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I used to think we'd be side by side forever.

Not because fate said so, but because we chose each other.

Before the moon, before the bond, before everything fell apart-

There was just us.

Me and Jace.

Every morning, we met at the edge of the woods before training-same spot, same rhythm.

He'd always bring an extra apple because I hated the cafeteria food, and I'd always braid a wolf fang into his bracelet for good luck before patrols.

We weren't mates. We weren't lovers. Just.. . Luna and Jace. Best friends.

And I would've been okay with it staying that way-

If it didn't hurt so much to love him in secret.

"Last one to the creek owes the other a favor!" Jace shouted, already sprinting off with that stupid, cocky grin of his.

I rolled my eyes and took off after him, feet pounding against pine needles and dirt, my lungs burning with laughter. He always won. He was faster, stronger-heir to the Ashmoon Alpha and a born leader. I was the opposite. An omega. The quiet kind. The overlooked one.

And yet, he always came back for me.

When we finally reached the water, he was already sprawled across a flat rock, arms folded behind his head, grinning like he hadn't just outrun me by a full minute.

"Still slow, New Moon," he teased, using his dumb nickname for me.

"And you still have dirt in your hair, Golden Boy," I shot back, flicking water at him.

He laughed and sat up. And for a second-just a second-I swore his eyes lingered on me differently. Softer. Longer.

But it passed.

"Can you believe we turn sixteen tomorrow?" he said, skipping a rock across the creek. "You ready to find your mate?"

I smiled like it didn't break me.

"Maybe," I lied. "You?"

"Eh." He shrugged. "Doesn't matter who it is. I'm gonna be Alpha someday. I'll have to choose wisely. Strong bloodline. Someone respected."

Not someone like me, he meant.

He didn't say it. He never would.

But I heard it in the silence between his words.

I looked away before my voice could betray me. "Well, whoever she is, she'll be lucky."

He nudged me with his shoulder. "Nah. Whoever you end up with? Poor guy's not gonna know what hit him."

I laughed, but inside... it ached.

Because no matter how close we were,

No matter how many sunrises we shared-