Chapter 2
1032words
Six days.
My finger slid across the calendar on my phone, one less day on the countdown. The bonding ceremony would still be held in the Northern Territory, while the scales of fate slowly tilted.
I got up and changed into a simple white dress. As the best healer in the Northern Territory, I should visit Vivian—both courtesy and professional responsibility demanded it.
The woman in the mirror stared back with determined eyes, shadowed by dark circles. It had been ages since I'd had a decent night's sleep.
My phone buzzed with a message from Dominic: "Vivian wants to see you. Says she's sorry. Mother's at the hospital too and wants to talk."
My heart sank. Evelyn Blackwood, the esteemed matriarch of the Northern Wolves, had always kept a polite but unmistakable distance from her son's destined mate.
"Heading to the hospital now," I replied, my fingers hovering over the screen before I hit send without adding anything else.
The Northern Hospital perched on a hillside, its white buildings gleaming in the sunlight. I walked into the lobby, greeted by respectful nods from the nurses.
"Healer Silverstone," the receptionist smiled. "Miss Blackwood is on the third floor."
As the elevator climbed, I steeled myself. No matter what Vivian said, I wouldn't let my heart soften again. This time, I needed to stand firm.
I pushed open the hospital room door to find Dominic sitting beside the bed, holding Vivian's hand. Evelyn stood by the window, her elegant silhouette backlit by sunlight.
"Aria." Dominic stood, his voice hoarse. "Thanks for coming."
I nodded, my gaze falling on Vivian. Her bandaged wrists rested on pristine sheets, golden hair fanned across the pillow like a carefully staged portrait.
"Darling," Evelyn glided over and embraced me lightly, her expensive perfume enveloping me. "Thank you so much for coming."
Her embrace, like her smile, was perfect but hollow. I returned it politely, feeling Vivian's smug gaze on us.
"I'll grab some coffee," Dominic said, brushing his lips against my forehead. "You ladies talk."
After the door closed, the room fell silent. Evelyn perched on the edge of the bed, stroking Vivian's hair with undisguised affection.
"The doctor says she needs a quiet, comfortable environment to recover," Evelyn began, her voice gentle but brooking no argument. "We've decided she should stay at your place temporarily."
I looked up sharply. "What?"
"Just temporarily, darling," she smiled. "Dominic's apartment is too small, and my house is being renovated."
Vivian gazed at me with feigned weakness. "I'm really sorry to impose, Aria. If it's too much trouble…"
"Of course it's no problem," I answered mechanically, my professional smile firmly in place. "We have a guest room."
"About that," Evelyn continued, "the doctor suggested she needs abundant sunshine and absolute quiet."
I immediately caught her meaning, my heart sinking. "You mean my room."
My carefully designed studio and bedroom, with large south-facing windows that bathed the space in sunlight, walls lined with my precious herb specimens.
"Just temporarily," Evelyn repeated. "For Vivian's health, you understand."
I looked at Vivian, catching a flash of satisfaction in her eyes before she quickly adopted a pitiful expression. "If it's too much trouble, I could stay here…"
Just then, Dominic returned with coffee. "How's everything going?"
"We're discussing Vivian's recovery arrangements," Evelyn said. "Aria is being wonderfully understanding."
Dominic looked at me questioningly. I knew he was waiting for my response, expecting me to compromise as usual.
"My studio…" I began, my voice weaker than I'd intended.
"Just for a few days, babe," Dominic said, moving to my side. "Once Vivian's better, you'll get your space back."
I looked into his tired eyes, wanting to tell him the truth—how shallow Vivian's wounds really were, how transparent her performance was.
But I only said, "I need my research materials."
"Of course," Evelyn quickly interjected. "You can move them to the study. Dominic's study is quite spacious, isn't it?"
Dominic nodded, shooting his mother a grateful look. "Yeah, you can use my study."
I felt suffocated, bound by invisible ropes. They'd already decided everything, and my opinion meant nothing.
"I should go," I stood up. "I have patients waiting."
Dominic looked disappointed but nodded. "I'll walk you out."
In the hallway, he gripped my hand. "Thanks for understanding, Aria. This means a lot to Vivian."
"Her wounds are shallow," I said bluntly. "They'll heal in days. Why does she need to move into our home?"
Dominic frowned. "The doctor says her mental state is fragile. She needs family around her."
"Then why my room?" I pressed, my voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
"Because it gets the best light," he explained. "You know how important sunlight is for recovery."
I took a deep breath, reining in my emotions. "What about my research? I need those herb specimens."
"I'll help you move everything to the study," he promised. "After the bonding ceremony, we can design a bigger workshop for you."
The bonding ceremony. That ever-distant promise. I gave a bitter smile but said nothing.
"Aria," he cupped my face, "it's just for a few days, okay? For me."
I looked into his pleading amber eyes. Once, I couldn't refuse any request from those eyes.
I finally relented. "But I need to organize my materials today."
He smiled with relief and kissed my forehead. "Thank you. I love you."
As I left the hospital, I heard a familiar laugh. Around the corner, Vivian's door stood ajar, and she was on the phone.
"The plan is working perfectly," she said smugly. "He totally bought it. I'll be in her precious studio by tonight—it's absolutely perfect."
I froze, my heart turning to ice. The naked truth stood revealed.
"The best part," Vivian continued, "is that as long as I need him, he'll never complete that stupid bond."
My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms.
The pain kept me clear-headed and hardened my resolve.
Back home, I sat alone in the study, staring at the invitation from the Southern Forest.
Without hesitation, I clicked "Accept."
