Chapter 1 1

My father and brother forced me to hand over my anti-silver antidote to my adoptive sister Seraphina, the daughter of an Omega servant who died trying to save us. My childhood sweetheart and future mate Damien even threatened to cancel our mating ceremony. I refused. I developed it to honor my mother's memory—she died from silver poisoning. "Royal Beta, I've decided to submit my anti-silver poison research to the Alpha Council." The Royal Beta shot up from his chair, excitement radiating from every pore. "Excellent, Miss Blackwood! This antidote of yours will save hundreds, maybe thousands of wolves suffering from silver poisoning. But this research requires at least five years of isolation in the Council's labs to perfect the formula. We leave in a week. Don't you need to discuss this with your family first?""No need." I smiled bitterly. That house stopped being my home a long time ago anyway. Last year, a servant couple who worked for our family was killed by rogue wolves in the wilderness. Father took pity on their Omega daughter, Seraphina, and adopted her into our home. Unlike me, who only knew how to quietly do my work, Sera had a gift for winning people over. In less than a year with the Blackwood family, she became everyone's precious darling. Not only did my father treasure her like a gem, but even my childhood mate and my brother started favoring her over me. When Sera accidentally dropped my mother's heirloom necklace into the fire and it burned to ash, Father said we should let the past stay in the past. He threw away everything that belonged to Mother. Even the anti-silver antidote I developed to honor my mother's memory—she died from silver poisoning—Sera wanted to take that away from me too. To force me to hand over my research to Sera, Damien—my childhood sweetheart and future mate—even threatened to cancel our mating ceremony. We've known each other since we were five. When we turned eighteen and our wolves awakened, we discovered we were mates. I always thought we'd spend our lives together. But even now, he still hasn't officially marked me. The mating ceremony he promised feels more distant than ever. Blood ties, childhood love—none of it mattered as much as Sera's place in their hearts. I was tired of fighting for scraps of affection. Let me just leave. I choose to let myself go. --- When I got home, the scene was completely different from my solitary arrival. The dining room buzzed with celebration. My family was throwing Sera a party to commemorate her first anniversary of joining the Blackwood family. No one remembered that today was also my birthday. After Mother died, no one ever gave me birthday gifts or celebrated with me anymore. I watched my fiancé Damien and my brother Ethan sitting on either side of Sera, gazing at her with gentle smiles as they presented their gifts. My face remained completely expressionless as I walked past them coldly. I had barely made it through the dining room when Father's voice stopped me. "I told you to go to the Healer's Association and transfer your anti-silver research to Sera. Did you do it?" Thinking about how I'd already submitted everything to the Council, I shook my head. "That research isn't mine anymore." Everyone assumed I had given in. Damien excitedly pulled Sera into a hug. "This is incredible! This antidote could revolutionize the entire werewolf world. With this national-level patent, you'll rightfully become our pack's Head Healer. No one will ever mock or oppress you for being an Omega again. Your future education and career are secured. Congratulations!" I watched coldly, about to turn and leave. Sera produced a fur coat and graciously presented it to me. "Aria, thank you for everything you've done for me. I made this coat from hyena fur I hunted myself. I hope you'll like it." When she turned her back to the others, Sera dropped her sweet mask, her face full of provocation as she whispered: "You'll love it, sister. After all, this was your favorite pet." This was the winner's stance. I stared at the coat's fur, finding the color strangely familiar. Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning. The coat was made from Max—my dog I'd raised since he was a puppy. After Mother died, only Max helped me through the darkest times. Max meant more to me than just a pet. He was truly family. But Sera had casually killed him and cruelly skinned him for his fur. My wolf roared in fury inside me. "What did you do?""Aria, why are you losing your temper with her? I'm the one who told you to give her the research. If you're angry, take it out on me." Damien stood up, staring at me coldly. Sera wiped away tears, her voice trembling: "Brother, don't blame Aria. If anyone's to blame, it's me.""Nothing in this house belongs to me anyway.""I know Aria has always thought my things were dirty. Even though I spent so much effort hunting for this fur and sewing every stitch by hand, I didn't expect her to dislike it so much. I'm sorry, Aria. If you don't want me here, I can move out today. I never came here to destroy your family.""I really don't want to be a parasite. I just wanted to repay Uncle Marcus's kindness. I'm sorry...""Sera, your parents are gone. This is your home now. If anyone tries to make you leave, I'll be the first to stop them." Ethan immediately pulled her closer. Father slammed down his chopsticks in anger. "Everyone was having a good time until you came home and ruined the mood.""When will you learn to grow up?""How did I raise such a narrow-minded, ill-mannered daughter? Sera is a gentle Omega. Can't you even tolerate her?""Put on the coat Sera made for you right now and apologize to her." Looking at the disgust in my own father's eyes, even though I'd already decided to leave this soul-crushing house, my hands still trembled uncontrollably. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant fist. I forced the words through gritted teeth: "No. I won't." The moment those words left my mouth, a massive male wolf's claw sent me crashing to the floor with a vicious slap across my face. Then Father, in his rage, grabbed the coat from Sera's hands and roughly forced it onto my body. Max, who used to curl up with me for warmth, was now nothing but cold fur. The moment the coat touched my skin, I felt physically sick. As more of the coat made contact with my body, a burning sensation spread across my skin. Silver powder. Sera had dusted the coat with silver powder. How viciously cruel. Everything happened so fast that before my wolf could react, the silver began corroding and burning me. My legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor. Sera pretended to look concerned. "Aria, what's wrong? Do you need me to call a healer?""Don't bother with her. She's obviously putting on an act for sympathy. Let's continue." Everyone in my family watched me writhing in agony on the floor with complete indifference. I refused to just lie there and die. Using my last bit of strength, I managed to call for emergency help. I stared numbly at the ceiling, comforting myself with hollow words: Soon. Just ten more days. Then I could leave this ice-cold house. Leave these rotten people behind. Go somewhere no one would ever find me. Blood relatives who treated me like a stranger, a fake fiancé with his false promises—I was done with all of it.

