Chapter 3

3.

When I woke up again, the pack infirmary was blindingly white.

My right leg was in a cast, and my forehead was wrapped in bandages.

My werewolf healing ability was slowly repairing the damage, but I smelled something else.

Silver.

I smelled the lingering scent of silver on my wounds. The bumper of that car had been coated with it.

This was no accident.

From outside the door, Chloe’s crying drifted in. "Aiden, I really didn't mean to! She just rushed out suddenly! I was so scared... I feel so unsafe right now..."

Unsafe.

That was the keyword to trigger the Blood Oath.

"Shh, stop crying." Aiden’s voice was so gentle it could drip water, completely devoid of his usual Alpha authority. "I'm here. You'll be fine. The oath expires in two weeks. Until then, I won't let anyone hurt you."

I forced a dry, painful smile.

She smashed me with a car, and he was comforting her.

I propped myself up, leaning against the wall for support, and shoved the door open.

Outside, Chloe was leaning into Aiden’s chest. When she saw me, a flicker of triumphant malice flashed in her eyes before being masked by innocent tears.

Aiden froze. He let go of Chloe and walked over quickly to support me. "Clara, why are you out of bed? The doctor said you need rest."

I dodged his hand. My gaze locked onto Chloe.

"The car was coated in silver. That wasn't an accident."

The air instantly solidified.

Aiden’s expression stiffened. Silver is lethal to werewolves. Anyone who knew my identity wouldn't "accidentally" use silver to hurt me.

"No! That's not true!" Chloe shrieked. "I didn't know there was silver on the car! Someone must have messed with it when I got it repaired! Aiden, you believe me, right? How could I hurt Clara..."

Her tears fell like broken pearls, and her whole body trembled.

Aiden’s eyes shifted between me and Chloe.

I saw the struggle in his gaze. He wanted to believe me, but the pressure of the Blood Oath terrified him.

If he publicly questioned Chloe within the oath’s timeframe without absolute proof, the oath could backlash on the entire pack.

"Clara," he finally said, his voice strained. "I'll have people investigate this. But before we have solid evidence..."

"Before that, you choose to believe her," I finished his sentence for him.

"It's not about believing or not believing!" Aiden raised his voice. "The Blood Oath expires in two weeks. Before that, I can't―"

"Can't what? Can't trust your own mate?" I sneered. "Aiden, your oaths and your guilt have blinded you."

I turned to Chloe. "You want an apology? I can wait for the investigation results. But if the evidence proves you did it on purpose..."

"Are you threatening me?" Chloe screamed. "Aiden! She's threatening me! I feel unsafe!"

That damn keyword.

Aiden’s face changed. The terms of the Blood Oath began to activate. I saw faint black veins surfacing on the back of his hand―the sign of the curse beginning to erode him.

"Clara, enough." His voice turned ice cold. "Until the investigation results are out, you are not allowed to approach Chloe. That is an order."

I stared at the black veins on his hand. My wolf let out a sorrowful whimper.

For three years, this oath had been an invisible chain, binding Aiden and the entire pack at Chloe’s feet. And I could never compete with it.

"Fine," I took a deep breath. "Then let's wait for the results."

Over the next few days, Aiden did send people to investigate the accident.

But all the evidence had been wiped clean. The surveillance cameras at the repair shop were "conveniently" broken. The worker who applied the silver paint didn't exist.

Chloe came to the infirmary every day to "visit" me, tearfully apologizing. But she couldn't hide the smugness in her eyes.

Aiden was caught in the middle, stressed and exhausted.

He wasn't stupid. He knew deep down that things weren't simple. But the oath had ten days left.

Just survive these ten days, and everything will be fine. That was his thought process.

On the fourth night, he came to my ward.

"Clara," he held my hand, his palm rough with calluses from battle. "Just wait ten more days. Once the oath is lifted, I will investigate this thoroughly and give you justice. I swear."

Another oath.

"Aiden," I looked at his tired face, my voice soft. "Have you ever thought that for the past three years, every time you asked me to 'wait,' you were burning through my trust in you?"

He fell silent.

"Your oaths, your guilt, your debt to Marcus... I understand," I continued. "But I am not an object that can be shelved indefinitely. My love, my waiting... they have limits too."

"I know." He lowered his head. "Ten days. Just ten days."

I didn't answer.

That night, I lay alone in the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time.

My wolf had stopped whimpering. She just curled up deep in my soul, quiet like a wounded beast.

I knew it was time to make a decision.