2

At some point, I had fallen into unconsciousness.

In my hazy sleep, I dreamed.

I dreamed of middle school, when my article was published in the Medical Journal. The first time I showed my healing gift by saving a dying wolf's life.

When I rushed home with the exciting news, my family just scoffed. They even mocked me, saying it was pure luck. Only my mother would listen with appreciation and approval as I described the various healing techniques I'd used.

I was curious and asked if she understood healing arts too.

Mother shook her head, her voice gentle as spring water:

"Mommy doesn't understand advanced healing spells or herbal knowledge, but Mommy knows my daughter is the most excellent person in the world. Whatever you do, I'll always be proud of you."

I remembered that afternoon for years afterward.

Now I'm a renowned healer throughout the pack, having saved countless werewolf lives.

But the person who used to stroke my head and praise me was gone forever.

"Mama..."

When I woke up, tear stains were still wet on my cheeks.

---

The first thing I saw was an anxious-looking young man.

It was Kieran, a werewolf I'd met in the Northern Territory. He greatly admired my healing talents and had been trying to recruit me to his pack.

"Aria, your family is absolutely heartless toward you."

"The emergency healer told me your wolf nearly disappeared completely, and they're still having their dinner party, completely ignoring you."

"You've been unconscious for two days, and not a single person came to see you."

Hearing his angry accusations, my face remained expressionless.

This abnormal reaction made Kieran's heart ache with sympathy.

Nothing hurts more than a heart that's already dead.

That was exactly how I felt.

"Aria, I brought you some food. Your wolf is very weak right now. You need to eat something, at least some fruit."

Before I could respond, Kieran decisively picked up a small knife and began peeling an apple. He carefully carved out a small piece and brought it to my lips.

I had no choice but to open my mouth and eat it.

Slowly, the Kieran in front of me began to overlap with a figure from my memory.

When Mother had just passed away, I'd clutched her gemstone necklace like I was possessed, refusing to eat, drink, or go out to learn hunting. Father had beaten me black and blue in his rage.

Even my brother had been too scared to make a sound, cowering in the corner.

It was Damien who had rushed into the Blackwood house and protected me with his small body.

He'd taken me home and cared for me tenderly, even cutting up fruit to feed me by hand.

Back then, Damien had been a ray of light in my life.

I never imagined that the fiancé who once promised never to betray me would fall in love with someone else.

---

"Aria Blackwood, who is this man?"

A cold voice snapped me back to reality.

Damien stood in the hospital doorway, his face dark with anger.

After falling for Sera, he'd convinced himself she was his true soul mate and had decided to end things with me.

But seeing another male tenderly caring for his mate made Damien's heart clench with inexplicable pain.

As if something that rightfully belonged to him was being forcibly taken away.

Kieran was about to explain when Damien charged forward without a word and struck the fruit knife from his hand.

The sharp blade flew straight toward me.

I couldn't dodge. My wolf was badly injured from the extensive silver contact and had fallen into healing sleep. Without my wolf's regenerative abilities, the knife sliced a long gash across my arm.

Blood immediately gushed out.

Because of my injuries, my pain sensitivity was heightened. The doubled agony made me tremble uncontrollably.

But Damien never even glanced at me.

His dark gaze fixed murderously on Kieran as he commanded without courtesy:

"Get out."

His tone suggested I was nothing more than his personal toy that no one else was allowed to touch.

Just then, his phone rang. His expression changed drastically after answering.

"Even though your silver burns were an accident, Sera still blames herself for being careless. She cut herself with a dagger out of guilt and is badly hurt. She's very weak right now. I need to go with her to find a healer. I'll come back to see you later, okay?"

There wasn't a trace of inquiry in his words. He was simply informing me that he was leaving.

I pressed my hand against my bleeding arm and looked at his heartless face with a bitter smile.

"Sure."

When I was burned by silver powder right in front of him, he didn't care at all. Now one phone call and he's rushing off to comfort Sera.

I don't want this kind of mate anymore.

What was there to be sad about?

Damien, in eight more days, you won't have to put on this act anymore. I'm leaving you completely.