The Day I Stopped Caring

CHAPTER ONE

Seraphina Vale slowly opened her eyes.

A sharp ache spread through her body, and her limbs felt too heavy to move.

The steady beeping beside her bed was the first sound she registered, followed by the faint scent of antiseptic.

She blinked against the brightness of the room, struggling to remember how she had ended up in the hospital.

Then she remembered the blood transfusion.

Her body had been growing weaker with every donation, but she had never imagined it would reach the point where she would collapse.

She immediately turned her attention inward, searching for the familiar presence of her wolf.

"Frosty! Are you there?"

A faint response answered her. Her wolf was weak, barely able to communicate, but she was still alive.

Relief washed over Seraphina. At least she hadn't lost her completely.

The door opened, and a nurse entered. She stopped when she noticed Seraphina was awake and quickly approached the bed.

"Miss Vale, you're finally awake! How are you feeling?"

"Weak," Seraphina whispered. Her throat was dry, and even speaking required effort.

The nurse checked her pulse and examined the monitor before adjusting the intravenous drip. "You've been unconscious for seven days. Your body was severely exhausted when you were brought here. You need to rest and avoid anything that could put further strain on you."

"Seven days?" Seraphina repeated in shock.

"Yes. Your condition was quite serious."

Seraphina stared at the ceiling for a moment before turning her head toward the nurse.

"Did anyone come to see me?"

The nurse hesitated. "Your family was notified when you were admitted."

"I know. But did anyone visit?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Vale. Nobody came."

For seven days, she had been lying in a hospital bed, unconscious and barely clinging to life. Yet not one member of her family had come to see her.

Once, that knowledge would have broken her heart. She would have cried, wondered what she had done wrong, and desperately searched for an explanation that would make their absence easier to accept.

She might even have convinced herself that they had been too busy and would surely come the following day.

But after seven days of silence, those excuses no longer mattered.

Something had changed while she lay unconscious.

Waking up felt almost like being given another chance at life, and the first thing she understood was that she could not continue living as though her family's affection was something she needed to earn.

She had spent so much time worrying about their feelings that she had neglected her own health. Now, her only concern was recovering and finding a way to save her wolf.

"Could you call the doctor?" she asked. "I need to know what can be done about my wolf. She's extremely weak."

"Of course. I'll inform him."

Before the nurse could leave, the door opened again.

"Seraphina!"

Alexander Vale entered, and the moment he saw his sister awake, his expression changed. He hurried toward her bed, visibly relieved.

"Thank goodness you're awake." He looked at her pale face, then at the monitor. "You gave us quite a scare."

Seraphina looked at him without saying anything.

Alexander pulled a chair closer. "How are you feeling? Can you sit up?"

"I'm fine." Her response made him pause.

He studied her face, apparently expecting her to say more, but she simply turned her attention toward the window.

His initial relief gradually gave way to a frown.

"Are you still angry with me?"

Seraphina looked back at him. "No."

"Then why are you acting like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I did something terrible to you." Alexander leaned back in his chair. "I know I haven't visited, but do you think I had nothing else to do? There have been countless pack responsibilities to handle. Father needed my help, and I've also had to look after Elara. You know how delicate her condition is."

Seraphina listened quietly without interrupting him.

Alexander continued, "You should understand that I can't be in two places at once. Elara needed me, and the pack needed me. I couldn't just abandon everything because you collapsed."

"I understand." Her answer came so easily that he looked at her suspiciously.

"Do you?"

She nodded. "Elara is more important than I am. I understand that."

Alexander's expression hardened. "Don't twist my words. Elara has been through enough, and unlike you, she doesn't deliberately make things difficult for the people around her. She's always considerate of others, even when she's unwell. You could learn something from her."

Seraphina lowered her eyes. It's always like that.

"I wasn't asking you to abandon the pack."

"Then what were you expecting? That I should sit beside your bed every day and ignore my responsibilities? You're not a child anymore, Seraphina. Stop acting as though the world revolves around you."

"I didn't ask you to come."

The words were quiet, without accusation, but they made Alexander's eyebrows draw together.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." Ever since Elara's parents died saving her, Seraphina had become the family abomination.

Alexander gave an irritated sigh. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. You always have something to say, yet when someone tries to explain things to you, you act like a victim. Elara has never behaved this way, despite everything she's suffered."

Seraphina didn't respond. She simply was immune now to his words.

Alexander glanced at his watch before speaking again. "Anyway, get ready. We're going home."

"Home?"

"It's Elara's eighteenth birthday today. I've come to pick you up so you can attend her celebration."

Seraphina looked at the intravenous line attached to her hand. "I'm not sure I can leave yet."

"Don't start making excuses. You've been asleep for seven days. Surely you can manage to attend a birthday celebration."

"I should speak to the doctor first."

"Fine. But don't make us wait all day. Elara has been looking forward to today, and I won't let you spoil her birthday because of your mood."

Seraphina turned her face away. She had no interest in a celebration. Her body was barely functioning, and her wolf was still weak. All she wanted was to speak to the doctor and understand what was happening to her.

"Can I stay here a little longer?" she asked.

Alexander's patience snapped. "Honestly, what is wrong with you? Elara is celebrating her eighteenth birthday, and instead of being happy for your sister, you're finding reasons not to attend. Must you always make everything about yourself? She's an Omega who has suffered more than you can imagine, yet she still knows how to appreciate the people around her. You're an Alpha's daughter, but you can't even show your own sister a little kindness."

Seraphina remained silent.

He stood and picked up the bag containing her belongings. "Get dressed. I'm waiting outside."

With some effort, Seraphina pushed the blanket aside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her feet touched the floor, but when she tried to stand, her knees buckled.

Alexander immediately reached for her arm.

"Careful!"

He caught her before she could fall, but Seraphina instinctively pulled away.

"I can manage."

"Can you?" His voice rose. "You can barely stand, yet you insist on refusing help. Do you always have to make simple things difficult?"

She steadied herself against the bed, refusing to look at him.

Alexander stared at her for a moment before letting out an annoyed breath.

"Fine! Do whatever you want."

He picked up her belongings and walked toward the door.

Seraphina didn't call after him. She slowly straightened, took a moment to regain her balance, and began following him.

Alexander glanced back when he noticed she wasn't beside him. "Are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming."

"Then hurry up. I don't have the whole day."

Seraphina lowered her head and continued walking, taking each step carefully.

Behind her was the hospital room where she had spent seven days waiting for people who never came. Ahead was the home where everyone was preparing to celebrate Elara.

For the first time, the thought of returning there didn't make her wonder whether her family would finally treat her differently.

She simply followed her brother, with no expectations left to carry.