Chapter 1
Cressida’s POV
The cream envelope landed on the marble kitchen counter like a guillotine blade.
I'd been checking the mail obsessively for three weeks, refreshing my email, hovering over the mailbox every afternoon at 3 PM when the postal carrier usually came, my stomach a twisted knot of hope and dread. Now, holding the thick paper between trembling fingers, I almost wished I'd never checked at all.
Just like all young werewolves, it was my dream to get accepted into Ashmore Elite Academy. It wasn’t just a school, it was the school. It was known for only producing the best werewolves. It was an honor to be accepted and a disgrace to be rejected.
We regret to inform you that your application to the Ashmore Elite Academy has not been accepted at this time.
The words swam in front of my eyes. The letter fell to the counter, and I gripped the edge until my knuckles turned white, waiting for the room to stop spinning.
"Cressida! Come celebrate!" My mother's voice sang from the living room, syrupy and triumphant. "Our Astrid got in! She's going to Ashmore!"
Of course she did. It was expected.
"Sweetheart, come here." Dad's voice now, warmer but edged with that particular tone he used when he wanted me to comply without making a fuss.
I shoved my rejection letter into my bag and pasted on a smile before walking into the living room. Astrid sprawled across the cream sectional like she'd been photoshopped into the room. all long limbs and golden hair, her acceptance letter displayed on the coffee table as though it were a trophy to be admired.
She barely glanced at me. "There you are. I was wondering if you were even going to show up to celebrate your sister's achievement."
The dig was casual, delivered with the same tone she'd use to comment on the weather.
"Of course," I said, forcing brightness into my voice. "Congrats, Ast. That's amazing."
Mom pulled me into a hug that smelled like her expensive perfume and desperation. "We're all so thrilled. You know how hard your sister has worked. Now the whole family knows she's destined for greatness. Just like—" She paused, something flickering across her face. "Well, she's going to do wonderful things."
Just like she was always meant to, I heard the unspoken end of that sentence. Unlike you, the only regret we have.
Dad raised his glass of wine. "To Astrid. Our shining star."
"To Astrid," I echoed, my own voice sounding hollow.
That's when my phone buzzed. A text from Axton: Can't wait to see you. We're going to crush it at Ashmore together. Just like we always planned.
My heart seized. Axton Thorne. Tall, ambitious, and devastatingly handsome Axton— the future Alpha, who I'd been dating since junior year. We'd talked about Ashmore together for the past year. It was our dream, our future. He was going there. He believed in me. And once we were both at Ashmore, everything would be different. My parents would finally see that I was worthy of the Maxton name. I would graduate as one of the best students and we will come back to lead the pack as Alpha and Luna. i would give him beautiful children and we will live happily ever after.
I texted back: I have to tell you something. When can we meet?
I slipped away to meet him, knowing that no one would notice my absence.
Axton was waiting by the fountain in the central courtyard. His dark hair caught the light; his jaw was sharp with the kind of handsomeness that made girls do stupid things. He'd done stupid things to me for three years, and I'd loved every moment of it.
He pulled me close, and for a second, I let myself sink into his familiar warmth. His cologne—that expensive cedar and amber scent wrapped around me.
"I've missed you," he murmured into my hair.
I pulled back slightly, searching his face. Something felt different. His eyes were unreadable in a way they usually weren't with me.
"I got rejected," I said quickly, like ripping off a band-aid. "Ashmore rejected my application."
For a moment, he didn't respond. Then his expression shifted, a flicker of something that might have been relief crossed his features before he smoothed it away.
"That's... unexpected," he said carefully.
"Yeah. It is." My voice cracked on the words. "I don't understand why. My grades were good, my essays were strong. But i don’t think that matters. I will try again next year and i’m sure that they will accept me. I will study harder."
“Ashmore is not brain. They accept only the best werewolves.”
“I know but—”
He was already looking past me, his attention drifting toward the campus buildings. "Look, Cress, I need to talk to you about something."
The way he said it, like it was rehearsed, made my stomach drop.
"My parents gave me a TED talk on Alpha duties and responsibilities," he continued, his words coming out in the careful cadence of a speech he'd prepared. "They think it would be strategic for me to align with someone who shares the same values."
I stared at him. The afternoon sun suddenly felt too bright, washing everything in an unforgiving light.
“We do share the same values. I’ve just been a little delayed. I will try again next year.”
“If Ashmore didn’t accept you, then it means that they don’t think you are fit to attend the school.”
"What are you saying?" Though I already knew. I already felt it, my heart was skipping beats.
"I think we should call whatever this is between us,” he gestured to the space that separated us, “off. you were never really right for my future. We were going to have to end it at some point."
The words landed like physical blows.
"You promised me," I whispered. "You said forever. You said—"
“Well, I lied.” I gasped as his words hit my heart.
Everything in me wanted to scream, to rage, to fight, to claw back something of the future I'd imagined. Instead, I felt my body go numb, distant from itself, as though I was watching this scene from very far away.
"You're only ever going to be a backup plan," he said, and his voice had gone cold. "And I didn't work this hard to end up with a backup."
He didn't wait for my response. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked into the bushes. I stood frozen by the fountain, my mind scrambling to catch up with what was happening.
