Chapter 20

Serena pov

I found Healer Leonard just as he received Mom's scans. When he learned I was Grace's daughter, he immediately walked me through the results. "See this shadow here?" He pointed to a dark patch on the film. "That's the tumor. The location is terrible—surgery would be extremely difficult and high-risk." My heart sank. A cold dread settled in. "We can't yet confirm if it's benign or malignant. We'll know after tomorrow's biopsy. For now, that's the situation. The family should prepare themselves mentally." He was direct, no sugarcoating. "Leonard," I said, my voice unsteady, "if—if it turns out malignant, what then?" Even the strongest wolf feels small and helpless before life and death. His brow furrowed. "Setting aside whether it's malignant or benign for a moment—even if benign, at this location it's nearly impossible to remove. And with the patient's underlying conditions, given our hospital's current capabilities, we might…" He adjusted his glasses, his expression apologetic. It felt like a boulder had dropped onto my chest, crushing the air from my lungs. I pressed on desperately. "What about other hospitals?" "Don't panic yet. In the past, I'd have recommended transferring to the top oncology center in the great pack. But right now there's another possibility—though it could be complicated." "I'm not afraid of complicated!" I'd do anything to save my mother. "Tomorrow an other packs expert team is visiting our hospital for consultations. Several are world-class in this field. If your mother could be selected as their case study, the surgery would likely succeed." Hope flickered again. "How do we get her chosen?" "That depends on luck. You know how coveted top-tier medical resources are. Competition is fierce." I knew he was telling the truth. I thanked him deeply for the information. To give Mom a shot at this chance, I had to prepare thoroughly. As soon as I left, a colleague from the same department approached Leonard. Looking at the scans hanging up, he remarked, "What a coincidence—two patients, one right after the other, with tumors in the exact same spot." Leonard nodded. "Yes, first time I've seen it. But Helen Bennett's case is far better than Grace's. Hers is benign, no underlying conditions—much higher success rate." The colleague compared the two films and couldn't resist teasing, "If it were me, I'd pick the easier one. Higher success rate. These expert teams tour to produce impressive results—for their own records." It wasn't kind, but it was reality. Leonard couldn't argue. The colleague set Grace's scan back on the desk and clapped Leonard on the shoulder. "You'll have to make choices too." In the ward, William was feeding Helen ginseng soup. Illness had left her pale and without appetite. William coaxed her patiently until she finished the bowl. Helen wanted fresh air, so he wheeled her outside. "My parents have a good relationship, don't they?" Elena asked Adrian, keeping a slight distance behind the couple. She was making conversation. Adrian gave a low hum. "My friends say I have a good personality. That's thanks to my parents giving me a complete, healthy, happy upbringing—no flaws. Unlike wolf from broken original families, who can be difficult, sensitive, insecure." She paused deliberately before adding, "Serena's original family doesn't seem great. Kind of pitiful." "Why bring her up out of nowhere?" Adrian sounded irritated. Elena smiled innocently. "Just a burst of sympathy." … With Grace hospitalized, I naturally stayed to care for her. I'd arrived in a rush with nothing prepared, so I needed to run home for essentials. Before leaving, I told the nurse, then hurried toward the elevators. I couldn't be gone long—every minute counted. One elevator was on my floor, doors about to close. "Wait!" I called. I jammed the button and slipped inside just in time. Relieved I'd made it, I looked up—and froze. Elena seemed surprised to see me. "Serena? What are you doing here? Didn't you go back to the pack office?" Adrian stood beside her, expression as coldly indifferent as ever. My presence didn't register at all. His gaze on me was no different from one on a stranger. Out of politeness, I answered Elena. "A family member is ill." "Oh," she said. "That's quite a coincidence. My mother's here too." I had no time or desire to chat with Elena. I just wanted to grab things and return before the shift change. So I stepped in anyway, despite the pack office I didn't want. The elevator descended. I stood in front of them, staring straight at the doors. Elena kept talking to Adrian. "Where should we eat later? Back to Tranquil Brook? I really liked it—the atmosphere, the food." "Then Tranquil Brook it is," Adrian agreed, indulging her. In ten years, I'd truly never seen him so accommodating. With Elena, he was utterly compliant. I understood. She was the white moonlight he'd carried for years. Fortunately the elevator was fast. Before they could start a second topic, we reached the ground floor. I strode out without looking back. Only at the main entrance did I notice the rain. Heavy, trapping crowds under the overhang. Before I could push through, Elena and Adrian arrived. Elena gazed out. "It's pouring. Rush hour too—tough to get a ride." Adrian didn't drive himself; usually his driver or I handled it. From her tone, the driver wasn't around. A bad feeling hit me. I wanted to bolt. But Adrian spoke first. "Serena." I pretended not to hear, but a sturdy wolf blocked my path. I tried several times to slip past. Adrian was already in front of me, looking down. I steeled myself. "What do you need, Adrian?"