“Don’t cry. You know I can't see you like this . I’ll put some herbs on your wound and it will heal sooner.”

He said in a gentle voice before walking up to brew potions for me. I had a rare infection. Despite being a werewolf, my wounds didn't heal themselves.

“You should be more careful. You know that your wounds don’t heal by themselves then why do you always keep hurting yourself? I can't be present everywhere to protect you.” He added while making potions for me.

I stared blankly at the red stretch mark on my wrist, recalling how his beloved Winnie fell near me and when I lend my hands to her, she held me with her long and sharp nails, stretching my wrist severely.

“Yes, I’d been protected by you for a full seven years. What would come of me if you weren't there for me?”

‘But, Daniel, I don’t need you anymore. I don’t want to be a toy you can play with and then throw away when you are done enjoying it.’ I said to myself.

That night, I couldn’t sleep well and woke up sweating. I was sleepy in the morning, and wasn't by myself when Daniel pulled me out of bed.

I grumbled, trying to resist him, but he just chuckled and leaned in to kiss me.

I immediately came to myself and pushed him away. I had a desperate urge of slapping him on face. However, I controlled myself and stopped my hands in the air.

Luckily, it was just a morning kiss on lips.

“Still sleepy? How long are you going to sleep today?”

I turned away, wiping my mouth in disgust.

“I’m tired. I want to sleep more. Don't disturb me please.”

Daniel patted my head, saying,“Did you know you had a fever last night? Get up, I’m taking you to the hospital. Your wounds aren't going to heal with my potions. We should let the doctor see it. Maybe their meds work better on you than our Pack's herbs.”

Although I felt no need to have my wounds seen by a human doctor, I didn't want to stay in the apartment alone with him. So, I agreed to visit a hospital.

In the hospital corridor, we unexpectedly bumped into Winnie.

It looked like she had sprained her ankle by falling last night and was struggling to reach the Doctor’s cabin.

Daniel, who had been playful with me moments ago, telling me I shouldn’t worry much as my wounds weren't very serious, instantly frowned by seeing her ankle sprained. He immediately let go of my hands and rushed to help Winnie. He held her hands and supported her while asking in a concerned voice, “What happened?”

“I just sprained my ankle last night. What a coincidence! You two are here for a checkup too?”

Daniel’s expression froze. He glanced back at me, and immediately explained to her,“Yeah, my ‘Alpha’s daughter’ here had a bit of a fever, so I brought her in for a check-up.”

I was used to being introduced as “Alpha’s daughter" or "friend's sister" by him now.

He didn't want to make our relationship public in the pack. So, he always introduced me as a responsibility to him, someone he was looking after.Only his closest friends knew of our true relationship.

Winnie nodded. “She’s our Alpha’s daughter, so of course, you have to look after her carefully. You two go on. I need to head over there.”

She gestured toward the other clinic on the opposite side. Seeing her start struggling in walking, Daniel didn’t think twice before carrying her up in his arms.

“Let me take you over. Bella, wait here for me.”

For some reason, as soon as I saw Winnie, I suddenly felt too weak to stand. I leaned against the wall for support.

Daniel didn't even wait for my response. After throwing out those words, he carried Winnie to the other clinic.

No matter how much he tried to appear in love with me, whenever he faced Winnie his genuine feelings slipped through, betraying the facade and he didn’t even realize it.

I smiled bitterly while staring at them from afar. I then went to the clinic on my own. Apparently, it wasn’t just in my head. The wounds had infected my whole body, making me weak instantly.

As usual, I picked up my phone to call Daniel out of fear, but stopped halfway. It's hard to break habits.I smiled ironically, put my phone away and headed to the IV room alone.

I had never visited Infirmary alone. Being the Alpha’s daughter, I had always been pampered by the people in my pack and after I left my pack to study abroad, I was taken care of by Daniel.The fear of treatment got into me. I took a few steps and almost stumbled.

Daniel still hadn’t returned—no calls, no messages.

Disheartenedly, I decided to call him first to inform him that I was leaving. He sounded surprised after knowing that I was still in the hospital, making up he said,“I’m sorry, Bella. I was going to pick you up after dropping Winnie but she fainted as soon as we arrived home, so…”

Before he could finish, I overheard a salesman in the background, saying,“Sir, this jade necklace looks good on your girlfriend. Do you want me to show more designs or this is fine?”

Daniel quickly covered the receiver as I didn't hear anything after that voice. I didn't wait for him to complete his sentence as I replied,“I don't need you to pick me up. I only called to inform you that I’m leaving. I can manage it myself”

I was just going to hang up and he suddenly called out my name, “Bella, Do not think anything wrong. Go home. I’ll explain everything later.”

What was he going to explain to me? Explain why he lied to me? Did I even ask him where he was or why he didn't come to pick me up?

I hung up the call and hired a ride home.

At night, I laid on my bed. Daniel hadn't returned yet. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. Daniel’s friend’s voice continued echoing in my ears,‘He dared to pursue the daughter of our Alpha. He had been fooling her around for years’

I pursed my lips and got up from the bed. To distract myself, I planned to do paperworks of my office. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with notifications on my social media app. Winnie had uploaded a post. There was a scene of beautiful fireworks bursting against the clear sky, two hands holding each other. I could recognise Daniel’s hands from them as he was wearing the diamond ring I gifted him on his birthday. There was also a caption.

