Chapter 8

I told him I was going back to the pack. The portal was opening that night.

He froze for a second. Then he let go. He didn’t stop me.

But I never went back.

I just switched to a different cave and stayed at the Sacred Grounds.

I kept exploring.

Later, they left the Sacred Grounds.

I stayed.

Every day, I rode around on Finn’s giant wolf.

Seraphina was still posting on HowlNet.

Her newest photo was taken under the Blood Moon in the Red Sand Desert.

Two people.

Same tent.

Just their backs.

Her caption said:

“Stop asking. This is seriously the last one in my camera roll.”

And under the photo, in tiny text, was one more line:

“You came with me to the Red Sand Desert. The Blood Moon was beautiful. The scars, the sandstorm, the howls... and you. All of it will become part of my awakening.”

I swiped past it like I saw nothing.

After they got back, Kael put his big-brother act back on.

Every day, he pushed me to come home.

He asked if I was still upset.

He told me to send him my location and kept sending soft messages.

“Why don’t you want to come home? Do you hate me now?”

“Elara, can you stop being mad? I’m not going to choose Seraphina as my mate.”

“I swear. Without your yes, I won’t accept anyone’s first bite.”

“Can you at least text me back? I’m worried about you.”

I ignored every single one.

I stayed quiet until all the newly adult werewolves had to choose which territory they’d serve.

That was when I finally showed up in the pack chat.

Kael had people asking around about where I was going.

I casually said the Northern Territories.

Seraphina also asked about my ceremony rating and where I wanted to continue training.

I casually said the Southern Desert.

One far north.

One far south.

She came at me angrily.

“Are you seriously going to joke with your own future? Just to get back at Kael?”

“So he stays guilty forever, throws away his own future, and follows you?”

I almost laughed.

And just to piss her off, I didn’t deny it.

“Wouldn’t that be his own fault?”

“He’s the one who swore he’d protect me forever.”

Around three in the morning, she sent me another message.

“I’m begging you. Don’t ruin Kael.”

“His rating is top-tier. He should go to the Royal Capital and become the brightest Alpha there is.”

“What happened before was my fault. If you’re angry, take it out on me.”

I looked at it once.

Then deleted it.