I lowered my gaze. "I understand, Sylvia. You'll be our future Luna. I overstepped before, but I know my place now. I wish you both happiness."

Hearing me say that, the pack members around us immediately started teasing.

"What things are we talking about? The times you called Liam in the middle of the night, asking him to pick you up?"

"Or when you got drunk in public and declared you was going to be Liam’s mate?"

"What about when you went to the Blackwood estate and questioned the staff about his preferences?"

"Sera, now that Liam is taken, if you keep clinging to him, you're just shaming yourself and your family's name. You need to be smart about this. Don't be the one cause to drive a wedge between your brother and Liam!"

Every word felt like salt being rubbed into my wounds.

I instinctively looked at Liam, standing just a few feet away, his expression cold and indifferent.

For a moment, he seemed like a completely different person—no longer the Liam in my memories who always looked out for me.

But then I thought, he'd always been this cold toward other girls, never giving them any false hope.

It seemed his tolerance for my affections was only out of respect for Damine. He didn't want to make things awkward.

Now that he was with the woman he truly loved, he had to draw a clear line between us.

After all, in his heart, Sylvia was more important than anyone else, wasn't she?

With that thought, a deep sense of bitterness washed over me. I just nodded and turned to leave.

The birthday banquet was just getting started, and the late-arriving Damine was busy greeting guests. He didn't notice me at all.

Meanwhile, Liam eagerly and openly introduced Sylvia to everyone as his future Luna.

He took drinks meant for her, fed her tasty pastries, gently straightened her skirt when it got messy, and even massaged her tired shoulders...

Everyone praised how doting he was on his mate, how lucky Sylvia was to be bound to him, calling them the perfect, destined couple.

I watched from a distance, my mouth tasting bitter, forcing myself to look away.

I sat alone in the corner until Sylvia, holding a wine glass, walked over and broke the silence.

"It's your brother's birthday, yet you're sitting here saying nothing. Are you angry?"

I didn't expect her to approach me and instinctively moved two steps back.

"I'm not angry, Sylvia. I've let Liam go completely."

Sylvia paused for a moment, her gaze becoming complicated.

"Liam told me you've been chasing him for years, determined to be with him."

"That was in the past. I gave up after I found out he'd loved you for so long. I truly wish you happiness."

After saying that, I tried to get up, but Sylvia grabbed my arm.

"You said Liam loved me for years? Where did you hear that? Did he tell you that himself?"

I didn't feel like talking to her anymore, but still in friendly behavior "Everyone says so. Maybe you can ask him yourself."

But Sylvia wouldn't let me go, insisting on getting a clear answer.

As we struggled, the chandelier above us suddenly loosened and came crashing down.

I looked up at the black shadow falling rapidly, my mind going completely blank.

Before I could react, Liam's face changed drastically. He rushed forward to shield Sylvia and move her away, leaving me alone under danger.

The heavy silver chandelier slammed into me completely, knocking me to the ground.

The burning candles ignited my dress immediately. The fire and the silver prevented my wolf from healing.

Blood gushed from my wounds, my body screaming in agony as if every bone was being shattered.

I lay in a pool of my own blood, unable to stop trembling and convulsing, listening to the terrified screams around me.

Through the flames, my vision grew blurrier. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Liam holding Sylvia, whispering soothing words to her.

I don't know how much time passed before I slowly woke up to see my brother, Damine, sitting by my bedside with red-rimmed eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sera. It's my fault. I failed to protect you and let you get so badly hurt."

I shook my head, my voice weak and hoarse.

"It's not your fault, Damine. It happened too suddenly. You were too far away to help me."

Hearing my words, my brother recalled the events leading up to the accident and felt even more guilty.

"I couldn't help you, but Liam was right there. If it weren't for Sylvia keeping you talking, you could have avoided that disaster..."

I shook my head, comforting him gently. "Damine, when he and the woman he loves are both in danger, it's instinct to save the one who matters most. I was just being foolish before, but after this, I've truly let him go."

"Good. As long as you can move on, I'll support any decision you make."

Damine tightened his grip on my hand and nodded firmly.

I forced a faint smile and slowly composed myself.

Once my condition stabilized, my brother, who hadn't rested in days, finally allowed himself to get some sleep.

The quiet room returned. I took out my phone and booked a flight to Finland, departing in ten days.

The airline called to confirm my reservation. I was listening carefully and didn't notice footsteps at the door.

"Yes, it's the first flight to Finland on the 19th. First class."

"What first class?"

I jumped when I suddenly saw Liam appear in the doorway.

"It's nothing."

Even though I denied it, Liam's instincts told him something was wrong. His gaze fixed on me intently.

