Chapter 1

Tomorrow marks the final time my childhood friends, Ryan Grayback, Kael Redclaw, and Earl Farkas, will accompany me to the northern pole to soak in the ice springs.

I am a frail, docile Omega. As a pup, I contracted a heat toxin condition while saving them, and for the past decade, I have had to soak in the ice springs every year to keep it in check.

Back then, the three of them knelt before the Moon Goddess and swore, "We will ensure your full recovery even if it costs us our lives, Evelyn."

On the eve of our departure, Ryan, who's an Alpha, helps me fold my rabbit-fur cloak. Kael, a Gamma, checks to ensure I have all the medicine I'll need for the journey. Earl, a Beta, packs an extra crate of crafts to keep me entertained.

Suddenly, Maya Blackwood bursts in, covered in mud and exclaiming, "Who wants to come to the wilderness with me to catch a red fox? I want to skin it and make a scarf for myself!"

Ryan immediately tosses my cloak aside. He says, "I'm sick of the winds in the northern pole. It'll be a nice change of pace to go somewhere else for once."

Kael closes the medicine kit and looks at me, saying, "We'll be back soon to keep you company."

"But… What about the ice springs?" I ask.

The springs are only accessible for three days per year. If I miss the window, the heat toxin that was suppressed for nine years will come roaring back.

Earl frowns and cuts me off. "We've spent nine years by your side. Can't we just spend one time with Maya? Your health is poor because you're always so hung up on every little thing. You should try to be as easygoing as Maya."

I lower my gaze in silence.

Ryan walks over and slips a piece of candy into my hand.

"How about we catch a red fox alive for you? That should keep you amused, right?"

I bite down on the candy, but a bitter, aching sensation spreads from the back of my tongue.

That same night, I accept an invitation from the Royal City Sanatorium. In just three days, I'll be leaving this pack for good.

After all, my life and our ten years of shared history still can't outweigh something Maya wants to do on a whim.

Chapter 1

The wooden door creaked open, and Alpha Ryan Grayback stepped inside, draping a cloak over my shoulders.

"Get your things ready, Evelyn. We're heading to the wilderness together."

My communication stone glowed faintly on the table. The Royal City Sanatorium had sent a message saying they would arrive in three days to bring me there.

I had originally intended to skip this trip to the wilderness with them, but Ryan crouched down, looking up at me and saying, "It's been a long time since the four of us went out together. We really want you to come along."

My palm brushed against the edge of the rabbit-fur cloak. I wanted this decade of companionship to end on a good note as well.

"Alright, I'll go," I said with a sigh. "But if I start feeling unwell, you must take me to the ice springs immediately."

"I promise I won't let anything happen to you," Ryan assured me instantly.

The next morning, a carriage was waiting for us outside the pack.

Beta Earl Farkas carefully adjusted my scarf, while Gamma Kael Redclaw took my backpack from me. Their movements were as practiced and familiar as they had been on every trip in the past.

Then, Kael handed me some protective gear. It was old and worn, and it kept sliding down when I strapped it to my knees.

They hurriedly helped me secure it before swarming toward Maya Blackwood, busying themselves with fitting her with a new set of wrist guards.

Looking closely, I saw that her gear was expensive and exquisitely crafted. The edges, which were the parts most likely to chafe or break the skin, had been smoothed down and padded with soft fabric.

"Why is mine the only one like this?" I asked, walking over to Earl and thrusting my gear at him.

Their laughter came to an abrupt halt. Kale immediately averted his gaze and explained, "Maya's set was custom-made by an artisan last month. We spent all last night searching the storeroom for yours, and this was the best fit we could find."

Ryan stepped forward, dropping to one knee to tighten the straps for me. "Just make do with this, Evelyn. I'll tie it tighter for you."

I looked down at him and asked, in a calm, steady voice, "So, you had planned this trip all along, didn't you? It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, was it?"

Ryan's hand froze in midair, completely speechless.

