ked open for the s

instead, a young girl stood there, holding a tray

to eat," Lena spat, he

and crouched before her,

un

na," Lena snapped

you refuse, the worse my punishment will be. I'm responsible f

operly looking at her. The girl'

pression

r shoes-to fear the wrath of a head m

surfaced, stinging like old wounds. If she were still there

eyond anything she ha

she dragged the tray c

retched be

you a bath and show you yo

a f

ispered, her voice b

r had a room

answer, a sharp voice

n't be n

filling the space with authority. Mili

is you

ord," she answe

ith me to the healer," Cedric s

ed before glanci

uffy cheeks. The raw, u

like the wa

ord," Milicent whispe

-

em. As they left the Alpha's castle, Lena

her while Cedric walke

street was lined with elegant homes, far grander than anything she had seen in the Crimson Moon Pack. Even the houses on the ou

building, the sign above its entrance re

rd, they ste

air. A beautiful woman, busy attending to

her, a cold shiver

t w

ealed her fate with Alph

n remained unreadable

y humble home?" she asked,

wallow

check-up," Ce

pulled bac

ence fell o

ir sh

's house turned toward

stead, she turned away and be

th me,"

ollowe

e room was dim. The air reeked

heets. Wooden shelves filled with vial

he heale

no choice. She moved forward and lowered herse

. Her sharp eyes scanned

t. Turned it over. The

ent g

the wound. "This should have heale

's nothing strange about it," she s

. Like she knew so

exactly wh

stiff

, fingers moving over different bottles. She p

irled the vial. "Your mother made sure of it. The

stomach

ea what the h

back to her. Sharp

really think sealing yo

"I don't know what you'

. "I am no witch, girl. I am a healer. And you, as

idn't

d closer. "Wher

ned. She hesitated.

art... tearing into shreds." Her hand clutched he

new exactly what that me

orked t

ri

n't trust anything

you want to live in this pack, you'll nee

hesit

ched. Her wrist burned.

just

ngers trembling. She

e liquid touc

i

at shot thro

ack arched. The pa

ushed forw

ust watched.

red. Her breath ca

happeni

ss cre

th

ing wen