Zoe, on the other end of the line, sounded both surprised and thrilled. "Really? Tessa, I'm so proud of you!

"But that project's going to be really tough. The pack you're heading to is in the middle of a war. Will your Alpha even let you go?"

I gripped the phone tightly and said with great strength, "It doesn't matter if he agrees or not. This is my decision."

The moment I hung up, a wave of dizziness hit me.

The side effects from the bone marrow transplant came crashing back. I leaned back, hoping to steady myself against the wall. But the second I took a step back, I hit a solid chest.

I froze.

Cayden was frowning. "Who were you on the phone with? What project?"

I steadied myself and lied calmly, "My mentor was asking if I wanted to join the pack's medical support team."

He didn't ask more. He just said in a commanding tone, "The blood transfusion surgery's scheduled for next week. I'm bringing Rosie home so I can take care of her until then.

"I don't want to see any more of those drawings of me in the study. The last thing I want is for Rosie to get the wrong idea."

I turned my head away and dug my nails into my palm, using the pain to suppress the storm in my chest. Then I quietly said, "Okay."

The drawings he thought were nothing but a mess actually contained every bit of my love and longing, with every line shaped into the image of him.

But to him, they were just pieces of clutter that needed to be cleared out.

He seemed satisfied with my obedience. Without another word, he turned and walked into the ward.

An hour later, he was carefully helping Rosie into the car, holding her as if she were made of glass.

She slid into the passenger seat like it had always belonged to her.

I was stunned for a moment. Just as I reached for the back door, the car sped off without even a pause.

I stood there frozen. My phone buzzed, and I looked down to see a message from him.

"Rosie has OCD. She doesn't like the smell of strangers. You should find your own way home."

I stared at that text as the light in my eyes slowly faded.

I flagged down a cab. The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and asked with concern, "Miss, is your face okay? Does it hurt? Do you need to see a healer?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine. It'll heal soon."

But deep down, there was a bitter sting.

It turned out that a total stranger could be more thoughtful than someone who was supposed to be my family.

At least he asked if my face hurt.

I opened the door of the villa as soon as I got back. Cayden was nowhere to be seen. Instead, I saw Rosie lounging on the couch, turning over a medal of honor in her hand.

My blood ran cold.

It was the only thing my late father left me. I had always kept it locked up in the safe, too precious for even me to touch unless absolutely necessary.

I rushed over, reached out my hand, and said coldly, "This belonged to my father. It's all I have left of him. Give it back. And why were you in my room?"

She gave me a disdainful glance, but before she could respond, Cayden's voice came from the stairs. "Why couldn't she be?"

He walked down slowly, looking down at me from above. "Rosie is my fated mate, and she'll be the lady of this house. She gets to do whatever she wants and go wherever she likes.

"If she wants to live in your room, you don't get a say."

I was shaking with rage.

Rosie got even cockier now that she had his support. "It's just a stupid medal. Here, take it."

She tossed it carelessly toward me.

I immediately reached out to catch it, but the medal slipped right through my fingers and hit the floor with a sharp crack, shattering into pieces.

"No!" At that moment, my heart broke too.

It was the last connection I had to my father.

I didn't understand. Was falling in love with my fated mate really such an unforgivable crime? Why did it feel like I wasn't even allowed to keep my father's final gift?

Maybe someone like me didn't deserve happiness.

I shoved past Rosie, dropped to my knees, and desperately tried to piece the medal back together, but it was no use.

She stepped back like she was scared, putting on a pitiful act and shrinking to the side.

Cayden frowned. He looked like he'd never seen me fall apart like this before. He was just about to help me up when Rosie grabbed his sleeve and said softly, like she was hurt, "Tessa's not going to make things hard for me over this, right?

"What if she refuses to go through with the transfusion?"

In the blink of an eye, Cayden's face went cold. "Enough. She didn't do it on purpose. Just let me know how much it was worth. I'll pay you back."

"Pay?" I looked up at that cold, distant face. All of a sudden, I laughed, but it was the kind of laugh that sounded more like crying.

I gently gathered the broken pieces of the medal, stood up, and said, "Forget it, Alpha. It wasn't worth anything."

Nothing was worth anything to people who didn't know what it meant.

That medal was just like my love for him, both worthless in his eyes. I should've let go a long time ago.

And with that, I turned and walked away.

Cayden stood frozen in place, stunned by the title I hadn't used in years, "Alpha".

Cayden stood there frozen until Rosie tugged on his arm, snapping him out of it.

