Chapter 5

This calm was driving him insane. He stood up abruptly, but caught sight of the large burn on my arm.

"Nyla, one injury wasn't enough? You need more injuries to tie me down?"

"Not anymore. I won't be foolish again."

He wanted to say something, but the encrypted communicator rang.

He quickly walked to the window to answer.

I couldn't hear the content clearly, only vaguely caught Vivian's tearful voice.

Ronan gave some low instructions, then turned to look at me: "There's an urgent pack matter. I need to go to work. Rest and recover."

With that, he turned and left.

Over the next several days, I stayed quietly in the hospital.

Ronan had people send supplements and flowers. The internal phone rang daily too.

I always had the duty nurse answer, only saying "Condition stable, no need for visits."

The day I was discharged, I went to settle the bill.

Just as I handed over the invoice, an old woman shoved me aside.

"My son-in-law is Pathseekers Pack's Alpha. Let me go first."

I frowned: "Please wait in line."

The old woman shot me a look: "Who are you? My son-in-law is Pathseekers Pack Alpha Ronan! If you delay me getting medicine, can you take responsibility?"

Before she finished speaking, Ronan had already rushed over from the other end of the corridor with Vivian.

He pulled me aside and lowered his voice: "Vivian's mother has a bad heart and can't handle emotional stress. As Luna, you should let her go first. It's only right."

Vivian supported her gasping mother, eyes reddening: "Nyla, I'm sorry... My mom's old illness flared up. I was afraid she wouldn't use expensive medicine, so I said Ronan was my boyfriend... Please don't blame him. He's just soft-hearted, can't stand seeing elderly people suffer."

I quietly looked at the three of them.

So because Vivian's mother was sick, he left me injured and alone in the hospital?

Forget it.

None of it mattered anymore.

I nodded and turned to leave.

I'd only taken two steps when I heard Vivian's tearful whisper:

"Ronan, is Nyla angry? Will she do what she did last time again... I'm really afraid of affecting your future..."

Ronan's voice was soft but carried clearly:

"Don't overthink it. She grew up without parents. She can't understand your feelings."

My fingers clenched suddenly, knuckles white. Step by step, I walked through the hospital corridor.

Ronan's footsteps chased from behind: "Nyla, I'll take you home."

I didn't turn back. Instead, I quickened my pace.

Suddenly a rushing werewolf burst out and knocked me down. I fell hard to the ground, my arm burn seeping blood again.

The fall was brutal. Something in my chest seemed to shatter completely.

I bit down hard, nails digging into my palms, but tears rolled down beyond my control.

Since childhood, I'd feared Christmas most.

Watching the warm light through other families' windows, hearing the laughter inside—that envy was like a dull knife cutting flesh.

Ronan knew better than anyone that this was my deepest wound.

But now, to comfort Vivian, he personally tore this scar open again and again.

He rushed over and picked me up, voice suppressing anger: "Nyla! Do you have to be so stubborn?!"

Before he finished speaking, a thermos flew through the air!

Scalding soup splashed across my face.

Vivian's mother stood a few steps away, shaking with rage: "Shameless! Seducing my son-in-law?! I'll teach you to seduce!"

She rushed up and slapped me.

I was struck so hard my head turned, falling to the ground.

Then the cane came down heavily on my shoulder.

A dull thud as bone met impact.

Ronan grabbed Vivian's mother's cane before she could swing it again: "Calm down! It's not what you think!"

"Then what is it?!" Vivian's mother shrieked. "This mistress throwing herself at you, you think I'm blind?!"

I braced myself against the ground and stood: "Control your daughter! Who's the mistress is crystal clear!"

But Ronan whipped around, using a rapid whisper only we could hear:

"She has severe heart disease, she can't handle stress! Nyla, I'm begging you, don't make a scene right now!"

Then he quickly supported Vivian's mother: "You've misunderstood. Nyla is my friend. She's had psychological trauma, her emotions aren't very stable..."

He even pulled my medical records from his pocket.

Vivian's mother glanced at them and spat: "Brain problems? No wonder her parents died young, lacks proper upbringing!"

Ronan half-supported, half-guided her away. From beginning to end, he never looked back at me once.

I sat on the ground, watching their backs, unable to even cry anymore.

A kind head nurse helped me back to the ward and rebandaged my wounds.

"Luna Nyla," she asked carefully, "Do you need... to notify the Beta guards?"

I shook my head: "No need. Process my discharge."

Back at my home, I started packing.

My phone vibrated, the screen lighting up.

Vivian had updated her status.

In the photo she wore Ronan's jacket, leaning against his chest, caption: "Meeting you through the smoke of war, worth all the pain."

I calmly swiped past the screen and clicked "Unfollow."

Then I placed the divorce agreement I'd already signed on the table, making sure Ronan would see it the moment he came home.

Downstairs, the car the guards had reserved for me had arrived.

I got in and gave my destination: "Airport."

The car started, driving out of the residence gates.

Just then, a black SUV came from the opposite direction, passing us.

The back window was half-down. Ronan was turning his head talking to someone beside him.

Vivian leaned on his shoulder, smiling brilliantly.

The two cars sped in opposite directions.

In the rearview mirror, the home I'd lived in for so many years grew farther and farther away, finally shrinking to a dot.

Having sex with him at eighteen, exchanging wedding rings in the marriage hall at twenty, watching woman after woman beside him at twenty-eight...

All the scenes flashed before my eyes, then were left far behind.

It was all over.

Now, I was going to find my parents.

I was going to the Ashclaw pack they had protected.