"When did you learn to lie? Where are you booking a flight to?"

Faced with his probing questions, I was silent for a few seconds before answering in a hoarse voice.

"You're about to have your mating ceremony. No matter where I go, it has nothing to do with you, does it?"

Liam had been suspicious, but hearing this made him think it was just another one of my tricks. His face returned to its cold expression.

"You're right, it has nothing to do with me. Sylvia was worried about you and asked me to check on you."

"I'm fine, Liam. You can go now."

This unusual, distant attitude caught him off guard.

Just as he was about to speak, a healer knocked and entered, announcing it was time for my checkup.

My leg was injured, and the silver dust in my system was suppressing my wolf's ability to heal, making it impossible for me to recover fully. I struggled to get out of bed and almost fell.

Liam's reflexes were quick as he caught me. I murmured a quiet thanks and tried to push the wheelchair away myself.

Seeing my covered in wounds and unable to move easily, he couldn't bear it. He took over pushing the wheelchair himself.

"Where's the examination room? I'll take you there."

"I can manage on my own."

When I refused, Liam only became more insistent, pushing me out of the hospital room.

Just as we got downstairs, we ran straight into Sylvia.

The moment he saw her, Liam immediately let go of the wheelchair to go to her.

It happened to be a slope, and the wheelchair, without time to brake, sped rapidly downward.

"Ah..."

Watching as it was about to crash into the flowerbed, my heart leaped. I forced myself to roll out of the wheelchair.

I fell to the ground, my hands and knees scraping against the pavement, cuts beading with blood.

I let out a pained groan, clutching my torn wounds as cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

Sylvia was also a little frightened and hurried forward to see if I was okay.

The wheelchair was smashed to pieces.

She looked at my injuries and tugged on Liam's arm.

"Liam, Sera is hurt badly, and the wheelchair is ruined. You should carry her to get it bandaged."

Hearing this, a subtle change appeared on Liam's expression.

He looked at the pained Sera, then his gaze fell on Sylvia, and he shook his head.

"No. Since you are going to be my mate in few days, I am not supposed to touch another woman."

Every word struck at my heart. I dug my nails into my palms hard enough to draw blood.

Unable to persuade him, Sylvia could only tell him to get a new wheelchair.

This time, Liam agreed.

After watching his retreating figure disappear, Sylvia handed me a handkerchief.

"That's just how Liam is. He only ever listens to me. Don't hold it against him. I also feel responsible for you getting hurt at the hotel, but our pup has been running a fever these past couple of days and I couldn't get away, so I had him come check on you in my place. I didn't expect another accident. Though unintentional, it's still our fault. I'm truly sorry."

I didn't know what act she was putting on today. Ignoring the pain, I got up on my own.

"Sylvia, I've already told you I won't fall for Liam anymore. Whether you're acting or really getting bound, I couldn't care less."

With that, I dragged my weary body and tried to leave.

But Sylvia still wasn't finished. She stepped forward to chase after me.

"So you know Liam and I are just acting..."

Her words were cut short by the sound of a huge splash that made me turn my head.

Seeing Sylvia had accidentally fallen into the pool and was struggling and calling for help, I hesitated for a few seconds before reaching out my hand.

The returning Liam saw this scene, sprinted over, and jumped into the pool to rescue Sylvia.

Looking at her pale, weak form as she coughed, he turned his furious glare on me.

"I was only gone for a few minutes, and you deliberately pushed Sylvia into the water?"

I never imagined that Liam would blame me for this.

Seeing his furious expression, I was about to explain, but he gave me no chance.

He cradled Sylvia in his arms, then roughly shoved me into the pool.

"I've tolerated your obsession with me all this time, but Sylvia is my limit. If you dare hurt her again, don't expect me to show you any mercy!"

His cold, stern tone mixed with the icy water flooded my ears.

The blood flowing from my body spread through the water, creating a pinkish-red haze.

When I was a child, I almost drowned, so I have a deep fear of water.

I couldn't swim. I kicked and struggled with all my might but couldn't reach the shore.

The oxygen in my lungs gradually depleted, my face turning purple as my heart slowed.

A dizziness washed over me, pulling my consciousness down into an endless darkness...

When I opened my eyes again, I heard a heated argument coming from outside the door.

"Sera is my own sister, the one I watched grow up. How could she possibly push someone into the water? You deliberately retaliated and almost had her drown. Shouldn't you be the one apologizing?"

"You want an apology? Fine! Then you make your sister apologize to Sylvia first! If she hadn't acted out of jealousy and hurt Sylvia first, would I have lashed out out of the blue? You care about your sister, but I care about my mate! If anything happens to Sylvia, even if Sera died a hundred times, it wouldn't be enough to make up for it!"

