The Night I Decided to Leave Them Behind

During our graduation trip, we got trapped in a snowstorm and were forced to spend the night in a cave. There were five of us. My boyfriend, Marcus, the future Alpha heir, took the blankets out of his backpack. Without hesitation, he shook out two and draped them over Lily. Lily was an Omega wolf who had recently been found and brought back to our pack. There were two blankets left. I had just reached for one when Victor and Henry, my other two childhood friends, snatched them up and covered Lily with them as well. When they noticed me staring, they merely smiled nonchalantly. "We only brought four. You're usually pretty tough. You can manage one night without a blanket." At midnight, Lily complained that she was hungry. Marcus immediately handed her the last piece of chocolate. Victor took out a thermos of hot water, while Henry hurried to open a packet of crackers for her. I sat on the freezing ground, watching the three of them fuss over Lily. The gnawing hunger in my stomach suddenly disappeared. I remembered how they'd forgotten only my plane ticket for this trip, forcing me to buy a seat on the next red-eye flight. I remembered how, whenever we went out to eat, they somehow always managed to forget to order anything for me. There were always five of us, yet Lily was always the only one who received all three people's affection. By dawn, the blizzard had finally stopped, and the rescue team found us. The four of them walked toward the helicopter together, laughing and chatting. Not one of them looked back at me, sitting alone in the corner. I said nothing. I simply took out my phone and checked the admission offer from an overseas academy specializing in werewolf genetics. If their world only had room for four people, then I'd leave with my dignity intact. Chapter 1 The helicopter took us back to the hotel. The sudden blizzard had brought our graduation trip to an early end. On the return flight, I discovered that the four of them had booked business-class seats again. My seat was in economy, right next to the restroom. I'd spent the night hungry in a freezing cave and twisted my ankle in the snow. Now I had to endure more than ten hours cramped into a narrow economy seat. By the time we landed, the passengers in business class were allowed to disembark first. When I finally made it out, the four of them had already grown impatient. "Chloe, what took you so long? We've been waiting for half an hour!" Victor was the first to complain. Henry stood beside him, wrapping a scarf around Lily's neck. When he looked at me, his eyes were full of reproach. "Watch the luggage for us. Lily twisted her ankle getting off the plane. We're taking her to the hospital." There were eight enormous suitcases on the luggage cart. Without another word, my boyfriend, Marcus, bent down and swept Lily into his arms. He carried her toward the exit. "Chloe, stop dragging your feet next time," Victor snapped. A second later, he grabbed a thick blanket and hurried after Marcus. "Lily's not feeling well. It's cold outside. She should cover herself with this." Henry wasn't about to be left behind either. He pulled a thermos from his backpack and rushed after them. "Lily's water bottle is still here! She'll get thirsty!" I'd been out for barely a minute, yet none of them had asked how I was doing before rushing off to take care of Lily. There were eight suitcases in total. Four of them belonged to Lily. During our seven-day graduation trip, they'd bought her all kinds of expensive gifts and carefully packed every single one of them into her luggage. A sharp pain shot through my ankle. I crouched down to examine it. The skin was swollen, red, and turning purple. Only someone who loves you will care about how you're doing. I'd been limping the entire way out, yet not one of them had noticed my injury. Apparently, the affection of the three childhood friends I'd grown up with had quietly shifted to Lily long ago. They always said Lily was an Omega who had spent her childhood wandering alone, suffering more than anyone should have to endure. According to them, she needed extra love and care. I gritted my teeth and pushed the pile of twenty-eight-inch suitcases toward the airport entrance in three separate trips. Several times, I nearly fell. The luggage was too heavy, and every trip made my injured ankle hurt even more. By the time I'd finished, a message from Marcus appeared on my phone. [There's only room for four people. Find your own way home.] I booked two rides with a private car service and returned to our apartment alone. Snow swirled past the car window as I stared at the familiar scenery outside. For some reason, it no longer felt like home. Marcus was the heir to the Alpha position of Moonlight Pack. He had once promised to marry me, swearing before the Moon Goddess that I would be his one and only Luna. As for Henry and Victor, they were destined to become the pack's future