Earl helped him lift me into the carriage and explained softly, "The stars in the wilderness are the most beautiful of all. You said that you wanted to see them when you were seven. We've always remembered. After we see the stars, we'll take you straight to the ice springs, okay?"

They remembered that I wanted to see the stars from years back, yet they had meticulously prepared protective gear for someone else more than a month ago.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to say another word.

Once the convoy reached the wilderness, we left the carriages behind and continued on foot. The rough protective gear chafed my skin, making it painful for me to walk steadily.

Before long, my heat toxins flared up again, and a searing, restless heat surged through my body.

I fell to the back of the group.

"Could you try to walk a bit faster, Evelyn?" Ryan called out, looking back.

"Don't tell me you're still upset about the protective gear. Are you really going to ruin everyone's trip over something so trivial?" Kael scolded me with a frown as he walked over to me.

I leaned against a tree trunk, gasping for air. "I'm not feeling well. I can't walk any farther."

In the past, they would have noticed the moment I furrowed my brow, competing to be the first to help me and carry me on their backs. But now, no one even realized something was wrong.

Maya came over and grabbed me firmly. "You just don't walk enough. You should be more like me. Come on, get moving! You need to be fit and healthy so you don't become a burden to others."

Her grip was too strong. I couldn't break free and was dragged along the entire way.

The heat toxin intensified, and cold sweat soaked through my shirt. Yet, Ryan just chuckled and teased, "Well, won't you look at that? Our little princess can actually walk on her own. I guess that means no more slacking off and asking us to carry you from now on."

I remained silent, pulling away to avoid his touch.

By the time we reached the campsite that night, the heat toxin had fully taken hold. It felt as though fire was burning deep within my very bones. The pain was so intense I nearly lost consciousness.

Just then, the tent flap was pulled open, and Kael entered, carrying dinner. "Why are you throwing a tantrum and refusing to eat again?"

"Help… me…"

I gasped, my voice barely a whisper as I pleaded for help.

The bowl shattered against the ground. Kael shouted toward the outside, "Ryan! Earl! Come quickly!"

Ryan was the first to burst in, scooping me up from the blankets.

"Get the medicine—fast!"

His voice cracked with urgency.

Kael rummaged through the medical kit, grabbed some pills, and forced them into my mouth. Once the medicine took effect, I was finally able to speak clearly.

"The ice springs…"

As soon as the words left my lips, Ryan slowly loosened his grip on my hand, his expression troubled.

"Are we really going to cut the journey short just as it's begun?"

Kael, having packed away the medical kit, spoke in a gentle tone. "That was just a bad reaction to the change in environment. Look how quickly you recovered after taking the medicine. Trust me, there's no need to head to the ice springs now for such a minor issue."

My heart sank slowly. Clinging to a final shred of hope, I looked toward Earl, but he avoided my gaze.

"You tend to kick off your covers while you sleep. I'll go fetch you a smaller blanket. Get some rest for now."

Not a single one of them cared about my safety.

When they saw that I seemed to be doing fine, they left my tent one after another. Just before heading out, Kael left a bottle of medicine by my side, saying thoughtfully, "Just in case."

Left with no other choice, I tried to get some sleep during the brief respite from the burning, toxic heat. But in the dead of night, I was jolted awake by an agonizing, searing heat, feeling as if I were being roasted in molten lava.

I reached out, trembling, trying to grab the medicine bottle, but I lost my balance and tumbled from the bed.

My forehead struck the corner of the bed frame, and everything went black as I lost consciousness.

The next morning, Earl came to wake me, only to find me lying on the floor. Scrambling over, he scooped me up and shouted, his voice trembling, "Ryan, we have to go to the ice springs right now!"

Chapter 2

Ryan was struck with horror the moment he entered the tent. He held me up firmly by the waist with one arm and gripped the reins with the other, racing through the gathering dusk.

"I'm heading out first! Kael, Earl, you both follow with the supplies."

