Catherine died instantly in the attack. I fought desperately to drag Ethan and his father from the twisted wreckage.

His father fell into a coma, while Ethan's spine was damaged—doctors said he had only a 25% chance of ever being able to shift again.

Victoria disappeared right around that time.

She even broke up with him via text message.

【Ethan, my family has arranged for me to study advanced healing techniques in England. I think we need to reconsider our relationship.】

The pack's board members also seized the opportunity to force him to step down from his Alpha position.

That once high-spirited heir had fallen from grace, and I was the only one willing to stay by his side.

During that period, he became moody and volatile.

Sometimes he'd shatter water glasses in the middle of the night, sometimes he'd roar at the nurses.

I would silently clean up the mess and place a bowl of his once-favorite venison stew by his bedside.

Until one rainy night a year later, he suddenly grabbed my wrist, "Emma, do you like me?"

Before I could answer, he kissed me.

He said, "Mate with me."

I pushed him away. "Don't give up on yourself."

"I'm not giving up." He cupped the back of my neck, nuzzling against my ear. "I need you."

We mated in the hospital room. With Alexander unconscious, Ethan and I exchanged vows before his bedside, taking his silence as blessing.

After our mating, he pulled himself together and began serious rehabilitation.

During the day, I helped him handle the pack's crisis, and at night I'd return to bathe his father and accompany his physical therapy.

Everything fell on my shoulders alone, but I had no complaints—I even found sweetness in it.

Sometimes I'd fall asleep from exhaustion in the bathroom, and whenever I opened my eyes, I'd see his reddened eyes watching me with concern.

"Wait a little longer. Soon we'll have a good life."

I always smiled and said it was fine.

Because I loved him, even bitterness tasted sweet.

But it turned out that when he said "soon," he meant soon he wouldn't need me anymore.

At three in the morning, Ethan came home reeking of alcohol.

"The words at the press conference were all for publicity. Victoria just returned to the country and needs media attention. The press loves digging up these rekindled romance stories."

I looked at the bite mark on his neck and forced a smile.

What kind of publicity stunt would leave teeth marks on someone's neck?

She really put effort into that "publicity."

He walked over and rested his head in the crook of my neck, his expression relaxing.

"Don't overthink it, Emma. Without you these past three years, how could I have achieved what I have now? Everything I have is yours—my body, my heart. I'll never love anyone else. Besides, she abandoned me and ran away back then. How could I possibly fall for that kind of person again?"

Every word declared his love for me, and the affection in his eyes was unmistakable.

I didn't push him away, only asked softly, "Then tonight we..."

"Not tonight, Emma."

Ethan gently interrupted. One second he was stroking my hair, the next he was getting up.

"The whole company is working overtime today. How can I, as the boss, just leave them hanging? Be good, okay? Once I finish this busy period, I'll take you to the Maldives like you've always wanted."

He didn't even spare me another glance before turning and leaving.

I thought I would break down crying or have a screaming fit.

Neither happened.

When your heart breaks completely, there are no tears left.

I sat on the couch, sleepless all night.

It wasn't until dawn when my lawyer called that I finally snapped back to reality.

He said the mate bond severance agreement was ready.

According to werewolf law, since we were the Alpha and Luna of the pack, we needed to submit the agreement to the Alpha Council for approval before the bond could be officially severed.

I read through it over and over, finally signing my name with trembling hands, ending my fourteen years of unrequited love.

As dawn broke, I couldn't bear to stay there anymore. I had just changed clothes and was about to leave when a sharp alarm suddenly sounded.

It was Alexander!

I spun around, my heart nearly stopping.

"Dad!"

Stumbling as I pushed open the door, the line on the monitor had gone flat.

I frantically called for an ambulance while repeatedly trying to reach Ethan.

No answer.

No answer.

No answer.

The ambulance arrived with sirens wailing. The paramedics quickly lifted Alexander onto a stretcher. I gripped his hand until the last second when a nurse pulled me away.

"Ma'am, please stay calm! The patient needs immediate emergency treatment!"

Before the ambulance doors closed, I sent Ethan one final message with shaking hands.

【Dad's in cardiac arrest. Central Hospital. Come quickly.】

The emergency room lights blazed harshly.

It wasn't until three hours later that Ethan's phone finally rang.

But when I answered, it was Victoria's saccharine voice that came through.

"Sister Emma, aren't you being a bit too controlling? Just because he didn't come home one night, you're calling to check up on him?"

I gripped the phone tightly, my nails digging into my palm.

"Let Ethan take the call!"

"Ethan is making me a late dinner. He says delicate girls like me need proper nourishment, otherwise I might end up looking like... Oh my, I didn't mean you look tired. I just think women should take better care of themselves."

