The Night I Decided to Leave Them Behind

The helicopter took us back to the hotel.

The sudden blizzard had brought our graduation trip to an early end.

On the return flight, I discovered that the four of them had booked business-class seats again.

My seat was in economy, right next to the restroom.

I'd spent the night hungry in a freezing cave and twisted my ankle in the snow. Now I had to endure more than ten hours cramped into a narrow economy seat.

By the time we landed, the passengers in business class were allowed to disembark first.

When I finally made it out, the four of them had already grown impatient.

"Chloe, what took you so long? We've been waiting for half an hour!"

Victor was the first to complain.

Henry stood beside him, wrapping a scarf around Lily's neck. When he looked at me, his eyes were full of reproach.

"Watch the luggage for us. Lily twisted her ankle getting off the plane. We're taking her to the hospital."

There were eight enormous suitcases on the luggage cart.

Without another word, my boyfriend, Marcus, bent down and swept Lily into his arms.

He carried her toward the exit.

"Chloe, stop dragging your feet next time," Victor snapped.

A second later, he grabbed a thick blanket and hurried after Marcus.

"Lily's not feeling well. It's cold outside. She should cover herself with this."

Henry wasn't about to be left behind either. He pulled a thermos from his backpack and rushed after them.

"Lily's water bottle is still here! She'll get thirsty!"

I'd been out for barely a minute, yet none of them had asked how I was doing before rushing off to take care of Lily.

There were eight suitcases in total.

Four of them belonged to Lily.

During our seven-day graduation trip, they'd bought her all kinds of expensive gifts and carefully packed every single one of them into her luggage.

A sharp pain shot through my ankle.

I crouched down to examine it.

The skin was swollen, red, and turning purple.

Only someone who loves you will care about how you're doing.

I'd been limping the entire way out, yet not one of them had noticed my injury.

Apparently, the affection of the three childhood friends I'd grown up with had quietly shifted to Lily long ago.

They always said Lily was an Omega who had spent her childhood wandering alone, suffering more than anyone should have to endure.

According to them, she needed extra love and care.

I gritted my teeth and pushed the pile of twenty-eight-inch suitcases toward the airport entrance in three separate trips.

Several times, I nearly fell. The luggage was too heavy, and every trip made my injured ankle hurt even more.

By the time I'd finished, a message from Marcus appeared on my phone.

[There's only room for four people. Find your own way home.]

I booked two rides with a private car service and returned to our apartment alone.

Snow swirled past the car window as I stared at the familiar scenery outside.

For some reason, it no longer felt like home.

Marcus was the heir to the Alpha position of Moonlight Pack. He had once promised to marry me, swearing before the Moon Goddess that I would be his one and only Luna.

As for Henry and Victor, they were destined to become the pack's future Beta and Delta. They'd grown up alongside us, too.

We'd once been inseparable.

But everything changed three years ago, when they found Lily.

Whenever Lily was around, I became invisible, someone they could ignore without a second thought.

Back at the apartment, I dragged the suitcases into the entryway one by one.

My ankle throbbed painfully, but I hobbled to the storage room to look for healing potions.

When I opened the door, I found cabinets filled with jewelry, accessories, and gorgeous dresses.

They were all Lily's style.

I'd wanted to become a healer since childhood. This storage room had been specially designed for me by the three boys so I could keep the potions I made.

Now it had become Lily's walk-in closet.

I eventually found the potion in the cold basement, buried among boxes of miscellaneous junk.

After treating my ankle, I went to the study and opened my laptop to check my email.

There was a message from Frostwood Academy.

[Dear Miss Radcliffe, would you really reconsider joining us? Our medical program is one of our strongest departments, and we've trained many outstanding healers.]

I'd previously chosen Vox Academy, the local werewolf school, without a second thought.

I'd been reluctant to leave Marcus. I couldn't bear the thought of going away when he was supposed to hold our marking ceremony soon.

But now, I was ready to let go.

I clicked Reply.

"Thank you for the offer. I will report for enrollment next Tuesday as scheduled."

There were five days left until Tuesday.