Chapter 2

I submitted my withdrawal application to the Elders' Council. Elder Carter begged me to stay.

"Elena, your father died in the Blood War protecting Lucas's father. He took a blade meant for the Alpha—tore through three rogues before he fell. That man gave everything so our pack could survive another generation."

Carter let out a long, heavy sigh. "You're a hero's daughter. Silvermoon has a duty to protect you."

"But here, I'm not a hero's daughter. I'm just a leech to everyone."

I stood straight, my gaze unwavering. "Elder, my pride won't let me stay in a pack that despises me."

Carter studied my face, saw I wouldn't budge, and finally pressed down his seal. "Application accepted. Per protocol, you have a seven-day cooling-off period."

I'd planned to leave quietly. But the malice spread through the academy like a plague.

Walk into class—wolves behind me whispering. Go to the library—upperclassmen blocked my way and asked, "Leeches need to study too? Can't you just coast on Alpha Lucas?"

My roommates, who'd been decent enough before, started pushing me out. They locked up their toiletries, dumped my stuff onto the damp, uncovered balcony.

They smirked. "You're better off in that little cabin Lucas's family tosses you."

That run-down cabin next to Lucas's territory was the only thing my father's life had bought me.

I'd never taken a penny from the pack for free. Every meal card Lucas casually tossed my way, every training fee he covered—I logged every single cent in my journal. Paid it all back the moment I earned enough from my jobs.

Lucas always waved me off. "Why are you counting so carefully with me?"

Back then, I thought it was affection. Now I knew—it was just charity from way up high.

The team practical exam was the final straw.

Students had to form groups of three and hunt targets for points. Teams filled up fast around me—friends grabbing friends, top performers locking in their preferred squads. I stood in the middle of the gym, watching names get called, waiting for a slot that never came.

The instructor finally sighed and shoved me into the leftovers. My new teammates didn't bother hiding their disappointment.

Deep in the dangerous snow forest, I used the tracking skills my father had left me and took down a five-point prey solo—a lynx.

I hadn't even registered it when a blur of movement cut through the air. Sienna and her hunting squad materialized out of nowhere.

"Pretty catch."

Sienna's lips curled into a mocking smile as she reached out and snatched the lynx from me. "Elena, a weakling like you with no wolf couldn't possibly kill a lynx. This is theft."

"I tracked it for three hours and took it down myself!"

I locked my eyes on her.

"Theft?" Sienna laughed coldly. "Who do you think they'll believe? You or me?"

More students gathered. The jeers came in waves.

"The leech has to steal points now?"

"Not enough that Lucas supports her? She's got to rob others too? Shameless!"

The crowd parted. Lucas strode in.

I thought I saw the last sliver of light. I looked at him. "Lucas, the lynx has my scent on it. You can smell it. Just look—"

"Enough, Elena!"

Lucas cut me off, his brow twisted into a tight knot. He didn't even glance at the lynx—just took it from Sienna's hands and dropped it into her point pouch like it was nothing.

He turned to me, patted my shoulder. "Elena, I get that you want to be independent. But lying? Absolutely not. If the instructors find out, we'll all get disqualified—"

Sienna stood beside him, beaming like a prize-winning pet.

My heart went numb. I couldn't feel a thing.

I reached up and closed my hand around the fang necklace at my throat.

That was the token Lucas had placed around my neck when I was twelve, after his first solo wolf hunt. It was supposed to mean Silvermoon's highest protection.

In front of everyone, I ripped the necklace clean off. The fang that Lucas treated like his greatest honor—I threw it into the mud at my feet like trash.

I pulled out my ID, turned to the supervising instructor, and spoke calmly. "Instructor, I voluntarily forfeit all points for this exam. And I'm withdrawing from my group."

The instructor froze. "Elena, forfeiting means you fail this course—"

"I know."

I turned around. I didn't waste another glance on Lucas.

Lucas stood there frozen, his face twisted ugly. He stared at the fang sinking into the mud, his fists clenched tight.

Then he just snorted. "Fine. Let her go. She'll come crawling back to me on her own."