"Cayden, are you okay?" she asked sweetly.

He quickly pulled himself together, his tone turning gentle again. "I'm fine. Don't take what just happened to heart.

"Tessa's not a bad person. She's just spoiled and a bit headstrong."

Rosie blinked, clearly surprised he would defend me. She nodded obediently, but a glint of cold jealousy flashed deep in her eyes.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pouted, "Once I'm better, can we finally have our bonding ceremony? I can't wait to become your Luna."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she added thoughtfully, "Oh, right. Tessa knows you best and has great taste. Why don't we let her plan our ceremony?"

His expression softened. He patted her head indulgently. "Alright, whatever you say."

The next few days, I was buried in paperwork for the warzone healer program I was joining. I left early and came home late. Even though we were under the same roof, I didn't run into Cayden or Rosie again.

One day, I carried a big box full of portraits I'd drawn of Cayden, ready to throw them into the fireplace and burn them all for good.

Just as I was burning the last one, I heard his cold voice behind me. "What do you think you're doing?"

I didn't turn around. But he stormed up, snatching the half-burned portrait from the flames.

His face turned gloomy as he grabbed my wrist and said in a low and accusatory voice, "Tessa, what kind of game are you playing now? Is this your latest stunt to get my attention?"

I lowered my gaze and pulled my hand back. "That's not what I'm trying to do."

He clearly thought I was making excuses. His eyes grew colder. "Ten days from now, Rosie and I are having our bonding ceremony. You're invited."

I thought I'd be fine hearing those words, but the instant they left his mouth, my chest ached like someone had stabbed me. My face went pale as I forced a smile. "Congratulations."

Ten days from now, I should be well on my way to the warzone.

I turned to leave, but he stopped me again. "Rosie said a bonding ceremony only happens once in a lifetime. She doesn't trust anyone else to plan it."

I frowned, not getting what he was implying. "So?"

"So... I want you to do it. You've always known what I like better than anyone."

I almost laughed at how ridiculous that was. "Cayden, I don't like you anymore. You don't need to humiliate me like this to make me give up."

With that, I turned and walked out of the villa, leaving him standing there, stunned.

I headed to campus to finish some paperwork. But the moment I stepped out of the office, I felt countless strange looks on me, followed by whispers.

"Oh my god, is it true? An Alpha's stepsister pulling something like that…"

"She always seemed so reserved. Who knew she was such a slut in private?"

I stood there confused, until one of my roommates ran over and grabbed me. "Tessa, you need to see today's news!"

I pulled out my phone and saw the headline. "Forbidden Love Between Blood Fang Pack's Alpha and His Stepsister!"

I tapped the video in disbelief.

In the video, I was draped all over Cayden with disheveled clothes and a flushed face, shamelessly throwing myself at him.

My eyes instantly burned red with rage, and my fists clenched tightly at my sides.

"This is fake! That video's doctored!"

"I believe you, Tessa," my roommate said, holding my hand. "It's clearly a setup. You have to find out who's behind this!"

I rushed to the villa in a cab, desperate to explain everything to Cayden. But the second I ran up the stairs, I saw him standing at the stairwell entrance, blocking the way.

He looked down at me coldly, and his eyes were filled with disgust. "So, this is what you meant by 'you don't like me anymore'?

"Tessa, you never fail to surprise me. Did you fake a video like that just to ruin my bonding ceremony with Rosie? Do you have no shame?"

Every word out of his mouth was like a knife, slicing deep into my heart.

I bit my lip hard, too hurt to speak.

He took my silence as guilt. The sneer on his lips deepened.

"If you think public pressure is going to make me mark you, you're dead wrong. I'll never mark anyone but my fated mate."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rosie stepped out from behind him, looking down at me with pure scorn. "Tessa, a she-wolf should know how to respect herself. You're just degrading yourself with these dirty tricks."

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but before I could react, she suddenly shoved me hard.

There was a long flight of stairs behind me. The moment I lost my balance, I caught a glimpse of Rosie letting out a scream, pretending to twist her ankle as she threw herself backward.

And Cayden grabbed her hand without hesitation.

While I... tumbled down the stairs. Pain exploded through my body as my bones cracked. I curled into a ball, tears silently streaming down my face.

It wasn't until my body finally stopped tumbling that Cayden seemed to realize I was there.

Just before I passed out, I caught a glimpse of him hurrying down the stairs, his face twisted in a panic I'd never seen before, as he reached out to cradle my face.

When I woke up again, Cayden was sitting by the bed, looking completely worn out.

