Chapter 3

My wrist felt like it was about to snap under his grip, and my face went pale from the pain.

In my past life, Elena had committed suicide by swallowing silver powder a month after Kieran and I became mates. Kieran could only watch helplessly as she died.

That's when he truly began to hate me, and that hatred lasted until the moment of his own death.

But in this life, I hadn't completed the bonding with him. I'd given up my fated mate status. So why was Elena still trying to kill herself?

I had been wondering how to fulfill his third regret.

Now, the opportunity had presented itself.

I looked at him. "So you came to find me to save her?"

Since childhood, my constitution had been special. My blood and organs were universally compatible with any wolf. It was because of this rare trait that I hoped to become the werewolf world's chief healer, using my abilities to save more of our kind. I had also hoped it would help me better assist Kieran.

Because I often donated my blood to save others, my body was weaker than most wolves. Apart from Kieran, who had grown up with me, no one else knew about this.

Hearing my words, Kieran froze, as if he hadn't expected me to say that. His voice turned even colder.

"You think I wouldn't dare ask? This is what you owe her anyway. If you hadn't run to my parents, Elena wouldn't have been humiliated and wouldn't have poisoned herself. You should make amends."

He dragged me to the pack's medical center.

The chief healer, Dr. Harrison, had just finished examining Elena. He discovered the silver poison had entered her vital organs, and only a kidney transplant could save her.

The nurses looked worried. "There's no way to find a compatible donor in such a short time. Even if we're lucky enough to find suitable organs, we don't know if the patient can hold on that long."

Elena lay unconscious in the emergency room. Dr. Harrison immediately ran compatibility tests between Elena and me, and the results came back quickly.

Dr. Harrison looked pleased. "The test results are in. Miss Sage's organ tissue is highly compatible with Miss Elena's. Her special constitution makes her an ideal donor."

"However, kidney transplant surgery carries extremely high risks. Donating a kidney under these circumstances... I'm not sure if Miss Sage's body can handle it."

"No!" Kieran's expression changed, his brow furrowing deeply. "Her body is already weaker than most wolves. If she donates a kidney under these conditions, she won't be able to handle it. Isn't there any other way?"

Dr. Harrison shook his head. "There's a severe shortage of kidney donors, and Miss Elena's silver poisoning has invaded her entire circulatory system. Without a compatible kidney, she will die. Transplant surgery is the only hope. The donor will survive the operation but will suffer permanent damage to her life force and strength."

"However, Miss Sage as the donor won't die, but Miss Elena, who's been poisoned with silver, will certainly die without the transplant. Alpha, you need to make a decision."

Kieran pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze falling on Elena.

I could see his internal struggle and looked at Dr. Harrison. "I'm willing to save her. Please arrange the surgery as soon as possible."

Dr. Harrison looked at Kieran. "Alpha, this..."

I interrupted him. "It's fine. I can recover. Saving someone is what matters most."

Kieran stared at me intently, then finally nodded reluctantly.

"I'll owe you a favor. I'll definitely make it up to you."

The surgery began.

To prevent my wolf from automatically healing the wound, I was injected with a mild wolf suppressant. Due to my special constitution, anesthesia had almost no effect on me. I could clearly feel every movement of the surgical instruments.

Through the excruciating pain, I remembered when I was eight years old and my parents died in battle. Other pups bullied me, saying I was an unwanted orphan.

Kieran had chased them away and patted my head gently.

"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

And he had kept his word.

Until his dying breath in my past life, he was still standing in front of me, shielding me.

I couldn't help but love him.

But more than that, I wanted him to live and spend his life in peace. That's why after my rebirth, I had to give up everything, including becoming his mate.

The kidney removal was completed. I fell unconscious due to my body's weakness and the overwhelming pain.

In my delirium, I heard his words from before his death in my past life: "Sage, if only I had never met you in this lifetime..."

Tears streamed down my face as I smiled weakly. "Kieran, in this life, I won't cling to you anymore."

When I woke up again, daylight was streaming through the windows. I had been moved to a private room next door. Sharp, tearing pain shot through my chest and abdomen, and I felt completely drained.

