Chapter 1

Arthur Pickard abruptly unleashed his aura. As a candidate for the next Alpha, his aura was powerful enough to instinctively strike fear into the other academy trainees.

My legs went weak, and I was only able to stop myself from dropping to my knees by grabbing hold of the doorframe. However, the items I had been carrying tumbled to the ground.

Five medical kits, each containing blood-clotting powder and some moonleaf grass, a herb that could repel miasma. Each had a name written on the outside.

As I leaned over to pick them up, I spotted from the corner of my eye four application forms on the long table—applications to remain here in the camp.

The approval stamp was dated two weeks ago.

The Stonefang pack was located far away at the northern border. The journey there would take us through two Mistwoods, and a round trip would take at least six days.

From the beginning, I had been unwilling to go. It was only because they had urged me to join them, saying that they didn't want us to separate, that I had decided to sign the application form for the warrior training there.

Now, however, it turned out that they had long since decided that they would stay back. Only I had been kept in the dark about it.

"Nora, we were originally planning on telling you this tomorrow."

Arthur turned his body to block my view of the forms.

I stared at his face, so close to mine, and rasped out, "Then why did you agree to be with me that night, Arthur? What does that mean?"

His lips moved, but before he could answer, Beth Tilman suddenly clutched at her chest, staggered back a few steps, and slowly dropped to the floor.

"Arthur, I don't feel so good…"

Arthur's expression changed as he immediately spun around to catch her.

Grabbing Beth by the shoulders, he brought her forward so that she could lean against his chest. Then, he began to guide her through her breathing in a low voice.

Last year, I had taken a blow meant for him that left me with a shoulder injury that slashed all the way down to the bone. When I had a high fever that refused to abate that night, he had stayed by my side just like this, repeatedly comforting me and telling me not to be afraid.

Once Beth recovered, she bent to pick up the medical kit at her feet, which just so happened to have Arthur's name on it.

"Nora's herbs are always the best." Pulling the drawstring tight, she shot me a tentative look. "I'll keep it on Arthur's behalf. He's always forgetting to bring his herbs."

Arthur didn't stop her.

Clearing his throat, Carl Finley attempted to ease the tension. "Nora, you've always been so considerate, even when we were young. You even had everyone's herbs ready too!"

Lucas Lane smoothly continued, "Last month, Beth was cornered by a few of the older trainees at the training hall and almost damaged her wolf spirit. If we were to leave, who's going to protect her?"

"Then what about me?" I raised my head to gaze at him. "Who's going to protect me if I go to the Stonefang pack alone?"

Lucas pointedly avoided my eyes. "You're different from her. You're strong."

"We're not thinking of abandoning you. We're just staying behind temporarily." Ethan Norwood kept his head bowed as he shifted a step, bringing him closer to Beth's side.

The lights threw our shadows against the wall. Four figures were clustered together, standing side by side in a neat row just like many times before.

However, this time, my shadow was alone as it stretched out behind me through the doorway.

My throat closed up, and it took me two swallows before I was able to push down the bitter feeling welling in me.

I placed the other three medical kits on the table in a tidy row, only keeping the one that had my name on it.

"Remember to bring your herbs around with you. The miasma in Mistwoods is at its most potent immediately after spring arrives. Don't lose your kits."

Arthur seized me by the wrist. "Nora, we're not going to abandon you. Once Beth passes the graduation assessment, we'll head over to the Stonefang pack to find you."

Using his other hand, he helped me straighten my crooked collar. "You still carry my scent with you."

The night he had accepted my confession, he had pressed a kiss to the side of my neck under the moonlight. We hadn't gone to the council hall to register as mates, nor had we had a marking ceremony. All I had was the temporary scent he had left on me after our brief intimate contact.

However, he seemed to think that would be enough to guarantee my safety.

He murmured, "With that, the Stonefang pack wolves will know that you're my mate, and they won't make things difficult for you."

"But you're not going with me, are you?"

As he kept silent, I slowly withdrew my arm and turned. Forcing back the tears that threatened to fall, I practically ran out of there.

The ancient stone stairs in the camp had 200 steps.

When we were young, the five of us loved to race up those stairs. Knowing I had a fear of heights, Arthur had always kept half a step behind me so he could grab me if I ever misstepped.

Every time I looked back, I would always have them behind me.

This time, however, I finished the 200 steps alone, with only the wind behind me the entire time.

The lights were still on in the treatment center.

When Odelia Thorne, my mentor, saw me walking into her office with my herb satchel, she opened her desk drawer and took out an application form.

"I didn't actually withdraw your application to head for the border when you signed up for the warrior training the other day."

Stroking my satchel, I asked, "Is it not too late now?"

"No, you can still make it in time. The project will last ten years and is entirely confidential. Tomorrow night, you'll leave with the training convoy for the Stonefang pack like usual. However, once you've exited the pack territory, the border supply convoy will pick you up at the waystation.

"The wolves here in the camp will receive news that you've proceeded onward toward the Stonefang pack. They will be completely oblivious to the truth."

She pushed the form toward me, then pointed at the very last page.

"For the safety of all personnel, your original identity will be sealed away before entering the border camp. Your personal phone number and mind links will also have to be cut off cleanly."

I looked down at the application form.

When I was 18, I had made a vow that I would become the best healer out there, all because of four young wolves who had gotten injured during training.

That vow was the starting point of my dream, but later, it became the excuse that bound me.

Picking up the pen, I signed my name on the form.