The healer's assistant helped me dress my wounds again.
The pup was soothed back to sleep.
My communication crystal suddenly pulsed with her message.
[I'm sorry. I just didn't want to cause a scene at the Healer's Den—it would damage the Valeheart Pack's reputation.]
[Dorian is still unconscious and needs someone by his side, so I won't be coming over. We'll recover together. Don't worry about us.]
I stared at the glowing words for a long time.
Once, when I learned she'd been injured during a territorial mission, I traveled eleven hours across pack borders, stayed by her side through every examination, never leaving her for a moment.
Back then, she had been so moved she wept, swearing she would never betray me in this lifetime.
Seeing me sigh, the Matriarch snatched the crystal from my hand.
She read the cold words displayed there and let out a bitter scoff.
"That wretched girl! Just wait until she returns—I'll make her answer for this. Kael, don't worry, Grandmother will—"
At that, I suddenly laughed, meeting her gaze with quiet eyes.
"You allowed all of this to happen, didn't you?"