After a long, arduous journey, he brought us to a halt beneath the lee side of a cliff to rest. As he lifted me from the mount and removed my protective gear, he caught sight of my joints that were raw, chafed, and bleeding.

Ryan sucked in a sharp breath and immediately stripped off his own fur-lined outer garment to wrap around my wounds.

"I'm sorry, Evelyn. I shouldn't have dismissed your pleas for help as whining."

I asked in a calm voice, "If I hadn't fainted, you'd still have thought I was just being unreasonable, wouldn't you?"

He lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes. He then said, "I would have ridden as fast as I could to make sure you suffered less."

I drifted in and out of unconsciousness, but Ryan never left my side. Every 15 minutes or so, he would offer me a sip of water and readjust my cloak.

By midday, the medicine finally took effect, suppressing the surging, feverish toxins in my blood.

Ryan let out a long, heavy sigh of relief. He plucked a wildflower from nearby and tucked it behind my ear, trying to soothe me.

"Do you remember the first time I carried you on my back to the ice springs when we were still little pups?"

I brushed the petals lightly.

"I remember. You got lost and couldn't even tell which direction to go. We nearly died out there on the snowfields. And when Kael finally found us, you were crying so hard you nearly wet your pants."

I couldn't help but chuckle as I recalled the past. I felt my heart stir, just a little, even though I'd long since steeled it against any further expectations from Ryan and the others.

But just then, a piercing scream from Maya erupted from the woods behind us.

Ryan sprang to his feet instantly, knocking over the cup and spilling water all over my tunic. But he didn't notice a thing. He shot me an anxious look and said, "Wait here for me. I'll go take a look and be right back."

I grabbed his sleeve. "You'll come back, won't you?"

He patted my hand and pulled his sleeve away. "Of course."

With that, he turned and ran toward the woods, vanishing as swiftly as a gust of wind.

I sat in the path of the wind, waiting for him, watching the scorching sun climb higher and higher. It felt as though every drop of moisture in my body was being baked away, and yet, I could hear loud laughter and chatter drifting toward me from the direction of the woods.

It turned out Maya had merely been bitten by a small insect in the grass.

The moment he realized it was a false alarm, Ryan smacked her sharply on the shoulder. "You scared the life out of me!"

I assumed he would return the moment he confirmed Maya was safe, but she just laughed and punched him back, and the two began chasing each other and roughhousing.

Kael and Earl rushed over to break it up, only to be pulled into the fray by Maya, until all of them ended up rolling around on the ground together.

The boisterous noise rang out, filling the air and pouring into my ears.

I wanted to call for help, but I didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.

It wasn't until the sun hung high at its zenith, and Maya mentioned that the waterskin was empty and she needed to fetch more, that the laughter in the woods finally came to an abrupt halt.

Ryan, Kael, and Earl suddenly cried out in unison.

"Evelyn!"

Ryan was the first to dash over, scooping me into his arms.

I had long since curled up in a corner, unable to even open my eyes.

"She's suffering from heatstroke!"

Kael hurriedly shoved some medicine into my mouth while Earl scrambled to fetch water for a cold compress.

After resting for a long while, I finally regained enough strength to ask, "Are we still going to the ice springs?"

This was the last shred of hope I held for them.

"Yes! We're leaving right now!" all three of them answered at once.

I let out a long, relieved breath and began to pull myself up onto my feet.

Just then, Maya pushed aside the branches and stepped out, exclaiming, "I just spotted a red fox! I wounded its tail with a shot. Could you wait a few more minutes? I'll be able to catch it in no time."

Chapter 3

Ryan, Kael, and Earl followed Maya with their gazes, then turned their heads in unison to look at me.

I slowly got back on my feet with Ryan's help. I then said, "We can catch the red fox anytime. Let's head to the ice springs first."

Ryan, however, pursed his lips and urged me otherwise. "A red fox is something we might only see once in a decade. Don't you want to take a look?"

