Chapter 3

When we got to the barbecue place, the five of us sat around the long table.

Derek raised his glass and looked at me with a smile. "Vera, how'd you guess we were going to Blackstone this time?"

Ian picked it up from there. "Luck. After getting it wrong so many times, she had to hit it right eventually."

Caleb slid a plate of grilled meat in front of me. "Because she and I have that unspoken connection." He said it with his eyes resting softly on my face.

Mira gripped her fork, her fingers tightening little by little. She smiled quickly enough. "Caleb always understands Vera best."

I looked down at the meat on my plate. "I didn't guess."

The air went quiet for a beat.

"I overheard you guys talking with Mira. You said you were going to Blackstone."

Silence pressed down on the whole table.

Caleb was the first to speak. "It's just a game." He paused, his voice softening. "I was going to tell you anyway."

Derek shrugged. "We couldn't exactly wait until the deadline to tell you. Then you wouldn't have been able to go to Blackstone."

Ian chimed in, "The five of us are obviously gonna be together."

Caleb clinked his glass against mine, his tone certain. "We swore to the moon goddess together. How could we ever really leave you behind?"

I gripped the skirt on my knees, my knuckles going white. I couldn't tell them I'd chosen the Intelligence Bureau. Wordless silence was my last goodbye.

Seeing that I said nothing, the warmth drained out of Caleb's eyes. "Vera, it's just a game. Is that really worth pulling your White Wolf attitude over?"

"I've never pulled any attitude. I just—"

"Enough." Caleb cut me off. "I don't want to fight with you. We'll talk when you've calmed down."

Any more words would've been useless. I could only chew on my sorrow alone.

Mira lowered her head, her eyes going red. "It's all because I'm an Omega and can only go to the Blackstone Pack. I'm sorry."

Caleb reached out and ruffled her hair. "No need to apologize. You've got a heart of gold."

After the meal, everyone got in the car, and I was again put in the last row. I turned my face to the streetlights outside the window. Inside every one of them, a forgotten moon was caged.

Caleb and I had been seen as a perfect match by our elders since we were pups.

He's the Alpha heir, and I'm a White Wolf. There's no better match.

But the boy Caleb took my hand and said, dead serious: "I liked you first. Then I noticed your coat. White Wolf or not, I'd like you just the same."

For him, I let myself sink all the way down into the dust. A White Wolf, bowing low to look after him, to cater to him. But every time we fought, he'd say I was pulling the White Wolf attitude.

The car pulled into the Alpha estate. Four red carpets stretched from the door all the way to the main hall. Each carpet's end was embroidered in gold thread with a name. Caleb, Derek, Ian, Mira. Not mine.

The four of them laughed and stepped onto their own carpets, walking all the way up to the hall. I kept my head down and followed quietly behind them.

Luna, Caleb's mother, was at the hall doors greeting them. She saw me and blinked in surprise. "Vera's here too? Caleb didn't tell me you were coming."

Caleb shrugged. "She's a White Wolf. Who knows if she'd even grace us with her presence?"

I smiled awkwardly.

Luna had thrown them a surprise party, a send-off wishing them well in the Blackstone Pack. At the party, all three of my childhood friends fought over who got to dance with Mira. I sat alone in the corner, quietly watching them. Caleb didn't ask me to dance. I felt like I'd lost something, and like I'd gained something too.

Luna sat down beside me and took my hand gently. "Vera, I'm so sorry. We've been terrible hosts tonight."

I shook my head. "It's fine, Luna." This party was never about me anyway.

Luna brought out a moonstone necklace. "You're going to Blackstone too, right? This is my gift for you."

I was about to decline when Mira's voice came from behind me. "Wow, that necklace is gorgeous."

Caleb pushed his way over too. "Mother, this necklace would suit Mira's coloring perfectly. Give it to her."

Luna looked troubled. "This one's for Vera..."

"She's a White Wolf. Like she's short on necklaces?"

With that, Caleb took it from her hands and fastened it around Mira's neck.

Luna patted the back of my hand. "Sorry. I'll prepare another one for you next time."

I smiled and refused. "No need, Luna." Wolves in the Intelligence Bureau aren't allowed to wear necklaces.

The phone in my pocket buzzed.

[Reminder again: complete your targeted training check-in before 6:00 PM tomorrow.]

[Late arrival will be treated as automatic forfeiture.]

Less than a day until I leave. To be exact, only 21 hours left.