"After years of absence, I find my way back to you, where the stars align in celebration.”

I had completely forgotten that it was the New year Eves, a night Daniel had promised to watch fireworks with me. But now, he was enjoying it with his ‘Luna’.

I didn't want to feel humiliated by watching them together. So, I simply logged out of the app.

The next morning, I arrived at the office on time and handed the resignation letter to my superior. She asked the reason and I simply told her that I was going back to my pack to get married. After listening to my marriage’s news, my colleagues wished me and began asking for a party. I didn’t want to kill joy. So, I booked a table at a restaurant Daniel and I frequently visited. It was one of the few restaurants Daniel used to praise for the taste of their food.

We were chatting while having our meal. Later, I had to excuse myself to pick a call from my brother. After hanging up the call I bumped into Winnie.

She greeted me with a warm smile, saying, “Hey, Bella. It's nice to see you again. Do you like this restaurant, too? You know, this was the restaurant Daniel first brought me to back in college. Ever since that day, it has become my favorite restaurant.”

I smiled faintly and turned to leave. We were not so close. So, I didn't think it was necessary for us to greet each other when meeting somewhere. But she didn’t seem to feel the same. Just as I was about to go, she stopped me again.

“I noticed last time that Daniel was blowing Coffee for you. Are you also sensitive to hotness and don’t eat or drink anything before cool them?”

The word also made me pause for a moment.

The truth is, I hate drinking tea or coffee cold. But every time Daniel would insist on cooling it before letting me drink. He always said that I would get burned if I drink hot drinks.

I had always thought he was looking out for me, more than it was needed. I found it cute.

But now, I realized it was simply a habit.

The one who didn’t consume hot dishes—the one he was thinking of— was Winnie.

I remained silent. The realization hit me harder but I tried my best not to show any emotions. But, she, as if wanted to get on my head, continued,"To be honest, I was going to tell you the day we met—don’t you think we look very similar, little sister? Your eyes are just like me and your dress’s brand and even the perfume you are wearing are the same as mine. It's like I’m seeing my twin."

I couldn't feel more humiliated that I already was. Out of shame, I couldn't even maintain eye contact with her.

I didn't reply to her and went back to my table. Even though my colleagues were cracking jokes and having fun, I couldn't divert my mind from what I heard from Winnie. Her voice was echoing in my head.

Suddenly the door to our private room pushed open and a familiar figure appeared before my eyes. Seeing my table filled with colleagues, Daniel hesitated for a moment and then looked up at me with a pair of cold eyes. He called my name, his voice laced with anger. I didn't understand why.

I excused myself and followed him out to the corridor only to get a hard slap by him. It took me a long time to recover from the shock. He had never raised his voice on me before, let alone hitting me in public. As I stared at him in disbelief. He didn't look apologetic at all. Instead he asked me in furious voice,

"Why did you throw hot coffee on Winnie? You know her skin is sensitive! I told you I will explain everything to you but you just had to act stubbornly?"

The slap was so hard that my teeth had started aching. Meanwhile Winnie walked up to us, her shirt was wet with coffee. I was just going to explain and Winnie hissed in pain. Daniel didn't waste a second and walked past me. He rushed over, holding her gently.

"I told you I'd bring her over to apologize to you. Why did you come out here?" he said.

Though his words sounded reproachful, his voice was filled with tenderness.

Winnie shook her head in refusal and said with tearful eyes, "Daniel, just let it be. I don't think she would have done it on purpose. Don’t force her to apologize."

"Besides, she is the daughter of your Pack's Alpha. Things will get hard on, if her brother or father hears about it." she added.

Daniel hesitated for a moment after listening to my brother's name, but soon his eyes turned dark as said,"Her brother asked me to guide her in the city, so it’s my duty to correct her when she makes any mistake," he said firmly.

I laughed bitterly before asking in a cold voice , "What mistake did I make that gave you the authority to hit me? Did you see me throwing coffee on her? How did you come to the conclusion without even hearing me out?"

Daniel clenched his fists. He said while glaring at me, "You knew I went with Winnie by lying to you. You surely didn't like it and decided to take revenge on Winnie when you saw her. You had a reason to attack her. I told you that I would explain everything. Why didn't you wait for me, Bella?”

I felt both surprised and angry with his conclusion, “How easily you accused me for everything? But, did you try to verify Winnie’s statement?"

"Why would Winnie lie to me? Are you saying that she burned herself to accuse you? Why would she do that? Besides, I've known her for years. She’s not the kind of person who lies."

"You think I am?" I asked, the volume of my voice rising by a few decibels.

We have lived seven years together. I thought we understood each other better than anyone else. But, I was wrong. Our seven years of togetherness meant nothing when it comes to Winnie.One word from her was all it took him to believe her and blame me..

It was blatant favoritism, a glaring display of partiality. I shouldn't be surprised by this. After all, I was only a temporary mate for him. What could I mean for him in front of his ‘Luna’.

I turned to leave, feeling uninterested in wasting my words on a person who claimed me as a sinner without giving me a chance to defend.

If I joined my colleagues in that condition, they would notice that something was off with me. So I chose not to return to the private room. Instead, I went to the counter, paid the bill and sent them a message:

"I've got to run and take care of something, but don't worry about the bill – I've got it covered. Enjoy the rest of your evening!”