"I'm really sorry, Daniella. I'm so hungry that I couldn't wait for you. Maybe you're angry because we couldn't wait for you to eat together," said Camilla apologetically while pulling Daniella to the dining table. However, the table was only filled with leftover food scraps. Daniella stood still, staring at the remnants of food on the plate. A wave of complex emotions flowed within her, between sadness, disappointment, and something she couldn't quite name.
"Forget it. I'm not feeling well today, so I'll skip dinner. You two just enjoy," Daniella said softly, turning around and walking unsteadily towards the stairs. Behind her, Camilla sounded surprised. "Daniella, what's wrong? Are you really upset because I didn't wait for you to eat?" Darren reached out to ruffle Camilla's hair, his voice sounding so indulgent towards the she-wolf.
"Don't think too much about it. Her ankle is just sprained today, and she's not feeling well." The usual expression of affection caught Daniella's attention as she turned around. Her lips parted slightly, as if wanting to say something, but all that came out were sighs. With a sad expression, she turned and walked back to the master bedroom. Her mind replayed the events of that day.
Camilla's simple phone call had made Alpha leave everything and rush to her side. Meanwhile, Daniella could barely walk and did not receive such attention. The stark contrast felt like a dagger piercing deep into her chest. As soon as she reached the bedroom, Daniella, who tried to ignore the pain radiating from her ankle, finally realized the futility of it all. The pain in her heart remained and did not lessen because of the pain in her ankle.
Daniella tried to channel her healer powers to cure the swelling in her leg, but suddenly Alpha Darren arrived in her room and surprised her with his words, "You shouldn't let this go on for too long." Daniella looked up at the doorway where the Alpha stood, which automatically halted her healing.
"The swelling is getting significantly worse; don't you realize it? You are still careless and unwilling to exert your energy to treat your own wound." Alpha sighed and walked closer, squatting in front of her. Gently, he grabbed Daniella's injured ankle to check the swelling.
However, Daniella instinctively pulled her leg back, avoiding his touch. "Do you feel disgusted by me?" In the dim light of the bedroom, Daniella couldn't read Alpha's expression. Daniella tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling the awkward tension between them. Daniella truly did not expect to be treated by Alpha Darren, let alone to pamper that male wolf.
"No... It's just that Camilla is still waiting for you outside. You have to accompany her. Let me tend to my own wounds; I'm more than capable of handling this." Alpha Darren stared at his mate for a moment, his face expressionless. Without a word, he suddenly grabbed Daniella's ankle and pulled her onto the Alpha's lap, ignoring the woman's protests.
His sudden action made Daniella wince in pain, a small cry escaping her lips. As Alpha observed how swollen and bruised the woman's ankle was, the annoyance on Alpha Darren's face faded, replaced by a hint of guilt. "Sorry," he muttered. Where the apology surprised Daniella.
Alpha Darren is not the type of person who easily apologizes. For three years they were together; this was the first time she heard that word from him. Even when the Alpha left her by the roadside and Daniella was attacked by a pack of wolves because her spiritual abilities were detected, he never apologized. But what if it happened to Camilla, where Camilla was supposed to be stronger than Daniella, yet Alpha Darren was always ready to stand up for the female wolf? Once again, Daniella compared herself to Camilla.
"Why suddenly apologize? That's not like you," said Daniella, trying to resist the temptation to think about that brief moment of tenderness from the Alpha. Alpha Darren looked up for a moment, his hand carefully channeling energy to heal Daniella's wound. "Your ankle is in bad condition. I shouldn't have ignored it and should have helped you quickly." The sincerity in his voice made Daniella's heart ache. She had long stopped hoping for warmth from the Alpha, so his apology felt like a cruel temptation—offering a hope that never truly existed. Biting her lip, Daniella forced herself to smile. "That's just a sprain. No need to apologize."