Chapter 2 2

At some point, I had fallen into unconsciousness. In my hazy sleep, I dreamed. I dreamed of middle school, when my article was published in the Medical Journal. The first time I showed my healing gift by saving a dying wolf's life. When I rushed home with the exciting news, my family just scoffed. They even mocked me, saying it was pure luck. Only my mother would listen with appreciation and approval as I described the various healing techniques I'd used. I was curious and asked if she understood healing arts too. Mother shook her head, her voice gentle as spring water: "Mommy doesn't understand advanced healing spells or herbal knowledge, but Mommy knows my daughter is the most excellent person in the world. Whatever you do, I'll always be proud of you." I remembered that afternoon for years afterward. Now I'm a renowned healer throughout the pack, having saved countless werewolf lives. But the person who used to stroke my head and praise me was gone forever. "Mama..." When I woke up, tear stains were still wet on my cheeks. --- The first thing I saw was an anxious-looking young man. It was Kieran, a werewolf I'd met in the Northern Territory. He greatly admired my healing talents and had been trying to recruit me to his pack. "Aria, your family is absolutely heartless toward you.""The emergency healer told me your wolf nearly disappeared completely, and they're still having their dinner party, completely ignoring you.""You've been unconscious for two days, and not a single person came to see you." Hearing his angry accusations, my face remained expressionless. This abnormal reaction made Kieran's heart ache with sympathy. Nothing hurts more than a heart that's already dead. That was exactly how I felt. "Aria, I brought you some food. Your wolf is very weak right now. You need to eat something, at least some fruit." Before I could respond, Kieran decisively picked up a small knife and began peeling an apple. He carefully carved out a small piece and brought it to my lips. I had no choice but to open my mouth and eat it. Slowly, the Kieran in front of me began to overlap with a figure from my memory. When Mother had just passed away, I'd clutched her gemstone necklace like I was possessed, refusing to eat, drink, or go out to learn hunting. Father had beaten me black and blue in his rage. Even my brother had been too scared to make a sound, cowering in the corner. It was Damien who had rushed into the Blackwood house and protected me with his small body. He'd taken me home and cared for me tenderly, even cutting up fruit to feed me by hand. Back then, Damien had been a ray of light in my life. I never imagined that the fiancé who once promised never to betray me would fall in love with someone else. --- "Aria Blackwood, who is this man?" A cold voice snapped me back to reality. Damien stood in the hospital doorway, his face dark with anger. After falling for Sera, he'd convinced himself she was his true soul mate and had decided to end things with me. But seeing another male tenderly caring for his mate made Damien's heart clench with inexplicable pain. As if something that rightfully belonged to him was being forcibly taken away. Kieran was about to explain when Damien charged forward without a word and struck the fruit knife from his hand. The sharp blade flew straight toward me. I couldn't dodge. My wolf was badly injured from the extensive silver contact and had fallen into healing sleep. Without my wolf's regenerative abilities, the knife sliced a long gash across my arm. Blood immediately gushed out. Because of my injuries, my pain sensitivity was heightened. The doubled agony made me tremble uncontrollably. But Damien never even glanced at me. His dark gaze fixed murderously on Kieran as he commanded without courtesy: "Get out." His tone suggested I was nothing more than his personal toy that no one else was allowed to touch. Just then, his phone rang. His expression changed drastically after answering. "Even though your silver burns were an accident, Sera still blames herself for being careless. She cut herself with a dagger out of guilt and is badly hurt. She's very weak right now. I need to go with her to find a healer. I'll come back to see you later, okay?" There wasn't a trace of inquiry in his words. He was simply informing me that he was leaving. I pressed my hand against my bleeding arm and looked at his heartless face with a bitter smile. "Sure." When I was burned by silver powder right in front of him, he didn't care at all. Now one phone call and he's rushing off to comfort Sera. I don't want this kind of mate anymore. What was there to be sad about? Damien, in eight more days, you won't have to put on this act anymore. I'm leaving you completely.

