Chapter 4
Selene was powerless under Moira’s furious blows. Her mother’s fists rained down relentlessly, only stopping when a strong pair of arms lifted Selene from the bed. Cedric finally restrained Moira, pulling her aside with a harsh whisper.
Cedric turned, visibly surprised to see Thorne standing there. “Thorne? What brings you here?”
“I heard Marina’s condition has worsened,” Thorne replied calmly. “I wanted to see her myself. You can relax now I’ve secured the final arrangements for the Soul–Binding Ritual Marina will recover completely once it’s performed.”
Moira abruptly ceased her sobbing, eyes wide with sudden hope. “Is this true? Have you truly found a solution? Marina will survive?”
Thorne’s expression remained steady, reassuring. “I’ve arranged everything. The Elders have granted permission, and I’ll personally oversee the ritual. Marina will be safe.”
Selene shivered involuntarily at his words, then laughed bitterly at her own reaction
After Cedric led Moira away, Thorne held Selene closer, noticing how her body radiated intense heat from fever. He gently carried her into a separate room, covering her with a soft wool blanket and bringing fresh water.
Lying quietly on the bed, Selene watched as Thorne checked her temperature. His brow furrowed deeply when the thermometer registered a troubling reading.
“You have a fever of 41 degrees,” he murmured, concerned. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Selene curled tighter beneath the blanket, her voice edged with sarcasm. “How could I trouble the great Alpha Thorne? The brilliant healer who never imagined someone might get sick after three hours barefoot in freezing temperatures.”
It wasn’t ignorance, she thought bitterly. He simply didn’t care–not about her, at least. His concern had always been about her heart,
never her health.
Thorne paused, his expression clouding with regret. Quietly, he whispered words Selene almost didn’t catch. “I’m sorry.”
She dismissed it as a hallucination caused by fever.
He sat beside her bed, gently taking her burning hand into his own, his voice low and earnest. “I’m truly sorry. I promise you, after this ritual is complete, things will be different. We’ll finally live the life you deserve. Anything you wish, I’ll grant it. I swear, Selene, I’ll love you properly.”
She didn’t meet his gaze. Silently, she withdrew her hand from his grasp.
The IV drip flowed throughout the night, and by morning, Selene’s condition had slightly improved. Thorne didn’t return to the clinic; Instead, he remained by her side, handing her bitter medicine and then orange juice to ease its harsh taste.
“How long until I recover?” Selene asked flatly.
Thome considered carefully before answering, “Usually, a cold like this lasts seven days. But you have a severe fever, so perhaps around ten.”
“Will it delay Marina’s Soul–Binding Ritual?” Selene asked casually, as though speaking about something trivial.
Thorne stared at her, deeply unsettled by her indifference. When he didn’t immediately reply, she continued calmly, “It doesn’t matter if I recover, does it? After the ritual, I won’t be allve anyway. Does a fever even matter then?”
The brutality of her words was delivered with unsettling calm, each syllable cutting sharper than a blade.
Thorne fell an unexpected ache in his chest. He insisted quietly, “I want you healthy when you go through with this. I won’t accept anything less.”
Selene couldn’t fathom the meaning behind his insistence. Healthy or not, the outcome wouldn’t change–she wouldn’t survive the ritual.
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Cedric entered, holding an official document. With cold detachment, he dropped the
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heavy folder onto her bed.
“As you requested, Marina’s shares have been fully transferred to you,” he stated icily.
Selene opened it slowly. Combined with her own holdings, she now controlled twenty percent–enough for a significant voice on the family council. Satisfied, she signed the papers swiftly.
After everyone departed, Selene immediately contacted her lawyer. “I need to discuss my will.”
Her lawyer arrived alongside Lydia, her best friend, Lydia burst into tears at the sight of Selene–frail, pale, and vulnerable on the bed.
“Those bastards!” Lydia seethed, furious tears streaming down her cheeks. “They’re monsters! How dare they do this to you? I’ll confront them myself!”
Selene stopped her gently, Lydia had always stood unwaveringly by Selene’s side, a rare constant amid years filled with cruelty: Without Lydia, Selene might never have survived to see this day, Lydia was also the only person aside from Thorne who knew about her Blood–Wish and her forced destiny.
Now, Selene explained everything openly, including her intention to move forward with a new life once this sacritice ended.
“So you’re finally breaking free from Thorne Blackridge, that utter scum?” Lydia asked hopefully.
Selene nodded. Lydia stood up, eyes bright with relief. “Finally! That damn pact is doing something decent for once. You should’ve left Thorne ages ago! Let him suffer without you.”
Selene managed a faint smile, then turned seriously to her lawyer. “I want to transfer all my shares, assets, and my business entirely to Lydia Gale. Any remaining cash should be donated to children in the mountains.”
The lawyer wasn’t surprised, though formalities demanded he ask: “What about your family?”
“Nothing for them,” Selene replied without hesitation.
Lydia’s eyes glistened with tears. “I’ll only hold these temporarily. Once your new identity is established, I’ll give everything back to you. Promise me you’ll return.”
Selene nodded warmly, gently wiping the tears from Lydia’s cheeks.
At that moment, Thorne entered, overhearing Lydia’s final words. His expression turned wary “Return from where?”
Selene quickly composed herself, calmly responding, “I was telling Lydia I’d travel abroad once my health improves. She’s upset that I’ll be away and asked me to bring her something special.”
Thorne studied her silently, suspicion briefly flickering in his eyes before fading away. The healers want you checked again soon,” he sald quietly,
Selene felt relief as he personally accompanied her to the healers‘ chamber. She knew this examination wasn’t about her fever–it was to confirm her heart’s readiness for the ritual.
Exiting the examination room, she unexpectedly encountered Marina, seated elegantly in a wheelchair, Her delicate figure was wrapped loosely in a gown, her face ethereal yet fragile, radiating an air of vulnerable beauty.
“Selene,” Marina called softly, her voice gentle and Innocent, “Thorne says they’ve finalized arrangements for my Soul–Binding Ritual. Aren’t you glad?”
Selene gazed into Marina’s bright, seemingly innocent eyes–eyes hiding depths of cunning cruelty. Could Marina truly be unaware? “Of course I’m glad,” Selene replied, smiling genuinely. “Very glad.”
Surprised at Selene’s composure, Marina frowned slightly. Casually, she raised a hand to adjust her hair, deliberately flashing a slender finger bearing a familiar ring–Identical to the one Thorne wore.
Selene’s gaze fixed pointedly on the matching ring.
Marina hastily removed it, feigning embarrassment. “Oh, I’m so sorry–this was a welcome–back gift from Thorne. It didn’t mean
Chapter 4
anything. I usually wear it on my middle finger, but my hands are swollen from illness. That’s why it’s on my ring finger. Please don’t misunderstand.”
Selene simply smiled softly, the bitterness long faded into quiet resignation.
“Don’t worry,” she said calmly. “I understand perfectly.”
Chapter 4
