Chapter 6

Elara finally stepped onto the awards stage.

The live broadcast of the ceremony flickered on the LCD TV in the infirmary room.

She wore a gorgeous gown that clearly wasn't her usual style, yet it fit her surprisingly well. She stood under the spotlight.

Her face glowed with a shy yet excited blush, her eyes slightly moist.

"I'm truly surprised to receive this award. Actually, I haven't done nearly enough. I've only persisted until now because of my love for mountain warfare and my desire not to disappoint certain people."

She paused at just the right moment. Her gaze seemed to drift toward the camera, as if speaking directly to someone far away.

Damien sat on the chair beside my bed, watching with complete focus.

He even had a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He seemed to have completely forgotten that I was the one lying in this infirmary bed, barely able to lift my arm. I was the one who should truly be standing on that stage.

Just as Elara began thanking him, Damien's phone rang sharply.

He frowned, his tone impatient.

"What is it?"

I couldn't hear what the caller said, but his relaxed smile instantly froze, then turned dark.

"Hot search? What hot search?"

He quickly switched out of the call and opened his social media app.

A few seconds later, his face turned ashen. He slammed his phone screen down hard on the table.

"Sera!"

He turned toward me, looking like he wanted to tear me apart.

"Did you do this?! You just can't stand seeing Elara do well, can you?!"

On the TV broadcast, the camera had switched to the audience.

The previously harmonious scene was now in chaos. Many people were looking down at their phones.

They whispered to each other, their faces showing shock and disgust.

I could faintly hear someone shouting loudly.

"Liar! Thief! Give the crest back to Sera!"

Then, from somewhere, a water bottle flew toward the awards stage.

"Get off the stage! Homewrecker!"

"Stealing someone else's honor! Have you no shame!"

"Disgusting!"

The chaotic shouting came through the microphones.

Elara on stage clearly hadn't expected this sudden turn of events. Her smile completely froze, and her face turned pale as paper.

She looked down at the audience in panic, but saw only chaos and countless accusing stares.

Her body swayed. She clutched her chest and softly collapsed on stage.

The live signal cut off abruptly. The screen went black.

"Elara!"

Damien cried out, his face overflowing with anxiety and heartache.

He whipped around to glare at me. The disappointment in his eyes was so thick it seemed almost solid.

"How did you become like this? So vicious! Using such underhanded methods to destroy someone!"

I looked at him calmly. My dry lips moved slightly.

"It wasn't me."

He didn't believe me at all. He stepped closer, one step at a time.

"Besides you, who else would hate her this much? Who else would scheme so carefully?! Sera, I stayed here to keep you company because I saw how badly injured you were. I thought you had finally learned your lesson. I never expected you'd never change! What is your heart made of?!"

"Fine. Very well. You want to ruin her, don't you? You want to destroy her? Let me tell you - you're dreaming!"

He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed a number, barking orders into it.

"Send two people up here immediately to watch this room! Without my permission, she's not allowed to step one foot outside! No visitors allowed! Confiscate all her communication devices!"

Soon, two pack guards in dark clothing walked in. They stood by the door expressionlessly, like two guardian statues.

Damien gave me one cold glance. That look held none of his earlier gentleness. Only complete coldness and disgust remained.

"Stay here and think about what you've done!"

With that, he stormed out of the room. He was probably rushing to comfort his frightened savior.

The infirmary room fell completely silent.

I slowly picked up my phone.

The screen lit up automatically, showing the latest news headline.

【Blackwood Pack Alpha Damien Speaks Out: Officially Clarifies Relationship with Sera Thorne】

My finger paused for a moment. Then I tapped on it.

It was a brief statement posted from the Blackwood Pack's official account. The wording was cold and heartless.

"Regarding recent false online rumors, I, Alpha Damien Blackwood, hereby officially clarify: My relationship with Ms. Sera Thorne is limited to past acquaintance. There is no mate bond between us. Ms. Thorne was seriously injured in a mountain accident. According to professional medical diagnosis, her warrior condition cannot be recovered. She will be unable to continue as a warrior in the future. Furthermore, regarding the Vanguard's Crest, it was a misunderstanding by the organizers based on humanitarian considerations. Ms. Thorne's actual skill level does not match this award. Please do not spread false information. All official information should be taken as authoritative."

Below was an attached photo that seemed to have been taken while I was unconscious.

In the picture, I lay pale in the infirmary bed, my left arm wrapped in thick bandages.

Lifeless. I did indeed look pitiful and useless.

The statement had been posted just ten minutes ago.

He couldn't even wait to get back to his pack house. He was so eager to distance himself from me that he did it on the road.

I lifted my right hand, the only one I could still move, and slowly pressed it to my chest.

This should hurt terribly.

Strangely, it didn't.

As my memories faded, my love for him was disappearing too.

I tried hard to remember, but my mind was foggy. Only occasional fragments of memory flickered through.

That was fine.