Yakamoz
Before the graduation assessment, the academy announces that they are sending five people over to the Stonefang pack to participate in the warrior training there. My childhood friends urge me to go along with them, but since I'm planning to be a healer, I refuse.
That is, until Arthur Pickard, the werewolf I've been crushing on for many years, accepts my profession under the moonlight.
"Once the training is over, we'll hold a marking ceremony."
Because of his promise, I sign my name on the application form.
The night before we're supposed to depart, I head over to deliver them some herbs when I hear them talking from outside the door.
"Without us with her, will she be okay going to the Stonefang pack alone?"
"If she remains, Beth won't have a valid excuse to join our team now, will she? After all, we are the strongest team around—Team Gamma!"
"Arthur's already promised to go through the marking ceremony with her when she returns, so she's not going to mind. Even if she does get angry, she's going to come crying back to us in the end anyway."
Unable to believe what I'm hearing, I fling the door open.
My childhood friends, whom I've fought side by side with for years, freeze in surprise.
Arthur furrows his brow in displeasure. "Beth is just too weak. We can't exactly leave her behind in the academy to be picked on, all because you don't want to be alone, right? You go on ahead first, and we'll join you later."
The others are quick to chime in. "It'll be five months, at the most, before we're together again."
My lips twitch as I watch them shift, standing protectively in front of Beth Tilman.
What they don't know is that I've applied to join a confidential project at the Royal Academy of Healers. For the next ten years, I will be at the border, researching potions.
Since you're all working together to trick me away from here, all for the sake of another she-wolf, I'll oblige and never return.