Beta and Delta. They'd grown up alongside us, too. We'd once been inseparable. But everything changed three years ago, when they found Lily. Whenever Lily was around, I became invisible, someone they could ignore without a second thought. Back at the apartment, I dragged the suitcases into the entryway one by one. My ankle throbbed painfully, but I hobbled to the storage room to look for healing potions. When I opened the door, I found cabinets filled with jewelry, accessories, and gorgeous dresses. They were all Lily's style. I'd wanted to become a healer since childhood. This storage room had been specially designed for me by the three boys so I could keep the potions I made. Now it had become Lily's walk-in closet. I eventually found the potion in the cold basement, buried among boxes of miscellaneous junk. After treating my ankle, I went to the study and opened my laptop to check my email. There was a message from Frostwood Academy. [Dear Miss Radcliffe, would you really reconsider joining us? Our medical program is one of our strongest departments, and we've trained many outstanding healers.] I'd previously chosen Vox Academy, the local werewolf school, without a second thought. I'd been reluctant to leave Marcus. I couldn't bear the thought of going away when he was supposed to hold our marking ceremony soon. But now, I was ready to let go. I clicked Reply. "Thank you for the offer. I will report for enrollment next Tuesday as scheduled." There were five days left until Tuesday. Chapter 2 The next morning, the sound of the door keypad woke me up. I was about to open my bedroom door when Victor barged in without knocking. He was in such a hurry that he hadn't even taken off his shoes, leaving muddy footprints all over the floor. I looked up and saw Marcus and Henry standing in the doorway behind him. "Chloe, Lily was tormented by nightmares all night and couldn't get any sleep. Henry said you have a mugwort sachet that helps with insomnia. I'm taking it for her." Before I could respond, Marcus had already walked over to my storage cabinet and found the sachet with practiced ease. It had been his gift to me on my eighteenth birthday. He'd personally asked the highest-ranking healer in the pack to make it using the rarest and most expensive ingredients. Back then, he'd held the sachet in his hands and told me it was reserved exclusively for his future Luna. I watched Marcus take it without a word, my expression cold. Henry noticed my displeasure and assumed I was being petty again. "It's just a sachet. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?" Marcus held the sachet in his hand and walked toward me. "Chloe, Lily didn't sleep at all last night." He gently stroked my head in a comforting gesture. "I'll get you something even better later, okay?" I raised my eyes to meet his. All I could see in them was his determination to take Lily's side. Victor grew impatient. "Chloe, Lily's always been in poor health. You want to become a healer, don't you? With an attitude like this, how could you ever be a good one?" I listened to their complaints without responding. Gradually, my heart grew calm. I stood up and went to the storage cabinet, taking out a soothing aromatherapy diffuser and a musical box. "Take these, too. They might help Lily sleep better." I handed them over. Victor and Henry frowned at the same time. The aromatherapy diffuser had been a gift from Victor. He'd spent a fortune bidding for it at an auction. The musical box was a rare antique that Henry had spent six months tracking down. Back then, they'd gone to great lengths to help me sleep better because they knew I'd struggled with insomnia. Marcus seemed to sense my indifference. Suddenly, he looked uneasy. He approached me and took my hand. "Chloe, are you feeling unwell?" I withdrew my hand and shook my head. "I'm fine." And I was. I was no longer foolishly clinging to the past. Marcus's phone rang. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was Lily. Worried that something might have happened to her, Marcus immediately hurried outside to answer the call. I heard him greet her in a gentle voice the moment he picked up. "Lily." Victor and Henry recognized her name on the screen, too. They picked up the musical box and the aromatherapy diffuser, then hurried after Marcus, eager to hear what Lily needed. And just like that, they were gone. Silence settled over my world once again. After breakfast, I treated my ankle. Then I began packing my belongings in preparation for my departure. I didn't own much, so I finished quickly. Standing in front of the storage cabinet, I looked at the handful of gifts left inside. There had once been so many that I hadn't known where to put them. Every holiday, my childhood friends had showered me with presents. But after Lily arrived, they began asking me to hand them over, one by one, so they could give them to her instead. I crouched down and closed my suitcase. I didn't want a