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.

After finishing my hospital discharge papers, I used celebrating my discharge as an excuse to bring Damine to the gathering.

The moment we walked into the private room and saw Liam and Sylvia sitting in the center, his face darkened, and he turned to leave.

I strained to hold him back and pleaded with him for a moment before he reluctantly took a seat.

Their pack members watched their expressions closely, occasionally cracking jokes to lighten the mood.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sylvia approached my brother with an apologetic tone.

"Damine, what happened at the hospital, me falling in the water was just an accident. Liam was just too worried about me, which is why he reacted the way he did when he was angry. It pains both Sylvia me and Sera to see you two brothers holding a grudge over something so small."

Hearing Sylvia's words, Damine's expression softened, though his tone remained cold.

"I'll let it go if he apologizes to Sera."

Liam's cold gaze swept over us, his attitude just as unyielding.

"I'll apologize to Sera if she apologizes to Sylvia first."

Seeing they were about to clash again, several pack members quickly stepped in to mediate.

"Come on, you've all known each other for so many years. Why quibble over such a small thing? Let me be the judge. You both drink a glass of wine together, and let bygones be bygones, how about that?"

Sylvia was the first to pick up her wine glass. Seeing this, Liam frowned, immediately stood up, took her glass from her, and drank it all in one go.

Then he placed the empty glass in front of my brother.

Only then did my brother follow with his own drink, and the atmosphere in the room finally became more harmonious.

"Liam, you're so obedient to Sylvia. Does that mean in the future, if we want to call you out for together, we have to ask your mate for permission first?"

Teased by them, Sylvia's face flushed as she playfully pushed Liam's shoulder.

A faint smile finally appeared on his face as he spoke leisurely.

"No matter where I go or what I do, it's only right to report to her. What's the big deal?"

Hearing him say this, the people in the room all began to snicker behind their hands.

"Sylvia has a way with you. She's tamed our unapproachable, wild Alpha into a henpecked man. You two are so sickeningly sweet in love."

I sat quietly to one side, listening to their jokes, and realized I no longer felt the pain I used to.

Seeing my Damine's concerned gaze, I gave him a light smile to reassure him that I was fine.

After a while, everyone wanted to play drinking games. Sylvia didn't know how to play and lost more than a dozen times in a row.

When it came to her penalty—a table full of drinks—Liam showed no impatience, smiling and drinking it all himself.

Watching him drink glass after glass without showing fatigue, I silently stood up and went to the bathroom alone.

When I came out after washing my hands, I was about to return to the private room when I heard a familiar voice coming from the hallway.

"My love, do you know? The first time I saw you, I fell for you instantly. But you were always so cold to me. I thought you only saw me as a friend, so I never dared to confess my feelings. I could only stay by your side. Year after year, I've realized that loving someone really makes you so fearful of loss..."

Liam was drunk, leaning his head on Sylvia's shoulder.

She supported him, her eyes full of shyness as she spoke in a flirtatious tone.

"So you came up with this plan, deliberately using Sera as a cover to make me your mate? You like me that much?"

"Yes, like... really like..."

"My phone is full of your pictures, and my notes have all your likes and dislikes. I've had your contact number pinned at the top for over a decade. Every time you text me first, I'm so excited I can't sleep all night. I've even written you so many love letters. Would you like to read them someday?"

After knowing Liam for eight years, this was the first time I'd seen him with such an expression of young love.

I quietly listened to his drunken truths, and for a moment, I was reminded of my own confession and his.

He stared at me with clear eyes, showing no sign of being moved.

Back then, I believed that if I persisted, one day I would be able to warm his heart.

But now I understood that even if I waited another eight years, eighteen years, or twenty-eight years, I could never achieve that.

How could I possibly move a man who loves another woman?

I didn't stay any longer and returned to the private room alone.

Damine knew I wasn't comfortable in this kind of situation, so after saying goodbye to everyone, he took me home.

As we were about to get a taxi downstairs, Sylvia suddenly grabbed Liam's sleeve, her voice wistful.

"Oh, I wish I could get a moonflower from Mount Sacred. They say it only blooms under the full moon and grants wishes to true mates."

Damine immediately frowned. "Sylvia, that's too dangerous. Mount Sacred is treacherous, especially at night. The thorns alone could shred a wolf to pieces."

But before anyone could react, Liam was already striding toward the mountain path, his Alpha determination evident in every step.

"Liam, don't!" Damine called after him, but it was too late.

Liam's eyes were fixed on Sylvia's hopeful face. Without another word, he turned and shifted into his massive black wolf, bounding toward the mountain trail.

We followed at a distance, Damine cursing under his breath. When we reached the base of Mount Sacred, I gasped at the sight before us.

The entire mountainside was wrapped in a maze of thorns. And there was Liam, already halfway up the mountain in human form, his clothes hanging in shreds.

Blood streamed down his arms and chest where the thorns had raked across his skin. Each step forward brought fresh wounds as the vines seemed to reach for him like living creatures.

I watched in horror as a particularly vicious thorn pierced deep into his shoulder, and he bit back a scream of agony.

When he finally stumbled back down, his entire body was covered in blood, his skin pale from toxin and blood loss.

But his eyes shone with triumph as he placed the moonflower in Sylvia's trembling hands.

My heart gave a painful lurch.

It wasn't until this moment that I finally believed Liam's love for Sylvia truly had reached the point where he would sacrifice his life for her.

I was lost in a daze for a long time. When I came to my senses, I realized I was in the hospital.

The operating room light had just gone out. The healer wiped sweat from his brow, his tone full of relief.

"The surgery was successful. By the way, is Sylvia the patient's mate? He kept calling her name even while unconscious. We recommend that the lady stay in the ICU with him and talk to him more. The patient's attention can help him wake up faster."

Hearing this, all the pack members urged Sylvia to hurry to the hospital room to stay with him.

After seeing her off, I tugged on Damine's sleeve.

"Damine, let's go home."

Damine paused for a few seconds, then nodded and led me away.

Once we were home, I took out my suitcase and began packing my things.

Seeing me so busy, Damine couldn't help but worry, staying nearby to help and observe my condition.

I knew he was worried about me, but I remained calm.

"Brother, stop staring at me. I'm fine. I'm leaving in a couple of days, and we won't see each other for a long time. I'll miss you. You should come visit me often."

My brother's heart ached. As usual, he reached out and rubbed my cheek.

"Of course. I'll visit when I have time. And I'll have to see how you're getting along with my friend!"