Chapter 4

I stood there, frozen. What had the Alpha and Luna said to Catherine that made her swallow poison?

I didn't know much about Catherine. Oscar might have loved her, but I rarely saw her in person.

Still, the way she had bolted from our marking ceremony in my last life—straight into the path of rogue wolves—suggested she wasn't exactly stable to begin with.

Wait.

Then it hit me. This was my chance to complete Task Two.

Save Catherine.

I looked at Oscar. "What do you need me to do? Should I donate blood?"

I remembered—Oscar had once told me Catherine and I shared the same rare blood type. With this kind of poisoning, she'd need a full transfusion. I might be the only one who could save her.

Oscar drew in a sharp breath. His voice came out too loud.

"You think I won't take you up on it? You owe her that much."

It might have been my imagination, but the volume seemed forced—like he was covering up a tremor underneath.

There wasn't time to figure him out.

I grabbed his hand and ran for the hospital.

The moment we got there, I rolled up my sleeve.

Right after I finished donating, my head went light.

Before, I would have been fine. But my healing ability was gone. I was no different from any human now.

The nurses were still frowning. "It's not enough. We've put a rush order on the alliance medical center, but I'm not sure she'll hold on that long."

I looked up at Oscar. His eyes were on the bed, on Catherine's pale face, and the guilt there was raw and unhidden.

The nurse reached for the tourniquet on my arm. I caught her hand. "Keep going."

She startled. "We can't. Donating too much can cause serious problems. We've noticed your healing—"

I cut her off. "I'll be fine. I bounce back fast."

A doctor burst out of the trauma room. "The blood we have isn't enough. The toxin's still tearing through her. Hurry up with that supply, she's not going to make it!"

"Just do it," I urged. "I'm fine. I'm a Beta's daughter. I heal fast."

The nurse hesitated. Oscar's voice cut in, firm. "Take it. She'll be fine."

The nurse moved. The needle slid back in. I even managed to give Oscar a small smile.

But I'd overestimated what my body could handle without healing. The second the needle came out, my vision went black, and I dropped.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

Oscar was nowhere in sight. People were rushing around, but no one noticed I'd come to.

I checked my phone. A text from the alliance.

[Ms. Aria Carmichael, please report to the front desk of Building B, Cero City Alliance Government Center, by 10 a.m. tomorrow. Do not be late without good reason.]

I had to be there in the morning. That meant leaving tonight.

The TV in the room was replaying footage of the once-in-a-century supermoon over Moonlight Vale.

A pity. I never got to say goodbye properly.

Footsteps approached, and Oscar's voice followed, demanding.

"What's wrong with you? It was just a little blood. How could you pass out from that?"

So he was angry I'd been too weak to give Catherine more.

I gave a thin smile, didn't answer. Just asked, "How is Catherine?"

His tone softened.

"Thanks for the blood. She's stable. But stay away from her. And don't run to my parents about her again. She has nothing to do with us."

His words stung.

In the past, I would have rushed to defend myself, to clear up the misunderstanding. Now—what was the point? We were about to part. There would be no future where any of this mattered.

Oscar spoke again, almost gently this time.

"We were supposed to pray together. That didn't work out. You've always wanted to see the Cornoa Coast, right? When you're back on your feet, I'll take you there."

I hadn't expected him to remember. I shook my head.

"Don't worry about it."

He ignored me and started scrolling for flights on his phone.

"Look, I get it. You're upset. I'll book the trip. Once you've recovered, we'll go. Honeymoon."

I reached out and lowered his hand. My voice was soft.

"It's really not necessary, Oscar. You don't have to feel guilty. I owe you this."

I was saying it for him. I was saying it for myself.

His eyes turned to ice. "Aria, do you really have to talk to me like this?"

I didn't answer. The silence stretched between us.

He turned away, picked up a cup, and started to pour me water.

It struck me then—the fated mate bond should have transferred by now. Why hadn't he reacted at all?

I took a sip from the cup he gave me. Asked, carefully, "You went to see Catherine. Did your wolf feel anything different?"

"What kind of question is that? My wolf went silent on me yesterday."

So that was it. No wonder he hadn't noticed.

He said it like it was nothing—just another inconvenience. The memory came rushing back, and with it, the ache.

"You went through that to save me. Do you regret it?"

He sounded irritated. "Why would I regret it? Whoever was on patrol with me that day, I would have done the same."

So that was all it was. He hadn't saved me because of me. He'd done it because he could.

Anyone would have been the same.

If I'd seen that earlier, I never would have fallen in love. We never would have torn each other apart for years. He never would have died bleeding in that riot.

Tears spilled before I could stop them.

For a rare moment, Oscar looked thrown. "What are you—"

The door flew open.

"Catherine's awake!"

"That's good. I'm going to her."

His face lit up. He moved to leave, but I called his name, soft.

He turned. I looked at him gently.

"Oscar."

"Be safe. Be happy."

He frowned, sensing something off. "What are you talking about? I'm just going to check on her."

He turned to go. Then doubled back to my bedside, awkward.

"I have something to tell you. Wait for me."

He was gone before I could answer.

I pulled the IV out of my arm and got into the car waiting to take me to Cero City.

Oscar finished visiting Catherine, picked up some late-night food on the way, and walked into my room.

It was empty.

He called my name a few times. No answer.

A strange unease crept up on him. He pulled out his phone to call me. Just then, his assistant burst in.

"Sir—"

"Ten minutes ago. Ms. Carmichael was attacked by rogues. Major injuries. She didn't make it."