Chapter 1

When I woke up, I found myself in the infirmary.

The wound on my shoulder blade sent sharp, searing jolts of pain through my nerves with the slightest movement.

Relief washed over the healer’s face the moment he saw my eyes open.

“You are finally awake. You’ve been out for three days! That silver dagger went deep—nearly pierced right through your shoulder blade. If you’d arrived any later, we wouldn’t have been able to save you.”

For a moment, I was in a daze.

But at his words, the memories before I passed out came crashing back.

It was Selah who’d asked me to meet her in the forest.

She had been mated to Kellen’s brother. After he died, she moved into Kellen’s house and never left.

The rogue had been lying in wait in the forest, lunging at me with a silver dagger the moment I arrived. I threw my arm up instinctively to block it, and a searing, tearing pain ripped through my shoulder. Warm blood gushed down my back.

The scent of blood only made the rogue more vicious. Crouching low, he prepared to attack again.

That was when Selah made her move. She stepped back, tripped—on purpose—and hit the ground. Clutching her arm, she let out a piercing shriek. “Help! Someone help me!”

The screams did their job. Within seconds, a figure burst through the trees. Kellen.

I thought he’d rush toward me to protect me, without a second thought.

I was his mate, after all. Lying there on the ground, soaked in my own blood, fighting for my life.

But he didn’t.

When Selah saw him arrive, she twisted the story. “Kellen, Celia lured the rogue here! He got me with silver dagger—my arm—it hurts so much!”

As she spoke, she displayed the faint scratch on her arm, playing up her fragility as if she were at death’s door.

Kellen drove the rogue back, sending him fleeing into the woods.

I lay there on the cold, muddy ground, enduring the excruciating pain as I reached out a hand toward him. “Kellen... help me...”

Blood was still streaming from my shoulder. My vision was starting to blur.

But Kellen barely glanced my way before his gaze locked onto Selah, his eyes brimming with concern.

His jaw tightened. Then he tossed a cold remark my direction. “Just hold on a little longer, Celia! Selah’s fragile—this has terrified her. I’m getting her to safety first!”

With that, he turned to Selah, carefully helping her to her feet.

I lay there, the silver dagger’s wound still pouring blood—and he couldn't be bothered to glance in my direction.

Selah, nestled against him, glanced back at me. Her eyes gleamed with triumph and mockery.

They hurried away together, leaving me alone on that freezing, muddy ground.

...

That was the last thing I remembered before losing consciousness.

“Ke... the one who saved me. Where is he?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

The healer’s expression shifted a bit before replying, “He... he dropped you off, paid the medical fee, and said he had things to do. Mentioned he’d come by to see you when he had time.”

I stayed in the infirmary for three days. By the time I could manage to get out of bed and complete my discharge, my body was still weak.

As I approached my house, a figure suddenly darted out and grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip.

It was none othen than Kellen.

He looked haggard, dark circles shadowing his eyes as if he hadn’t slept well in days.

Before I could speak, he launched into a tirade. “Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”

I stared at him coldly, prying his fingers off my arm.

“Enough with the performance, Kellen. All this pretending to care—doesn’t it wear you out?”

His expression faltered. Realizing I was angry, he scrambled for excuses.

“I know you’re upset because I helped Selah first. But she’s my brother’s mate. She was wounded by silver dagger—I couldn’t just abandon her! Besides, your injury wasn’t that serious. You could’ve held on a bit longer—it wouldn’t have killed you.”

His words snapped something in me.

“Not that serious? That silver dagger nearly killed me! I was bleeding out in the forest, unconscious, and you just walked away with Selah in your arms! So my life means nothing to you, huh?”

Kellen’s eyes darted nervously. “Selah said... she said you were just scratched, nothing major...”

His words faltered as he heard how weak they were. Then, voice hardening, he added defensively, “So what if I helped her first? You’re my mate. You’re supposed to understand, to support me. Why are you being so petty? You weren’t even hurt that badly, and instead of coming home, you hid from me, intentionally making me worry!”

He hesitated, then pressed forward. “And Selah—she’s been a wreck these past few days. Can’t eat or sleep. She feels terrible about what happened. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would’ve come to apologize herself.”

I rolled my eyes internally. Selah’s guilt was the last thing I believed in. I knew her game all too well.

I opened my mouth to retort, but the words died in my throat. Something he’d said... it struck me. “Wait—what do you mean, I hid from you? You weren’t the one who saved me and took me to the infirmary?”