Chapter 5

Lucas's outstretched hand stopped abruptly in mid-air.

The worry in his eyes solidified instantly, then transformed into monstrous rage.

Yes.

In the wolf world, even a pup would instinctively shift in a life-or-death situation. Yet I had no reaction.

The only explanation was that I was "gambling."

Betting my life on whether they would abandon Seraphina.

"Ella..."

Lucas withdrew his hand, looking down at me from above, his eyes as cold as if looking at a lunatic.

"You are simply hopeless!"

Veins bulged on his forehead as he roared at me, "Just out of jealousy, you actually used your life to gamble for sympathy? If the patrol had been a step later, you would be dead! Do you hate Sera that much? Hate her enough to use this kind of self-harm to get revenge on us?"

I wanted to explain.

I wanted to say it was the silver poison, that the whipping had made it impossible for me to shift.

But looking at those eyes filled only with disgust, my throat felt like it was blocked with cotton; I couldn't say a single word.

"So disappointing." Ron walked over, his eyes full of disappointment. "Reflecting in the dungeon wasn't enough. Playing mind games in a life-and-death situation like this is unreasonable."

"Guards!" Lucas ordered coldly. "Send her back to the Pack House! Get a doctor to bandage her up, don't let her die!"

Several warriors stepped forward and rudely hoisted me up.

Blood flowed freely from my shoulder; every step was agonizing pain. But I didn't cry, nor did I shout in pain.

I was dragged away just like that, watching Lucas turn around to gently hold Seraphina and comfort her, watching my brothers surround her with concern.

Before leaving, Seraphina looked back through the car window.

Seeing me in such a wretched state, the corner of her mouth hooked up into a victor's cold sneer. Naked mockery.

And Lucas, from beginning to end, never looked back once.

Watching their retreating figures, I suddenly couldn't feel the pain anymore.

I looked up at the aurora shimmering faintly on the horizon.

It was truly beautiful.

I closed my eyes and made a final wish in my heart:

May I, and Lucas, and these brothers...

Never meet again in this life or the next.

……

Two days later, they returned from their trip, and the Mating Ceremony was held as scheduled.

The Pack House had been transformed into a fairytale world. White roses, flown in by air, carpeted the lawn, their scent cloyingly sweet.

Seraphina stood before the vanity mirror, looking breathtakingly beautiful in the Luna wedding dress that was originally mine.

"Ella," she said in a sugary, cooing voice. "Even though this is just a fake ceremony, I still hope to get your blessing."

With a single glance from Ron and Reid, two maids stepped forward and forcibly stripped off my clothes, shoving me into a dusty, ill-fitting gray bridesmaid dress. The tight fabric dug into my unhealed wounds, causing stinging pain.

I was like Cinderella, shoved into the corner, becoming the most eyesore background character at this grand wedding.

At the climax of the ceremony, Lucas walked Seraphina down the red carpet.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming to my wedding." Seraphina took the microphone, tears welling in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion. "Actually, as you all know, I am a dying woman. This wedding dress... originally belonged to my sister, Ella."

A murmur of sympathy rippled through the crowd.

Seraphina wiped away her tears, her gaze landing precisely on me in the corner. "I was selfish. I stole my sister's ceremony. I feel so sorry towards her... In this sacred moment, I want to give Ella a hug. I hope to earn her forgiveness. If I can't get her forgiveness, I won't be able to die in peace."

All the spotlights instantly swung onto me, blindingly bright.

Ron and Reid walked over with smiles on their faces.

"Silly girl, why would Ella blame you?" Ron said loudly, his tone full of doting affection. "She is the most sensible sister. She forgave you long ago."

After saying that, they didn't give me a choice. They grabbed my pale, trembling arms and forcibly dragged me in front of Seraphina.

"Come on, Ella. Give Sera a hug," Reid said, pressing down on my head, forcing me to bow.

Seraphina opened her arms and hugged me tightly.

Just as everyone thought they were witnessing a touching scene of sisterly reconciliation, Seraphina leaned into my ear. In a voice only the two of us could hear, she whispered coldly:

"Go to hell."

In the next second—

Schlick!

Seraphina suddenly pulled out a silver dagger hidden in the folds of her dress and plunged it viciously into her own abdomen!

"Ahhh—!"

Seraphina let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed into a pool of blood in agony.

Clutching the wound that was spurting blood, she looked at me in disbelief and cried out, "Ella... why... I already have less than a month to live... do you hate me that much... do you want me to die that soon?!"

The crowd went into an uproar.

Lucas's rationality snapped instantly. He let out a beast-like roar: "Sera!!"

Instinctively, he slammed his palm hard into my chest.

Crack!

The powerful force of an Alpha shattered my ribs. I was sent flying backward, smashing into a stone pillar and vomiting a mouthful of blood. In my hand, I was still clutching the blood-stained dagger Seraphina had shoved into my grip.

"Sera! Sera, stay with me!"

Ron and Reid rushed over like madmen, scooping up the blood-soaked Seraphina. Seeing the gruesome wound on her abdomen, the brothers' eyes instantly turned red, looking as if they were about to bleed.

They turned their heads, glaring death at me as I lay paralyzed on the ground.

"Ella!!" Ron roared. "If anything happens to Sera, you will pay with your life!!"

I opened my mouth, wanting to defend myself, but I could only cough up more bloody foam.

"Call the Healer! Quickly!" Lucas's hands were trembling.

The Head Healer examined her for a few seconds, his face turning pale.

"This is bad! The dagger was coated in high-concentration liquid silver!"

The Healer shouted in terror, "The toxin has already traveled through her blood to her heart! Combined with Miss Seraphina's previous condition... we must immediately perform a total blood transfusion using the blood of an immediate family member to flush out the silver poison. Otherwise, she will die for sure!"

"Then do it! We are her brothers. Take our blood!" Ron rolled up his sleeves without hesitation.

The Healer immediately began drawing blood.

Bright red blood flowed through the tubes into Seraphina's body.

However, after only a few minutes, the Healer shook his head in despair. "It's not enough... still not enough... The silver poison is too aggressive. The flow rate from just the two of you is too slow; it can't purify it in time..."

Seraphina's breathing grew weaker and weaker.

Lucas and my brothers whipped their heads around, looking at me, pale and broken on the floor. A flicker of hesitation appeared in their eyes; they didn't give the order immediately.

Leaning against the stone pillar, chest screaming in pain, I actually felt a ridiculous spark of hope.

Would they spare me, remembering that I was their sister, their fiancée?

But a second later, Lucas looked at Seraphina's pale face, and his eyes held only cold resolve.

"Drain her."