Chapter 3 3

Our hollow gazes met. Damien's eyes flickered with guilt. But thinking of Sera's injuries, he gritted his teeth and turned away without another word. Kieran watched in complete shock. What I didn't know was that he'd heard about my reputation as a gifted healer long ago and had secretly admired me from afar. Only after learning I had a fiancé—and that we were supposedly deeply in love—had he buried his feelings. Once upon a time, he'd been so jealous of this man he'd never met. But he never could have imagined that when I needed care the most, this man would abandon his fiancée to comfort another woman. My wound was still bleeding steadily. But I seemed unable to feel the pain anymore. My eyes were completely lifeless. Kieran's lips trembled with heartbreak: "Aria, let me get some gauze to treat your wound." After he bandaged me up, I asked him to help me check out of the hospital. Before leaving, Kieran gently pulled me aside. He knew the Blackwood house had no place for me now. If I didn't mind, I could stay with him for a few days. He was willing to take care of me. I just smiled and shook my head. I didn't want to drag Kieran into this mess. It was enough that only I got hurt. --- When I returned to the Blackwood house, Father had sent me a text: [Sera's wound just got treated. She needs someone to look after her. We won't be coming home tonight.][Left some food in the kitchen. Eat when you get back.] On the dining room table sat half a pizza and some cold fried chicken. This clearly wasn't specially saved for me—it was obviously leftovers from the family meal. I stared at it expressionlessly. I was used to this by now. When Sera first joined the Blackwood family, Father immediately felt sorry for this Omega. He said she'd grown up in the remote borderlands and, being an Omega, had suffered from poor nutrition since childhood. So every day he would spare no expense buying fresh vegetables, meat, and fruit to nourish Sera. But I was nearly an adult then. The family reasoned that since I was about to shift and would be stronger than Sera, I should take care of her instead. I should be mature and understanding. From that point on, I'd been taking care of myself. The family expected me to willingly give up everything for her. I wasn't naturally competitive, so I could only watch as Sera took away everything that was mine. Even my old bedroom was now occupied by Sera. While I lived in the drafty attic, sleeping on the cold floor. Maybe in Father's eyes, Sera's sweet talk and people-pleasing personality was what he'd always wanted in a daughter. Just then, the door opened. My brother Ethan walked in carrying a bag. Seeing me there, he froze for a moment, then frowned as if he'd encountered something disgusting. "I came back to get toiletries for Sera.""Also, Damien asked me to tell you—he wants to break off your engagement. Even though you grew up together, you're not suitable mates. Since you never had an official mating ceremony anyway, it's better to part on good terms. Sera is feeling extremely guilty. The healer says her emotional breakdown might develop into depression, and she could hurt herself again. Damien can't leave her side right now.""This is something you gave him before. He asked me to return it to you." He pulled out a high-grade healing stone and handed it to me. This was the first gift I'd ever given Damien. As a child, I had no money to buy expensive things. The pack's head healer had mentioned that rare healing stones could be found in the Cursed Forest. I'd risked encountering rogue wolves and spent an entire month searching there before finding this stone. Damien had been undergoing Alpha training then, coming home covered in injuries every day. He desperately needed this healing stone. I still remembered how Damien had cried and hugged me, promising he'd treasure this gift forever. And now, not only had he forgotten that promise. He wouldn't even return the gift to me personally?

