Chapter 9

"Caspian!"

Aurelia turned pale with fright and immediately told someone to call a doctor.

Caspian clenched his teeth in pain, his face turning white as paper.

Aurelia threw herself into his arms and cried, "Are you okay? Let's get you to the hospital."

He wiped the tears from her face tenderly and soothed her, "It's okay. Don't be scared. I'm fine. It wasn't a venomous snake. Besides, this is your first team outing. Don't let me ruin it for you."

Aurelia shook her head firmly. "No. Nothing matters more than you. We're going to the hospital."

Serena watched the pair expressionlessly, their affection on full display. She felt nothing at all and turned to leave.

Just then, Caspian suddenly called out to her, "A-Aren't you coming to the hospital with me?"

Serena let out a cold laugh. "Don't you already have someone with you? I'd just get in the way."

Without sparing him a second glance, she walked right out of the club.

Caspian frowned slightly as he watched her go.

Other werewolves hesitated before speaking up. "Is… Serena upset?"

"Alpha Caspian, do you want to go talk to her?"

His voice turned icy. "No need. She'll get over it on her own."

When Serena returned home and saw the empty bedroom, she felt unexpectedly light.

For once, she didn't have to deal with either of the Lockwood brothers and could finally sleep in peace.

But just after she fell asleep, someone violently yanked off her blanket and dragged her off the bed.

Caspian gripped her arm tightly, barely restraining himself from crushing it. "Come to the hospital with me. Aurelia has been poisoned!"

Serena looked at him in confusion. "What does her being poisoned have to do with me? Why do I have to go to the hospital?"

Caspian didn't bother explaining. He forcibly took her to the hospital.

It was only when she was pinned to the operating table that Serena finally understood. "Caspian, you're using me for an exchange transfusion?"

His expression was indifferent. "Do you expect me to just watch Aurelia die? She hasn't manifested her wolf yet. She can't handle the poison. You're different. If the toxins are transferred into your body, you'll be badly injured at most. You won't die."

Astraea roared in fury, "She might not die, but her body will suffer tremendous damage! You can't do this to her!"

Serena struggled desperately. "Caspian, let me go. I'm not doing this!"

He ignored her, his gaze determined as he ordered the doctor, "Start the transfusion, now!"

The doctor hesitated. "Alpha Caspian, she doesn't appear to be a Fighter. This poison is extremely potent. Even Fighters might not be able to withstand it. If you let her take it, her wolf could sustain permanent damage. Are you sure you want to proceed?"

Caspian didn't hesitate. "She's just a low-ranking Omega anyway. She doesn't need to fight. There's no time. Do it."

"No, you can't do this!"

That was her wolf, her other half, and more importantly, an extension of herself. How could he take it away from her?

Serena struggled desperately, but she was completely powerless. A cold needle pierced her vein, and an icy liquid flowed into her body.

The last thing she heard before the sedative took effect was Astraea's faint, grief-stricken whimper. Then, everything went dark.

When Serena woke up again, her entire body ached. Her ears rang, and her head spun. She ignored it all and immediately tried to call out to Astraea.

No matter what she did, she couldn't feel Astraea's presence.

Her wolf had fallen into a lethargy.

Serena felt as though she had hit rock bottom. But before she could even grieve, Caspian's furious shout echoed in her ears.

"Serena, I never thought you could be such a vicious wolf. I was completely wrong about you! Why would you poison Aurelia? She almost died because of you. What did she ever do to deserve this? If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay with your life!

Serena stared at him in shock, her voice shaking with grief and rage. "It wasn't me. I never poisoned her—"

He cut her off impatiently, "Aurelia told me herself that the only thing she drank at the club was the juice you handed her. If it wasn't you, who else could it be?

"The juice tested positive for poison. It was wolfsbane, the very plant you've been researching. The evidence is right there. Nothing you say can deny it!"

In that instant, Serena understood everything. Aurelia must've thought she refused to leave and decided to teach her a lesson.

With only a few words, Caspian had believed Aurelia without needing proof.

Serena wanted to explain, but when she saw the fury in his eyes, she swallowed the words.

No matter what she said, Caspian would never believe her anyway.