Chapter 1

I pressed Confirm.

The words Royal Court Direct Commander Program turned gray. A new line appeared beneath them.

Your place has been confirmed. Reporting instructions will follow separately.

Lucas pushed open the door just as I closed my laptop.

“Finished applying?”

He set an iced Americano beside Mia. His other hand came to rest naturally on the back of her chair.

This apartment belonged to Lucas and me, yet Mia’s slippers now sat in the entryway. Her mug had appeared in our kitchen. Even the cushions on the sofa had been replaced with the pale yellow ones she liked.

“I’m finished,” I said.

Lucas visibly relaxed. “I asked about late transfers into the Western Camp. With your scores, it shouldn’t be a problem. Check everyone’s missing documents tonight so nothing delays registration.”

He did not ask which camp I had chosen.

As far as he was concerned, whatever I put on the form, I would eventually follow him.

Mia held her coffee in both hands. “Erin, I’m still missing a recommendation letter. Could you ask one of the elders for me?”

Caleb held out his phone. “And housing. You researched the places near the Western Camp, right? Mia’s a light sleeper. Find somewhere quiet.”

“Not too far from the training grounds,” Jace added. “She hasn’t been well. A long commute every day will wear her out.”

Six months ago, when I first showed them my comparison chart for the four camps, none of them had even finished reading it. Caleb said I had listed the courses, housing, and weather in ridiculous detail. Lucas told me there was no point worrying so early. We could arrange everything after we arrived.

Now they had considered even the distance Mia would have to walk each morning.

“I deleted the housing spreadsheet,” I said.

The living room fell silent.

Caleb frowned. “You spent several nights making that. Why delete it?”

“I don’t need it anymore.”

Lucas’s expression darkened. “Erin, if you’re angry, take it out on me. Don’t interfere with everyone’s registration.”

Mia hurriedly raised her hands. “It’s fine. I can research it myself. I’m just not as thorough as Erin, so it might take me longer.”

“Stop blaming yourself for everything.” Lucas patted her shoulder, then looked at me. “She worked hard to earn her place. Even if you dislike our decision, you don’t need to make things difficult for her.”

My throat tightened.

When my mother died, the three of them walked out of the cemetery with me. I had clutched her necklace and refused to go home. Lucas crouched in front of me and took my hand.

“I’ll protect you from now on. When I become Alpha, you’ll be my Luna. My home will always be yours.”

Caleb held my other hand. “Come to me whenever you need something. Even if you can’t ask, I’ll still come.”

Jace stood between me and the wind. “No one gets to leave you behind. The four of us stay together. Always.”

Once, they had kept those promises.

On my first birthday after losing Mom, they arrived at my door with a cake. On every full-moon run, Lucas slowed down so I could keep pace. The night the Moon Goddess revealed that we were fated mates, he held me and laughed with more happiness than I felt.

“See? I chose right when we were children.”

That was why I had tried so hard to care for them in return.

Lucas was allergic to peanuts, so I checked restaurant ingredients before every meal. Caleb always forgot things, so my bag held a charger and spare keys. Jace’s blood sugar dropped after training, so I carried candy.

Back then, all four of us did small things for one another.

I never imagined that one day they would complain that I worried too much, then expect me to take perfect care of another girl.

Mia set down her coffee and stood. “Please don’t be angry, Erin. I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight. We can celebrate going to the Western Camp together.”

Lucas picked up my coat. “Come on. Don’t spoil the evening.”

I did not take it. “I’m not going.”

He watched me for a few seconds, then put the coat back. “Fine. Come find us when you’ve thought it through.”

The four of them left, laughing and talking.

No one looked back.

My phone vibrated. The Royal Court had sent another notice.

Your reporting location and travel arrangements are classified and must not be disclosed to unauthorized persons.

I closed the message and opened the shared planning file I had maintained for seven years.

In the beginning, it had included my birthday, my training schedule, and all the places we promised to visit together. Over the years, almost everything about me had disappeared. What remained was page after page of their lives.

I selected the file and pressed Delete.

This time, I would plan only my own future.