Chapter 2

Nora appears one month after we submit our Mating Application.

She is the sister of Ryan, Damien’s Beta who died.

Ryan dies in a battle with another pack while protecting Damien.

It has always been a thorn in Damien’s heart.

Nora’s parents are long gone. Ryan is her only family.

By pack rules, a lone wolf with no family is sent to the Neutral Lands. The conditions there are harsh, and there are no professional healers.

Nora was born with a weak wolf.

Damien brings her back from the Neutral Lands and settles her in the pack guesthouse.

He tells me, “Lola, this is my responsibility.”

I nod. “I understand.”

I go with him to visit Nora.

The girl is small and thin, wearing old clothes that do not fit.

When she sees Damien, her eyes light up, then she lowers her head and speaks softly.

“Brother Damien.”

Damien hands her the food. “From now on, treat this place as your home.”

Nora shakes her head. Tears fall.

“I don’t have a home anymore.”

Damien’s body stiffens.

I walk over and take Nora’s hand.

“Don’t cry. From now on, we are your family.”

I take her to buy new clothes and bring her to eat good food.

I even want her to move into our mate residence.

Damien refuses.“It’s not convenient.”

I think he is worried about me.

Now I realize, he is worried about himself.

Nora starts to look for Damien often.

Today it is a headache, tomorrow a stomachache, the day after she cannot sleep.

No matter what Damien is handling, he goes to her right away.

Rumors start in the pack.

They say Damien treats Nora better than me, his mate.

I do not care.

I trust Damien.

I trust the bond we build over twenty years.

Until the day we submit our Mating Application, we have a party.

I wear a white dress and hold Damien’s arm.

He looks handsome that day.

Standing together, we receive nothing but blessings.

A pack elder just walks up to us with a glass of wine when Damien’s phone rings.

He glances at it. His expression changes. He says “Excuse me” and walks out with his phone.

I stand there.

My smile freezes on my face.

The hall falls silent.

All eyes are on me.

Damien’s mother walks over and presses my hand.

“Lola, ignore him. We continue.”

I force a smile and drink the wine.

It burns.

Damien comes back soon.

He walks to me and lowers his voice.

“Lola, I need to go.”

“Nora is at the guesthouse. Her wolf loses control. She hurts herself and loses a lot of blood.”

My heart sinks. “How is she?”

“I don’t know. The staff called. They say it is serious.”

There is panic in his voice I have never heard before.

I look at him. “Damien, today is our application day. She has been taken to the Healer House, and the healers will take care of her.”

He avoids my eyes.

“I know.”

“But she's in bad shape. She needs me now.”

“I will explain when I come back.”

He does not look at me again. He turns and leaves.

I watch his back disappear at the door.

I almost drop the glass in my hand.

That night, I drink the rest of the wine alone.

Damien does not come back.

Early the next morning, I get a call from the Healer House.

A wolf warrior is badly injured.

I rush there, change into my healer robe, and work for eight hours straight.

When it is over, it is already dark.

I take off my robe and get ready to go home.

In the hallway, I see Damien and Nora in a ward.

Nora wears a hospital gown. Her face is pale. Her hands are wrapped in thick bandages.

Damien holds a bowl of soup and feeds her one spoon at a time.

“Eat a little more. You haven’t eaten all day.”

Nora shakes her head. Her eyes fill with tears.

“Brother Damien, I can’t eat.”

“Am I useless? I only bring you trouble.”

Damien puts the bowl down and gently touches her head.

“Don’t think like that. I am here.”

“Your brother is gone. I will take care of you for the rest of my life.”

Nora cries harder.

She leans into his arms, her shoulders shaking.

“Brother Damien, you are so good to me.”

Damien holds her and pats her back softly.

I stand there and watch them.

My phone alarm rings.

It reminds me that today is my birthday.

Damien hears it and looks up. He sees me.

His expression stiffens for a moment, then he stands.

“Lola, let me explain.”

Nora sees me too. She peeks out from behind him and calls softly.

“Healer Lola.”

I look at them and suddenly feel it is ridiculous.

I say nothing and turn to leave.

Damien chases after me and grabs my hand.

“Lola, don’t be mad.”

“Nora, she just…”

“Let go.” My voice is cold.

He freezes.

I shake off his hand and walk away without looking back.

That night, I go back to our mate residence alone.

I open a bottle of wine and sit on the floor.

My phone is filled with dozens of messages from Damien.

“Lola, I’m sorry.”

“Lola, where are you?”

“Lola, reply to me.”

I do not reply to any of them.

I just hold the bottle and drink it slowly.

“Happy birthday, Lola.”

I whisper to myself.