Chapter 5

The moment Seraphina agreed, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They instinctively tried to treat her a little better, but they had been good only to Layla for so long that their concern for Seraphina now felt stiff and awkward, no matter how they went about it.

Miriam cut a piece of roasted meat for Seraphina and forced a dry laugh. "You should eat more. You've gotten so thin lately."

Miriam then nudged Bryan on the elbow. He finally picked up a bowl and served her some stew. "Yeah, eat more. I think you like this one, right? Here, while it's hot."

Ever since Layla accused her of pushing her into the Thornfrost Grove, Seraphina had never once received her parents' affection again.

She didn't expose their act. She only noticed that out of all the dishes on the table, not a single one was her favorite dish.

She took the bowl of stew and ate it quietly, one bite at a time.

The stew was already cold, just like her heart, which had long since gone numb.

Layla then spoke through teary eyes, full of emotion, "Sera, thank you so much. I don't even know how to repay you for this."

The soft cloth Damien had been clutching at last had its use.

He wiped Layla's tears and spoke gently, "Why talk about repaying anything? Sera owes you. Once you trade lives…"

Seraphina didn't let him finish. She set her wooden bowl on the table and stood up. "I'm full. Enjoy your meal."

She turned and walked away.

Before she had taken two steps, she heard Leo speak in the Primal Tongue. "Dad, Mom is acting so rude and uneducated."

This time, Damien answered sternly in the same language, "She is your mother. Watch your tongue."

What Seraphina didn't expect was Layla calmly joining in, also in the Primal Tongue. "Leo, your mom is just more free-spirited. Don't talk about her like that."

Since when had Layla learned the Primal Tongue?

Seraphina smirked, unable to tell whether she felt more bitter or more amused.

Not long after she returned to Afterglow Lodge, Damien came in, too.

Seeing her unhappy expression, he went over and wrapped her in his arms, speaking softly.

"Sera, I know asking you to trade your life for Layla is unfair to you. Layla is weak, so it makes sense that Dad and Mom dote on her more. But you still have Leo and me.

"You must remember, no matter what happens, we'll always be by your side."

Seraphina looked at him quietly.

They were talking about trading lives. She would trade her life for Layla's and go through an agonizing rebirth through soul fire.

And he simply called it "unfair".

She pushed Damien away. "If there were a chance for you to swap lives with Layla, would you do it?"

Damien did not hesitate at all. "Of course, I would."

"You would do it voluntarily?"

"Yes, I would!"

The room fell into sudden silence.

Damien stared at her calm expression for a long moment before suddenly realizing something.

"Sera, I would trade my life with Layla's, but not for her sake. It would be for you. If I could suffer in your place this once, I'd be willing!"

Seraphina asked quietly, "If you really care about me that much, why not spare me from suffering at all?"

Damien froze. "Isn't this what you owe Layla?"

Seraphina remained silent for a long time.

At last, she nodded. "Yes. I owe her."

When her parents found Layla dying back then, they believed her the moment she pointed at Seraphina.

After that, they kept bringing it up again and again, until even Damien believed it completely.

Seraphina took a deep breath and walked out.

Damien paused, then hurried after her. "Where are you going?"

"I want to see the human world," Seraphina said without stopping.

After all, in five days, she would never be able to leave Howlpeak again.

Damien grasped her hand. "I'll go with you."

Seraphina hesitated.

Many years ago, after they had bonded as mates, they had gone together to the human world and lived quietly as an ordinary married couple in a small town.

Maybe going back to that old place with him was a good thing. She would let him help her bury those memories once and for all.

But just as they reached the pack's barrier, Layla called out after them.

"Sera, Damien, where are you going?"

Layla had always called Damien in an affectionate tone. At first, Seraphina had corrected her, but her parents had been displeased. "She can call him whatever she likes. Are you afraid she'll steal your mate?"

Now, Layla truly was trying to take her mate, and yet not a single person scolded her. No one thought she was wrong.

Damien answered, "To the human world."

Layla immediately stepped forward. "I want to go, too. I'm so bored staying here every day. I've never been to the human world. Take me with you, okay?"

Damien hesitated. "But you're weak…"

Layla's eyes reddened at once, as if she were about to cry.

Damien sighed and looked at Seraphina. "How about we bring Layla along?"

Seraphina's expression was indifferent. "If something happens to her, will you blame it on me again?"

"What are you talking about? As long as we take good care of Layla, nothing will happen," Damien said.

Seraphina didn't argue anymore. "Do whatever you want."

With that, she cast a teleportation spell and disappeared.

-

The human world, a place called Diluna Town.

At the center of the town stood an ancient stone bridge. At the end of it was the Promise Stone, where lovers carved their vows as a symbol of eternal devotion.

Back when Seraphina and Damien lived here disguised as humans, they had stood hand in hand in that very spot. Beneath the moonlight, they had shifted into wolves and howled to the sky, declaring each other as mates for life.

"I, Damien Norman, bind my wolf spirit to Seraphina Grant's for all eternity."

The vow still echoed in her ears, but everything else had changed.

Seraphina turned her head and saw Damien supporting Layla by the bridge.

Layla spoke in the Primal Tongue. "Damien, I wanna wish to be with you forever."

Damien only froze for a moment before smiling gently at her. "Sure. Then I'll wish that you'll recover and never suffer from illness again."

After that, the two of them carved their new vows into the Promise Stone together.

Seraphina watched the scene, her fists clenched tight.

In the next second, she walked straight to the vow she and Damien had carved all those years ago.

Flames flared to life in her palm.

At the same time, the Mooncrest on her forehead began to glow.

As the old promise melted into ash in the fire, every beautiful memory she had ever shared with Damien in that small town vanished from her mind forever.