4

My eyes filled with mockery.

Now that my heart was completely dead, I had no expectations left for Damien.

I calmly spoke three words: "I understand."

But Ethan stared at me in disbelief.

"You're Damien's fiancée, and even though you've never fulfilled your responsibilities or properly cared for the pack members, he still put up with you. Is this all the feeling you have for him?"

"Sister, you've been so strange ever since Mom died."

"Sera nearly died because you upset her this time, and you haven't said a single word of concern about her even now."

"I know what this is about. You resent Sera for taking away the family's attention from you. Deep down, you're probably hoping she'd just Die, aren't you?"

"Sera is just an Omega. All she wants is to have a family. Why can't you tolerate her? Why do you have to be so jealous of her? When did you become so vicious?"

Hearing this, I suddenly felt like laughing.

If Sera really wanted to kill herself, how could she have ended up with just minor injuries? And how would she have had the time and energy to call every single family member and Damien?

For years, Sera had used these despicable tactics to steal away every bit of the family's love, piece by piece. I was used to it by now.

Besides, even if I explained, it would be like now—I hadn't even said anything, yet I was already being branded with one accusation after another.

Even my silence was wrong.

Before leaving, Ethan's voice turned cold as ice, as if he'd completely lost all hope in me:

"You know what? I wish that on the day I was attacked by rogue wolves, it had been you by my side protecting me when I was sick, not Sera."

"You're supposed to be my real sister, but you hid when I was in the most danger. I hate you."

With a violent slam of the door, Ethan left without looking back at me even once.

---

Six months ago, Ethan had been ambushed by rogue wolves during his patrol duties with the guard unit and was severely injured.

When Father and I received the message and rushed to the scene, Ethan was already unconscious. One rogue wolf hadn't retreated yet and was about to deliver a fatal blow to him.

But at the critical moment, Father—supposedly a warrior—was terrified by the vicious rogue wolf and abandoned us, leaving me and my gravely injured brother in danger.

I didn't hesitate to charge forward.

Although I was a healer with no systematic combat training, thinking of my only brother lying unconscious behind me, I found unlimited courage to protect him. My wolf completely erupted.

After a life-and-death struggle with the rogue wolf, I finally drove it away. But Ethan had been poisoned by wolf toxin and was hovering between life and death.

To save him, I ignored my own severe injuries and worked tirelessly for three days and nights without sleep, developing an antidote for the rogue wolf poison.

When the antidote was finally complete, I couldn't hold on anymore and collapsed unconscious.

When I woke up, I found myself in a strange, run-down hospital room.

Not a single person was by my side.

It turned out that Father, wanting his son and adopted Omega daughter Sera to bond, had told everyone that Sera was the one who developed the antidote and saved Ethan.

After being discharged, I dragged my weakened body to find Ethan and explain what really happened.

All I got was a slap across the face.

He cried as he roared at me, demanding to know why I had abandoned him when he needed me most.

Instead, he said, Sera—just an Omega—had exhausted herself researching the antidote for him and nearly died from overwork.

Fighting back my heartbreak, I told him that his guard unit colleagues had all witnessed me fighting desperately to save him. Many healers had assisted me in developing the antidote. All he had to do was ask around to find out who really saved him.

But he never bothered to investigate.

Instead, he remained absolutely convinced that Sera had risked her life to save him.

In his mind, I—his real sister—was nothing but an ungrateful wretch who would abandon family in their time of need.

No matter what I did or said, it was all seen as having ulterior motives.

It didn't matter anymore. I didn't want to explain anything else. I'd had enough.

---

I sat on the couch in the empty house, devoid of any family warmth.

The wind howled outside the windows. I closed my eyes and covered my ears.

But I still couldn't escape that heavy, oppressive atmosphere that felt like it could crush me at any moment.

Since no one in this family cared about me or needed me anymore, I would leave this house completely.

Leave this place entirely.

I was certain I could have a better life elsewhere.