After She Left, Both Men Regretted It

With a loud thud, Narissa’s body was forcefully knocked to the ground, causing the frame holding her mother’s moon-carved likeness to fall from her arms.

In the next moment, the frame shattered upon impact against the stone floor, scattering fragments of carved crystal across the den. Her and her mother’s image was left torn and scarred.

Tears welled up and streamed down her face. Her breath slowed as she stared at the broken carving, frozen in place. Desperately, she reached out, trembling, attempting to pick up the likeness from the broken shards. But before she could, Drake suddenly held her tightly, stopping her from moving.

His heart clenched as he saw her on the verge of breaking. He grabbed her trembling hand and pressed gentle kisses to her forehead, his voice shaky with concern, “Narissa, please don’t cry. It’s dangerous to touch the crystal, I promise you, the likeness will be fine.”

Narissa struggled desperately in his arms, her voice choked with emotion, “Let go of me! This is the only moon-carved likeness I have left of my mother, it’s mine!”

Drake quickly grasped her bloodied hand, his tone urgent, “Stop moving, your hand is hurt.”

Watching this, Evan was about to speak, when he noticed Liora reaching for the carving. In an instant, both of their expressions shifted.

As Liora reached for the likeness, a shard of crystal cut her hand deeply and blood began to flow. Drake immediately released Narissa, his face pale with concern as he grabbed Liora’s hand, his voice frantic, “Liora, you’re bleeding!”

Liora looked guilty, her face full of regret. “Narissa, I’ve been thinking about your mother’s kindness, so I kept the likeness by my bed, looking at it every day. I didn’t mean to take it.”

Narissa stared at Liora, her mind racing with disbelief. What had her mother ever done for them? The only thing they had ever taken from her was her father—and yet they shamelessly placed her mother’s moon-carving at their bedside. How could there be such cruel wolves in this world?

If her mother were to see this, how heartbroken she would be.

A deep sorrow settled in her heart, but no one seemed to notice. Evan wore a serious expression as he quickly called for the pack-healer to tend to Liora’s wound.

Liora, on the other hand, dismissed her bleeding hand with a soft, guilty smile. “It’s nothing. Just a little blood. As long as the likeness is fine, that’s all that matters.”

Everyone around her seemed overly concerned for Liora, asking if she was in pain. Meanwhile, Narissa bent down carefully to pick up the bloodied likeness. It was an old carving, the stone now stained with blood, and her mother’s face was partially obscured by the red marks that had seeped into it.

It felt just like the moment when her mother died in front of her. When she regained consciousness from the dazed state, she found herself cradled in her mother’s arms, her mother’s face already disfigured and covered in blood.

Her hands shook uncontrollably as her emotions completely broke down. Overcome with rage, she fainted on the spot.

Before losing consciousness, she saw two figures rushing toward her in a panic, but even as her eyes lost focus, no emotion stirred inside her.

When she finally woke up, she was met with Liora’s face, full of guilt. But the words that came from her mouth were in stark contrast to her expression. “Narissa, I was only trying to be kind, I didn’t mean to do it. You’re not mad at me, are you?”

Narissa remained silent, her face expressionless, while Liora smirked, dropping the pretense. “Narissa, do you see how easy it is to replace someone? This is just the beginning. I will make everyone who once loved you fall for me instead.”

Her eyes gleamed with determination. “Whether it’s Evan or Drake, they will both be mine.”

Narissa’s eyes grew empty, her gaze distant as she processed the words. She didn’t respond.

Liora’s smile deepened, laced with malice. “Do you know why Evan suddenly started treating you differently?”

Slowly, Narissa lifted her head, her gaze locking onto Liora with a sense of urgency. “Why?”

She needed to know why her brother no longer cared for her. Had she done something wrong? She would change if it meant he would still love her.

Liora, as though prepared for this moment, stirred the healing brew in her hand with a smug grin. “I had a priest of the Moon Shrine say that your fate is cursed. He said you bring misfortune to everyone around you. And he even claimed that your mother died because of you. So your brother believed him.”

Narissa’s body trembled and the numbness in her heart was replaced by a sharp, searing pain. No wonder her brother’s attitude had changed so suddenly and he kept his distance from her. It was all because he believed in those words, thinking that her mother’s death was caused by her.

Narissa tightened her fist, her eyes squeezed shut in unbearable pain.

During this time, Drake came to see her two or three times, but she remained silent. He would squat by her bed of woven furs, speaking softly, “Narissa, the healer said you’re overexerted. You mustn’t think too much. Liora was only concerned about you, which is why she took the likeness. I know you hate her because she is the daughter of your father and Wilde, but you’ll understand once you get to know her. She’s actually a very kind wolf.”

It was only when the likeness was mentioned that Narissa reacted.

Drake lowered his head and kissed Narissa’s cheek. “Narissa, Evan took the likeness to be fixed. I’ll come see you once I get back from my duties.”

Evan came to see her in the evening, holding the likeness that had been fixed. However, her mother’s face was already blurred. “Even though Liora tried her best to save the carving, it’s already too blurred.”

Narissa looked at the likeness, which no longer showed any recognizable features, and said softly, “Throw it away.”

Evan clenched the carving and looked at her with a shocked expression. “Narissa, Liora has worked so hard to save this carving.”

If it weren’t for the carving, there wouldn’t have been any trouble. But now she didn’t see the need to discuss it further because the situation had already unfolded.

However, she began to speak, her voice hoarse, “Evan, you think I caused Mom’s death, don’t you?”

The air was still and silent. Evan didn’t say anything, but she had already received her answer.

Narissa recalled how, after their mother’s death, some elders looked at her with disgust, saying, “Why did she survive the wolf attack while her mother died? I think she must have caused it.”

At that time, Evan had angrily reprimanded those who spoke ill of her, even turning against the elders over it. The seventeen-year-old him had frantically comforted her, “Don’t listen to them, it was just an accident, it’s not your fault. You’re my beloved sister and you always will be.”

Looking back now, everything felt like a dream.

At this moment, Elowen walked over, his face as dark as could be. “Nothing happened these past few moons while you were away, but the moment you return, everything turns into chaos. When will you ever be as obedient and sensible as Liora?”

As he spoke, Narissa remained silent.

Elowen looked at her with disappointment, as though she could never live up to his expectations. When he finished speaking, Narissa finally responded, “I’ll move out of here.”

Her mother had left her a territory and she no longer wanted to stay in this place.

It seemed that Evan understood what she was thinking. His expression briefly froze before he spoke, “Narissa, I’ve already asked Liora to start learning and getting hands-on experience with your lands.”