Chapter 4 4

My eyes filled with mockery. Now that my heart was completely dead, I had no expectations left for Damien. I calmly spoke three words: "I understand." But Ethan stared at me in disbelief. "You're Damien's fiancée, and even though you've never fulfilled your responsibilities or properly cared for the pack members, he still put up with you. Is this all the feeling you have for him?""Sister, you've been so strange ever since Mom died.""Sera nearly died because you upset her this time, and you haven't said a single word of concern about her even now.""I know what this is about. You resent Sera for taking away the family's attention from you. Deep down, you're probably hoping she'd just Die, aren't you?""Sera is just an Omega. All she wants is to have a family. Why can't you tolerate her? Why do you have to be so jealous of her? When did you become so vicious?" Hearing this, I suddenly felt like laughing. If Sera really wanted to kill herself, how could she have ended up with just minor injuries? And how would she have had the time and energy to call every single family member and Damien? For years, Sera had used these despicable tactics to steal away every bit of the family's love, piece by piece. I was used to it by now. Besides, even if I explained, it would be like now—I hadn't even said anything, yet I was already being branded with one accusation after another. Even my silence was wrong. Before leaving, Ethan's voice turned cold as ice, as if he'd completely lost all hope in me: "You know what? I wish that on the day I was attacked by rogue wolves, it had been you by my side protecting me when I was sick, not Sera.""You're supposed to be my real sister, but you hid when I was in the most danger. I hate you." With a violent slam of the door, Ethan left without looking back at me even once. --- Six months ago, Ethan had been ambushed by rogue wolves during his patrol duties with the guard unit and was severely injured. When Father and I received the message and rushed to the scene, Ethan was already unconscious. One rogue wolf hadn't retreated yet and was about to deliver a fatal blow to him. But at the critical moment, Father—supposedly a warrior—was terrified by the vicious rogue wolf and abandoned us, leaving me and my gravely injured brother in danger. I didn't hesitate to charge forward. Although I was a healer with no systematic combat training, thinking of my only brother lying unconscious behind me, I found unlimited courage to protect him. My wolf completely erupted. After a life-and-death struggle with the rogue wolf, I finally drove it away. But Ethan had been poisoned by wolf toxin and was hovering between life and death. To save him, I ignored my own severe injuries and worked tirelessly for three days and nights without sleep, developing an antidote for the rogue wolf poison. When the antidote was finally complete, I couldn't hold on anymore and collapsed unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself in a strange, run-down hospital room. Not a single person was by my side. It turned out that Father, wanting his son and adopted Omega daughter Sera to bond, had told everyone that Sera was the one who developed the antidote and saved Ethan. After being discharged, I dragged my weakened body to find Ethan and explain what really happened. All I got was a slap across the face. He cried as he roared at me, demanding to know why I had abandoned him when he needed me most. Instead, he said, Sera—just an Omega—had exhausted herself researching the antidote for him and nearly died from overwork. Fighting back my heartbreak, I told him that his guard unit colleagues had all witnessed me fighting desperately to save him. Many healers had assisted me in developing the antidote. All he had to do was ask around to find out who really saved him. But he never bothered to investigate. Instead, he remained absolutely convinced that Sera had risked her life to save him. In his mind, I—his real sister—was nothing but an ungrateful wretch who would abandon family in their time of need. No matter what I did or said, it was all seen as having ulterior motives. It didn't matter anymore. I didn't want to explain anything else. I'd had enough. --- I sat on the couch in the empty house, devoid of any family warmth. The wind howled outside the windows. I closed my eyes and covered my ears. But I still couldn't escape that heavy, oppressive atmosphere that felt like it could crush me at any moment. Since no one in this family cared about me or needed me anymore, I would leave this house completely. Leave this place entirely. I was certain I could have a better life elsewhere.

