My heart sank, and for a second, I thought I had misheard.

"You agreed to it?"

Leah looked uncomfortable at my response. "Victor, Jason may not be your real brother but he's been part of this family since your parents adopted him. You want him to get better, don't you?"

She paused, like she was choosing her words carefully.

"We're just going through the Marking Ceremony. The witch says it'll help Jason recover faster, as it'll lift his mood. It won't change anything between us. I'm still your mate and Mark's mom."

Before I could respond, Mark spoke up. "Daddy, Uncle Jason's really upset. The doctor said it’s bad for his health. So please agree with mom, okay?"

I stared at them both.

One was the woman I had loved for years, the other my son.

I had given everything to both of them. Every piece of me. As a mate, as a father. I had sacrificed it all.

Why were they treating me like this?

Why would they betray my love, just for Jason?

I stood there silently for a long time.

What did it matter now? I was dying anyway.

Jason wanted my things? Fine. He could have them alll. I didn't want everything I had anymore.

I wiped away the tear that slipped down my cheek, then looked up at Leah .

"Okay. Fine."

Leah’s face lit up with surprise and excitement. She quickly grabbed the papers from the table.

"Great! This is the Mate Bond Dissolution Agreement. Once you sign, we'll formally reject our bond and be done with it."

I felt like my heart was shattering. So she had planned this all along.

Leah really wanted to end things between us, didn’t she? To be with Jason?

"Daddy, just sign it," Mark said, handing me the pen.

I took it and quickly signed the paper. Once Leah and I rejected each other, the ridiculous conversation ended.

Then, I went upstairs to rest.

Leah solemnly promised from behind me, "Victor, when Jason's fully recovered later on, I'll end things with him. Believe me—my heart will always be yours. This is just a formality."

I pursed my lips. In my heart, I already knew the truth—we were over.

Then, I heard her sigh and add, "Victor, you've become more composed now—not as reckless and unreasonable as before. Back when we used to argue, I wasn't always right either. I owe you an apology.

"Once Jason is better, I'll take care of you. I won't upset you anymore."

"Daddy, I won't make you angry again either! You've been so generous and selfless to Uncle Jason. I'm really proud of you!"

Their words hit me like a wave of cold water. Their words contained gratitude and care, and all of it started only after the bond was broken.

How ironic.

Before, I had hoped for something. Maybe even expected it. But now, as I headed upstairs, I felt nothing but numbness.

It didn't matter anymore.

I was dying anyway.

I tried to hurry up the stairs, but before I could reach the top, everything went black.

I woke up to the shock of cold water splashing across my face. I shivered, gasping as I blinked up at the ceiling.

Leah and Mark were standing over me, their faces tight with frustration. They didn't seem worried.

Just… disappointed.

"Daddy, are you pretending again?" Mark asked, his voice flat. "You've used this fainting trick so many times. Can you try something new? Mommy and I are supposed to bring Uncle Jason his mushroom soup. You've wasted our time, and now the soup's cold!"

Mark was clearly angry.

Leah looked disappointed, and she was holding a glass of ice water in her hand.

"Victor, stop it. Even though we've dissolved our mate bond, I still love you. Don't try to test my feelings for you with tricks like pretending to faint."

I slowly came to my senses, realizing what had just happened.

I had passed out. But instead of rushing me to the hospital or getting me medical help, they had thrown a glass of ice water in my face to wake me up.

It was laughable.

They would have known I was really dying, rather than pretending, if they had just unblocked their link to me.

No one cared enough to check.

"Daddy, you look fine. You're all rosy and healthy. You don't look sick at all. Next time, try a new trick if you're going to pretend."

Mark's words cut through me like a knife.

I forced myself to stand up, ignoring the weakness that nearly made my legs buckle beneath me.

The doctor's potent painkiller was working, making me look healthier than I was. But I knew, deep down, my body was already fading.

"I'm not pretending. I might have skipped a meal, that's all. If you want to go to the hospital, I'll go with you. The transfer agreement still needs a few more signatures."

