the diamond necklace around Cora’s neck.

A few days ago, I had seen the receipt in Tristan’s study.

It had cost more than ten times the price of the bonding ring he had given me.

Back then, I had thought it was the wedding gift he’d secretly prepared for me.

I’d spent days looking forward to it.

I had even imagined that on our Marking Ceremony, when he fastened it around my neck, I’d probably cry.

But now…

That necklace was resting against Cora’s skin.

I lowered my eyes to the engagement ring on my finger.

It was simple. Plain. And inexpensive.

When Tristan had slipped it onto my finger, he’d smiled and said, “The price of a ring doesn’t matter. It’s the thought behind it that counts.”

I had been deeply moved.

I’d thought he simply valued meaning over extravagance.

Now I finally understood.

Even sincerity depended on who it was for.

Cora walked into the living room with her head lowered.

As she passed me, I caught the faint scent of coconut.

It was the exact same fragrance Tristan carried.

My fingers slowly curled into my palm.

Meanwhile, Cora acted as though nothing had happened, walking straight toward the bathroom as if she’d done it countless times before.

Tristan opened a cabinet and handed her a brand-new bath towel.

It was one of the matching towels I’d bought for our life after marriage.

An ivory-colored set. One for each of us.

I’d planned to use them together for the first time after our Marking Ceremony.

Yet Cora accepted it naturally and smiled.

“Look at you. Felicity’s trained you well.”

Tristan smiled gently, “Be careful. The floor’s slippery.”

The bathroom door closed, and the sound of running water soon filled the house.

I stood alone in the living room of the packhouse, suddenly feeling like an outsider.

This was supposed to be the new home Tristan and I would share.

Yet Cora knew the passcode.

She walked in wearing a nightgown, used the matching towels I’d bought for our marriage, wore the wedding gift I’d thought was meant for me…

And Tristan didn’t think any of it was strange.

He even walked over to me, finally seeming to have a moment to comfort me.

“Felicity, don’t overthink it. Cora’s your best friend. I only look after her because of you.”

I didn’t look up.

After a long silence, I simply murmured, “…Okay.”

Tristan seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

He probably thought he’d successfully reassured me.

The water continued running in the bathroom.

I returned to the bedroom and quietly closed the door.

A message from Elder Grace, who was overseeing the preparations for the Marking Ceremony, popped up on my phone.

[Felicity, the ceremony poster needs your final approval tonight.]

I lowered my head and typed a reply: [Please change the name on it.]

Elder Grace responded almost immediately.

[Felicity, do you mean the name of the future Luna on the poster?]

The corner of my lips lifted into a faint, bitter smile.

Word by word, I replied,

[Yes. Change the bride, the future Luna of the pack…to Cora Holt.]