Hearing Liam's furious shouts, a chill washed over me, as if I had been plunged into an ice cellar.

After all the times he had rejected me, I had never felt this desperate.

I thought that even if we couldn't be together, after getting to know each other for so many years, there would still be some small friendship between us.

It turned out that as soon as his true love was involved, I meant nothing to him.

The two men outside didn't know I had woken up and continued arguing.

"You have no evidence to blame all this on Sera. You won't even give her a chance to explain? Just because she's been in love with you for years gives you the right to hurt her without restraint?"

"I've put up with her obsession for all these years, and I've given her face only out of respect for you! How much more decent do you want me to be to spare her feelings? You complain that I hurt her, but have you ever considered how long I've endured?"

The anger that had been building up in Damine finally burst into flames.

He could no longer stand it. He grabbed Liam by the collar and threw a punch.

Liam didn't hold back, and they began to fight.

Hearing the commotion, my heart trembled. I forced myself to get up and go out to stop them.

I saw their faces bruised and purple as they threw ruthless punches at each other's bodies. I immediately threw myself between them.

The tears I had held back for so long finally burst forth as I cried hoarsely.

"Stop fighting, please stop. Damine, come back with me, please, I'm begging you!"

Seeing my tears, the rationality that had left my brother finally returned.

His nose stung, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before letting go of Liam.

He took my hand and wearily turned to walk back to the hospital room.

As the door closed, they both heard Liam's icy voice through the crack.

"Don't think playing the victim will make me forgive you. I'm warning you one last time: stay away from Sylvia from now on."

The anger Damine had just suppressed began to flare up again. I hugged him tightly, my voice filled with pleading.

"Let it go, brother, just let it go. I'm leaving soon, and I'll never appear in Liam's world again. You don't need to alienate yourself from him or his pack because of me."

The more I urged him, the more it pained him to see me like this.

The siblings looked at each other in silence. For a long while, the room was quiet before my brother finally broke the silence, his voice low.

"Sera, it's my fault. Liam only has Sylvia in his heart; he'd even give up our friendship for her. I should have told you the truth when I first realized you had feelings for him. Then you wouldn't have fallen this deeply."

I slowly shook my head, my eyes filled with weariness and helplessness.

"I know you had your difficulties to consider, and I've never blamed you. Besides, what's done is done. Regret won't change anything now. I'm only 22, so young. Everything can be a fresh start."

Seeing the forced smile on my face, Damine reached out and stroked my hair.

"That's right. Our Sera will have a brand new life ahead of her. You'll definitely meet someone better."

For the next few days, I continued to recover in the hospital.

During this time, I often overheard bits of gossip from the healers doing their rounds.

"I heard the VIP suite upstairs was booked by the Alpha of the Stormfang Pack? No wonder he's so generous. The patient in there must be his fiancée. No wonder he's guarding her bedside every moment, feeding her water and meat, and buying gifts to keep her happy."

"It sounds like they had a child before they are bound. Apparently, they're hold mating ceremony in a few days. I heard the mating dress and ring cost hundreds of millions. He's going to all this trouble to prepare a global broadcast of a century mating ceremony, giving the bride such status. It seems this Alpha Blackwood truly loves her to his very bones."

Listening to their envious chatter, I remembered the plan I had overheard at the hotel entrance and closed my eyes.

Liam was making this mating ceremony so grand and spectacular, it must mean he was absolutely sure Sylvia would accept his proposal.

He had waited for so many years, using all his effort and scheming to put on this act, and now he was finally getting what he wanted.

And that clingy girl he disliked most would disappear forever after this mating ceremony, never to appear again.

What a perfect situation, truly worthy of a great celebration.

As I was lost in my thoughts, my phone buzzed a few times.

I came back to my senses and saw the name on the screen. I stared for a few seconds before answering the call.

"Sera, I heard you were hospitalized. How have you been feeling lately?"

It was Lucas the friend for Damine and Liam on the phone. After beating around the bush for a while, I could tell something was wrong.

Finally, he stammered and explained his purpose.

"I heard your brother and Liam got into a fight? Their relationship has become pretty strained. What's this all about? We tried to mediate but couldn't. Do you know what's happening?"

I was silent for a long time before I briefly explained the situation.

After hearing the whole story, Lucas sighed.

"Brothers for so many years, fighting over such a misunderstanding... it's embarrassing to even speak of it. Sera, could you help us? We're gathering the key members tonight. Can you get Damine to come? We can clear up the misunderstanding right then and there."

I knew that besides family, the one thing my brother valued most was his friend

I didn't want him to become distant from them because of me, so I agreed to his request.