Leah clearly wanted to say more, but when she saw me pick up the agreement, he simply nodded and followed me to the hospital.

So—she already knew about the agreement.

"Victor, you're here."

When we arrived at the hospital room, Jason was watching a movie, his complexion undeniably worse than mine. If anything, he looked like the one who was seriously ill.

Despite his warm greeting, the challenge in his eyes—that unmissable arrogance—cut sharper than any blade.

"Victor, thanks for handing the company over to me. Don't worry, I'll make it even more successful."

"With Jason managing the company, you won't have to work so hard. You'll still get your share of the profits, and it'll be so much easier for you," Mom added, grabbing my hand with a smile.

I forced a smile back. "Yeah, I agree. That's why I'm going to hand over all my assets to Jason to manage. That way, I can relax."

Everyone froze, shocked. They knew just how much that was worth.

"Victor, are you serious? Even the trust fund in the bank?" Leah’s voice was a mix of shock and confusion.

I was puzzled. Jason had always wanted everything I had, and the whole family was always there to support him. When I refused, I was called selfish, rude, and ungrateful. Now that I was finally giving it to her, they were acting strange.

Wasn't this what they had been pushing for all along?

After a long silence, it was Dad who finally spoke up. "Victor, you've really grown up. You're being kind to your brother, looking out for her now."

"Should've been like this from the start," Mom chimed in. "We're family. What's yours is ours. No need to draw a line so firmly everywhere."

"It's good to see you two getting along. Your mother and I are relieved," Dad added with a smile.

But were they really relieved? Did they honestly think Jason was capable of managing all that wealth?

At home, she fooled everyone with her fake kindness. But out in the world, no one would buy it.

I felt a tickle in my nose. When I rubbed it, my fingers came away smeared with blood.

"Why the nosebleed? The humidity in this room is perfectly fine," Mom murmured, handing me a tissue.

I wiped the blood away casually, then tested the waters. "Mom, Dad... if I died one day, would you be sad?"

There was a pause, a heavy silence in the room.

Dad looked at me with a serious expression, his voice sharp. "Victor, don't play these tricks. Don't pretend to be sick just to get sympathy."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Your wolf may not be the strongest, but this is just a small problem that can be easily cured. Don't try to pull stunts like this in front of us again."

The room, which had been peaceful just moments ago, suddenly felt heavy again with Dad's words.

I smiled bitterly.

What wolf? My wolf had already died while fighting off the Silverthorn Wolfsbane. That toxin, laced with silver, had seeped into my bloodstream and eventually corroded my organs.

And in the end, it killed my wolf.

"Dad, I know Victor lied before, acted out, and pretended to be sick. But that was the old him. I believe he's better now," Jason said, looking at me with a sharp, taunting look. He sounded like she was defending me, but all I could hear was he reminding everyone of my past mistakes.

"Alright, just don't mess up again. Look at you—so full of life," Dad muttered, then turned to Jason with undisguised tenderness. "Meanwhile, Jason's the one who really needs care."

His voice dropped, heavy with concern. "This illness... he healing factor's almost nonexistent now."

"I think Uncle Jason needs more love and care," Mark said, leaning over the bed. "Please get better soon, Uncle Jason!"

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and all the small hope I had left was crushed.

I wiped away the tears that had started to fall, then looked at Mark and said, "You said your Uncle Jason is the best, right? Do you want her to be your Daddy instead?"

I smiled and said, "I've decided. From now on, Jason will be your mommy. Are you happy?"

Mark's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really. Jason can stay with you from now on. He can pick you up from kindergarten and cook you better meals than I ever could. How does that sound? Aren't you happy?"

Before I could say more, Mark grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm so happy, Daddy. You're the best!"

Then, without a second thought, he rushed to Jason's bedside and called out, "Daddy!"

The pain in my chest was unbearable.

It had been so long since my son had shown me any affection. I couldn't even remember the last time he held my hand, or kissed the back of my hand like that.

And the price for all of that was letting him call someone else "Daddy".

My parents and Leah watched the scene with smiles on their faces, pleased.

I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying not to cry out loud, and quietly stepped out of the hospital room.

