3

The next morning, I woke to find the space beside me empty, as if no one had slept there at all.

During breakfast, Ethan kept glancing my way.

He wore an expression of complete innocence and hurt.

After we finished eating, he finally spoke up.

"Selene, there's an auction tonight. They say a rare healing stone called the Moonflower Stone will be available. It might be able to cure your blindness. Let's go check it out."

I hesitated for a moment. Since losing my sight, I hadn't attended any such events.

I agreed, and Ethan's previous concerns instantly vanished.

For the rest of the day, he arranged stylists and various clothes and jewelry for me.

"Selene, you'll definitely be the most beautiful woman there tonight."

I smiled faintly and turned away to send Eric a message: "Come get me tonight."

The auction that evening was bustling with activity.

The bidding for the Moonflower Stone was intense, with the Alpha of another pack even calling out a staggering price of 50 million dollars.

Ethan squeezed my hand, saying he would bid any amount to get it for me. Without hesitation, he called out 100 million dollars.

Everyone was shocked, whispering about how the Alpha of the Storm Pack truly loved his mate.

But no one expected another bidder to offer 150 million dollars.

Ethan pretended to look troubled as he told me that 150 million dollars would be difficult for the entire pack to bear.

I laughed coldly inside. He didn't know I could see that the person who won the Moonflower Stone was his Beta, James.

After winning the bid, James immediately gave the stone to Cassie, saying it was a gift from the Alpha for her child.

Ethan hugged me with false guilt, saying, "Little wolf, I'll definitely find an even better healing stone for you next time. I promise I'll cure your eyes."

I pretended not to know anything, showing an understanding smile, saying it was okay, that I didn't need the Moonflower Stone.

In my mind, I was counting down the time. Eric should arrive in about two hours to take me away.

As the auction was nearing its end, a sudden loud bang erupted.

An explosion occurred in the center of the venue, sending silver fragments flying everywhere.

The wolf pack instantly panicked, scattering in all directions.

Ethan's first instinct was to rush to Cassie, shielding her in his arms.

My wolf, though awakened, was still weak. I couldn't dodge in time and was slashed by a large silver shard, blood flowing freely.

I was in too much pain to get up. I wasn't sure if it was physical pain or emotional, but my wolf was almost uncontrollable.

In the last second before I lost consciousness,

I saw Ethan holding Cassie, anxiously checking if she was injured.

While I lay alone on the floor, completely ignored. My consciousness gradually faded away.

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed.

I moved my eyes slightly and felt some pain.

But the conversation outside my room was more horrifying than the pain in my eyes.

It was the healer speaking.

"Alpha, it seems like Luna's eyes are showing signs of recovery. We'll need to do further examinations to determine if complete healing is possible."

But surprisingly, Ethan wasn't happy at all. Instead, he was furiously scolding the healer.

"I pay you this much money, and you're completely useless? You can't control her recovery? I'm only asking you to maintain her current condition—is that harder than healing her?"

"I went through so much trouble convincing Selene to drink all those herbs, specifically to damage her optic nerves, to make her feel insecure about her blindness so she wouldn't leave me."

Perhaps realizing his voice was too loud, he lowered it, but still couldn't contain his anger.

"I made so many efforts, even spent ten million dollars on an enchanted engagement ring with tracking magic to monitor Selene's movements. All to keep her by my side, to ensure she couldn't have children, so Cassie's baby would become the heir to my pack!"

As he spoke, Ethan grabbed the healer by the collar, yanking him forward.

"And now you're telling me that all my work might be ruined? If Selene recovers from her blindness, I'll banish you from the pack!"

Hearing this, I clenched my fists so tightly my nails drew blood from my palms.

No wonder my eyes, which were never severely injured, had remained blind for three years. Three years I had struggled in darkness.

Three years ago, during an attack by rogue wolves, I had protected Ethan. My wolf fell into hibernation, and my eyes were injured, causing blindness.

He told me the herbs were an ancient remedy he had discovered by traveling to many territories, searching for a cure for my blindness.

After my wolf went dormant, I lost my healing abilities and my keen sense of smell. I couldn't identify herbs anymore, but I trusted him completely.

Until recently, when I felt nauseated by the herbs but didn't want to hurt his feelings, I secretly spat them out when he wasn't looking.

And as soon as I stopped taking the medicine, my eyes coincidentally began to heal.

Outside my door, Ethan was still arguing with the doctor.

Because of my supposed blindness, Ethan had called a meeting with all the hospital specialists.

During this meeting, Eric arrived at the healing center, handing me a small bottle.

"Darling, this is a potion that can sever mate bonds," he whispered. "It will take effect three hours after you drink it."

"Come with me, my Chief Healer."

Without hesitation, I tilted my head back and drank the entire bottle.

I shed my hospital gown, changing into the clothes Eric had brought, and together we walked boldly out of the healing center.

When we neared the border, Eric shifted into his wolf form—a massive black beast with piercing amber eyes. He crouched low, motioning for me to climb onto his back.

I slid onto his fur, feeling the powerful muscles beneath me as he carried me through the forest, racing rapidly toward the Shadow Pack territory.