Chapter 3

Noah's reply came fast.

[What's there to think about? Don't you want to stay by my side?]

I stared at the message and laughed—out of pure anger.

He was always like this. Treating me like his personal property. Making decisions for me like it was his god-given right.

Picking out my clothes without asking, saying nothing else looked good on me.

Forcing me to cut my long hair, saying short hair suited my face better.

He had me backed into a corner, and I was still desperately convincing myself that this was love.

But this time, I wasn't going to force myself anymore.

His second message came through.

[Don't forget the graduation party tomorrow night. Everyone's waiting for us.]

I didn't reply.

The party was held in the academy's Moon Rite Hall.

Classmates clinked glasses around the long table, the air buzzing.

I sat by the door, watching quietly.

Then Mira stood up and tapped a butter knife against her glass.

"Why don't we all share which academy we're going to?"

She looked around the room. "Maybe we'll end up classmates again. We can look out for each other."

The room got loud, fast.

"Rivenhall Academy, Hunting track."

"Bramwell Academy, Potions track."

I sipped my juice and said nothing.

Someone tapped their glass and looked at me.

"Ella, Noah, Mira—what's with the silent sweet trio over there?"

"Come on, obviously they're picking the same academy. Who'd want to be apart?"

Mira ducked her head, shy, letting everyone egg her on.

Then, in front of everyone, she reached over and took Noah's hand.

"Noah and I both applied to Vonick Academy. Law and Contracts track."

Noah looked down at her. He didn't pull away.

Whistles and catcalls erupted.

A few of the she-wolves glanced at me, pity flickering in their eyes.

Someone had to ask. "What about Ella?"

Mira finally looked at me, smiling soft.

"She's going to Vonick too. The Healing track."

The hall went quiet for a beat.

"The Healing track's at the valley campus, right? That's over a hundred miles from the main campus."

"So from now on, every time Ella wants to see Noah, she's gotta go that far."

Noah wasn't looking at me. He was busy gently telling Mira not to stand in the draft, so she wouldn't catch a cold.

I pressed the recorder in my pocket and rose slowly. "I didn't apply for the Healing track."

Mira's smile froze.

"But," she knit her brows at me, "Noah said you did."

"Noah," I turned to him, "did I apply?"

He finally let go of Mira's hand. A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face.

"I filled out the application for you. It's already been submitted."

My voice dropped. "Did you ask for my consent?"

Noah lowered his voice. "Ella, we'll talk at home."

"Say it here. Right now." I locked eyes with him. "Did I ever see that application? Did I sign it?"

The room went quiet, bit by bit.

The embarrassment on Noah's face faded. Impatience crept in, inch by inch.

"You were busy with the family coming-of-age ceremony. I signed it for you."

He lifted his chin. "Spots were limited. I even used my own wolf mark to vouch for you."

He actually thought I should be grateful.

"I don't want to be a healer. And I'm not applying to Vonick Academy."

I looked at him. "For the next four years, I won't be interrupting you and Mira."

Mira's face went pale instantly.

She clutched her chest, swayed slightly, like she was about to collapse.

Noah caught her in his arms immediately, his glare cutting into me like a blade.

"What the hell are you saying? You actually want to go be some priestess?"

His voice went cold. "I went through hell to get you that spot. You back out now, what am I supposed to say?"

Then he added, "You always listened to me before. What's so different this time?"

I looked at that familiar face and felt nothing but absurdity.

He was standing right there, within arm's reach—yet he felt farther away than someone I'd imagined.

How arrogant did he have to be to decide my life for me?

The recording was done. No reason to stay.

I nodded calmly. "Stay and take care of Mira. I'm leaving."

With that, I walked out of the hall.

The moon was up.

Moonlight spilled across the path, like salt scattered over the ground.

I checked the time. One day left before I was gone.

Then—rapid footsteps behind me.