LOGINThree months later, I became the youngest team lead at the company.One day at work, Greg stopped by and told me they'd just had a really interesting applicant.The guy hadn't asked about pay. He hadn't asked about benefits. All he'd wanted to know was whether someone named Flora worked here.Greg gave me a searching look."His name's Xavier. He's from the same place you are. Do you know him?"I didn't try to hide it. I nodded."I do."Greg looked a little surprised."He said he wanted to work here so you two could become mates. That isn't true, is it?"I shot it down without missing a beat. "It's not true."I just know him, that's all."Greg didn't ask anything else. He just nodded and went back to work.But I never saw it coming. The very next day, there was Xavier outside our building, and even Caspian and Silas were with him.The second I walked out, they hurried toward me, all worked up. It wasn't until they saw the cold look in my eyes that they stopped short.Xavier hesitate
After a month of working out West, I'd settled into the rhythm of the job.It wasn't as lively as the city back home, but it had views you couldn't find there.On my days off, I'd grab my camera and wander around the sights nearby, taking pictures.I loved the scenery here. I loved taking pictures.But before I came out here, I hadn't had the peace of mind to take a single landscape shot in a long time. They hadn't gone sightseeing with me in ages because Vivian thought it was "boring."Maybe they'd long since forgotten that I loved taking pictures and seeing beautiful places.After I posted my photos on Instagram, Mom and a few burner accounts liked them right away.Three burner accounts.I didn't even have to guess. It was Xavier and the others.I ignored them. Whether they liked my posts or not, I kept taking the pictures I wanted and posting them.After the first project I worked on wrapped up, my manager, Greg Lawson, took me along to the celebration dinner.He handed me a drink,
I was at work when a text from Mom suddenly came in."Flora, you need to get in touch with Xavier and the others right away. They went after Petra because of you."And enough with the tantrums. Quit your job and come home now, and everyone will forgive you."Petra was the girl who'd shoved me down and dumped water on me.The texts were from Mom's number, but I knew that tone. It was Vivian.According to her, Xavier had tracked Petra down at her house and told her she had to apologize to me publicly, or else he'd make her sorry.Caspian and Silas had gone even further. They'd shown up at her company and reported her for two-timing back in school, something no werewolf should ever do.In the end, because it hurt the company's reputation, Petra lost the job she'd worked so hard to get.But even after all that, the three of them were still as listless as ever.They got together every day, and all they did was stare blankly at their bracelets and call me over and over.Too bad I'd already b
On my third day out West, my college friend Maya called me out of the blue."Hey, Flora. How are things out there?"I smiled as I answered, "Pretty good. I haven't officially started work yet, so I've been exploring around here. The scenery is beautiful."Maya sighed with relief."Oh, good."Xavier came looking for me this morning. He asked if I knew where you went."He actually said he's your future mate and he has a right to know. Is that true?"I paused for a moment. When I answered, my voice was soft. "It's not true."Everyone at school knows how close he and Vivian are."Maya didn't doubt me for a second."Yeah, that makes sense. Vivian and Xavier have never denied they're a thing. There's no way he's your mate."Just as I'd thought. No one would ever believe there was anything between Xavier and me.Werewolves were faithful by nature. It had never crossed Maya's mind that a werewolf could do what Xavier had done, flirting with Vivian while promising me that we'd become mates.I
Once I was on the plane heading out West, I leaned back in my seat and looked out the window at a gorgeous sky full of stars.For years, I'd rarely had a moment like this, when I could just relax and look up at the stars.No betrayal. No one abandoning me. No one popping up out of nowhere to accuse me of scheming.Just me.After we landed, I took a car to my hotel.On the way, Mom popped up in my Instagram feed.She'd posted a video of them all celebrating together the night before.In the video, Xavier seemed a little on edge at first. But the moment Vivian tugged at his sleeve, he was smiling again, cutting the cake with her.Caspian handed Vivian a bouquet of flowers.Silas set off a party popper beside her.Mom kissed Vivian on the cheek and cooed over her, "Congratulations to my baby girl on graduating and landing such a great job."Dad was filming from the side, and his voice was on the video too. "Vivian's the best werewolf in the whole world. Of course she got a job this good!"
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







