No Bonds to Hold Me, but a Wolf to Run With Chapter 04

No Bonds to Hold Me, but a Wolf to Run With Chapter 04

The amusement park at noon still only had five fast passes.

Victor got me another ticket, but it was just a regular one.

He explained that fast passes needed to be booked in advance.

Marcus chimed in, “Today is mainly to make up for Sienna’s regret of never coming here with her birth parents when she was little.”

“Next ride, all six of us together,” he promised.

But I didn’t look forward to it.

The VIP lane gate opened, and the four parents shielded Sienna as they walked in.

I stood in the regular line, listening to the loudspeaker announce an estimated wait time of ninety minutes.

My wolf, Snow, was furious: “Look, they and I were never walking the same path to begin with.”

“Why don’t we run away right now? We can travel while heading to Harvard.”

I soothed Snow: “Don’t push yourself. Breaking away from blood ties hurts, I know. So let’s give ourselves a seven-day transition period, okay?”

“After seven days, there’s no turning back.”

From then on, I’d be the loneliest wolf in the world, with no belonging and no family left.

When I came out of the ride’s exit, there were over twenty new photos in the group chat.

The five of them wore matching cartoon headbands in front of a colorful castle.

Victor saw me, waved, and handed his phone over.

“Iris, perfect timing. Help us take a family photo.”

Sienna didn’t take the balloon he offered; she just looked at me with a hint of sorrow.

“Big sister isn’t in the photo either.”

Victor’s smile faded slightly: “Didn’t we book a formal family portrait at the photo studio? Iris won’t sweat over such trivial details.”

I obediently took the phone, diffusing the awkwardness of the moment.

Inside the viewfinder, the five of them quickly got into position.

The two mothers leaned against Sienna on either side, and the two fathers stood in the back. None of them felt like anyone was missing.

I pressed the shutter and wished them happiness.

The next day at the park campsite, the Hartwells talked about how Sienna learned to walk as a toddler, how cute she was when she first called them Mom and Dad, and how pitiful she looked when she failed her first exam. The Greys listened with great interest.

The Greys, my adoptive parents, the Alpha and Luna of the pack, had probably forgotten what I looked like when I was little.

They forgot how brilliant I used to be and how much the Elder Council valued my prospects and future.

On the third day, when we reached the coastal town, a waiter smiled and asked them, “Welcome, a family of five on vacation?”

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to me: “Is this… did you bring a nanny along?”

I looked over. The five of them were huddled together in intimate closeness, while I… ran back and forth handling everyone’s luggage.

Both mothers raised their heads at the same time.

I clutched my water cup, waiting for them to correct the woman—I wasn’t a nanny; I was their daughter.

No one noticed me.

Eleanor picked the fish bones into an empty plate first, while Claire rolled up Sienna’s sleeves for her.

My heart died over and over again, and my wolf Snow lost the strength to struggle.

I knew it was in pain, and so was I.

The school email arrived again, confirming my dorm room.

I bought a ticket for 4:20 PM on the seventh day, with boarding time set for half an hour before the family portrait shoot ended.

When the photo studio called to confirm the headcount, Claire was about to say five, but Sienna snatched the phone first to answer.

“Six people.” She glanced at me. “Please prepare six chairs, and six sets of outfits as well.”

That night, I didn’t head to the station early.

I left that six-person family portrait one final chance.