Chapter 4

My flight out West was booked. I was leaving that night.

The only person who'd asked me when I was leaving was Maya Bennett, a friend from college.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, told her when I was going, and said thank you.

I was thanking her for showing me there was still someone in this world who cared about me.

My parents were too busy celebrating Vivian's dream job offer to ask me even once where I'd be working.

Caspian was busy finding Vivian a new apartment. He hadn't even reached out to me.

Silas was still mad at me about Vivian's fall that day. He said he wasn't going to say a word to me until I apologized to her.

Xavier had texted to say he'd come over and help me pack up my things at home.

But he never showed.

That night, I saw that Vivian had posted on Instagram.

In the photo, she was surrounded by the three of them, and Xavier even had his arm around her shoulders.

She'd added a caption:

"Thanks for coming to the amusement park with me, you guys. Love you all. Here's to always being together!"

When I scrolled down, I saw the comments.

"I knew it, you're with Xavier now! He's the hottest wolf at our school!"

Vivian didn't deny it. She just replied with a blushing emoji.

Xavier had commented on the post too.

"Of course the four of us will always be together, just like before."

Caspian and Silas had both liked it.

No one mentioned me at all. I'd finally been written out of our friendship, for everyone to see.

Even I was starting to believe that all those years growing up together were just something I'd dreamed up out of heartbreak.

I checked my luggage one last time and took a final look around my room and all the memories in it.

It was only a converted storage room, but it had always been home to me.

The wind chime in the window was one Caspian had made for me himself when he was ten.

The bunny figurine on my nightstand was a present Silas had brought back for me from a trip when he was 15. He'd said he hadn't gotten one for anyone else.

On the bookshelf sat a photo of Xavier and me. On the back was his clumsy little-kid handwriting.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be the strongest werewolf in the pack, and then I'll make you my mate!"

I'd believed him.

But I was the only one who still did.

Just as I dropped the photo into the trash can, Xavier FaceTimed me.

"Flora, come to dinner tonight at that new place nearby. We're giving Vivian a send-off before she starts work."

On the screen, I could see all four of them wearing those familiar crystal bracelets.

So it wasn't that the bracelets didn't suit them or that they were too small. The problem was that I was the one wearing the amethyst bracelet.

They just didn't want me anymore.

I blinked and realized I didn't feel like crying at all.

I was probably used to it by now.

"I'll pass. I don't like the food there. It's too spicy."

Xavier sounded cheerful. "Come on, don't make a scene. You've been eating spicy food with Vivian for years.

"What, are you still mad?

"Vivian talked to Silas. He's not asking you to apologize to her anymore. There. Is that good enough for you?"

I was the one who got shoved down. I was the one who got soaked.

But in the end, I was also the one everyone thought owed an apology.

I looked at the crystal bracelet on Xavier's wrist and spoke slowly, "I've eaten it for all those years. That's exactly why I'm done with it."

Then I hung up, opened my contacts, and blocked them one by one.

Xavier was the last on my list, and just then, a text came in from him.

"Flora, what exactly are you trying to do? You've upset Vivian again!"

I typed out one last reply.

"Nothing. I'm just leaving, that's all."

After I hit send, I blocked him too.

If they all wanted Vivian to take my place, then I'd give them what they wanted and leave for good.