50%


    “What else has old Healer Eric told you two?” I demanded. I couldn’t believe the insubordination of such a seasoned professional.


    “Head Healer Eric is upset that Healer Amanda took over the Luna’s treatment,” the first nurse said.


    “He feels like it’s a p in the face to his craft,” the second nurse confirmed.


    I felt annoyance and anger bubbling inside me, and I muffled them quickly, desperate to stay even-tempered andposed.


    “First of all, Olivia is not my Luna,” I started. It felt good to say the words out loud, although I knew Olivia would be furious if she heard me say it. “Second, Healer Eric was brilliant when he was younger, but as he’s aged, he’s lost his drive. Instead of improving, his healing abilities have declined, despite his experience. He’s been coasting by on his title alone for years. That’s


    exactly why I brought in Healer Amanda at such a high sry.”


    The nurses were silent, but they nodded quickly in understanding.


    “If you ever spread such offensive, baseless rumors as these again, mark my words,” I said, “you will be fired that very day.”


    I saw the nurses shrink under my presence. It was an effect of being the Alpha that I’d epted long ago. I couldn’t deny that it


    often worked in my favor.


    “We’re so sorry, Alpha,” the first nurse said. “It will never happen again.”


    “I’m sorry, Healer Amanda,” the second nurse said.


    Then they scurried away.


    I looked at Healer Amanda, admiring herposure.


    “Thanks,” she said, her voice curt, “but I can handle these situations myself.”


    She turned back to her clipboard, busying herself with work.


    She looked as solid as a rock, as if nothing could break her. This was yet another way she was different from Amber.


    Amber was fragile and dependent, always craving my attention, anxious and fearful over even a careless word from me. But Healer Amanda didn’t care about me, even I’m the pack’s Alpha


    And then there was the scar on her face. Amber had no scars.


    “How’d you get your scar?” I asked, unable to hold my curiosity in any longer.


    “An antisocial patient,” Healer Amanda replied without looking up


    She clearly didn’t want to talk to me, or even see me. I wished she would meet my eyes again.


    “Alpha, there are a lot of contagious diseases in the hospital. You should go. For your own safety.”


    WAMY 50%


    I’d stood up for Healer Amanda. I’d cleared up any rumor of indecency between us. Why did she seem to hate me even more now? Beta and I returned to the car. Olivia had been driven back to her house to continue her daily duties, and we were headed back topany headquarters.


    I turned to Beta.


    “I want you to investigate Healer Amanda,” I said. “She rejects every interaction I try to instigate with her. I want to know why. I


    want to know if she has a secret.”


    “A secret?” Beta asked, taking notes on his phone. “Can you be more specific? If you have suspicions, they’d be good to know.”


    “Yes,” I said. “I want to know her rtionship to Amber.”


    Amber’s POV


    I returned home exhausted after a long, busy week of work.


    Earlier in the day, Noah had observed a surgery I performed, as I’d promised him. I’d exined each step, and he’d watched intently. Afterward, he must have thanked me hundreds of times.


    His enthusiasm reminded me of my own passion for medicine, back when I was in medical school. I’d had no money then, nor any wolf. The reason I pursued a medical degree was for curing Grandma.


    I’d dreamt of healing Grandma’s bond with her wolf. After years of hard work, the stability of their bond had be shaky. This imbnce meant that Grandma aged more rapidly and became ill more often.


    I told Noah my story, along with the reality of my guilt. Now that I’d be a Healer and knew how to heal Grandma, she was long gone.


    The guilt wracked me, along with the grief I still felt about Grandma’s passing.


    “Wow,” Noah had said, “you’re an incredible doctor, Healer Amanda.”


    He’d looked at me with even more admiration than when we’d first met. I simply smiled in response to his praise, although it left me with an extra glow of pride around my aching heart.


    My bubble of pride burst as soon as I opened the door to the house. Inside I was greeted with a terrible mess, as though the house had been ransacked. The throw pillows from the living room were shredded, stuffing strewn across the floor, and Alice’s toys were in various states of destruction.


    Alice was nowhere to be found.


    Panic coursed through my bones, closing up my throat so it was hard to breathe. I began tearing through the house myself, searching for my daughter. Where was she?


    I called her name over and over as I searched every nook and cranny, finally opening a closet door.


    Inside sat Alice. Blood crossed her face, and dripped from her lips.


    12:35 PM Tue 26 Aug