Chapter 5 5

My phone buzzed. Sera had posted on social media: "Thank you everyone for your concern. I'm okay now. Thank you to Damien for always being there when I need him. I'll spend the rest of my life repaying you." The photo showed Sera lying in a hospital bed, her fingers intertwined with Damien's as he sat beside her. They looked perfect together. I barely glanced at it before turning off my screen and setting the phone aside. Damien and I were over. Whether Sera intended to show off to me or provoke me, I didn't care. I wouldn't feel joy or sorrow because of it anymore. Even if no one in this house cared about me, I still had to live well for myself. I cooked myself a warm, hearty dinner and went to bed. With the house empty for once, this was the most peaceful sleep I'd had in years. --- I woke up the next morning refreshed. I made myself a cup of hand-ground coffee and sat in the wicker chair in the garden, listening to the morning news and stretching my muscles. I prepared the hunting grounds and organized the safe house—tasks I'd always handled for the family. For the first time, I was truly enjoying life. I should have been living for myself all along. After breakfast, I returned to my room to sort through the gifts Damien had given me over the years, planning to return them all. But as I gathered everything together, I realized something startling. Even though Damien had successfully inherited the Alpha position and possessed countless power and wealth, he'd never bothered to put thought into gifts for his fiancée. The things he'd given me could be counted on one hand. We barely had any photos together. Some of the "gifts" were just random pebbles he'd picked up while we were walking. The few items were all worthless junk. Even though I'd treasured each one and carefully locked them away in my drawer. Now that I took them out, I discovered they'd all yellowed and grown moldy with time. Just like Damien's feelings for me. Expired feelings weren't worth clinging to, just like these worthless gifts. I shook my head. Damien was a neat freak. He wouldn't want these things back anyway. I threw everything into an iron bucket—the few gifts, the handful of photos—and destroyed them all with silver powder. As the silver smoke rose from the corroding memories, I said goodbye to my past and prepared to embrace a new life. --- After finishing this cleansing ritual, I went to the Beta Elder to get travel permits for other territories. For my upcoming secret research, I needed documentation that would help me hide my identity and tracks. On the surface, these were just permits for traveling to other territories. I wanted to spend my remaining days here touring the surrounding areas and clearing my head. I was browsing through travel guides when Damien arrived. Unlike my relaxed state, he looked haggard. According to what Ethan had told him, I'd shown no emotion when receiving the returned engagement gift. Damien hadn't slept all night because of it. He knew better than anyone how much I loved him. He couldn't believe that would be my reaction. But when he saw the destroyed gifts and photos in the garden's iron bucket, his world collapsed. These things that I'd once treasured like priceless artifacts—now I'd discarded them like garbage? "Why did you burn the gifts I gave you and all our photos?" I heard the slight tremor in Damien's voice. I looked up from my travel guide to meet his pale face. "Those things are useless now. The person who gave them has changed his heart, so the gifts have no value anymore. That's why I destroyed them." Damien froze for a moment, then seemed to understand something. "You knew I'd come to see you, so you staged this whole scene on purpose. You're trying to play hard to get and win me back, aren't you?""Aria, why are you always so unreasonable?" He was about to leave immediately when something on my coffee table caught his eye. Travel permits. Damien's mind went blank. "You're leaving the pack? Just because we asked you to put the research patent under Sera's name? You're going to threaten us by leaving? You really are a manipulative woman.""Tell me—where are you going?" A strange panic suddenly surged in Damien's chest. He grabbed my arm tightly. Even though I was right there beside him, visible and tangible, somehow he had the overwhelming feeling that I might disappear forever at any moment.

