After finishing my hospital discharge papers, I used celebrating my discharge as an excuse to bring Damine to the gathering.
The moment we walked into the private room and saw Liam and Sylvia sitting in the center, his face darkened, and he turned to leave.
I strained to hold him back and pleaded with him for a moment before he reluctantly took a seat.
Their pack members watched their expressions closely, occasionally cracking jokes to lighten the mood.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sylvia approached my brother with an apologetic tone.
"Damine, what happened at the hospital, me falling in the water was just an accident. Liam was just too worried about me, which is why he reacted the way he did when he was angry. It pains both Sylvia me and Sera to see you two brothers holding a grudge over something so small."
Hearing Sylvia's words, Damine's expression softened, though his tone remained cold.
"I'll let it go if he apologizes to Sera."
Liam's cold gaze swept over us, his attitude just as unyielding.
"I'll apologize to Sera if she apologizes to Sylvia first."
Seeing they were about to clash again, several pack members quickly stepped in to mediate.
"Come on, you've all known each other for so many years. Why quibble over such a small thing? Let me be the judge. You both drink a glass of wine together, and let bygones be bygones, how about that?"
Sylvia was the first to pick up her wine glass. Seeing this, Liam frowned, immediately stood up, took her glass from her, and drank it all in one go.
Then he placed the empty glass in front of my brother.
Only then did my brother follow with his own drink, and the atmosphere in the room finally became more harmonious.
"Liam, you're so obedient to Sylvia. Does that mean in the future, if we want to call you out for together, we have to ask your mate for permission first?"
Teased by them, Sylvia's face flushed as she playfully pushed Liam's shoulder.
A faint smile finally appeared on his face as he spoke leisurely.
"No matter where I go or what I do, it's only right to report to her. What's the big deal?"
Hearing him say this, the people in the room all began to snicker behind their hands.
"Sylvia has a way with you. She's tamed our unapproachable, wild Alpha into a henpecked man. You two are so sickeningly sweet in love."
I sat quietly to one side, listening to their jokes, and realized I no longer felt the pain I used to.
Seeing my Damine's concerned gaze, I gave him a light smile to reassure him that I was fine.
After a while, everyone wanted to play drinking games. Sylvia didn't know how to play and lost more than a dozen times in a row.
When it came to her penalty—a table full of drinks—Liam showed no impatience, smiling and drinking it all himself.
Watching him drink glass after glass without showing fatigue, I silently stood up and went to the bathroom alone.
When I came out after washing my hands, I was about to return to the private room when I heard a familiar voice coming from the hallway.
"My love, do you know? The first time I saw you, I fell for you instantly. But you were always so cold to me. I thought you only saw me as a friend, so I never dared to confess my feelings. I could only stay by your side. Year after year, I've realized that loving someone really makes you so fearful of loss..."
Liam was drunk, leaning his head on Sylvia's shoulder.
She supported him, her eyes full of shyness as she spoke in a flirtatious tone.
"So you came up with this plan, deliberately using Sera as a cover to make me your mate? You like me that much?"
"Yes, like... really like..."
"My phone is full of your pictures, and my notes have all your likes and dislikes. I've had your contact number pinned at the top for over a decade. Every time you text me first, I'm so excited I can't sleep all night. I've even written you so many love letters. Would you like to read them someday?"
After knowing Liam for eight years, this was the first time I'd seen him with such an expression of young love.
I quietly listened to his drunken truths, and for a moment, I was reminded of my own confession and his.
He stared at me with clear eyes, showing no sign of being moved.
Back then, I believed that if I persisted, one day I would be able to warm his heart.
But now I understood that even if I waited another eight years, eighteen years, or twenty-eight years, I could never achieve that.
How could I possibly move a man who loves another woman?
I didn't stay any longer and returned to the private room alone.
Damine knew I wasn't comfortable in this kind of situation, so after saying goodbye to everyone, he took me home.
As we were about to get a taxi downstairs, Sylvia suddenly grabbed Liam's sleeve, her voice wistful.
"Oh, I wish I could get a moonflower from Mount Sacred. They say it only blooms under the full moon and grants wishes to true mates."
Damine immediately frowned. "Sylvia, that's too dangerous. Mount Sacred is treacherous, especially at night. The thorns alone could shred a wolf to pieces."
But before anyone could react, Liam was already striding toward the mountain path, his Alpha determination evident in every step.
"Liam, don't!" Damine called after him, but it was too late.
Liam's eyes were fixed on Sylvia's hopeful face. Without another word, he turned and shifted into his massive black wolf, bounding toward the mountain trail.
We followed at a distance, Damine cursing under his breath. When we reached the base of Mount Sacred, I gasped at the sight before us.
The entire mountainside was wrapped in a maze of thorns. And there was Liam, already halfway up the mountain in human form, his clothes hanging in shreds.
Blood streamed down his arms and chest where the thorns had raked across his skin. Each step forward brought fresh wounds as the vines seemed to reach for him like living creatures.
I watched in horror as a particularly vicious thorn pierced deep into his shoulder, and he bit back a scream of agony.
When he finally stumbled back down, his entire body was covered in blood, his skin pale from toxin and blood loss.
But his eyes shone with triumph as he placed the moonflower in Sylvia's trembling hands.
My heart gave a painful lurch.
It wasn't until this moment that I finally believed Liam's love for Sylvia truly had reached the point where he would sacrifice his life for her.
I was lost in a daze for a long time. When I came to my senses, I realized I was in the hospital.
The operating room light had just gone out. The healer wiped sweat from his brow, his tone full of relief.
"The surgery was successful. By the way, is Sylvia the patient's mate? He kept calling her name even while unconscious. We recommend that the lady stay in the ICU with him and talk to him more. The patient's attention can help him wake up faster."
Hearing this, all the pack members urged Sylvia to hurry to the hospital room to stay with him.
After seeing her off, I tugged on Damine's sleeve.
"Damine, let's go home."
Damine paused for a few seconds, then nodded and led me away.
Once we were home, I took out my suitcase and began packing my things.
Seeing me so busy, Damine couldn't help but worry, staying nearby to help and observe my condition.
I knew he was worried about me, but I remained calm.
"Brother, stop staring at me. I'm fine. I'm leaving in a couple of days, and we won't see each other for a long time. I'll miss you. You should come visit me often."
My brother's heart ached. As usual, he reached out and rubbed my cheek.
"Of course. I'll visit when I have time. And I'll have to see how you're getting along with my friend!"