Another day had passed. It was almost time for my planned departure.

I could hear the excited chatter of nurses outside my window.

"Last night's aurora at the observatory was absolutely stunning!"

"Once in a century! Legend says couples who see it together will love each other until they're old and gray!"

My heart filled with regret. Such beautiful northern lights, and I had missed them after all.

What a shame. I had missed such a beautiful sight.

Not long after, Kieran entered carrying a bowl of stew.

It was made from snow mountain antelope that he had personally hunted—extremely difficult to track and my favorite when I was young. I hadn't expected him to remember.

For a moment, I was stunned that he still remembered.

Kieran gazed at me, his tone unusually gentle.

"Does the wound hurt badly? Do you need painkillers? Elena is out of danger now. It's all thanks to you."

I nodded. "Good."

Seeing my pale complexion, his brow remained furrowed with concern. "I spoke too harshly yesterday. Don't take it to heart. But Elena is innocent. You shouldn't have involved her in our affairs. Don't go to my parents with complaints anymore."

Hearing his words, my heart felt bitter.

But I didn't defend myself with grievances like I had in my past life. I just forced a small smile.

"Mm, there won't be a next time."

Kieran helped adjust my blanket.

"I couldn't take you to see the aurora last night. When... when you recover and after our mating ceremony, I'll take you to Northern Europe for our honeymoon. We can still see the northern lights there."

I was startled but smiled softly. "No need."

"You don't have to make up for last night. I saved her willingly."

Kieran paused, his expression complex.

"I've already made the arrangements. Once you're recovered and we've held our mating ceremony, we can leave."

I stared at Kieran steadily without saying another word.

He sat quietly by my bedside, checking my wounds. In his movements, I caught sight of the ugly scars on his right leg—wounds he'd gotten the first time he saved me. Even now, his right leg still ached on rainy days, a condition that even his Alpha wolf abilities couldn't heal.

My throat tightened with emotion, and I asked with heartache, "Do you regret becoming like this to save me?"

Kieran's expression remained calm.

"There's nothing to regret. I would have saved any pack member. I'm the pack's Alpha. Protecting pack members is my duty. I'm responsible for every member."

My eyes dimmed, and my voice grew even softer.

"That mudslide... when you rushed into the silver mud zone to save me, would you have done the same for anyone else?"

"Yes."

So there was nothing special about me after all.

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I forced myself to smile.

"Kieran, thank you for saving me time and again."

"I lost my parents when I was young and desperately wanted a family. That's why I forced you to bond with me. My selfishness must have caused you a lot of pain."

But starting tomorrow, it wouldn't happen anymore, because I was about to leave.

He wouldn't have to abandon Elena anymore or be forced to bond with me.

We wouldn't torment each other for ten years, and he wouldn't die at thirty-five because of me.

In this life, he would be fine.

I thought I saw panic flash across Kieran's face. He opened his mouth as if to say something but was interrupted by a nurse who rushed in frantically.

"Alpha! Miss Elena is awake! She's emotionally agitated and insists on seeing you! She won't cooperate with treatment!"

Concern immediately appeared on Kieran's handsome face. He glanced at me and stood to leave.

"Wait for me to come back."

"Alpha," I called out to him, forcing my brightest smile. "I'm sorry. And I wish you happiness and a long, healthy life."

Kieran looked surprised and inexplicably uneasy. "Why are you saying such things out of the blue? I'm just going to check on Elena. I'll be back soon. Be good and eat your food. When I return, I have something to tell you."

With that, he turned and left.

I got out of bed.

Dr. Harrison came for a follow-up and prescribed strong recovery medication. I thanked him: "I'll take it on time. Please tell the Alpha that I'm leaving and ask him to take care of himself."

By the time Kieran had finished comforting Elena and rushed back to my room, he found it empty. He questioned the Gamma guard on duty.

"Where is Miss Sage? She just had surgery. Where did she go?"

Before the guard could answer, a patrol member covered in blood burst in: "Alpha! Rogue wolves ambushed the departure convoy! The regular wolves only suffered minor injuries... but Miss Sage, who just had kidney transplant surgery... lost too much blood... didn't make it..."