Chapter 4

"You didn't apply to the Northern Military Academy. It's too late for that now."

Ethan looked down at me. "But the Northern Seminary still has openings."

I froze for a second.

He knew. He'd always known. Since we were pups, the thing I hated most was memorizing prayers and copying scripture.

Everyone knew what the Seminary was like.

Prayers, classical law, sacred seal rituals. Day after day, sitting under the dome, copying verses.

But my blood ran hot for battle.

I loved being pushed to my limit on the training field and then getting back up.

I'd never once thought about becoming a priestess, let alone giving my whole life to those dull prayers.

I shook my head. "I'm not applying to the Seminary."

The smile faded from Thomas's face.

His eyes swept over me. "Should've applied to the Military Academy then. Now the Seminary's your only option."

Daniel and Paul nodded along.

"I know you think we favor Chloe."

Ethan let out a sudden sigh. "But she really is weaker than you. She needs us more."

"She can shift. Believe it or not." I shrugged. "Besides, she'd actually be a good fit for the Seminary. It's indoors. The cold won't touch her."

A flash of anger crossed Ethan's eyes.

A second later, he pushed it down and pulled the moonstone bracelet from his inner pocket, holding it out to me.

I looked down at it.

The bracelet had been polished clean. The five little wolves running side by side looked almost alive. I could even see the smiles on their faces.

Two new letters were carved on the inside. S&E. My name and Ethan's.

I didn't reach for it.

Ethan smiled. "Since we were pups, the five of us always decided everything together. This time's no different."

Thomas, Daniel, and Paul crowded in too, urging me to put the bracelet back on.

Their words turned into meaningless noise in my ears. It was so absurd I almost laughed.

We. The "we" in their mouths didn't include me.

Ethan pushed the bracelet closer, his voice deep and tender.

"Wait four years. After four years, I'll come get you myself, and then we'll complete the bond."

I pressed my lips together.

Eighteen hours left before I left Westbrook Pack.

And Ethan was still planning out our future four years from now.

I repeated, "I'm not applying to the Seminary."

Ethan's expression finally cracked with impatience.

"I know what you're thinking. You want me to give you the mate mark now."

"But we're still seven days from the coming-of-age ceremony. I can't mark you before then. Unless you're worried I won't do it after four years..."

He paused, watching me with a teasing look. "You're that desperate? Then how about this. In seven days, I'll mark you. Happy now?"

Thomas, Daniel, and Paul laughed around me.

"Feel better now? All this drama just because you wanted Ethan to mark you sooner?"

"Should I start calling you Luna now?"

"Come on, stop sulking. Put the bracelet on. We all swore we'd never take them off."

Ethan seemed convinced I was just angling for a promise. He reached for my wrist with the bracelet.

I stepped aside and pushed his hand away.

"I don't need it."

The smile vanished from Ethan's face.

"Sienna, don't push it. I already said I'd mark you in seven days."

I looked at him, and suddenly I couldn't even summon anger anymore.

So this was how he'd always seen me.

I used to want the mate bond because I believed we'd walk into the future together.

But to him, it was just a bargaining chip I used to get my way.

"One last time." I turned to leave. "I'm not applying to the Seminary."

No one tried to stop me.

They probably thought once I calmed down, I'd come back to them.

But there was nothing left to calm down from.

The next day, three hours before the Northern messenger was set to pick me up.

I was doing a final check of my luggage when Ethan walked into my room with Thomas, Daniel, and Paul.

Ethan was holding a Seminary application.

"Press your fingerprint." He said it flatly. "The Seminary's already holding a spot for you."

"I told you. I'm going to the North."

I looked at them, word by word. "I'll complete the family trial. Chloe won't be dragged into it."

Thomas shook his head. "You said you'd apply to the Military Academy before too. I can't trust you again."

"We talked it over." Daniel stepped forward. "This time we're watching you press that fingerprint ourselves."

Paul held out the ink pad.

I shoved the ink pad away and grabbed my luggage, ready to walk out.

The next second, a crushing pressure slammed into me from all sides.

It was the combined aura of all four of them.

Even if I was stronger than any one of them, I couldn't fight off four at once.

Ethan grabbed my hand and forced it toward the application.

My fingertip inched closer to the paper, and the last bit of warmth in my chest faded out piece by piece.

The fingerprint landed. Everything from before turned to ash.

Once it was done, they left immediately to submit the application.

Before he walked out, Ethan said to me, "I'll mark you in six days. I keep my word."

I didn't answer.

Words felt useless now. I just wanted to leave quietly.

After they were gone, I dragged my bags out and got into the Northern messenger's secret vehicle.

The messenger pulled the door open for me. "Made up your mind? Once you leave, you can never return to Westbrook Pack."

I looked back one last time.

The range a person walks is their world.

I couldn't stay in Westbrook forever. Not when there was no one left worth staying for.

I climbed in and nodded with a smile. "Let's go."

When the wheels crossed the Westbrook territory marker.

I had no connection left to my old world.