Chapter 5

It's okay. It's okay.

Soon I wouldn't see them again, wouldn't disturb their perfect little family with Wesley anymore.

I spent the first night at Nora's pack medical facility. Their lead healer reopened the wound to drain the infection that had been brewing for ten days, restitched it properly, and put me on antibiotics. By morning the worst of it was past.

Nora came to see me before I left.

"You're going to feel weak for a few days. Don't lift anything. The stitches need a week."

"Thank you, Alpha."

"Don't call me that. After next week, we're going to be colleagues for fifteen years. Use my name."

"Nora."

"Better."

She paused at the door.

"Caleb. Whatever happens with your sisters — that's their failure, not yours. I want to make sure you know that before we walk into the institute together."

I didn't answer. I wasn't ready to.

She didn't push.

I returned to school, moved into the dormitory, and continued perfecting my herbal research notes.

The next day, while heading to the library with Nora — who was reviewing pre-isolation materials with me — I ran into Alexa and Riley.

I pretended not to see them. Found a seat, opened my notebook, and continued writing word by word.

Wesley dragged them to sit not far from me.

I could hear his careful voice from time to time, the one he used in public.

"Sisters, do you really have to do pack work today? It's so close to the Caribbean trip — "

Alexa and Riley patted his shoulder. "Be patient. In a few days, we'll be off to the Caribbean. We promise."

Hearing their words made it hard for me to breathe, so I got up and went for a drink of water.

When I returned, my notebook was in Wesley's hands.

Alexa and Riley had gone to get books from the shelves.

Wesley was alone, tearing pages from my notebook — slowly, deliberately, soaking each one in a water bottle before crumpling it.

I rushed forward and snatched the notebook from his hands.

He immediately threw himself dramatically to the floor, hitting his forehead on a chair, and cried out in pain.

Students in the library turned to look at us.

With trembling hands, I opened my notebook.

Five years of herbal research notes — most pages torn to shreds. Most pieces were wet, the writing blurred beyond recognition.

On the only page that remained intact, he had written a single word with a marker.

Brother.

He smiled up at me from the floor as the marker word grinned back from the page.

My mind buzzed with white noise.

Then Riley rushed over, immediately demanding without investigating.

"Caleb, why did you push him?"

Alexa helped Wesley to his feet, her face darkened with anger.

More and more people gathered around us.

Nora, who had been browsing the bookshelves, hurried over.

She looked at my notebook, then at my expression, and quickly understood.

"Your notes were torn up?"

Riley's angry expression froze as she approached and looked at my notebook.

After a long moment, she frowned. "This can't be possible. Wesley wouldn't — "

"Let's go," I said calmly to Nora, not waiting for Riley to finish.

How strange.

I should have been furious. I should have lost control like countless times before, shouting at Wesley or even striking him.

Then I should have fought bitterly with Alexa and Riley as they defended and indulged him.

But in this moment, I only wanted to leave.

I had argued with them for four years.

Four years of countless arguments, always with the same result.

Now, I didn't want to fight anymore.

In a few days, I'd be gone anyway.

I picked up my ruined notebook and walked out of the library.

Behind me, Riley followed.

I heard her voice, cold as usual, but with a hint of discomfort.

"Give me the notebook. I'll try to restore it for you."

I replied flatly. "Don't bother."

I was leaving soon anyway. The notebook had been meant for Alexa, who had once shown interest in herbal medicine when we were younger, before everything else took her over.

I walked toward the end of the hallway.

Something seemed to have suddenly come over Riley.

This sister who hadn't wanted to speak more than a few sentences to me in months suddenly caught up and grabbed my arm.

"Caleb, what's — what's going on with you lately?"

Her voice carried a trace of anxiety.

But I didn't turn around.

I just reached out and gently removed her hand.

We stood in silence for a while until she spoke again. "Wesley is just young. If he really did tear it up, it couldn't have been intentional."

So that was it — she was afraid I would resent Wesley and push him down the stairs again in anger.

And here I thought that, just this once, she might be willing to take my side.

I felt the corner of my mouth twitch, amused by my own foolishness.

I walked into the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors.

That heart that had always refused to give up now finally grew calm, turning into still waters that no longer rippled.

Somehow, I didn't feel sad anymore.

As the elevator doors closed, I said softly. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

Alexa rushed forward, perhaps trying to stop the closing doors, but it was too late.

In my final glimpse, I thought I saw panic and confusion rising in her eyes.

Before leaving, I checked my luggage one last time.

At noon, Nora invited me to lunch to discuss the silver poisoning research project.

As we left the restaurant, Alexa suddenly called me.

I answered, but she remained silent for a long moment.

Thinking she might have called by accident, I was about to hang up when she finally spoke. "When are you coming home?"

I was taken aback.

I couldn't help but wonder if she had meant to call Wesley instead.

Still, I replied. "I'm busy at school lately, so I won't be coming back."

Alexa persisted. "What about tonight?"

I didn't understand her sudden interest.

But I made up an excuse anyway. "I have plans with classmates tonight."

Another long silence followed.

After a while, she awkwardly continued. "Today is Riley's and my birthday."

I was momentarily speechless.

For many years, I had been the one planning their birthdays.

Buying cakes, booking venues, selecting gifts months in advance.

But this year...

Nora took my phone gently and said into it. "Caleb prepared birthday gifts for you both. You'll find them at home."

I looked at Nora in surprise as she handed the phone back.

She explained that she had sent Alexa and Riley a sealed package containing proof of my acceptance into the fifteen-year isolation project, along with recordings of the orphanage director confirming Wesley's identity fraud, and the Shadow Pack healer's medical report on my border injury — the one I'd taken protecting Alexa.

I laughed softly and shook my head. Whether they believed it or not, I no longer cared.

I picked up my packed suitcase and booked the next available flight.

I left school and went to the airport with Nora.

As the plane climbed to thirty thousand feet, everything in North City gradually disappeared from view.