Chapter 4

The air around the bonfire froze instantly.

I sat motionless in my seat, my hands twisted together tightly under the table.

I didn't want him to be embarrassed and was just about to change the subject, but he spoke first.

Hudson had no expression on his face, and his voice held no trace of warmth.

"Don't make jokes like that. Our families are just close."

"Her wolf is naturally weak, and my parents told me to look out for her a bit more. That's all."

He said it so casually.

But those words smashed into my chest like a heavy stone.

The air around me grew thin, and I truly couldn't sit there any longer. I made an excuse to get up and walked over to the nearby lake.

With the evening breeze blowing against my face, I finally couldn't hold it back anymore, and my tears fell silently.

Growing up, I thought all that care and companionship, even if laced with impatience, had at least a little bit of genuine affection in it.

Now I understood. In his eyes, I was just an assignment.

Just as I was looking down to wipe my tears, I heard voices coming from behind the bushes nearby.

"Man, you really need to stop playing babysitter for her, you hear me?" It was one of Hudson's friends.

His voice was kept at a medium volume, just loud enough for me to hear. "Clara is already making it so obvious. If you miss out on mating with a strong female because of that weakling, it'd be a massive waste of your potential."

"Man, think about your own future. Go after Clara already."

I didn't hear what Hudson replied.

I understood completely. In their eyes, I wasn't just an annoying burden.

I was the most glaring stumbling block standing between him and his perfect Alpha life.

Since that was the case, I should take a hint and leave on my own.

I walked out from behind the bushes. I took a deep breath, planning to say I wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home early.

"Hudson, I..."

"What is it now?" Before I could even finish, Hudson spun around, his frustration completely erupting.

"Avery, can you just stop popping up to kill the vibe at times like this?"

"If you leave, I have to take you back. I've got my own friends and things I want to do."

"Have you ever thought about how exhausting it is for me to constantly look after you because your wolf is weak? I'm not your personal bodyguard. I don't owe you anything."

"Can you just let me breathe? Please."

I stood stiffly in the night wind.

The last shred of my dignity shattered into dust.

Hudson had finally spoken his true feelings. For all these past years, I was the one silently dragging him down.

I fought back the tears welling up in my eyes and nodded calmly.

"Okay, I understand."

"Thank you for taking care of me all these years."

"I won't bother you ever again."

Thankfully, the moonlight by the lake was bright enough. Thankfully, there was a car outside the camp willing to give me a ride.

This was the last bit of dignity I could preserve in front of him.

When the acceptance letters arrived, Hudson and I both received our offers from the academy, just as we had hoped.

Our parents arranged a lavish dinner at a high-end restaurant to celebrate.

Halfway through the meal, the conversation naturally turned to our college plans.

Mr. Reed happily cut a piece of rare steak and handed it to me.

"Avery, you've confirmed your enrollment, right? I remember you two made a pact since you were kids to go to Blood Moon Academy together.

"It's best that you go to school in the same territory. Hudson can keep protecting you.

"Right, Hudson?"

Hudson's hand, holding his knife and fork, paused.

He gave a vague answer, avoiding my gaze and staring at the meat on his plate.

"...I haven't decided if I'm going there yet."

Mr. Reed instantly frowned and began scolding him.

My father, Carter, stepped in to smooth things over.

"There is no rush. The kids are grown up and have their own thoughts. Let them make their own decisions."

The topic shifted, and the tension at the dinner table eased.

On the ride home, my dad suddenly spoke up.

"Did something happen between you and Hudson?"

It was impossible for him not to notice the change in me, so I didn't deny it.

"I just feel like I shouldn't keep relying on him.

"He can't take care of me forever. He doesn't owe me anything."

My dad reached out and rubbed the top of my head. After hearing my words, his eyes were full of sympathy.

"I'll take care of you forever."

He sighed and continued. "Once you pay your tuition deposit, we'll take a trip down south for the summer. Just get away from everything here."

After that, I secretly logged into the portal and wired that hefty deposit into a completely different account.

I spent the entire, long summer with my parents at a southern resort.

For the rest of the time, I wandered alone around unfamiliar towns. Anywhere was fine, really.

It wasn't until just before freshman registration that I briefly returned home.

I packed all my luggage overnight and embarked on a journey far away, all by myself, ahead of schedule.

Three days before Blood Moon Academy's registration day, Hudson ran to my house, panting, and knocked on the door.

"Mr. Carter, is Avery awake? I want to confirm what time we are leaving together."

My father leaned against the doorframe, his expression somewhat complicated.

"Avery's school required her to arrive early to adjust to the environment. She already left the day before yesterday."

Hudson was stunned. Blood Moon wasn't starting for another two weeks.

"Where did she go?"

"Oakhaven University."

Hudson froze in place, looking as if he had been punched in the gut.