Chapter 1

"Have you dealt with the driver who's responsible for the accident?" Ivander Darkblaze's voice rang out by my bed.

I didn't open my eyes. However, I quietly clenched my fists beneath my covers.

Timothy Howle, Ivander's assistant, replied, "He knows what to tell the authorities. He'll just claim that he was driving while fatigued. The compensation will be made based on your arrangements, Alpha Ivander."

"Don't let him get close to Aerith."

Ivander paused momentarily before adding, "She shouldn't be worried about these things."

A set of footsteps gradually faded away.

I did my best to reach out to the depths of my consciousness and call out to my wolf, Nora.

Ever since Nora awakened when I turned 18, she'd been by my side. Whenever I got hurt during a dance practice, she'd scold me for pushing myself too hard. But before it was my turn to perform on the stage, she'd urge me excitedly to get up there.

When the car came crashing my way, Nora was the one who did everything in her power to protect me. But now, she never responded, no matter how many times I kept calling out to her.

I cracked my eyes open, only to see Ivander testing out the soup's temperature. His very hand that issued decrees to the pack was now holding a tiny spoon filled with soup. Ivander made sure that the soup cooled enough before passing it to my lips.

Upon noticing that I was awake, Ivander put down the soup bowl immediately.

"Does it hurt anywhere? I'll call a healer over right now."

No one would have expected to see Ivander, a fierce and formidable Alpha, showing his tender side in front of his lover.

All this time, I thought that this was a privilege that was reserved for me and me only.

Now, I finally realized that Aemyth was the lucky one. Ivander was only nice to me just so he could protect her.

Ivander thought I was still grieving over losing Nora when he noticed that I wasn't speaking at all.

"Once you're all healed, I'll take you to the beachside villa for a staycation, okay? You told me before that you've been meaning to go there.

"Stop thinking about the tryouts as well. It's just a chance to perform, that's all."

Ivander sounded so nonchalant.

The thing was, I had spent one whole year preparing for the international dance showcase. In fact, Ivander even claimed that he'd watch my performance from his seat beneath the stage on the day before the tryouts.

He said all that while knowing that I would never be able to make it onstage.

In order to cheer me up, Ivander decided to switch the topic.

"It'll be your birthday in two days. I've cleared my schedule and prepared a surprise just for you."

Wasn't this accident a good enough "surprise" for me?

I suppressed my emotions while nodding in response. "Okay. I've prepared a gift for you too."

Ivander leaned into my ear and asked, "What is it?"

"It's a secret." I giggled softly in return.

He lifted a hand to brush my bangs from my forehead. That was when his sleeve slid downward, revealing a tattoo that was inked onto his inner wrist.

The tattoo was a sprig of lily of the valley with a bent stem. Three tiny buds could be seen hanging from the end of the stem.

Once upon a time, I had asked Ivander what the tattoo meant. He just told me that it was a design he had chosen when he was young, so he couldn't really remember its meaning.

I had believed him at that time.

Now, the television was broadcasting an interview with the contestants who passed the tryouts of the dance showcase.

When Aemyth waved at the camera, her golden bracelet slid down her wrist, revealing a tattoo featuring a very familiar sprig of lily of the valley. Even the notch in the lowest leaf matched perfectly.

As I stared at the television, I finally realized why Ivander refused to let me scrawl my name next to his tattoo.

Of course, Ivander was oblivious to everything that was going on.

"By the way, your parents will be throwing a celebration party to celebrate Aemyth passing the tryouts. But we won't be attending the party. It's your birthday, after all, so I'll spend the day with you."

"I want to attend the party."

Ivander was clearly taken aback by my response. But soon, he quickly snapped out of it.

"Okay. I'll arrange for a car to take us there, since I'll be attending the party with you. If you feel unwell, we can leave anytime."

I could tell that Ivander didn't want me to attend the party. He was worried that my presence would ruin Aemyth's celebration.

But I still wanted to see my family one last time. After all, I'd be leaving this place soon.

This was the gift that I had prepared for Ivander.