Maya let out an exaggerated sigh. "I knew that nobody would care about my wishes the moment my parents died. Whatever, just forget about it. I'm already content enough having you all come out here with me."

Earl pulled her into his arms, his heart breaking for her. After checking the remaining supplies in the medical kit, Kael made the final call.

"We have enough medicine to last. Let's go after the red fox. We'll make it quick."

I took a deep breath, suppressing the searing pain in my chest, and asked, "And what about me?"

Kael replied with absolute certainty, saying, "Your vital signs are stable right now. A little extra time won't hurt. You'll be fine.

"We've known each other for so long, and this is the first time Maya has actually asked us for something. Of course we have to make it come true."

Earl crouched down in front of me and said, "Hop on. I'll carry you. Can't have our little princess getting tired, can we?"

It was clear they had already made up their minds. I wouldn't be able to change anything, no matter how much I tried arguing with them.

So, I gave in and said, "We must head to the ice springs by this evening at the latest."

The pain in my body was intensifying, and I couldn't hold on much longer.

"Fine. Whatever you say," the three of them said at once, eager to move on.

At first, Earl walked with a steady, even pace. But Maya kept darting in front of him, taunting, "You're slower than a snail! Isn't it a drag, carrying someone on your back like that?"

Earl ignored her at first, but as her mockery grew more brazen, he found himself picking up the pace. Eventually, he dashed so quickly that the jolting intensified until my already frail body felt like it was about to fall apart.

"Slow down!" I cried out.

However, he didn't seem to hear me anymore. All he cared about was catching up to Maya, who was running faster and faster. I could only struggle as I slid downward.

"Put me down!"

It seemed like Earl only just realized that I was riding on his back then. He pursed his lips to apologize. But before he could finish his sentence, Maya laughed and pulled him away.

The group moved on with Maya at its center, while I trailed slowly at the very back.

Suddenly, a sharp, jagged stone tore through the sole of my shoe and sliced ​​into the arch of my foot. I was overcome by a searing, intense pain, and I collapsed to the ground.

"Evelyn! Are you hurt?"

They stopped up ahead, and Kael hurried over to apply some medicine to my wound, but he froze the moment he opened his kit.

All the supplies for treating external wounds had been used up when Maya was bitten by the insect back then. Or, more accurately, they had been wasted away while they were fooling around and playfully applying them to one another.

Pressing my hand against the wound, which was still oozing blood, I looked up at Kael and said, "I hope you had a good time, at least."

He was left speechless.

Ryan sighed next to him before turning around and dashing toward a distant patch of thorny, herb-filled undergrowth. About 15 minutes later, he returned, covered in cuts and scratches and clutching a bundle of hemostatic herbs.

He gently applied the herbs to my wound.

"I'm sorry, Evelyn."

Seeing a wooden splinter embedded in one of his own cuts, I couldn't help but reach out and pull it free.

Ryan's eyes turned red in an instant.

He asked me in a soft, quiet voice, "Evelyn, do you wanna go and see the aurora borealis after you're done soaking in the ice springs?"

Chapter 4

I felt my heart stirring in my chest.

I had longed to see the aurora borealis since my first visit to the ice springs, but every time we came, our visit never aligned with the days the aurora appeared. And since I hadn't fully recovered, I couldn't stay in the northern pole for long.

So, Ryan, Kael, and Earl made a pact with me. They said that they would accompany me to the northern pole and wait until the aurora finally revealed itself once I was completely healthy and recovered.

Earl and Kael leaned in, chiming, "This time, we'll build an igloo there and stay with you for as long as you want!"

I remained silent, my thoughts drifting to the very last dose of my specialized suppressant.

If I took it tomorrow night, I would have enough strength to make it to the northern pole and arrive just in time for the final day the ice springs were open to the public. Perhaps, if things turned out well, I wouldn't have to go to the sanatorium after all.

Maybe, then, I would be able to return to those good old days we once shared together.

