Home / I Won’t Fight For A Sixth Place Anymore / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of I Won’t Fight For A Sixth Place Anymore: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Ivy, how late are you planning to stay up? We have to confirm your bonding gown in the morning. Don't show up half asleep."Ethan's voice came from the bathroom, muffled by the running water.I leaned against the headboard, my eyes on my phone.Half an hour ago, Claire had posted the photos from tonight by the lake.The last one was a screenshot of her chat with Lily. When she cropped it, she had missed a corner, and another group chat showed through.A chat that had been pinned to the top for eight years. Moonlight Pact.I zoomed in and read the last few messages."After the lake, let's hit the full moon dance at Moon Creek clearing. Just don't bring Ivy. Last time she danced, she stepped on half the pack's feet."It was from my own sister, Lily.Under it were four emojis, all agreeing.Suddenly I understood why, every time everyone made plans, someone would tell me at the last minute that it had been called off.The bathroom door opened, and Ethan came into the bedroom."What's wron

Chapter 2

On the busiest shopping street in Silverpine territory, there was a boutique that made custom gowns for werewolf bonding ceremonies.When I pushed the door open, Claire was already curled up on the sofa, with a stack of gown catalogs spread out in front of her."Ivy, you're finally here! Come look, I found a few that would look amazing on you."Ethan had barely stepped in behind me when Claire turned the catalog toward him and pointed to an ivory silk gown."What do you think of this one? It's backless, and the waist is gorgeous. She'll take everyone's breath away at the Moon Goddess's altar."Ethan leaned in for a closer look. His eyes lit up."Nice. I like this one."The two of them agreed on the spot. It never occurred to either of them to ask me first.The gown consultant handed me a glass of warm water and asked quietly:"Miss Ivy, is there a style you'd like to try? We can also adjust anything to your taste."I was about to answer when Claire made the decision for me."Let's go w

Chapter 3

The restaurant Ethan picked was close to our place. It was a charcoal grill house that was popular all over the Silverpine Pack.But when I pushed the door open, I realized tonight wasn't going to be just the two of us.Claire was sitting on the bench by the window, with Lily right beside her. Noah and Kate had the seats across from them.The five of them were crowded around the table, deep in lively conversation.I stood at the entrance, suddenly unsure where I was supposed to sit.Noah spotted me first and waved."Ivy, you made it. We can squeeze in one more."He pulled a chair over from the empty table next to them and wedged it in at the corner.It faced right into the aisle the servers used. I had to sit sideways, and my shoulder barely reached the edge of the table.Ethan didn't even look up. He was busy studying the menu."Let's get two sharing platters. One rosemary salt-roasted and one honey-smoked. How's that?"I was about to say that sounded good when Claire leaned over."I'

Chapter 4

On the night before the bonding ceremony, Ethan had barely walked me home when he got a phone call."Noah's so drunk at the tavern he can't even stand. I have to go get him."He grabbed his car keys and was out the door before I could answer.I sat alone in the living room and laid out everything for tomorrow's ceremony, one item at a time.The ivory bonding gown, the crown woven from laurel flowers, and the evening dress for the reception afterward had all been delivered to the house.My phone buzzed a few times.Lily had posted in the family group chat."Nobody is allowed to be late tomorrow! Claire's handling greeting guests and the guest book, and I've got the flowers for the Moon Goddess's altar!"Claire replied right away."Don't worry, everything's confirmed. I even printed out the schedule this afternoon. Everyone's getting a copy tomorrow."She snapped a photo of it and posted it in the chat.I opened the picture and slowly scrolled down.From the guests arriving, to the pries

Chapter 5

Ethan woke up to his alarm.It was seven o'clock. His phone went off three times before he opened his eyes. His neck was stiff and sore, and it took him a moment to remember he had slept on the sofa last night out of spite.He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and glanced toward the bedroom.The door was closed. It was very quiet."Ivy?"No answer.He got up and pushed the door open. The bed was perfectly made, like no one had slept in it.The ivory bonding gown hung on the closet door. The laurel crown sat on the chair. The evening dress for the reception was folded neatly at the foot of the bed.The closet was open, more than half empty.Ethan stood there for a few seconds. Then his eyes landed on the coffee table, on the sticky note tucked under the ceremony schedule.He read it three times. His head was buzzing.I finally get it. That promise fifteen years ago only ever belonged to the five of you.I won't fight for a sixth place anymore.He called Ivy. Her phone was off.He texted her. The