I didn't know where to go.

I had one day left to live.

I thought about going for a walk by the beach, but it was so far away, and I didn't have the strength.

Was I dying already? But it wasn't time yet.

What should I do?

In a daze, I dialed a number.

The next thing I knew, I woke up to the sound of a familiar voice—Sebastian Hunt, my best friend. He had rushed all the way from Horizon Pack's territory to see me.

We met in college. Back then, she never liked Leah . He always thought she wasn't good enough for me, and that he didn't deserve my love. We fought about it back then, and I didn't listen to him.

He didn't come to my Marking Ceremony.

I knew I shouldn't have called him. But he was the only one I could trust now.

"What have you done to yourself? You're almost dead! Where is your mate?! You always told me how happy your family was. But now look at you!"

Sebastian cried as she spoke, her voice full of frustration.

I had an oxygen mask on my face, and I smiled weakly at he was still the same—quick-tempered, loud, and caring. Those who didn't know us would think we were arguing.

"How did you get poisoned by Silverthorn Wolfsbane? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He cried, tears streaming down her face.

I wanted to speak, but my lips wouldn't move. I was at the end, and I couldn't control my body anymore.

I motioned for he to look at my bag.

He pulled out the contract, and she broke down again after reading it.

"Victor, you can't die! I won't allow it! You can't die!"

He collapsed next to me, sobbing uncontrollably.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Only two hours left before I would leave this world.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Sebastian picked it up and showed me the screen.

[Victor, after all these years of fighting with me, you finally lost! Your parents, your mate, and your son—they're all mine now! You've finally faced the truth, haven't you? In your parents' eyes, you'll never be better than me!]

Sebastian shouted angrily. "I've never seen anyone so shameless!"

In the past, I would have argued back. But now, I only felt regret.

I regretted letting my parents adopt Jason, the boy who was abandoned at the orphanage. She was only three back then. Other kids would bully her, and she couldn't eat. She had to sit in the corner and go hungry.

He was so pitiful.

That was why I asked my dad to adopt him.

We slept in the same bed, ate together, and went to school together. We were closer than real brother. She was good at her studies, and everyone loved her. Everyone praised him, and I felt proud to have such an outstanding brother.

But over time, I started noticing strange things. My friends stopped hanging out with me, and the boys I practiced hunting with no longer wanted to team up.

Instead, they all started hanging around Jason.

Even my parents started saying I wasn't as thoughtful as Jason, that I wasn't as sensible as she was. They gave Jason the master bedroom in the new house, while I was left with the smaller room.

But I didn't see anything wrong with it.

By the time I realized Jason was behind all of it, she had already taken so much from me.

My parents' love.

My master bedroom.

Even my friends at school.

I asked her why she did it, and he said, "Victor, don't think I'll thank you just because you asked your dad to adopt me! Why do you get to have loving parents and a grand home, while I'm just some abandoned orphan? I'm going to take from you—everything!

"You'll lose to me—I'm sure of it!"

So, I tried to drive he away.

But I overestimated myself. I couldn't make my family see how fake she was. My parents loved her even more, and my son and Leah trusted her even more.

In the end, I did lose. I lost everything.

I could feel my soul slipping away from my body. There were only five minutes left.

"Victor, don't die, please! Look, your mom just sent you a message! She must have sensed that you're in danger!"

Sebastian held up the phone to my face, trying to keep me from giving up.

I stared at the message on my phone.

[Victor, after Jason is discharged, he'll stay at your place. Remember—lilies in the master bedroom, and repaint the walls blue. That's what he likes. He'll be out in two weeks. Move all your things to the basement. Jason has too much—there won't be space otherwise.]

Sebastian's hands shook as he held the phone. She was probably feeling hopeless too.

Here I was about to die, and my mom was worrying about someone else.

But that wasn't new. I had known this for a long time.

My eyelids felt so heavy.

I was ready to go.

I was so tired.

Sebastian was crying loudly, but I couldn't comfort he anymore.

On April 20th, I closed my eyes for the last time and slipped away.