Chapter 9

I looked at the bandages wrapped around my wounds, but my mind was filled with Alpha Damien's cold face from that day, and Clarissa's smug smile.

I even wondered if it would be better if I just died.

"Kaelen..." I called his name softly, and tears fell without warning.

He looked up, and for a moment it was as if something had pierced him. He quickly stood up and gently pulled me into his arms.

"Don't cry, Seraphina, don't cry. I'm here."

He whispered soothingly, his palm gently stroking my back, patting me like he was comforting a child.

I leaned against him and finally couldn't hold back my sobs. My tears soaked his shirt, but he just held me tightly without saying a word.

Alpha King Kaelen was the son of my father's most trusted ally.

That year, his parents died in a border skirmish. My father brought him home and raised him like his own son.

When I was little, I clung to him the most. No one in the house dared to scold me, except him. He would put on a stern face and lecture me, then secretly buy me moonlight cookies.

We grew up together, went to school together. When I was sick, he carried me to the healing ward. In winter, when I was bullied, he protected me.

He was my brother, my friend, my family. I thought he would be someone I could depend on for life.

Until my senior year of high school, one evening in the study, I picked up his journal that had fallen to the floor. Inside, I saw my name written over and over, along with his hidden feelings for me.

I was stunned.

I was scared, confused, not knowing how to face these feelings.

I felt it was wrong.

To distract myself, I threw myself into studying, but ended up being bullied by jealous classmates.

Back then, Alpha Damien spoke up for me. At that time, he was a lot like my brother.

I couldn't like my brother, but I could like Alpha Damien.

I started avoiding Kaelen, deliberately keeping my distance.

He didn't ask questions or try to keep me close. One day, he simply told me he had legally ended his adoption with my parents.

I was eighteen then, he was nineteen. He was silent like a mountain, while I was like a willful child who didn't understand the weight of his leaving.

Later, when I got together with Alpha Damien, Kaelen didn't come looking for me. He just sent me a big red envelope with the note: "May Seraphina always be happy."

For many years after that, he never bothered me. But every year on my birthday, New Year's, Valentine's Day, even Women's Day, he would send red envelopes without fail. Sometimes he'd add a line: "Stay warm, don't catch cold."

I replied less and less, and he stopped asking questions.

Until recently, when I was angry and messaged him: "Kaelen, will you mark me?"

He quickly replied: "Yes."

He didn't ask why, didn't ask if I was just mad at Alpha Damien.

Just a simple "Yes."

During my stay in the healing ward, he watched over me day and night. He didn't mention the marking ceremony or the future. He just quietly took care of me, as thoughtfully as he always had.

"You've lost weight," I said softly, looking at the stubble on his chin.

"So have you," he smiled, but couldn't hide the bloodshot in his eyes.

I sighed, wanting to say something, then swallowed the words.

Why don't you ask me?

Don't ask why I chose Alpha Damien, don't ask why I suddenly gave up.

I knew that when I called him, he must have already found out everything.

He deliberately didn't bring up those things in front of me, and didn't take this chance to push about marking me.

This kind of brother made my heart ache.

Just like how I chased after Alpha Damien.

My brother had always, always been my support.