Hearing Seraphina agree, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They instinctively tried to be nicer to her, but having focused all their affection on Lyra for so long, their attempts felt clumsy and awkward.

Her mother cut a piece of roasted meat for her, forcing a smile. "Phina, eat more. You've gotten so thin lately."

Her father, nudged by her mother, picked up a bowl and served her some stew. "Yes, eat up. I remember you like this, right? Here, eat it while it's hot."

Ever since Lyra had framed her, Seraphina had not received a single ounce of affection from her parents.

She didn't expose their lie—there wasn't a single dish on the table that she actually liked.

She simply accepted the bowl of stew and ate it, spoonful by spoonful.

The stew was already cold, just like her heart, which was long past the point of being warmed again.

Just then, Lyra spoke, her eyes glistening with tears of gratitude. "Sister, thank you so much. I don't know how I can ever repay you for this…"

The soft cloth Damian had been holding finally found its use.

He wiped away Lyra's tears, his voice gentle. "Don't talk about repayment. This is what Phina owes you. After the life-transfer…"

Seraphina didn't let him finish. She placed her wooden bowl on the table and stood up. "I'm full. Enjoy your meal."

She turned and walked away.

She hadn't gone far when she heard Leo speak in the Primordial Tongue again. [Father, Mother is so rude. She has no manners.]

This time, Damian's tone was stern. [She is your mother. How dare you speak of her like that?]

To Seraphina's surprise, Lyra then spoke in a soft, gentle voice, also in the Primordial Tongue. [Leo, your mother is just a bit free-spirited. Don't say such things about her.]

When did Lyra learn the Primordial Tongue?

Seraphina smirked, unsure if she felt more bitterness or irony.

Not long after she returned to her stone house, Damian followed.

Seeing her somber expression, he came over and put his arm around her, his voice gentle. "Phina, I know asking you to give your life for Lyra is unfair to you. Lyra is fragile, so it's natural for Father and Mother to dote on her more, but you still have me and Leo."

"You must remember, no matter what happens, we are by your side."

Seraphina looked at him calmly.

A life-transfer. Her life for Lyra's, while she suffered through the agony of rebirth by soulfire.

And he called it merely "unfair?"

She pushed Damian away. "If you had the chance to give your life for Lyra, would you do it?"

Damian answered without a second of hesitation. "Of course, I would!"

"Willingly?"

"Yes, willingly!"

His words hung in the sudden silence of the room.

Damian stared into Seraphina's emotionless eyes for a moment before he seemed to realize what he'd said. "Phina, my willingness to do it for Lyra isn't because of her, it's because of you!"

"If I could take this suffering in your place, I would gladly do it!"

Seraphina's voice was flat. "If you pity me so much, why not just let me avoid the suffering altogether?"

Damian was taken aback. "But… this is what you owe Lyra…"

Seraphina remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she nodded. "Yes. I owe her."

All those years ago, her parents had found a barely breathing Lyra, and just because she pointed a finger at her, they believed she was the culprit.

They brought it up so many times that eventually, even Damian believed it without question.

Seraphina took a deep breath and started walking towards the door.

Damian, confused, followed her. "Phina, where are you going?"

"I want to see the human world," she said without stopping.

After all, in five days, she would never be able to leave Wolfhowl Peak again.

Damian took her hand. "I'll go with you."

Seraphina paused. Many years ago, after their Mating Ceremony, they had gone to the human world together, living as an ordinary couple in a small town for decades.

Fine. Let him accompany her back to that place, and let him watch as she forgot those memories, too.

But as they were about to leave the pack's territory, Lyra called out to them. "Sister, Damian, where are you two going?"

Lyra had always called Damian by his name. Seraphina had corrected her a few times at first, but her parents had gotten annoyed. "Let her call him what she wants. It's not like she's going to steal your mate, is she?"

And now, Lyra was doing just that, but no one was scolding her. No one thought she was wrong.

Damian answered, "To the human world."

Lyra immediately latched onto his arm. "I want to go too! I'm so bored here. I've never been to the human world. Please, take me with you?"

Damian was torn. "Your health…"

Lyra's eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up.

Damian sighed and looked at Seraphina. "Phina, maybe we should take Lyra with us?"

Seraphina's expression was neutral. "And if something happens to her, will that be my fault too?"

"How could it be? As long as we take good care of her, nothing will happen," Damian insisted.

Seraphina didn't want to argue anymore. "As you wish."

With that, she cast a teleportation spell and vanished.

In the human world, there was a place called "Twin Moon Town."

At the center of the town was an ancient stone bridge, and at its end stood an "Oathstone," where lovers would carve their vows of eternal love.

When Seraphina and Damian had lived there as a human couple, they had stood on that bridge, hand in hand, shifting into their wolf forms under the moonlight and howling to the moon, declaring each other as lifelong mates.

"Damian's wolf soul will be bound to Seraphina's for all eternity."

The vow still echoed in her ears, but everything had changed.

Seraphina turned her head and saw Damian helping Lyra stand by the bridge not far away.

Lyra spoke in the Primordial Tongue. [Damian, I want to make a wish to be with you forever.]

Damian only hesitated for a second before smiling gently at her. [Alright. Then I'll make a wish too. I wish for Lyra to be healthy and free from pain.]

Then, together, they carved their new vow onto the Oathstone.

Seraphina watched, her hands clenching into fists.

The next second, without hesitation, she found the vow she and Damian had carved all those years ago.

A searing flame ignited in her palm.

At the same time, the Mark of the Moon on her forehead blazed to life—

As the carved vow melted into ash in the fire, the beautiful memories she and Damian had made in this town vanished completely from her mind.