"Victoria."

I spoke each word deliberately.

"Tell Ethan his father is dying."

The other end went silent for two seconds, then erupted in mocking laughter.

"That trick is way too pathetic, isn't it? Uncle doesn't die sooner or later, but just happens to have an emergency when Ethan is with me. Emma, how someone like you managed to hold onto the Luna position for three years is beyond me."

Before I could speak again, she hung up.

When I tried calling back, it went straight to voicemail.

She had blocked me!

I couldn't believe it.

A wave of desolation washed over me.

But death doesn't give you time for despair.

The next second, a doctor emerged from the room with a grave expression, handing me the final critical condition form.

"If this gentleman has any other family members, please call them quickly for a last goodbye."

My hand trembled as I signed.

Half an hour later, I still went to Northern Pack headquarters.

Outside the office, through the partially open door, I saw Victoria sitting on Ethan's lap, laughing as she fed him strawberries. Ethan had his arms around her waist, a bit of cream on his lips.

How tender.

I pushed the door open and they sprang apart like they'd been electrocuted.

Ethan looked guilty, rushing to explain.

"It's not what you think, Emma. I was handling work and she just brought me something to eat. There's nothing between us!"

I didn't look at them, speaking directly.

"Dad is in emergency surgery."

"The doctor issued three critical condition forms. If you go now, you can still make it for the last goodbye."

Ethan's face darkened.

"Just because she fed me a strawberry, there's no need to curse Dad, is there? I know you're unhappy about Victoria coming back, but saying things like this—isn't that going too far?"

I knew why he was thinking this way.

Alexander had just had a checkup yesterday, and all indicators were normal.

But he didn't consider that Alexander was already hanging on by a thread.

I took a deep breath. "Ethan, I have no reason to lie to you about something like this. If you go now, you'll make it in time. I don't want you regretting this for the rest of your life."

Seeing my determined expression, Ethan began to panic.

Just as he stood up, Victoria suddenly covered her mouth and dry heaved.

Ethan immediately turned to support her, his movements painfully practiced.

"Feeling sick again? You're already not feeling well, and the first trimester is such a critical period. Don't move around, just sit and rest properly."

Then he released his hands as if trying to hide something.

"She's pregnant, Emma. I can't just watch her suffer."

Those words stabbed into my heart like a knife.

I could barely stay standing, biting the inside of my mouth raw.

Three years of mating, every time I mentioned wanting children, he'd change the subject.

I naively thought he felt I was too overworked.

Turns out he didn't not want children—he just didn't want children with me.

Victoria's voice was weak, but her eyes gleamed with triumph as she glanced at me.

"It's okay, Ethan. I can manage alone. You should go with Sister Emma quickly. Since she came to find you personally, the situation must be really serious."

"It's just... sigh... I know I shouldn't say this, but if Uncle's condition is truly urgent, is it really appropriate for Sister Emma to just run over here like this?"

Ethan's expression changed, his eyes filled with uncertainty as he looked at me.

"What exactly is Dad's condition?"

I bit my lip, about to pull out the critical condition form when Victoria suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh my, Sister isn't about to pull out some critical condition form, is she? You can download those things anywhere online. Sister, your dramatics should have limits."

Now Ethan completely believed her words. He looked at me with utter disappointment.

"I know you're angry at me because of Victoria, but jealousy should have limits too! How can you make up stories about Dad's condition? You've really disappointed me!"

But then his expression softened slightly.

"I know why you're doing this. I'll come home later tonight, okay? As for Dad, I trust you'll take good care of him."

Turning, he looked at Victoria with gentle eyes.

"Public hospitals have too many germs. Let me take you to a private clinic for your checkup."

The glass in the hallway reflected my distorted figure.

I wanted to explain, but seeing that tender expression—so gentle it was foreign—I closed my mouth with bitter irony.

He would never believe that his supposedly fragile first love had hung up on my calls one after another.

How ridiculous. I'd rushed through the storm to tell him his father was dying, and he thought I was just jealous over a woman.

Ethan, I really hope when you discover the truth, you won't regret it.

I blinked hard, not letting myself shed tears.

When I returned to the hospital, the hallway was filled with white coats.

The lead surgeon removed his mask and shook his head at me.

"The patient had multiple organ failure. We... did our best."

I nodded mechanically, watching as a nurse covered Alexander with a white sheet.

My phone buzzed with a message from Ethan.

【Victoria isn't feeling well, so I'm taking her home first. I'll come by this afternoon. Take care of Dad for now.】

I typed slowly.

【No need to come.】

【He doesn't need me to take care of him anymore.】

【The freedom you wanted, I'm giving back to you as well.】

After sending this, I forwarded him the signed mate bond severance agreement.