Chapter 5

The Pack healer rushed in with his assistants. When they saw the wound on my arm, everyone gasped in shock.

The cleaning process felt like torture.

Each time the moonlight herb solution touched the festering, infected wound, my whole body spasmed. Cold sweat soaked through my hospital gown.

I bit down hard on my lower lip. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, barely keeping me from crying out in pain.

Just then, the infirmary room door was gently pushed open. Elara stood at the entrance with red-rimmed eyes.

When she saw the wound the Pack healer was treating, she immediately covered her mouth with her hand. Tears streamed down her face like broken pearls.

"How could this happen? I followed the healing steps from the ancient texts exactly - cleansing with moonlight herbs, applying healing salve, bandaging. I was so careful with each step. How could the infection get this bad? Damien, I really didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted to make Sera more comfortable."

She cried with such genuine emotion, as if she had suffered tremendous injustice and guilt.

She stumbled toward Damien and grabbed his sleeve, trembling all over.

"Damien, you have to believe me. I really don't know why this happened. I only wanted to help Sera. Am I just useless? I can't even do such a simple healing right."

The Pack healer had just cut away a small piece of dead, rotting flesh. Hearing this, he looked up as if he wanted to say something.

But his gaze swept between Damien's dark expression and Elara's pitiful crying. In the end, he just offered flattering agreement.

"Miss Elara, don't blame yourself too much. These frostbite infections from improper wilderness treatment are very complicated. You meant well. And looking at this bandaging technique, it was indeed very professional. It might be Miss Thorne's own constitution or some other issue."

Damien's face was so dark it could drip water.

He stared at my horrible-looking arm. His brows were knotted tightly, his jawline tense.

For once, he didn't immediately agree with Elara. He didn't blindly blame me like he usually did. He just stayed silent, the pressure around him frighteningly low.

Elara's crying gradually quieted down. She glanced at him uneasily.

Finally, the Pack healer finished applying new moonlight herb salve and bandages. After giving a long list of care instructions, he left. Only the three of us remained in the room. The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Damien finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"You'll be fine. Tell the healer if you need anything."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked me.

"Does it hurt?"

I felt a bit dazed.

The high fever made my brain feel like mush. Many memories were blurry and unclear.

But his almost gentle attitude at this moment made me instinctively feel a strong sense of discomfort and wariness.

I unconsciously shrank back.

My reaction seemed to hurt him.

He pressed his lips together, his tone becoming stiff.

"Rest well. Don't cause any more trouble."

Just as I expected.

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something.

"You're badly injured this time. Let Elara go accept the Vanguard's Crest at next month's Northern Territory Warriors Assembly in your place."

I jerked my head up, unable to believe my ears.

That crest was one of the highest honors in the werewolf warrior world. It was complete recognition of my career. I had earned it with countless hours of sweat and scars.

It wasn't just a medal. It was acknowledgment of all my years of effort and sacrifice.

"Why?"

My injured vocal cords made my voice extremely hoarse.

Before Damien could answer, Elara timidly tugged at his sleeve.

"Damien, don't do this. That crest is very important to Sera."

She said this, but her eyes held a barely detectable hint of provocation as she looked at me.

"Although I've never stood on such a prestigious stage, I am a bit envious. And Sera is so badly injured now, it wouldn't be convenient for her to attend that kind of ceremony. But since she's unwilling, I can't force her to give it to me..."

Damien patted her hand soothingly.

"Elara is right. How can you go in your condition? Besides, Sera, you're going to be marked as my mate eventually. You'll be my Luna. The Luna of the Blackwood Pack doesn't need to show her face in public for these empty honors. Let Elara accept the crest for you. "

I almost wanted to laugh. My chest felt stuffy and panicked.

"I fought for my life to earn that..."

"Your life belongs to me!"

Damien interrupted me, his tone suddenly urgent.

"From now on, you'll stay by my side. You won't need to go anywhere or do anything. I'll take care of you. You can tend the pack gardens, read books, chat with me and Elara. Wouldn't that peaceful life be good?"

But I felt cold all over.

A dull pain came from the back of my head.

I looked up in a daze. The dull pain in my chest gradually faded.

I could barely remember what that boy used to look like - the one who would celebrate when I performed well in warrior training.