Just then, Maya leaned closer and said, "What a pity I'm just not lucky enough to travel so far and see the world."

"Why don't you come along with us? It'll be more fun with more people around. The more the merrier!" Ryan said decisively, leaving me no room to refuse.

Noticing my silence, Kael reassured me gently, "Don't worry. This is a special trip just for the four of us. You'll be the center of our attention then."

Still, I gnawed on my lip, unsure whether I should believe him.

For the rest of the journey, the three of them went on and on, describing the splendor of the aurora to Maya, until Ryan let something slip amidst his excitement.

"We can even have a snowball fight with Maya when we're there! We won't have to spend the whole night stuck in an igloo watching over Evelyn and be bored to our deaths!"

As the words left his lips, a heavy silence fell over the campfire.

Ryan's expression stiffened the moment he realized what he just said, and he scrambled to explain himself.

"I-I was just joking…"

"No need to explain. I understand exactly what you meant," I said, quietly folding the map on which I'd been making notes.

Earl stepped in, trying to smooth things over. "We can all have a snowball fight together once Evelyn has recovered."

I simply retorted, "Have you all forgotten? If I exerted myself right after soaking in the ice springs, my heat toxin would just flare up again."

For the past nine years, whenever I emerged from the ice spring, they wouldn't even let me lift a finger for fear of triggering my symptoms again. If I wanted something done, I just had to tell them about it, and they'd have it done for me in no time.

But this time, Kael's expression darkened as he chided me.

"Must you always be such a killjoy?"

Maya stepped in to break up the argument, handing me a skewer of grilled meat with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, come on! Isn't it enough that I'll be there to join in the snowball fight? Let's eat first!"

I took the skewer from her and saw that the meat was completely raw and still streaked with blood. Since consuming raw food would only accelerate the onset of the heat toxin, I handed the skewer back.

"You all go ahead and enjoy dinner."

Maya scratched her head with a sheepish look on her face. "Sorry, my bad. I've always just made do like this my whole life. I didn't realize you were so fragile and delicate, unlike me."

Kael chuckled disdainfully and said, "Just leave her be. She's just throwing a tantrum, trying to make things difficult for you on purpose."

The four of them walked off toward the other side of the campfire, leaving me behind by myself.

Before bed, I began packing my things for my departure the next day. Suddenly, Ryan, Kael, and Earl appeared before me rather awkwardly and hesitantly to apologize to me.

"Sorry for being so harsh with you tonight. We'll head to the ice springs first thing tomorrow morning."

"Is Maya coming too?" I asked.

They all fell silent, eyes cast downward.

As soon as they left, I took my last dose of suppressant. Then, I sent my coordinates to the Royal City Sanatorium, instructing them to come and pick me up immediately.

However, this time, the effects of the specialized medicine wore off unusually fast. By daybreak, the heat toxin had completely flared up, and a metallic, sweet taste surged in my throat. I began coughing up blood.

I cried out for help, but there was only the sound of the howling wind outside the tent.

I managed to pull myself into a sitting position and spotted a note lying on the table. It read, "The red fox that Maya wounded just showed up again. It won't get far since it's about to die, so we're going to go and catch it. We'll be back soon."

These were the same people who apologized to me last night and promised to bring me to the ice springs as soon as possible. And yet, they were also the ones who left me all alone at the campsite.

As I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a commotion stirred outside the tent.

It was the vehicle from the Royal City Sanatorium, coming to pick me up. So, I hurriedly gathered a few items of clothing and departed the wilderness with them.

…

At noon, Ryan, Kael, Earl, and Maya finally returned to the campsite, full of excitement.

Ryan burst into my tent, carrying a live red fox with its limbs all bound up. He exclaimed, "Evelyn! We caught a little fox to keep you company on the way so you won't get bored—"

However, his joyful voice cut off abruptly.

The tent was empty, the bedding had long since grown cold, and all my belongings were gone. Only a stark, dried, and blackened pool of blood remained on the rug in the center of the tent.