Chapter 1

The moment I heard my parents' voices, my nose stung, and I almost cried.

Half a month ago, I'd already managed to track them down, yet I never reached out because I wanted to stay by Arthur McKinley's side.

Back then, my thoughts were painfully simple. I was convinced I could make him fall in love with me. I never even considered the possibility of failure.

After all, we were destined mates, and we'd grown up together.

I never expected things to end like this.

"Don't cry, sweetheart," Mom said gently, her voice steady and reassuring. "It's great that you're coming home. As long as you come home, everything will be fine."

After hanging up, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were swollen and red. I got up and went to the bathroom, splashing my face with cold water.

There were only seven days left before I left the Starfall pack.

I had to start coming to terms with the fact that there was no longer any possibility of a relationship between Arthur and me.

But what about Arthur? If he knew I was leaving, would he feel even the slightest bit of sadness?

I found him in the kitchen, standing by the stove and making soup.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed neatly in a tailored suit that felt completely out of place in the kitchen. He held a ladle in his hand, stirring with movements that were a little awkward, yet his expression was focused.

I hadn't eaten dinner, and my stomach chose that exact moment to betray me with a quiet growl.

I couldn't help smiling faintly. I didn't expect him to remember that I'd skipped dinner. If I told him I was leaving, maybe he would try to stop me.

The thought stirred a fragile, unrealistic hope in my chest.

"Arthur," I said softly from the doorway. "I need to talk to you."

He turned around when he heard my voice, his expression darkening slightly. "Why are you still up this late?"

I paused, a vague sense of unease rising in me.

Then, a gentle, reproachful voice sounded from behind me. "Don't talk to her like that. Why are you being so harsh? Clara, I didn't eat much earlier, so I asked Arthur to make something. Do you want to have some with us?"

It was Elsa Hayes, the future Luna. We had only met for the first time that afternoon.

I wasn't expecting to see her here so suddenly.

But on second thought, her presence made perfect sense. In fact, it made more sense than mine.

I forced a smile, but the air in the room felt instantly heavy, filling me with the urge to escape.

Before I could refuse, Elsa had already ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to me.

It was mushroom soup.

I frowned and instinctively began, "Sorry, I—"

Arthur cut me off impatiently, "If she's already offering you a bowl, then drink it. Why are you making Elsa stand there holding it? Do you want her to feed you, too?"

I stared at him, stunned. My lips parted, but no words came out.

I was allergic to mushrooms. Even a small amount would cause me to break out in rashes.

Arthur knew this. That was why, throughout all three years of high school, he never let me eat at the school cafeteria.

Mushrooms were cooked there every day, and traces inevitably ended up in other dishes. As long as I ate them, I would break out in rashes. Thus, he had insisted on having separate meals delivered to me every single day.

This went on for three whole years, without exception.

Now, he was telling me to drink a bowl of mushroom soup.

I took the bowl from Elsa in silence and drank it all, despite knowing how uncomfortable it'd make me feel all night.

That was the second time Arthur had hurt me like this.

The first time hurt. This time still hurt, but it came with a different realization. After enough moments like this, I'd eventually be numb to the pain.

I thought that maybe, if it kept happening, I would finally be able to let go of him.