As soon as he saw me open my eyes, he said in a rare soft tone, "I saved Rosie first because she's too fragile to handle any complications."

I replied calmly, "I understand."

He seemed relieved, then added, "You'll need to donate blood again in a few days. Please take care of yourself."

I gave a bitter laugh in my heart.

So, he only stayed here to make sure nothing happened to Rosie's blood bank.

After a long pause, he said, "I promised your mother I'd take care of you, so I'll still look after you even after my bonding ceremony with Rosie."

I lifted my eyes and answered him silently in my head. "Too bad, I don't need your concern anymore."

After that day, he never showed up again.

I handled the discharge on my own. Just as I stepped into the main lobby, I saw a stretcher being rushed into the ER.

Cayden was right next to it, looking panicked, and the one lying on the stretcher was Rosie.

My head started ringing.

In my last life, I refused the transfusion, and Rosie died.

This time, I had already agreed to it. Why was this still happening?

I didn't have time to think and just followed them straight in.

Outside the ER, Cayden sat on a bench, looking utterly dazed and broken.

He told me that Rosie had a severe allergic reaction to a certain herb, which caused internal bleeding.

After a while, the doctor came out of the emergency room with a grim face. "Her condition is critical. We need to perform an emergency blood transfusion immediately."

"Is the donor here? Is she well enough for surgery?"

Before he could answer, I said from behind him, "I'm good to go, doctor. Let's do it."

The tragedy from my last life wasn't going to repeat itself. I just wanted to end all of this quickly, to leave this place and cut all ties with them.

Cayden's expression was hard to read as he muttered, "Thank you."

I didn't respond. I just pulled out my phone and moved up the flight I'd already booked to this afternoon.

30 minutes later, I was lying on the operating table. I wasn't scared, just relieved.

But just then, a nurse rushed in, looking panicked. "We've got a problem. There's only one dose of anesthesia left. It's only enough for one person!"

The doctor immediately went out to speak with Cayden.

The next second, I heard his voice that came without a moment of hesitation. "Use it on Rosie. She has a blood disorder and can't take the pain."

My heart completely sank.

The doctor came back in and looked at me with sympathy. "Ms. Smith, you'll have to stay fully conscious during the procedure since there isn't enough anesthesia. It's going to be extremely painful. You can still back out if you want."

"No. I can handle it," I said calmly.

Even though I'd already expected this, it still hurt.

My loving older brother, my only family, always made the same choice.

The pain during the surgery was worse than I ever could've imagined. Cold machines churned inside me, and every extraction felt like it was ripping my soul out along with my blood.

I bit down hard but couldn't stop myself from screaming. By the time it was over, I had already passed out from the pain.

When I woke up again, there was no one by my side.

A young nurse came in to change my dressing. Seeing I was awake, she muttered, "Your brother's something else. Letting you go through surgery without anesthesia just to save his mate…"

I forced a bitter smile but didn't respond.

Who would believe I was actually his fated mate?

After the nurse left, I checked the time. I had two hours before my flight.

I tried to get out of bed, but a sharp, tearing pain shot through my body, stopping me in my tracks.

Still, the thought of finally leaving gave me strength. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself upright, one hand gripping the bed for support.

I struggled to get dressed, grabbed the agreement I'd already prepared to officially sever our sibling relationship, and dragged myself step by step to Rosie's ward.

Cayden was sitting beside her, completely focused on her sleeping face, not noticing me at all.

It wasn't until I handed him the agreement that he finally shot me an impatient glance before turning right back to her.

He didn't even look at the content, assuming it was some property paperwork. Without hesitation, he grabbed a pen.

"You did well this time. What do you want? A car? A house? Name it," he said absentmindedly as he signed his name.

I took the signed papers and finally breathed easy before turning to leave.

But he frowned and asked, "You just had surgery and are still weak. Where are you going?"

My throat was dry, and I could feel that my body was about to collapse. "The hospital's stuffy. I'm just going out for a walk."

He looked at my back and, for once, said something that sounded a little like concern. "It's windy. Don't stay out too long."

I hummed a quiet "mm", but deep down, I was bidding him farewell.

I grabbed my luggage and dragged this broken body onto a flight headed straight for the warzone.

Sunlight streamed through the window and landed softly on me. I took one last look at the city I'd lived in for so many years.

Goodbye to the most pathetic love I'd clung to in both lives.

Goodbye, Cayden.

From now on, I wouldn't be the pack's disgrace anymore.

And I'd never love you again.