Chapter 6 6

I wasn't ready to tell him the truth. "I'm feeling a bit tired. I'm planning to leave for a few days, just to visit some nearby places. I won't go far." I showed him the travel guides I'd been browsing. Seeing that I was telling the truth, Damien finally relaxed his grip on me. "That's good then. I told you that you wouldn't be so petty. It's just one healing antidote research project. For someone with your abilities, that's nothing. As an older sister and my future mate, it's only right that you look after Sera, this Omega sister of yours. Don't worry about missing this chance to become Head Healer—you can just create another breakthrough next time." Just then, his phone rang. It was Ethan calling from the hospital. "Damien, where did you go? Sera woke up and when she found you weren't by her side, she started hurting herself again. Her wound opened up and she's bleeding a lot. You need to come quickly." Damien rushed toward the door, but still turned back to remind me: "Go ahead and travel if you want to clear your head. Just remember not to go too far from home." I smiled silently. Don't worry. Not too far—just far enough that you'll never find me. As he passed through the garden, Damien glanced at the pile of unrecognizable ashes and frowned. His heart still felt uncomfortable. But he quickly dismissed the feeling. Since I had already been so heartless, he didn't need to feel guilty about someone like me. Still, for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that I was hiding something from him. "Stop overthinking," he muttered to himself. "Where could she possibly go?""Right now, taking care of Sera is more important. I can't afford to be distracted." Thinking of Sera, Damien turned and left me behind once again. --- Over the next few days, I broke away from my old social circle and joined a group of young werewolves, touring all the famous sights in the city. Surrounded by people my own age, the atmosphere was wonderful. We watched sunsets from mountain peaks and sang around campfires under the stars. Here, I wouldn't be hurt by family ties or romantic love anymore. I increasingly felt that people ultimately had to live for themselves. The last stop of my trip was an auction evening, where historically valuable crystals and gemstones would be displayed and sold. As a healer, I enjoyed observing various healing stones, hoping to gain inspiration for developing new werewolf remedies. I had just found a seat by the window, preparing to quietly admire today's precious collections, when I saw familiar figures entering the auction house. It was Sera. Today was also the day of Sera's discharge from the hospital. She walked in accompanied by Damien and the Blackwood men. Damien wanted to commemorate her discharge by bidding on a rare blue crystal healing stone for her. They found the most prominent seats and sat down. Champagne, gifts, cake—they had prepared many things for Sera. These were all things I had never possessed, now laid out before Sera like she was a little princess, for her to choose from at will. Father took a glass of wine from an auction house staff member and offered it to Sera. Damien looked worried. "Uncle Marcus, Sera's wound just healed. Alcohol will slow her wolf's responses and weaken her healing abilities. Don't let her drink.""How can that be? On such a wonderful day, no one's drinking with me. How about you have a couple glasses for her, Damien?""Brother, don't worry about me. A little bit won't hurt." Sera leaned close to Damien's ear gently. "Uncle is happy today. I don't want to spoil his mood. Just let me drink." The intimate way they behaved looked completely like a loving mated pair to outside observers. Seeing this, Ethan immediately started egging them on. "If you don't want to drink, how about you two kiss instead?" Father's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! You two kiss and I won't make Sera drink." Sera's face immediately turned bright red. But she didn't refuse. Instead, she glanced at Damien. Her eyes held seductive allure, and her chin tilted up slightly. As if she was waiting for something. Damien felt his mouth go dry from the seductive look in her eyes. Just as he hesitated, Sera suddenly leaned forward and initiated a kiss on his lips. Damien hadn't expected Sera to be so bold. His first instinct was to push her away. But when that soft, warm body pressed tightly against him, he finally surrendered to her advances. He couldn't help but respond with rapid breathing, returning her kiss passionately. The family cheered and applauded around them. "Finally!" Father laughed loudly. "I was wondering when you two would stop dancing around each other.""About time, brother," Ethan grinned. "Sera's been perfect for you from the beginning." In the corner by the window, I sat frozen, watching the scene unfold. Damien's hands had come up to cup Sera's face as they kissed. Her fingers tangled in his hair. They looked lost in each other, completely forgetting the world around them.

