Chapter 3

I froze and let out a self-deprecating chuckle. So, it was on the day of the Spring Hunt.

I had hunted a deer, which would be worth three points for our team. I had carried it back in high spirits, only to discover that no one was waiting at our rendezvous spot. There had been nothing there except a pile of prey carcasses beside the tree roots.

Exhausted, I had dragged the pile of carcasses along by myself. I had been afraid that I wouldn't make it back before the competition deadline, and I had also been afraid that abandoning the kill would leave our team with no points and land us in last place, causing us to become a laughingstock.

As it turned out, while I had been running around the forest to look for them like a headless chicken, they had been by the river helping Lily gather herbs. No wonder no matter how many times I had called out to them through our mind link in the forest, no one had answered me.

John finally recalled what happened. His hand froze in midair, and his expression stiffened slightly. "My bad. You weren't with us at the time. I was going to call you, but there were herbs everywhere by the river.

"Haven't you always hated the strange smell of herbs? We only happened upon the Moonlight Spring while gathering them."

Without saying a word, I looked him in the eye.

He reached out to pat my head, but I dodged his hand as well. "Are you mad? I'll take you to Moonlight Spring separately next time. How does that sound?"

Perhaps because I hadn't replied for so long, Lily called out my name directly in the group chat, though I paid her no mind.

John heard it as well. He patted me on the shoulder. "Why aren't you picking one, Monica? Is it really that hard to decide?"

He whispered in my ear, "Hurry up and pick one. If you don't, she'll definitely think you haven't forgiven her, and she won't be able to sleep well tonight."

I let out a derisive chuckle, refusing to give him what he wanted. "Either one is fine. Just pick whichever you want."

Lily complained that I was being far too perfunctory.

…

The following day, when we met by the river, the herb in Lily's basket was purifying grass.

Lily had chosen Jason. A flicker of disappointment crossed John's face.

Lily shooed the two of them ahead and took my hand as we lagged behind. "I knew you wouldn't actually hold it against me. After all, we're the best of friends in the whole wide world!"

I merely smiled.

The three of them had reported the Moonlight Spring to the pack the day they found it, and now, a line of pack members had already formed. There were plenty of injured werewolves, but the spring could only accommodate three people at a time.

Yet, when it was finally our turn, Jason and John suddenly got into a heated argument over who got to soak in the Moonlight Spring with Lily.

Jason argued, "You're Monica's brother. Of course you should soak with her!"

John dug his heels in and shot back, "Lily already chose the purifying grass you picked. To keep things fair, she should soak with me!"

The pack members waiting behind us were losing their patience. Some started grumbling, while others urged us to hurry.

"Are you getting in or not? Why don't you take this argument elsewhere and come back when you've made up your mind?"

"What's wrong with you guys? Can't the three of you just soak together? Is there really a need to argue over this?"

Jason and John retorted in unison, "Who would want to soak with him?"

Despite saying that, the three of them ended up squeezing into Moonlight Spring together, using the excuse that soaking alone would offer more space. Thus, John and Jason implicitly agreed to give me the chance to enjoy the spring on my own.

Lily turned around and looked at me envyingly. "I'm so jealous. In a while, you'll get to soak by yourself, while I have to squeeze in there with these two stinky wolves."

The she-wolf standing behind me couldn't help but whisper to her mate, "Is this what you call jealousy? This is nothing but blatant bragging. It makes me sick just watching her!

"You'd better pay attention. That's what a bitch looks like! If you still can't spot one next time, I'll beat some sense into you!"

I instinctively turned around to take a look at her. She looked a little embarrassed as she explained, "I was just joking. Please don't mind me."

I didn't fault her. After all, she was only telling the truth.