Chapter 4

I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying not to cry out loud, and quietly stepped out of the hospital room.

I didn't know where to go.

I had one day left to live.

I thought about going for a walk by the beach, but it was so far away, and I didn't have the strength.

Was I dying already? But it wasn't time yet.

What should I do?

In a daze, I dialed a number.

The next thing I knew, I woke up to the sound of a familiar voice—Sebastian Hunt, my best friend. He had rushed all the way from Horizon Pack's territory to see me.

We met in college. Back then, she never liked Leah . He always thought she wasn't good enough for me, and that he didn't deserve my love. We fought about it back then, and I didn't listen to him.

He didn't come to my Marking Ceremony.

I knew I shouldn't have called him. But he was the only one I could trust now.

"What have you done to yourself? You're almost dead! Where is your mate?! You always told me how happy your family was. But now look at you!"

Sebastian cried as she spoke, her voice full of frustration.

I had an oxygen mask on my face, and I smiled weakly at he was still the same—quick-tempered, loud, and caring. Those who didn't know us would think we were arguing.

"How did you get poisoned by Silverthorn Wolfsbane? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He cried, tears streaming down her face.

I wanted to speak, but my lips wouldn't move. I was at the end, and I couldn't control my body anymore.

I motioned for he to look at my bag.

He pulled out the contract, and she broke down again after reading it.

"Victor, you can't die! I won't allow it! You can't die!"

He collapsed next to me, sobbing uncontrollably.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Only two hours left before I would leave this world.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Sebastian picked it up and showed me the screen.

[Victor, after all these years of fighting with me, you finally lost! Your parents, your mate, and your son—they're all mine now! You've finally faced the truth, haven't you? In your parents' eyes, you'll never be better than me!]

Sebastian shouted angrily. "I've never seen anyone so shameless!"

In the past, I would have argued back. But now, I only felt regret.

I regretted letting my parents adopt Jason, the boy who was abandoned at the orphanage. She was only three back then. Other kids would bully her, and she couldn't eat. She had to sit in the corner and go hungry.

He was so pitiful.

That was why I asked my dad to adopt him.

We slept in the same bed, ate together, and went to school together. We were closer than real brother. She was good at her studies, and everyone loved her. Everyone praised him, and I felt proud to have such an outstanding brother.

But over time, I started noticing strange things. My friends stopped hanging out with me, and the boys I practiced hunting with no longer wanted to team up.

Instead, they all started hanging around Jason.

Even my parents started saying I wasn't as thoughtful as Jason, that I wasn't as sensible as she was. They gave Jason the master bedroom in the new house, while I was left with the smaller room.

But I didn't see anything wrong with it.

By the time I realized Jason was behind all of it, she had already taken so much from me.

My parents' love.

My master bedroom.

Even my friends at school.

I asked her why she did it, and he said, "Victor, don't think I'll thank you just because you asked your dad to adopt me! Why do you get to have loving parents and a grand home, while I'm just some abandoned orphan? I'm going to take from you—everything!

"You'll lose to me—I'm sure of it!"

So, I tried to drive he away.

But I overestimated myself. I couldn't make my family see how fake she was. My parents loved her even more, and my son and Leah trusted her even more.

In the end, I did lose. I lost everything.

I could feel my soul slipping away from my body. There were only five minutes left.

"Victor, don't die, please! Look, your mom just sent you a message! She must have sensed that you're in danger!"

Sebastian held up the phone to my face, trying to keep me from giving up.

I stared at the message on my phone.

[Victor, after Jason is discharged, he'll stay at your place. Remember—lilies in the master bedroom, and repaint the walls blue. That's what he likes. He'll be out in two weeks. Move all your things to the basement. Jason has too much—there won't be space otherwise.]

Sebastian's hands shook as he held the phone. She was probably feeling hopeless too.

Here I was about to die, and my mom was worrying about someone else.

But that wasn't new. I had known this for a long time.

My eyelids felt so heavy.

I was ready to go.

I was so tired.

Sebastian was crying loudly, but I couldn't comfort he anymore.

On April 20th, I closed my eyes for the last time and slipped away.