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I grew up with four Alphas. I was Crown City's clingiest tagalong. Everyone knew I would never leave them. Today, I took off the silver wolf pendant I'd worn for eighteen years and gave it to Maren, the newest member of our group. "This is the token of our bond. The five of us. It's yours." "Congratulations. You've replaced me." Why? Because I'm cutting every tie and leaving. Those four Alphas tricked me into signing an invitation for Maren's sake. They didn't know what was on it. A classified project. A five-year lockdown. No private communication allowed. After the United Pack Trials ended, my four childhood friends pulled me into a game of Truth or Dare. When my turn came, Maren—the heiress the Ashford family had only just taken back—dared everyone to reveal their first-choice school. One by one, they pulled up screenshots of their Northreach Institute applications. I nearly cried. Northreach was my dream school. But my wolf couldn’t bear to leave them, so I’d chosen Crown City instead. Soren Blackwood grinned at me. “UPT’s top-ten academic star. Do you dare to give up Crownspire University and come to Northreach with the rest of us?” “Whoever chickens out is a coward.” That night, in front of all of them, I accepted Northreach Institute’s early admission offer. Then it was my turn to dare someone. I looked at Soren. “Do you dare to date me?” Amid the whooping and cheering, Soren said yes. My acceptance letter from NI arrived, and I went to find them—only to walk straight into a secret party. The projector in the living room was still on. On the screen was a different group chat: [Princess Maren and Her Loyal Knights]. [Did she sign?] [Signed. Four photoshopped application forms, and she’ll leave for Northreach thinking it was her own idea. Total win.] [Maren’s a genius. One game of Truth or Dare and the tagalong is gone.] [Soren sacrificed the most. He still has to pretend to date her until school starts.] I stood frozen in front of the screen. Behind me, the d