Chapter 6

Three days after Ivy disappeared, Ethan found out where she was.He wasn't the one who found her.A coworker of Kate's saw a location tag on Ivy's Instagram story. It was a youth hostel in Ashford, a human town past the edge of pack land. He screenshotted it and sent it to the group chat.Moonlight Pact.By the time Ethan saw it, it was late at night.He stared at the location for a long time. Then he pulled on his jacket and went downstairs.It was a three-and-a-half-hour drive.The woman at the front desk told him the girl named Carter had checked out the day before.He stayed in town another day. He went everywhere she might be. He even walked the streets with his senses wide open, trying to catch her scent.Nothing.On the drive back, Claire texted him."Did you find her?""No.""Ethan, she probably just needs a few days to cool off. Give her some time."He didn't reply.On the fourth night, Ivy posted something new.No caption. Just one photo.A bowl of soup, and next to it, a cup

Chapter 7

On the eighth day, Ethan saw a new photo on Ivy's Instagram.It was the windowsill of a small rented apartment. There was a pothos plant on it, and a mug sitting beside it.The mug was dark green. Plain. No pattern at all.The caption was four words: Doing fine. Finally settled.His heart dropped.She had rented a place.He called Lily right away."Do you know where your sister's renting?""No idea. She hid everything from me too."He called Ivy's mother."Mrs. Carter, did Ivy tell you where she's living?"This time, her mother sounded different. She hesitated."Ethan, Ivy told me... she doesn't want to see you right now.""Why? I just want to talk to her. Sort this out face to face.""She said you'd be good at talking. But talking isn't the problem.""Then what is?"Her mother didn't answer directly."She asked me something. I couldn't answer it. Maybe you can.""She said, Mom, if every time someone pours a drink, there are only ever five cups, don't you start to believe one day that

Chapter 8

On the twelfth day, Ethan got in his car again.He was heading for the town in Ivy's photo.He didn't know the address. But in the corner of the photo, he could see half of a bus stop sign.He spent an entire afternoon riding the bus, getting off at stop after stop, looking.Near evening, at the mouth of an old side street, he found it.Next to it stood an old six-story apartment building.He stood outside for a long time. He didn't dare go up.In the end, Ivy was the one who saw him, when she came down to take out the trash.She was carrying a garbage bag, her hair pulled up in a careless ponytail.The moment she saw him, she stopped.Then she tossed the bag in the bin and brushed off her hands."How'd you find me."It wasn't a question. Her voice was flat, like she was stating a fact."Your photo. I recognized the bus stop."She nodded. Nothing else."Ivy. Come home." He took two steps toward her."No.""We can redo the ceremony. However you want it. Your call. All of it."She looked

Chapter 9

When Ethan got back, the first thing he did was leave Moonlight Pact.Noah was the first to call."Why'd you leave the chat? You guys fighting?""It's not a fight.""Then what's the big deal? It's just a group chat.""That's exactly the point. It's just a group chat." Ethan's voice was low."Eight years, and not one of us ever thought to add her."Noah was quiet for a few seconds. He sounded uncomfortable."We made that thing ages ago. We barely even used it after...""The full moon dance last month. The tavern booking the month before that. The countdown on New Year's Eve.""All of it got planned in that chat. And nobody told her about any of it."Noah didn't say anything else.Ethan hung up.The second thing he did was pack everything of Claire's in the house into a cardboard box.The jar of honey lemon tea. The cream cardigan. The nail polish. The lavender candle. The throw pillows.As he packed, he noticed a problem.There was so much of it.So much that he couldn't tell what was C

Chapter 10

On the fortieth day, Ivy texted Ethan.She was the one who reached out.It was just one line. "There's a tin box on the second shelf of the bookcase, on the left. My bank cards and my grandmother's ring are in it. Can you mail it to me?"Ethan's hand shook when he saw it.He wrote back: I'll bring it to you.Half an hour later, she answered: Just leave it in a parcel locker.He didn't listen.Early Saturday morning, he drove three and a half hours to her street.He waited downstairs for twenty minutes, then texted her that he was there.Ivy came down to get it.She was a little thinner than the last time he saw her, but she looked healthier than he expected."Thanks." She took the tin."Have you eaten?""Yeah.""There's a soup place nearby. It's really good. Let me buy you...""No, thanks."She turned to go."Ivy."She stopped."I left the group chat. And I moved all of Claire's stuff out."Ivy looked at him. She didn't seem surprised at all."And?"That one word left him with nothing

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