Chapter 1

Today was the day Alex Damson, Lily Calder, and I were supposed to head to Moon City.

Yet here I was, sitting in the car waiting for over two hours.

[Vanessa, I’m sorry. Lily has a fever and is feeling really sick. Moon City is too far, and I’m worried she won’t be able to handle the trip. Let’s change the location for your coming-of-age ceremony. I’ll let you know once we pick a new spot.]

Looking at the text message Alex had just sent, I couldn't help but feel a wave of bitter irony.

My eighteenth birthday was in three days, which was also the day my wolf spirit would finally awaken.

Moon City was said to be blessed by the Moon Goddess, and it was a destination I had dreamed of visiting ever since I was a child.

We had agreed on this trip long ago so we could celebrate my eighteenth birthday together and witness my wolf spirit awakening right there.

Now, just because Lily had a fever, Alex casually changed the plan without bothering to tell me in advance.

I took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm myself down.

Honestly, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Alex and I had been inseparable since childhood, sharing a connection so natural it felt like we were fated mates.

Everyone always said we were the perfect match, and deep down, I secretly hoped he would turn out to be my fated mate, too.

That was until Lily showed up.

When rogues attacked Lily’s pack, she was the sole survivor.

The day we found her, she was wrapped in a blood-stained wool blanket, looking completely frail and helpless. Feeling deeply sorry for her, I took her in.

At first, Alex was cold toward Lily, almost showing outright disdain. After all, Lily was just an Omega, and Alex had never liked weaklings.

However, Lily was constantly trailing behind him, always turning to him for help. Perhaps being so desperately needed felt too good to resist, because slowly but surely, Alex’s attitude began to shift.

He started paying more attention to her, learning her likes and dislikes. Whenever anyone picked on Lily, he was always the first to step up and protect her.

As time went on, Alex spent less and less time alone with me. Lily always claimed I was her best friend, but whenever the three of us walked together, she only ever talked to Alex.

In fact, they wouldn't even notice when I lagged far behind, leaving me to watch them walk away like a total outsider.

This trip to Moon City for my coming-of-age ceremony was something we had planned way ahead of time, and Alex knew better than anyone how much I had longed to go. Still, with a single phrase from Lily saying she felt "unwell", Alex threw it all out the window.

He didn't even bother asking for my thoughts—he simply notified me of his decision.

"Miss Vanessa, should we keep waiting? If we don't leave now, I'm afraid we won't make it to Moon City before dark." The driver's voice suddenly cut through my thoughts.

I looked down at my phone again.

Alex had sent another text: [Vanessa, why aren’t you replying? I know we should have told you earlier, but Lily really isn’t feeling well. She thinks you’re mad at her and hasn't stopped crying. She’s your friend, so you should be a little more understanding.]

Understanding… I had heard that word way too many times.

Every time Alex neglected me and put Lily’s needs before mine, he always told me to be understanding.

Well, I was done putting up with it.

"Let's go," I told the driver.

I turned off my phone, tossed it into my bag, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.

This time, I was done playing the outsider. I chose to walk away.