Chapter 5

I didn't understand what Slater was thinking.

I was no longer a wolf of Windrune Pack.

He had announced it himself four years ago.

And what would I go back for? To continue being Fiona's punching bag?

I also didn't understand why someone of his status insisted on following me back to that 50-square-meter one-bedroom apartment.

I put Amy on the bedroom bed, walked to the cabinet, and pulled out an instant coffee packet. But then I thought better of it. He probably wouldn't drink such cheap stuff.

After thinking it over, I just gave him a bottle of mineral water.

His gaze fell on my right hand, and a bitterness I couldn't understand appeared on his face.

"Your fingers... are they better?"

I looked down.

Three fingers on my right hand couldn't move.

This stemmed from when Fiona returned to Windrune Pack. Once, we visited a witch's shop together. She curiously touched one of the potions, and the bottle fell over. The liquid inside spilled right onto my hand and leg.

My fingers and right leg felt excruciating pain. It hurt so much I was covered in sweat.

Before the accident, I was a young wolf trainer, responsible for cub training. This was the only thing where I was better than Fiona. I wasn't as good at studying or as capable as her. Only in training skills could I hold my own.

When Fiona first returned to Windrune Pack, whenever I did training demonstrations, she would look regretful.

"If I hadn't been switched, if I could have received training from childhood, I'd be a top young wolf trainer now too."

But that potion was toxic. Three of my fingers couldn't move anymore, and my right leg was no longer agile. I could no longer perform complex training demonstrations.

I couldn't accept it at first and went through a long period of wanting to die.

I always felt she did it on purpose, so I couldn't help but hate her for taking away my only glory. Until she suddenly attempted suicide.

After she was rescued, I went from victim to perpetrator overnight.

I still remember that day. After Slater came back from visiting Fiona at the hospital, he pinched his forehead and said to me, "It's just that you can't continue being a young wolf trainer. It's just three fingers and one leg. Did you really have to drive her to that? Even if you're a useless waste, even if you're not my real sister, didn't I tell you I'd take care of you for life? Did you really have to do this?"

Airs said coldly, "If there hadn't been a switch, Fiona would have been the young wolf trainer. You just returned what you stole. How dare you make a fuss?"

They all told me that my fingers and right leg couldn't be healed, and making a scene was pointless.

But later, I overheard the doctor talking to Slater.

"I told you at the time that if Miss Una went abroad for rehabilitation promptly, her fingers and right leg could definitely recover over ninety percent. But you never took her? Now it's very difficult to recover."

Slater replied indifferently, "It's fine if Una stops being a young wolf trainer. Fiona wanted to be one since she was young. Seeing Una can't do it anymore will help balance her feelings."

"I'll support Una even if she's useless. Whether she can train or not doesn't matter."

So my dreams, my future, were just bargaining chips in his mind to balance Fiona's feelings.

When did I start fearing him?

Probably from that moment.

"I heard you're working as a young wolf trainer at an organization." He suddenly said.

I froze, eyes widening as I looked at him.

"I'm just teaching basic cub training. This kind of training is simple, so I can do it without my fingers. My right leg not being as fast doesn't matter."

"I have no intention of returning to advanced training arenas. I would never affect Fiona's mood because of me. I just need this job to support my child. And the doctor said my fingers are permanently damaged. I can never do complex training well in this lifetime. Even so, you won't allow it?"

He froze. "Una, I didn't..."

But whatever he said, I couldn't listen anymore.

The fear of having my life destroyed once before swept over me again. I couldn't lose this hard-won job because Fiona was unhappy. So I desperately showed him my immobile fingers.

"Really! I can't do it, I really can't! I returned everything Windrune Pack gave me!"

"If you don't believe me, you can come and try bending them. They won't move!"

"I was your sister for many years after all. Can't you just leave me a way to survive?"

But he stood up in panic, quickly stepping forward to support my trembling shoulders.

"Una, don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!"

"I'll protect you this time! Trust your brother!"

But how could I not be afraid?

The life I finally managed to restart.

The life Sage traded his own life to give me and Amy.

"No!" I pushed him hard.

But the more I struggled, the tighter he held me.

After staying up all night, I ultimately couldn't match his strength.

And during our struggle, my vision suddenly went black, and I fainted.