Chapter 4

That night, Damien left again with the excuse that Layla couldn't be alone.

Even though Layla's Moonstone Cottage was right next to Seraphina's Afterglow Lodge, and there were pack members guarding both inside and out, Damien still insisted on sitting by Layla's bedside.

Leo didn't come back either. He had most likely stayed the night with Layla.

Seraphina didn't mind. She held Blaze a little tighter.

When the next morning's light rose, the Mooncrest on her forehead began to burn again.

This time, what faded from her mind were her childhood memories with her parents.

Back then, before Layla existed, they had adored Seraphina and treated her as the pride of the pack's future.

They gave her all the finest pelts, the richest hunts, and the most sacred ceremonial weapons.

Later, when Layla was born, her parents didn't favor one over the other. Whatever Seraphina had, Layla had, too.

So even now, Seraphina couldn't understand why Layla had thrown herself into Thornfrost Grove that year and then blamed it on her.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Five days remained until she would forget them completely.

At noon, a pack member came to call Seraphina to eat at the communal longhouse.

When she arrived, everyone else was already eating with Layla.

Miriam was gently blowing on the spoon before feeding Layla soup, while Bryan was cutting the most tender slices of roasted meat for her.

Damien held a soft cloth, ready to wipe her mouth. Leo sat nearby, reminding Layla not to eat too fast.

When Seraphina walked in, only Damien paused.

Layla smiled sweetly and waved at her. "Sera, you're here. Come on. Sit down and eat with us."

Seraphina's gaze fell on Layla's chest.

There, a crystalline stone shaped as a wolf's fang glowed faintly, protecting Layla's heart.

Seraphina would never mistake it. It was the Shadow Wolfheart Damien had given her when they bonded as mates.

She remembered his vow. "Seraphina, in this lifetime and the next, my wolf spirit howls only for you."

The powerful Shadow Wolf Pack would refine part of their own wolf spirit essence into a Shadow Wolfheart and give it to their chosen mate.

After Seraphina gave birth to Leo, she had temporarily passed her Wolfheart to him, to keep him safe until his own guardian light awakened.

And now, that Shadow Wolfheart was on Layla.

Was it Damien's choice, Leo's, or a decision they had made together?

Damien noticed where she was looking and opened his mouth to explain. "Sera…"

Seraphina calmly walked over and sat down.

"Dad. Mom."

She picked up her wooden bowl and took a sip of soup, showing no intention of asking questions.

When Layla saw Seraphina ignoring her, her face turned pale. She spoke pitifully. "Sera, I'm so sorry. I ruined your birthday—"

Before she could finish, she broke into a fit of hard coughs. Bryan and Miriam hurried over to pat her back and comfort her.

Watching this, a sudden ache stabbed through Damien's chest.

He hesitated, then reached out for Seraphina's hand.

She quietly avoided his touch and spoke softly, "It's fine. I don't mind."

She was saying that to both Layla and Damien.

Only then did her parents realize once again that they had left Seraphina out.

But they never felt guilty toward her. Miriam said coolly, "It's only a birthday. After Layla and Damien's ceremony in five days, we'll hold a party to celebrate."

Seraphina paused. 'Five days, huh?'

Everything really lined up. In five days, Layla and Damien would hold their bonding ceremony.

And she would forget everything, sever every bond, and remain forever on Howlpeak.

Bryan nodded as well. "Yeah. Layla's health matters most. You're the elder sister. You should understand."

That line again. She was the older sister. She owed Layla. She should understand.

Seraphina had heard it so many times that her ears had gone numb.

Then Leo spoke up. "When Aunt Layla and Dad complete the ceremony, does that mean Mom can trade her life for Aunt Layla's?"

Seraphina froze.

She lifted her head. Everyone looked at her, waiting for her answer.

The food in her mouth instantly turned tasteless and stuck in her throat.

Seraphina clenched her fist and forced the bitterness down. "It's true that the Sunfire bloodline lets me go through Ember Rebirth. But what if my life essence isn't enough, and I fail to come back?"

Before her words even settled, everyone spoke at once.

Bryan said, "You carry the Sunfire bloodline. How could your life essence possibly be insufficient?"

Miriam said, "We'll be right by your side, guarding you. Nothing will happen to you."

Leo said, "Mom, don't use that as an excuse to avoid saving Aunt Layla."

Seraphina turned to Damien. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "Sera, I've prepared many rare moon herbs for you. Once you are reborn, they will help your wolf spirit become even stronger than before."

Seraphina smiled, and as she did, her eyes turned red.

"Alright. I'm willing to trade my life for Layla's."

She was willing to trade lives. But five days later, once she went to Howlpeak, she would never be able to leave again.

Whether they could ever find her then was their problem.