Chapter 1

"You're so heartless. Sending me off to die alone..." I tried to hold back my grief, but my voice shook.

My wolf whimpered in my chest.

Payton came over first and hugged me. He kept patting my shoulder with his broad hand but didn't say a word.

My boyfriend, Elvin, stayed calm. He stood just behind June, angled toward her, his jaw clenched.

"Lillian, now that you know the truth, there's no point hiding it. We want you to go to the Thornwood Pack. Otherwise, since newcomers go first, it might end up being June..."

The elders had started the trial to test the pack's warriors against the harshest conditions nature could throw at them.

But over the years, only three had ever come back. They were covered in fresh wounds over old scars, and they screamed in their sleep. One had a festering wound on his right arm, and the muddy stench of the swamp clung to him for a whole month.

Over time, the Thornwood trial became a threat people used to scare children. It was every wolf's nightmare.

Back when I first shifted, Garrett had declared, "If anyone in the pack ever forces you to go, we'll run away with you to a neutral city and never come back."

"Right." Elvin kissed my forehead, his hot breath on my skin. "We'll always be together."

Payton nodded too but said nothing.

But now, they'd gone to all this trouble to send me there.

It felt like a thousand needles were piercing my heart.

I fought to keep from shaking, pointed at June, and asked Elvin, "Because of her? You want me to die because of her?"

June peeked out from behind Garrett, her eyes wet. "I'm sorry. This was my idea..."

"No." Garrett cut her off and stepped in front of her. "It was my idea to get you drunk and trick you into signing. June had nothing to do with it."

Garrett used to stand up for me and get into fights on my behalf. Now he was protecting her from me.

Furious, I hurled my medical kit at him.

"If you want to go, you go! I'm not going!"

June glanced from me to the others and asked softly, "What if I go too?"

"No!" all three said almost in unison.

Elvin rubbed his nose, frowned, and sighed. "If we send you to the Thornwood Pack, you'll die."

June can't die, but I can?

I laughed in disbelief.

"Then why don't you come with me?" I shouted, my voice shaking with anger.

Elvin froze. After a long pause, he said in a strained voice, "June just joined the pack. She needs us to help her settle in."

He shoved a bag of maps and medicine into my hands, his voice unusually gentle. "Lillian, there's always been talk in Moonfrost that you'd never get anywhere without the three of us. Go prove them wrong, and the rumors will die on their own."

Payton and Garrett nodded beside him.

"When you get back, we can all be together again."

They used to say the exact opposite.

When my parents died protecting the pack, I nearly passed out from crying at their funeral. Elvin, Garrett, and Payton stayed by my bed day and night.

They shifted into wolves and nuzzled my neck and shoulders with their huge, furry heads, licking away my tears. Their eyes red, they swore they'd protect me for the rest of my life and never let me be alone.

And now they wanted me to go by myself!

My throat tightened, and tears welled up in my eyes.

The pain in my chest was sharp and relentless.

But the four people across from me didn't even notice.

Garrett had already pulled June aside and was eagerly showing her the photos on the wall, telling her all about Moonfrost's history.

Payton joined them, correcting him now and then and making June laugh.

Elvin smiled as he watched them. The bag of medicine and maps he'd given me lay tossed in a corner.

Just like me. I stood among them, but I didn't belong.

Ever since June arrived, whenever the five of us went out to eat, I was the one squeezed onto an extra chair at a table for four. In group photos, I was pushed to the edge. During the full moon hunt, they even left me lost in the thick fog while they took June to see the moonflowers.

Every time, the three of them looked me in the eye and said the same things.

"June's new. We should look out for her."

"Wolves are pack animals. We're supposed to take care of each other."

"Lillian, don't be so petty."

They were so self-righteous, so certain, that every objection I raised seemed selfish and dramatic.

Apparently, I only deserved praise when I stepped aside.

Only June was worth protecting.

I sniffled and finally realized I shouldn't stay any longer.

And I didn't want to.

I ran straight to Grand Elder Kane's house. He'd looked out for me during full moon hunts and treated me like family.

He sat on the sofa with a heavy sigh, his face creased with worry, and took both my hands.

"Lillian, the Thornwood Pack's Alpha is dead. Two factions are fighting for control. If you go, there won't be anyone to teach you how to survive... Are you sure?"

His eyes were red, as if he hadn't slept all night.

"Things are bad over there, and you'll be cut off from the outside world during the trial..." He trailed off.

I took a deep breath and squeezed his warm, rough hand.

"I signed up, so there's no backing out now. I'll go."

He sighed and stroked my braid.

"Then you leave in three days."

I nodded silently.

This time, I was the one who didn't want them anymore.