single one of their gifts anymore. That afternoon, Lily sent me a video. It showed the Steele family's private hot spring treatment suite, a facility reserved exclusively for the pack's ruling family. Yet Marcus had arranged for Lily to receive treatment there for her injured ankle. Victor and Henry stood on either side of her, supporting her as though she could barely stand. "Marcus, this place is reserved for the Alpha family. It's only a minor injury. I shouldn't be here..." Marcus's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "Lily, listen to me. I won't let you suffer from complications later." Victor gently patted her head. "You're already family to us." Henry immediately agreed. "Exactly. Your health comes first." I watched them standing together in perfect harmony, my expression blank. Not one of them had noticed that I was injured, too. I turned off my screen and left the apartment. I hailed a taxi. "Where to, miss?" the driver asked. "Vox Academy," I replied softly, looking out the window. "I need to withdraw from the school." Chapter 3 I went to Vox Academy to submit my withdrawal application. Everything went smoothly, and I left the administrative office feeling lighter than I had in days. I stood at the school gate, facing the snowy wind, and was about to call a car when the world suddenly began spinning around me. My vision went black. I collapsed. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a werewolf hospital. My ankle was in serious condition. The cold exposure and the heavy lifting had made the injury worse. The healer told me I needed three days of proper treatment and rest. Otherwise, I risked developing a chronic injury that would ache every winter for the rest of my life. The hospital assigned me a standard hot spring treatment room, but its healing effects were nowhere near as good as those of the Steele family's private suite. As my treatment ended, I received a voice message from them. Henry sounded irritated. "Chloe, what are you sulking about now? Today is the third anniversary of Lily's return to the pack. Everyone's waiting for you to cut the cake. Are you deliberately disappearing just to make a scene?" So today was the anniversary of Lily's return. They were all busy preparing a grand celebration for her. Not one of them had noticed that I was sick. I didn't reply. I simply turned off my phone. Lying in my hospital bed, I stared at the storm raging outside the window. At that moment, my heart felt even colder than the blizzard outside. That evening, I was kept in the hospital for observation. Restless from lying in bed for so long, I decided to take a walk. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice coming from down the corridor. "Doctor! Please help her! She's bleeding so much!" I stopped and turned toward the emergency department. Marcus was hurrying toward us with Lily in his arms. Henry and Victor followed close behind, their faces filled with worry. Lily was clutching her right index finger, her eyes red from crying. After examining the wound, the doctor looked rather helpless. "It's just a small cut. She doesn't need stitches. We can disinfect it and put on a bandage." Henry refused to accept the explanation. "How can you say that? Lily has a weak constitution. What if it gets infected? Can't you arrange for a specialist to examine her?" Victor anxiously chimed in. "Will it leave a scar? If it does, it could affect how she looks in dresses." The moment Lily heard the word scar, tears welled up in her eyes. She looked at Marcus with a pitiful expression. Marcus pulled her gently into his arms and patted her back. "Don't worry, Lily. I'll get you the best doctor. I won't let it leave a scar." The doctor clearly didn't understand why they were making such a fuss, but he patiently explained again. "It's really not a serious injury. There's no need to worry so much." Watching the ridiculous scene unfold, I decided not to get involved and turned toward another exit. Just as I was about to leave, Victor spotted me. "Chloe!" I turned around. The three men immediately positioned themselves in front of Lily, as though they needed to protect her from me. Henry rushed toward me. "Why are you only showing up now? Why didn't you come to the celebration? Where's your gift for Lily?" His shouting made my head ache. Before I could answer, Victor began criticizing me. "Chloe, you're being incredibly rude. Lily genuinely considers you a friend. She waited for you all night, and you couldn't even send her a message!" I ignored his accusations and looked at Marcus, who was shielding Lily behind him. He used to protect me like that. Whenever something went wrong, he'd always step in front of me. Now, Lily was the one standing behind him. Sensing the tension, Lily peeked out from behind Marcus and gently tugged at his sleeve. "It's okay," she said magnanimously. "Maybe Chloe had something important to do." Victor immediately objected. "What could she