Chapter 7 7

Watching this scene, I couldn't help but remember how different things had been when we were together. Damien never allowed me to reveal my identity as his fiancée publicly. He never let me show any intimate gestures with him in front of others. Even when entering and leaving his house, I had to pretend to be there as his private healer. I had always thought that as the Alpha heir, he needed to be low-key and reserved. It turned out Damien was never a reserved man. He was only cold as ice when he was with me. I felt nauseous. I stood up and walked toward the exit. As I left, Damien spotted me and quickly pushed Sera away in shock. Only then did everyone notice I had been there. --- Just as I stepped outside, Sera chased after me and grabbed my shoulder. "Aria, what you just saw—it's not what you think—""Let go." I frowned, not wanting to hear her explanations. But Sera kept gripping my arm tighter and tighter. She stared at the decorative bonfire behind us, her voice turning cold and sinister: "Tell me, if I were to fall into this fire and get hurt, would your family think you pushed me?" The moment she finished speaking, Sera let out a piercing scream and dramatically threw herself backward into the auction house's decorative bonfire. When the Blackwood family rushed over at the sound, they found Sera collapsed in the extinguished fire pit. Her elegant dress was charred, her face smeared with soot and ash. She looked utterly pitiful. "Aria, have you lost your mind? Are you trying to kill her?" Ethan screamed, rushing to cradle Sera in his arms. Before I could say a word, Father's hand flew across my face with full werewolf strength. "You bitch." Since the silver poison hadn't completely cleared from my system and my wolf hadn't awakened yet, Father's slap sent me flying. I crashed to the ground, spitting up blood mixed with broken teeth fragments. One of my teeth had been knocked out. I wanted to explain, but looking at my family's eyes—filled with hatred, fury, and the desire to tear me apart—the words stuck in my throat. My own blood relatives only believed Sera, this outsider. No matter what I said, it would be considered lies. I was irredeemably evil in their eyes. Sera sobbed in Ethan's arms: "Damien brought me here to auction healing crystals because I'm just an injured Omega. We didn't mean anything else by it. You can't misunderstand us like this. Aria, if you hate me so much, just say the word and I'll disappear from this world forever. If you blame me for taking Damien away, I can give him back to you. I'll do anything to make you happy. But you can't push me into fire like that. We're family..." Sera's performance brought tears to the Blackwood family's eyes. "Aria, did you do this to her because you think Sera stole me from you?" Damien stared at me in disbelief. I met his gaze blankly. Then I smiled and coughed up another mouthful of blood. When a person reaches the ultimate depths of heartbreak, they actually laugh. Seeing that I could still smile at a time like this, Damien's disappointment in me reached its peak. "You know what? I don't hate you anymore.""I hate my past blind self for ever wanting you as my mate. Thank goddess we never formed a mate bond.""You deserve to die. I hope you die right now." After delivering those words, he turned and left, carrying Sera away with the rest of the family to find a healer. Watching their retreating figures, my laughter wouldn't stop. The bystanders around me thought I'd gone completely insane. I lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up. My heart had been completely shredded, riddled with holes. It could no longer feel pain. What filled my dark eyes wasn't hatred or anger. It was numbness taken to its absolute extreme—complete indifference. It didn't matter anymore. In three days, they would never see this person who "deserved to die" ever again. --- When I finally made it home, the laughter and conversation inside came to an abrupt halt. Everyone looked at me with expressions that seemed to say: How do you have the face to come back? It was like looking at a dog that had been beaten, had its legs broken, and thrown out—only to crawl back home on its crippled body.

