Chapter 1

I walked away without picking up the chestnut cake.

Last year, an allergic reaction had sent my wolf out of control. The healer had warned me never to touch anything made with chestnuts again.

When I landed in the hospital after eating too much chestnut cake, Victor, Marian, Lisa, and Noah sat by my bed and teased me for being so greedy I'd risk my life for cake.

It had only been a year, and they'd all forgotten.

My phone buzzed. Victor had texted me a link to the show's livestream.

"Marian feels guilty that you couldn't come in. She found a livestream so you can watch with us.

"Marian doesn't want you to be left out next time we talk about it."

I opened it, and the camera panned across the audience.

The five of them sat huddled together, laughing so hard they leaned on one another. They looked like lifelong friends.

I suddenly remembered that they'd only started watching stand-up because of me.

I was born weak and didn't awaken my wolf until I was 19, a year later than most werewolves.

At school, the other kids in the pack always left me out.

Then I stumbled across a stand-up video.

Those jokes helped me forget the humiliation of being left out, if only for a while.

After that, I couldn't get enough of stand-up.

When Victor and Marian found out, they started watching with me.

Later, Noah and Lisa joined in too.

Back then, they'd sworn they would always watch stand-up with me.

And now, for a girl they'd only met once, they'd been the ones to shut me out.

Last month, we'd planned to watch the moon from the south slope.

I'd gotten all the camping gear ready.

But the night before we left, Marian saw a video about Blackwind Valley and insisted we go there to see the sparks.

The four of them changed the plan overnight and dragged me along. They said all five of us had to go.

Blackwind Valley was full of dark energy, and we stayed there all night.

When we got back, my wolf went out of control, and I was in the hospital for seven days.

And they blamed me for ruining everyone's fun.

But they were the ones who'd dragged me there.

Then there was my 20th birthday last year. Victor and I had planned to hold our marking ceremony.

But the day before, Marian came to me with tears in her eyes. She said she still hadn't found her fated mate and couldn't bear to watch Victor and me become mates. She asked me to wait a little longer.

I refused. I went to Victor, took his hand, and spent a long time begging him to go ahead with the ceremony. I told him I didn't want to wait any longer to become his mate.

He patted my head and agreed with a smile.

On the day of the ceremony, the elder was about to recite the prayer.

Suddenly, the screen in the great hall started playing a video of me begging Victor.

Then Victor called off the marking ceremony.

I became the laughingstock of the whole pack, and the backlash left me even weaker.

Only later did I find out that Victor, Noah, and Lisa had planned the video together.

All because none of them wanted Marian to be upset.

A burst of cheering from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts.

On the livestream, the host invited audience members onstage and picked Marian.

She held the microphone and smiled shyly at the camera. "Actually, someone from our group is missing today. My sister couldn't make it. I hope she's not mad at me. Next time we'll definitely come with her."

The audience laughed warmly.

After she came offstage, the five of them crowded in front of the camera again, all talking at once.

"Della, you'd better watch closely!"

"When we get back, we'll talk all about it!"

"So many of the jokes are hilarious. You're going to love them!"

They sounded warm, as if they really cared about me.

I gave a bitter laugh and closed the livestream.

I texted Kyle.

He was the Alpha of the neighboring Silver Moon pack.

He'd fallen for me at first sight and had always wanted me to be his mate.

But back then, my heart belonged to Victor, and I kept turning Kyle down.

Still, he never gave up. He said he'd wait until I came around.

"Alpha Kyle, I'm ready to be your mate and become your Luna."

He replied in seconds.

"I'm coming to get you right away. Wait for me."

His reply made me feel lighter, as though a weight I'd carried for years had finally lifted.

Someone had already taken my place.

So I'd be the one to leave our group of five.