possibly have to do?" Henry agreed. "She's just putting on airs. She deliberately refused to come." Marcus looked at me with disappointment. "Chloe, you've gone too far this time." He stood before me, his voice heavy with reproach. "My Luna needs to be generous, understanding, and considerate. You've disappointed me." With that, they took Lily and left. Once again, I was left behind. They hadn't even noticed that I was wearing a hospital gown. Chapter 4 After three days in the hospital, I finally recovered. My transfer application had been approved, and the new werewolf academy had contacted me, asking me to enroll as soon as possible. I was ready to leave. But the day before my scheduled departure, Marcus came to see me. He invited me to a candlelit dinner. It was at the restaurant I'd once loved most, a famous destination for couples. A massive laurel tree stood in the outdoor dining area. Couples would hang love locks on its branches. Marcus and I had hung one there, too. I'd once believed we'd be together forever. Now, I only wanted to take our lock down. So I went. When I arrived, I discovered that Lily, Victor, and Henry were there as well. The romantic dinner I'd expected had turned into a gathering of friends. Marcus sat beside Lily, pouring her a glass of wine. Across from them, Victor was cutting her steak while Henry ordered dessert for her. There was no place for me at the table. I turned to leave. But Marcus stood up and hurried toward me. A warm smile spread across his face, as though my arrival had genuinely made him happy. "Darling, you're finally here." He pulled me into his arms and asked tenderly, "It's snowing outside. Are you cold? Would you like a blanket?" I gently freed myself from his embrace. "No, thank you." Marcus sensed my distance, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He tried to take my hand, but I had already walked toward the table. He stood there, momentarily stunned, his face paling slightly at my indifference. Soon, however, he seemed to dismiss his unease. He probably thought I was throwing another tantrum, just as I always had, and that a little affection would be enough to make everything right again. When I arrived at the table, Victor and Henry quickly asked the waiter to add another seat. They placed me at the end, beside the aisle. Marcus courteously pulled out my chair for me. Victor smiled at me. "Chloe, I ordered your favorite cheesecake." Henry leaned closer, looking pleased with himself. "And I ordered corn soup. You always have it whenever we eat at a Western restaurant." Marcus called the waiter over and ordered everything I liked. I looked at each of their faces in turn, feeling something complicated stir inside me. They remembered what I liked. They simply no longer cared enough to remember it when it mattered. Ever since Lily arrived, I'd become someone they occasionally remembered to indulge with a little affection, whenever it suited them. When the food arrived, Marcus cut my steak for me, just as he always had. He took care of me with the same attentiveness as before. Seeing this, Lily tried to be friendly, too. She ordered a fruit salad for me as an appetizer. After dinner, Lily suggested that we go outside and hang love locks on the laurel tree. Everyone followed her out. I walked behind them, watching as they laughed and teased one another. A crowd had gathered beneath the tree, and people were lining up to buy locks. I walked up to the tree and found the spot where Marcus and I had hung ours. Standing on tiptoe, I struggled to reach it. When we'd first hung our lock, someone had told us that the higher a couple hung their lock, the longer their love would last. After finally taking it down, I lost my balance and stumbled backward. Marcus caught me from behind, pulling me into his arms. When he noticed the lock in my hand, he frowned slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Chloe, why did you take our lock down?" I was about to come up with an excuse when Lily's voice rang out behind me. "Marcus! Come here!" "Coming!" Marcus immediately turned and walked toward her. They stood on the other side of the laurel tree. Lily smiled at him. "Marcus, you're the tallest. Could you hang mine a little higher?" Marcus took her lock without hesitation and hung it at the highest point he could reach. Lily stood perfectly still, gazing at him. I could see the affection overflowing in her eyes. Her love lock was engraved with two names. Lily and Marcus. And Marcus was the one who had hung it for her. Soon, Victor and Henry joined them. The four of them stood beneath the tree, laughing and chatting together. I turned and walked away. As I passed a trash can, I dropped the lock I'd taken down into it. Then I went home and changed my flight to an earlier departure. At one in the morning, I picked up the suitcase I'd packed earlier and headed to the airport. Goodbye. From now on, I would never put my life on hold for anyone again.