4

By the time they rushed me to the Pack healer's clinic, my breathing had grown dangerously faint. Fortunately, the timely medical intervention saved my life.

My brother sat beside my bed, completely focused on comforting the weeping woman in his arms.

"It's all my fault," Selene sobbed, burying her face against his chest. "If I hadn't forced her to eat so much, she wouldn't have gone into shock."

"Don't cry, this isn't your fault," he murmured, stroking her hair. "She's the foolish one. She knew her stomach was weak but ate carelessly anyway."

Huh. So it was my fault after all.

"You're awake, Skye!" Selene wiped her tears, turning to me with exaggerated surprise. Her face lit up with fake concern as she approached my bed.

My brother spoke before she could reach me. "Why didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well? Why did you insist on eating when you knew you shouldn't?"

"I did say I couldn't eat it," I whispered. "But when I refused, you got angry."

My answer seemed to infuriate him even more.

"Are you doing this deliberately?" His eyes narrowed to slits. "Do you think playing the victim will make me feel guilty? Is this your way of getting revenge on me?"

I didn't understand why my brother kept misinterpreting me this way. I shook my head frantically, not knowing what I'd done wrong, but my time at the rehabilitation center had taught me that I must always admit fault if I wanted to avoid punishment.

"It's my fault, brother," I said, voice trembling. "But I didn't mean to—please—please don't be angry."

"You..." My brother stared at me, inhaling sharply. Then he grabbed Selene's hand and stormed out, clearly upset. He never came back to check on me.

After two days in the clinic, they demanded payment. But I had no money.

"Could I call someone from my family?" I asked timidly.

The healer raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Of course."

My brother didn't answer—not the first call, not the tenth. The healer who'd treated me grew visibly impatient as she watched me try repeatedly.

"Your medical bills?" she finally prompted.

"I'll pay them," I promised, though I couldn't meet her gaze. My face burned with embarrassment.

Another day passed. I still couldn't reach my brother, and the clinic staff came to press for payment again.

"You're not trying to avoid paying by staying here indefinitely, are you?" the head healer asked sharply.

"You seem to be of age," another added. "If you really can't contact your family, should we call the Werewolf Council for you?"

I didn't know how to explain my situation. "I could leave this as collateral," I offered. "I'll go home, get money, and come back to pay."

The healing crystal necklace around my neck was something my mother had placed there on her deathbed. During those unbearable nights at the rehabilitation center, this necklace had been my only emotional anchor. It was also the only valuable thing I owned now.

The healer reluctantly accepted my necklace, allowing me to leave.

"Is it... this direction?" For some reason, my memory had become unreliable. I kept losing my way.

After getting directions from the Pack Patrol, stumbling along because I couldn't shift into wolf form, it took me a full day and night to find my way home.

Outside the door, I shivered in the cold wind, but my key wouldn't open our front door.

I couldn't get in. Through the window, I heard them laughing inside.

"Do you like your gift?" my brother's voice was tender.

"This ring is beautiful," Selene gushed. "It's a top-grade healing crystal! Those are so rare."

"I saw it at the auction house and knew you'd love it," he replied. "I'd pay any price to make you happy."

The way my brother looked at her—so gentle, so loving. Selene nestled in his arms, her smile radiating joy.

For a moment, I felt disoriented. Every birthday in the past, my brother would prepare my gift weeks in advance, putting his heart into the selection. Back then, he'd look at me with that same gentle expression.

After knocking loudly for what seemed like forever, my brother finally opened the door.

"You?" He seemed startled. "Why did you come back without calling first?"