3

The contempt in his words and mockery in his eyes were completely different from the Ryan I used to know.

The first time I met Ryan was at Kieran's Alpha inheritance ceremony.

That day, Kieran brought me back to Ironwood Pack and announced to all the pack members that he was adopting me as his sister.

He said, "From now on, Ember is my sister. As long as I live, I will protect her for life. You must respect her the same way you respect your Alpha."

Ryan had been invited to the ceremony. He was the Alpha of Stormfang Pack and Kieran's longtime friend. Ironwood Pack and Stormfang Pack had been allies for generations. When Ryan heard those words, he immediately looked up, his eyes studying me carefully.

After a moment, he grinned widely. "Since the Alpha says so, then Ember is my family too. I'll protect you as well."

Suddenly, all the stares - some curious, some contemptuous, some envious - focused on me at once.

I panicked, not knowing what to do.

But Ryan tossed aside his phone and placed his large hand over mine.

"Emmy, let your big brother take you out to patrol the territory. We need to bond properly."

Without waiting for an answer, he put me in his car and took me running freely through Ironwood Pack's territory. If Kieran hadn't called to hurry us back, Ryan would have taken me to their private hunting grounds too.

When we parted, he pinched my cheek, his young face completely sincere.

"Emmy, don't just play with Kieran. Pay attention to me too. I'm your brother as well."

From then on, I lived with Kieran, and Ryan became a regular visitor to our home.

Ryan often took me out to explore. After we finished exploring Ironwood Pack's territory, he took me to other allied pack territories. Once we'd covered all the nearby hunting grounds, we started venturing into more distant mountain ranges.

On the day I graduated from hunting school, Ryan and Kieran came to my graduation ball.

I was the center of attention, envied by everyone.

That night, Ryan set off fireworks across the entire Ironwood Pack territory for me. He wanted me to become his mate.

For a moment, my heart fluttered. I wanted to speak, but a large hand covered my mouth.

Kieran's scent surrounded me as I faced Ryan's no-longer-smiling expression.

Kieran said quietly, "Ember is still young. She's not ready to choose a mate yet. We're not considering bonding right now. Ryan, don't corrupt her."

Ryan lowered his eyes, hurt flickering in them. My heart ached for him, but Kieran just kept his hand over my mouth, controlling me.

I thought that after that night, Ryan and I would enter a cold period.

But the next day, he appeared before me as usual, taking me to patrol borders and explore new hunting grounds. And Kieran didn't stop him.

It seemed like nothing had changed between us.

Until Scarlett returned to Ironwood Pack. Ryan gradually stopped coming to see me, and Kieran stopped coming home too.

That safe house became my solitary residence.

I licked my lips, moistening my cracked mouth.

"I'm not angry."

It was just a simple sentence, but my throat felt like it was tearing apart. My voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like me.

Ryan exhaled, his expression softening slightly.

"Good that you're not angry, Emmy. When you're better, your brother will take you hunting again."

I forced a smile, my expression indifferent.

Actually, ever since Ryan confessed to me, he hadn't let me use formal titles anymore. He didn't want me calling him brother either.

He liked me calling him by his name directly - "Ry."

He said it gave him a special feeling, like warmth flowing through him.

But once I called him "Ry" in front of Scarlett, and she became very unhappy. She told Ryan, "How can you let her call you by your name directly? While I was gone, did you become this intimate with a commoner wolf?"

I thought Ryan would explain for me, but instead he darkened his face and said, "Ember, from now on you should call me brother."

So he started calling himself my brother again and made me address him that way too.

My chest felt tight and blocked. I couldn't help remembering the happy times the three of us shared before Scarlett returned. Those memories were so vivid and beautiful that even now, thinking about them made me yearn for what was lost.

But Scarlett's return reminded me of my place. I was just a sister adopted by Kieran after he saved me. A commoner wolf born from the bottom ranks. No matter how much I wanted to, I could never truly fit into their noble circle.

Kieran glanced at his watch, his tone becoming gentler.

"Since the conflict is resolved, Ember, rest well. Don't think about anything. Just sleep it off."

Would sleeping really make it better?

Could sleeping make it as if none of this ever happened?

I nodded, but I didn't agree with his casual solution.

Kieran left. Ryan sat for a while longer, then went back to handle pack business.

In the hospital room, only Scarlett and I remained.

I was somewhat surprised. She shouldn't want to be alone with me.

From the first day Scarlett returned, I could feel her disgust toward me.

She would mock me for not knowing how to appreciate wine when we ate together.

When we went shopping for clothes, she ridiculed my fashion sense and even insulted me by saying I smelled like rotting mice.

Sometimes Kieran and Ryan were right there but wouldn't stop her. Instead, they told me to learn more from Scarlett.

I still remembered her expression then.

Haughty, contemptuous - the way someone looks at an ant.

Exactly the same as now.

I looked away, but Scarlett's voice followed me like a shadow.

"Ember Blackthorne, you're so lucky to be alive. You should have died in there."

"Do you really think that staying by Kieran and Ryan's side means they'll choose you? Well, it's good that you're alive. I'll let you watch with your own eyes how foolish it is to fantasize about replacing me."

Replace? I never thought of that.

"You're mistaken. I never thought about replacing you."

Scarlett laughed mockingly. "Really? Then why don't you leave them? Don't tell me it's because you want to repay your debt."

"Ember Blackthorne, you don't still think Kieran saved you and adopted you because he likes you, do you?"

"Haven't you noticed that you look a lot like me?"

BOOM!

My pupils contracted sharply as I stared directly at Scarlett.

She raised an eyebrow with a look of sudden understanding.

"You really don't know?"

"Hahaha, Ember Blackthorne, you're so stupid. Haven't you ever asked Kieran why he brought you home?"

"How can you be so calm about it? Aren't you even a little curious?"

How could I not have asked? On the night after Kieran's inheritance ceremony, I had some wolf wine for the first time. Emboldened by the alcohol, I asked him.

He hesitated for a few seconds, then touched the corner of my eye.

He said, "When I first saw you, even though you were poisoned with silver and surrounded by dozens of rogue wolves, you never gave up fighting. I wanted to see how far you could grow. Now you've survived and become strong, confident, and striking. Ember, that's the only reason I brought you home."