Chapter 2

The old injury in my right shoulder felt like thousands of needles were digging into the bone.

Two years ago, during a border training exercise, I'd taken a direct hit while shielding Serena from an attack coming from the side. The blow had torn my shoulder open, exposing the bone.

Werewolves had remarkable healing abilities, but because I hadn't received proper treatment in time, the injury had left me with serious complications.

I got dressed and prepared to head to the rehabilitation center, where I'd booked an appointment.

As soon as I entered the living room, my mother called out to me.

"Don't go to training today, Elara."

"Serena has a stomachache and can't even get out of bed. Take her to the rehabilitation center."

"I have an appointment there today, too."

My mother walked over and shoved Serena's coat into my arms.

"Perfect! Then you can go together. It'll be easier to look after each other."

"Besides, you always recover so quickly. What's one extra day going to hurt?"

I stared at the coat in my arms.

It was always the same.

Because I was used to enduring pain, my pain somehow never seemed to matter.

When we arrived at the rehabilitation center, the waiting room was packed.

Since Serena didn't have an appointment, she could only take an emergency number and wait at the back of the line.

"Why is the wait so long?"

She leaned against my mother's shoulder and complained.

My mother went to speak with the receptionist. When she returned, she looked straight at me.

"Elara, your appointment is at ten thirty, right?"

"Switch numbers with Serena so she can go in first."

"My treatment plan is different from hers."

I replied calmly.

My mother frowned.

"Can't you just explain it to the doctor? Do you think the machine cares whose name is on the appointment?"

In the past, I would have immediately offered to give up my place.

"It's fine. I'll just take another number."

But before I could say anything, my mother snatched the appointment slip from my hand and shoved it into Serena's.

"Your turn. Go on."

It wasn't until the afternoon, after Serena had finished her examination and taken her medication, that my number was finally called.

I clutched my shoulder, cold sweat already soaking through my clothes.

The treatment took an agonizingly long time.

As the damaged ligaments were carefully reconnected, every stretch sent waves of excruciating pain through my shoulder.

The doctor examined my latest scan, his brows drawing together.

"Your right shoulder has suffered repeated damage over a long period, and it hasn't been given enough time to heal."

"If you keep up this level of intense training, the damage could affect you for the rest of your life."

The door hadn't been fully closed.

My mother happened to walk past outside and stopped.

"Her shoulder? Since when has she had such a serious injury?"

The doctor glanced at her through the glass panel.

"She sustained it two years ago. Didn't you know? You're her family."

My mother froze.

She stared at my right shoulder, still wrapped in the treatment equipment, her eyes filled with disbelief.

After the treatment, I got dressed and walked out.

Adrian arrived carrying a paper bag.

Inside was the oat milk Serena always liked to drink after a stomachache, along with several sheets of her favorite medicated pain patches.

He handed Serena a pain patch with practiced ease, then helped her insert the straw into her drink.

"Does it still hurt?"

Serena took a sip of her oat milk and shook her head sweetly.

Adrian straightened up and noticed me approaching with the doctor.

"Her family needs to remind her to come in for treatment regularly. The injury to her right shoulder is already quite serious."

The doctor gave his final instructions.

Adrian froze for a moment and turned to me.

"You have a shoulder injury?"

I looked at the bag of treats in his hand.

He remembered exactly what Serena liked to drink after every stomachache, yet he had no idea that I'd been suffering from a shoulder injury for two years.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

There was a hint of reproach in his voice.

I lowered my head and gave a bitter smile.

I'd told Adrian about it two years ago, right after the injury.

He'd said Serena was shaken up and needed someone by her side, so I should find a doctor myself.

Six months ago, the injury flared up again on a rainy day. The pain was so bad I could barely hold a cup.

That time, he'd said Serena's photography exhibition was about to open, and he needed to help with the preparations. He told me to put on some pain patches and deal with it myself.

I had told him.

It was just that every single time, Serena happened to need him more.

I calmly took the doctor's instructions.

"Yeah. I never told you."

That afternoon, Adrian and I had originally planned to try on our outfits for the mating ceremony.

We'd booked the appointment six months ago.

Since then, he'd already rescheduled four times because Serena caught a cold, wanted him to accompany her to an art exhibition, or was in a bad mood.

Last week, Adrian had promised that he absolutely wouldn't change the appointment again.

Before leaving the rehabilitation center, he came over to me and lowered his voice.

"Elara, Serena isn't doing very well. I want to spend a little more time with her today."

"Can we postpone the outfit fitting for a few days?"

"The outfits will still be at the store. You can just book another appointment."

I stared at him for a long moment.

"Fine."

Adrian visibly relaxed and turned back toward Serena.

I called the outfit store.

"Hello, this is Elara. I'd like to cancel my fitting appointment this afternoon."

The sales assistant sounded cheerful.

"Of course, Miss Elara. Would you like to reschedule?"

My phone lit up with a message from Adrian.

"I'll get in touch with you later."

I stared at those words.

"No need."