Chapter 8 8

I ignored everyone and retreated to the attic—this small space that belonged solely to me—to treat my wounds alone. After finishing everything, I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the night sky stained with ink-black darkness. I wanted time to pass quickly. I wanted to escape this cold-blooded family immediately. --- Over the next three days, the Blackwood family threw themselves into passionate preparations for Sera's discharge party, simultaneously celebrating her official appointment as the pack's healer. Father truly adored her. He even announced plans to formally adopt her, saying she was a hundred times better than his own daughter. But throughout my entire life, my family had never participated in any of my milestones—my education, my work, my first shift. Ever since Mother died, I'd endured all these major life events completely alone. On the day of Sera's celebration party, Father wore an expensive custom-tailored suit for the first time in years. He treated this day with incredible importance. But none of them remembered that Sera's opportunity had been bought with my research achievements. No one came to invite me. It was as if everyone had forgotten I existed in this house at all. --- Just before they left, Sera knocked on the attic door. Her face no longer held its usual sweet, timid expression. "Aria Blackwood, get on your knees and beg me.""I might let Daddy forgive you." Seeing my complete lack of reaction, Sera's mouth could no longer suppress her true smile. "You know, you're better than me at everything except one thing—you never learned how to bow down and flatter the people around you.""So you can only watch helplessly as your mate, your family, even your research achievements all get stolen away by me.""I'm really curious—why haven't you killed yourself yet? Is there any point in living like a dog? Hehehe—" Sera said much more after that. She wasn't afraid of me repeating her words to anyone. Those who are favored can act without fear. No matter what I said now, no one would believe me anyway. She only left when Ethan came to call for her, joining the Blackwood family for the party. After Sera departed, I reached under my bed and pulled out a still-running recording device. I gently pressed the [STOP RECORDING] button. Today was also the day I would leave this city. Before departing, I wanted the Blackwood family to see with their own eyes exactly what kind of poisonous flower they had cultivated. --- Half an hour later, the car for my secret research assignment arrived. Seeing that I only carried Mother's portrait with me, the driver looked puzzled. "We need to leave now. Don't you want to pack any other luggage?""No need." I hugged the portrait tightly and shook my head. Besides what I held in my arms, I didn't want to take anything else. After arriving at the airport, I sat in the waiting area, enjoying the warm sunlight streaming down on me. This was the beginning of my rebirth. Just then, Damien called. Yesterday, he had returned to that auction house and reviewed the security footage. Only then did he discover that Sera had lost her footing on her own—it had nothing to do with me. "After the party, let's meet. I was too harsh with my words back then. I want to apologize to you.""Oh, and I'm sorry I missed your birthday last time. I was busy and forgot. I'll make it up to you this time. I already bought you a present." Even though he was apologizing, Damien's voice held no trace of genuine remorse. He seemed completely confident that I would accept his apology. He still thought I would behave like before—no matter how much he angered me, as long as he coaxed me a little, I would always return to his side without exception. But this time, everything was different. The eerie silence made his heart start to panic. The boarding announcement echoed through the terminal. Damien's voice changed dramatically: "Wait, what's that sound? Where exactly are you right now?" I hung up the phone, threw it away and permanently blocked the mind link between Damien and my family. The person I was now would no longer be moved by false affection. Whether it was my father, my brother, or my former childhood sweetheart—I didn't want to see any of them anymore. With this thought, I stepped forward and never looked back.