Chapter 4

I didn't even remember how I got home.

By the time I snapped out of it, I had poked the food on my plate into a complete mess.

Seeing my distress, Grandma Rose quickly put down her fork and pulled me into her arms.

She asked softly, "Clara, tell Grandma. Did that boy Ethan hurt you?"

Looking into Grandma Rose’s loving, concerned eyes, the truth rushed to the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it back down.

"Grandma Rose, can I take you away from here? Let's move somewhere else."

After a long silence with no response, I looked up in confusion. A warm tear from Grandma Rose fell right onto my cheek.

"Of course, my sweet Clara. Grandma promises you. Wherever Clara goes, I will follow and take care of you."

"A Mate Ceremony isn't the only path to happiness. If my Clara doesn't want it, if Clara is hurting, you don't have to marry him. Grandma only wants you to be happy."

Her comfort washed over me like a warm spring breeze.

My emotional defenses crumbled completely. I buried my face in Grandma Rose’s chest and sobbed, letting out years of bottled-up pain.

The next morning, as I was packing my bags, my secondary Snapchat account received a notification.

It was a photo of Nina leaning into Ethan’s chest, both of them wearing ski gear. They looked like a passionately in-love couple.

The caption read: "Someone came all this way to make up for my regret of never seeing snow. Meet my strict coach, Ethan~"

I froze. A small snow globe plushie Ethan had given me fell out of my pocket.

It was a gift he gave me to "make up" for not taking me to see the snow. He had promised he would take me north the moment he finished his work.

But one busy week turned into another, and that promise was tossed into the dusty corners of his mind.

My heart went numb. I picked up the plushie and threw it straight into the trash can.

Suddenly, a loud scream came from Grandma Rose’s room.

Grandma Rose’s residual wolf venom had flared up!

I rushed her to the Pack Healer clinic. But when I arrived, I was told the Healer had been called away by Ethan to treat Nina's minor injury!

Hearing this, I threw away all my pride and ran frantically toward the VIP clinic.

"Ethan! Ethan! I beg you, please let the Healer save Grandma Rose!"

"She always treated you like her own grandson! Three years ago, she was bitten by rogues while defending the pack borders. The wolf venom has been in her system ever since. She got poisoned to protect the pack! Please, let the Healer treat her!"

The next second, Nina appeared, clinging to Ethan's arm.

She dramatically clutched her chest, groaning in a high-pitched voice about how much it hurt.

But it was clearly just a tiny scratch!

It was barely even red!

Ethan was about to speak, but Nina pulled him back.

"Ethan, my chest hurts so much~"

"She slapped you so hard last night. This is probably just another one of her dramatic tricks to force you back to her."

The concern in Ethan’s eyes instantly hardened into cold indifference.

"Clara, even if you want to lie, make it believable."

"How dare you use Grandma Rose’s life to play your pathetic games!"

"Since you love acting so much, fine. I'm taking away the pack's medical supplies. Let's see how long you can keep up this act!"

The moment the medical equipment and stabilizing drugs were cut off, Grandma Rose’s breathing stopped.

The person who loved me most in this world was killed by the man I once loved most.

"No—!"

I screamed in agony. But before I could reach her, a brutal slap sent me spinning to the floor.

Ethan’s towering shadow blocked out the light. The disgust and anger in his eyes were unmistakable.

My vision went dark. Warm blood trickled down my nose and the corner of my mouth. The metallic taste of blood filled my tongue.

Nina stood right beside him, her lips curved into a smug, victorious smile that pierced through my heart.

"Clara, stay on your knees and reflect on what you've done!" Ethan barked.

I didn't know how much time had passed. It felt long enough for my soul to leave my body along with Grandma Rose.

My knees were numb, my face throbbed, and the cold wind outside stung my skin.

I dragged myself to the bed, my trembling hand reaching out to touch her cold, gentle face.

*Grandma Rose, life is so hard. I want to go with you...*

I left the pack alone, wandering aimlessly into the deep forest.

Just as I drew a silver dagger, ready to end my life, I was pulled into a warm, familiar embrace.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I'm late."