Chapter 2

During lunch the next day, Sierra's face suddenly turned pale. "Mom, I feel like throwing up."

Mom had barely sat down to eat when she immediately put down her plate and jumped to her feet. "What is it, sweetheart? Did something upset your stomach? Does your head hurt? Does your stomach hurt?"

Dad slammed down his dining utensils. In a panic, he scooped Sierra into his arms and ran outside.

He didn't even have time to take another bite. "Stop asking questions! Get the healer! Put a coat on her! We can't let her catch a cold!"

Virgo grabbed his jacket and hurried after them.

His brows were tightly furrowed, and his face was full of concern as he looked at Sierra. "Could the meat we roasted yesterday have been bad?"

Sierra shook her head as tears streamed down her face. "I don't know. I feel awful, Virgo."

Everyone had grim expressions. It was as if they were facing a catastrophe.

Nobody laughed.

Nobody started a timer either.

Dad was so frantic that he kicked the wooden front door right off its hinges.

I stood by the dining table and watched them from a distance. I then looked at the untouched food in front of me and suddenly found the whole situation absurd.

At the healer's den, the healer examined Sierra carefully and determined that she was suffering from diarrhea caused by indigestion.

Only then did Dad wipe the sweat from his forehead and finally relax. "Thank goodness she's okay."

Mom clutched the heirloom moonstone and repeatedly prayed to the Moon Goddess. She also let out a sigh of relief. "I'm just glad it's nothing serious."

The healer gave Sierra some medicinal herbs to help with her digestion, and she was already feeling much better by the end of the consultation.

On the way home, Mom helped her put on her shoes while Dad wiped her face.

My future mate, Virgo, fussed over her too. He draped a coat around her shoulders, fetched water for her, and tended to her every need.

Everyone revolved around her.

I watched them for a long time before finally asking softly, "Why isn't anyone betting on how long it'll take her to recover?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Mom looked up and frowned. "What are you talking about?"

I stared straight at her. "I said Sierra claims she's feeling sick. Why isn't anyone betting on whether she's really sick or just pretending?"

Mom's expression turned cold. "Is this really the time for you to throw a tantrum?"

Dad's voice grew stern too. "Sierra is genuinely sick. This isn't a joke."

"I see," I said and smiled. "I guess it's something really inappropriate to joke about."

Dad froze. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

Virgo sighed and reached for my hand. "Selena, this is different. Your mom wasn't actually sick yesterday. Sierra really is feeling unwell today."

I looked at him and failed to suppress a bitter chuckle. "So you all know that some things shouldn't be joked about."

Virgo was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he finally snapped impatiently. "Are you seriously going to keep this up? It was only a prank!"

Mom immediately backed him up. "How long are you going to hold a grudge over one little prank? Are you ever going to let it go? Can't you see Sierra is suffering? The Moon Goddess won't bless someone as petty and spiteful as you."

Thanks to their prank, I'd lost the winter supply contract and my chance at promotion.

I'd even injured my foot running through Black Woods, and it still throbbed from time to time.

Back then, I'd genuinely feared Mom was going to die. Thorns had pierced the soles of my feet as I raced through the forest, but I hadn't cared at all.

I'd sacrificed everything. Now, all I got in return were those words Mom had said. 'Petty and spiteful.'

That evening, the Alpha messaged me to say that the candidates for the merchant team leader had been finalized.

Mom was feeding Sierra some fruit.

I stared at the message for a long time and said nothing.

"Still thinking about business?" Mom glanced at me briefly between bites. "That's enough already. What kind of shewolf follows a merchant team around doing business all the time?

"It's not like Virgo can't support you. Why do you insist on making things so difficult for yourself?"

Virgo walked over with a chuckle. "Of course. Taking care of my mate is my responsibility. If you can't make it in the merchant team, then forget about it. Once we complete our marking ceremony, you can stay home and be a housewife. I'll give you an allowance."

Sierra immediately let out an excited squeal. "Virgo, you're amazing! That's so cool of you!"

The three of them burst into laughter.

I laughed along with them.

Maybe the old me really would have thought this was happiness.

That evening, I began packing my belongings.

Thorn Pack enjoyed warm, springlike weather all year round.

As I sorted through my clothes, preparing to throw away the ones I wouldn't need there, Mom happened to notice.

But she said nothing about my packing.

Instead, she asked where my fur coat was.

It was made from the first bear Virgo had hunted for me, back on the day of my coming-of-age ceremony.

"Sierra wants to go out with her friends. She needs something nice to wear and show off."

Without looking at her, I casually pulled the coat from the box of things I planned to discard and tossed it to her. "Take it."

Mom caught the coat and stared at me in surprise.

In the past, I would have complained whenever she gave my belongings to Sierra. I'd argued with her and demanded that she return them.

But today, I said nothing.

"Are you sure you don't want it anymore?" she asked almost instinctively.

"No. If Sierra likes it, she can have it." I smiled at her. "I don't need it anymore."

She looked relieved. "See? That's much better. Family shouldn't squabble over little things. Sierra has always been in poor health. As her older sister, you should learn to give in to her."

Satisfied, she picked up the fur coat and left.

She didn't notice that most of my room was already empty.