Chapter 4

Stella POV

When I woke up, I was lying in the Pack's infirmary.

My left arm was covered in thick ointment.

"Stella, you're awake!"

Brian's haggard face appeared before me.

"Brian..."

As soon as I spoke, I realized how painfully dry my throat was.

Brian quickly helped me sit up and handed me a glass of warm water.

"The healer said your arm wound is very deep, you have a broken bone, and there's residual toxin. You'll need treatment for a while."

His voice was hoarse, full of self-blame.

"It's all my fault. If I'd been faster..."

"It's not your fault."

I interrupted him.

I remembered very clearly. This was James's choice.

That was the real source of my injury.

In the face of danger, as the Pack's Alpha heir, he hadn't prioritized saving those pups. What a failure.

"Are the pups okay?"

I asked.

Brian's expression instantly darkened, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Don't even mention it!"

I immediately tensed. "Were they hurt?"

I loved the pups. Being with them made me feel relaxed.

Actually, the Pack's pups should be cared for by the Luna.

But the current Alpha was a madman. After his mate died, he refused to let anyone take that position.

Fortunately, I had some experience caring for the little ones.

He ground his teeth.

"No, they're all fine. I mean James. You protected those pups. You should be praised. But that bastard didn't even look at you and took Grace back to her place first. He didn't say a single word to the Alpha about what you did."

I fought hard to keep my tears from falling.

Fine.

The more cruel he was, the cleaner my break would be.

I stayed in the infirmary for three days. James never showed up once.

It wasn't until the fourth afternoon that the door finally opened.

James walked in.

"You're awake?"

His tone was as casual as if greeting an ordinary friend.

I ignored him.

He didn't care and continued on his own.

"Grace has been terrified these past few days. She kept asking about you. She's not feeling well, so she asked me to come check on you."

So it wasn't that he wanted to come.

Grace told him to.

"Let me take you outside for a walk. Get some fresh air."

James said this while directly helping me up.

I didn't resist.

I wanted to see just how heartless this man could be.

Behind the infirmary was a long slope.

James walked with me, chatting about things from our childhood.

I didn't say a word.

He suddenly stopped and looked down at me arrogantly.

"Stella, what game are you playing now? Acting pitiful for sympathy?"

Just then, a gentle female voice came from nearby.

"James."

Grace had arrived.

She wore a long dress, her face somewhat pale, looking quite pitiful.

James's eyes lit up instantly.

All his attention was drawn to that figure. He pushed me aside and walked toward her.

"Grace, what are you doing here? I told you to rest at home."

His voice held a tenderness I'd never heard before.

But he'd forgotten something.

We were standing at the top of the slope.

That push made me lose my balance instantly, and I fell sideways.

"James!"

I cried out in alarm.

However, James's eyes and heart were completely focused on Grace. He didn't hear my shout at all.

I could only curl up my body as much as possible to reduce the impact.

But when I tumbled into a clump of grass, something suddenly bit into my arm.

"Ah!"

The piercing pain made my vision go black. I looked closely. It was a silver spike.

This seemed to be some kind of specially arranged trap.

The commotion finally got their attention.

James turned around. Seeing me on the ground in a pathetic state, his brows furrowed tightly.

Grace covered her mouth, gasping.

"Oh my God, Stella, are you okay? How did you end up here?"

She hurried over, crouching down to help me with a concerned expression.

"After the Pack was attacked by rogues the other day, they set up these traps around the territory. Didn't anyone tell you? James, quick, pick Stella up and take her to get bandaged!"

James stood there without moving.

He looked down at me on the ground, his gaze cold.

"I won't touch any woman besides you."

I lay on the cold ground, hearing those words, and suddenly I laughed.

I laughed until my whole body shook, tears streaming from my eyes.

I'd loved him for two whole years.

In the end, in his eyes, I was just another woman, one who would dirty his hands if he touched me.