Lily Carter POV
The young pup’s scream split the morning air as I knelt beside him in the nursery. Blood poured from a deep gash on his leg where he’d fallen on broken glass. Without thinking, I pressed my hands against the cut and closed my eyes, focusing like Elder Iris had taught .
Heat flowed from my hands into the little boy’s injury. When I opened my eyes seconds later, the blood had stopped and the cut was already closing. The pup blinked up at in wonder.
"How did you do that?" he whispered.
Before I could explain about basic oga healing skills, footsteps rushed into the nursery. Three pack mothers stood in the doorway, their faces pale with fear. Behind them lurked Luna, her eyes sparkling with sothing that made my stomach twist.
"I saw the whole thing," Luna announced loudly. "Lily used dark magic to heal that wound instantly. No normal oga can do that."
"It’s not dark magic," I protested, standing up quickly. "It’s just traditional healing. Elder Iris taught —"
"Elder Iris teaches herb dicine," one of the mothers interrupted, backing away from . "Not magic that closes wounds with a touch."
The other mothers grabbed their children, pulling them away from like I was dangerous. The little boy I’d just helped looked confused as his mother scooped him up.
"Mama, Lily fixed my hurt," he said simply.
"Shh," his mother whispered, shooting a scared glance. "Don’t talk about it."
Luna stepped forward with fake worry on her face. "I’m worried about you, Lily. Using illegal magic could put the whole pack in danger. Maybe you should talk to Alpha Marcus about this."
"There’s nothing to talk about!" My voice ca out louder than I ant. "I was helping a hurt child. That’s what pack mbers do for each other."
But the mothers were already leaving, whispering hurriedly among themselves. Luna followed them out, and I heard her voice carrying back: "I’ve seen her do other strange things too. The way her mark glows, how she knew about the rogue attack before it happened..."
Left alone in the empty nursery, I sank onto a small chair made for children. My hands shook as I stared at them. Had I really done sothing wrong? The healing had felt normal, like breathing. But the fear in those moms’ eyes said otherwise.
Over the next few days, Luna’s poison spread through the pack like wildfire. Conversations stopped when I walked by. Pack mbers crossed to the other side of roads to avoid . Even the children I’d cared for in the nursery seed scared to co near .
During lunch in the main hall, I sat alone at a table while other pack mbers clustered together, throwing nervous glances in my way. Their whispered words drifted over: "She made that wound disappear like it never happened."
"My cousin said she can read thoughts. That’s how she knew about the rogues."
"Dark power runs in families. Maybe her grandmother taught her more than plants."
"What if she cursed the Alpha’s sons to think they’re her mates?"
Each word felt like a knife in my heart. I pushed away my unfinished food, no longer hungry. Across the room, Luna sat with a group of beta females, chatting in low, urgent tones. Every few words, they’d look my way and nod seriously.
I stood to leave, but Luna’s voice rose just loud enough for everyone to hear: "I’m just saying, we should be careful. Forbidden magic corrupts the person. She might not even know how dangerous she’s becoming."
The hall fell silent. Everyone stared at , their faces showing mixtures of fear, suspicion, and sorrow. Heat burned my cheeks as I rushed toward the exit.
"Lily, wait." Caleb appeared at my side, his hand gentle on my arm.
"Did you hear what they’re saying about ?" I whispered, not trusting my voice to stay steady.
"I heard lies and fear," he said firmly. "What you did for that pup was beautiful. You have a gift, not a curse."
"A gift that’s scaring everyone away from ." I looked around the silent hall. "Maybe Luna’s right. Maybe I am dangerous."
"Hey, look at ." Caleb turned my face toward his. "You are not scary. You’re powerful, and so people fear power they don’t understand."
But even as he spoke comfort, I could see doubt coming into his eyes. Not question about , but worry about what this ant for our future. How could he be with soone the pack feared?
That evening, Elder Iris found hiding in the yard behind the Alpha house. I was crying into my knees, feeling more alone than ever.
"Child, what’s troubling you?" She sat beside on the stone bench.
"Everyone thinks I’m using dark magic," I sobbed. "They’re afraid of . Maybe they’re right to be."
"Show what you did for the injured pup," Elder Iris said softly.
I hesitated, then put my hands on a wilted flower nearby. Warmth flowed through , and the flower straightened, its blooms bright and healthy again.
Elder Iris gulped, but not in fear. In awe.
"Lily, this isn’t illegal magic. This is the ancient skill of the True Healers. It’s been lost to our pack for generations."
"Then why is everyone so scared?"
"Because they’ve forgotten what real oga power looks like." Her voice grew serious. "But child, you must be careful. There are those who would use this fear against you."
As if summoned by her words, Luna erged from behind a nearby tree. "I knew I’d find you practicing your dark arts," she said triumphantly.
"Luna, you don’t understand—" I started.
"I understand perfectly." Luna’s voice held the authority of soone used to being obeyed. "You’ve been deceiving everyone, making them think you’re just a harmless oga while secretly practicing forbidden magic."
"That’s not true!"
"Isn’t it?" Luna stepped closer, her eyes cold. "You caused the Triple Moon mark to appear on your wrist. You used magic to make the Alpha’s kids think they care about you. And now you’re corrupting our pack with your dark skills."
"Stop," Elder Iris said sharply, but Luna ignored her.
"I’ve called a pack eting for tomorrow night," Luna stated. "The pack deserves to know what kind of creature they’re housing. They deserve to decide if you should be banished before you kill us all."
My blood turned to ice. Pack etings could vote on major choices, including exile. If Luna had convinced enough dogs that I was dangerous...
"You can’t do this," I whispered.
"I can and I will." Luna smiled coldly. "Unless, of course, you leave willingly. Tonight. Save yourself the embarrassnt of being thrown out like the threat you are."
She walked away, leaving shaking with fear and anger. Elder Iris put her arm around my shoulders.
"What am I going to do?" I asked. "If the pack votes to exile ..."
"We’ll figure sothing out," she promised, but I could hear the worry in her voice.
Later that night, I lay in bed looking at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Through my window, I could see pack mbers eting in small groups, talking seriously. Luna’s drug was working.
My Triple Moon mark suddenly burned with warning pain. I sat up, putting my hand to my wrist. Sothing was wrong. Very wrong.
A soft scratching at my window made freeze. Slowly, I turned to look.
A pair of bright red eyes stared back at from the darkness. Shadow Wolf eyes.
The thing pressed its face against the glass, and when it spoke, its voice was like grinding stone: "The pack fears you now, little oga. Perfect. Fear makes people do stupid things. Tomorrow night, when they et to banish you, we’ll be waiting."
The Shadow Wolf smiled, showing teeth like black knives. "Luna has served us well, spreading fear and doubt. But her usefulness is ending. Tomorrow, the pack eting becos a trap - and you’ll watch everyone you care about die before we take you ho."
The creature disappeared into the night, leaving alone with the terrible realization that Luna’s sches had played right into our enemies’ hands.
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