Chapter 1

The night the Silver Moon Pack was slaughtered, I hid inside a hollow tree, listening to my own mother's voice through the mindlink: "Leave no one alive."

Then she stole my aunt's name, climbed over a mountain of corpses, and clawed her way onto the throne as Queen.

I became the only survivor of Silver Moon.

Fifteen years later, I'm the last Healer left in this world.

A male is carried up the mountain on a stretcher. Stacks of gold are piled at my gate, all to buy my gift.

He's been hit with a rare poison. No one alive can cure it but me.

But when I see the royal crest hanging at his waist, I set down my silver needle.

"I won't save him."

The lead guard freezes. He rushes forward with a bow. "Healer, is it the gold? We can add more! Our master said he'll pay whatever you ask!"

"It doesn't matter how much you add," I say. "I won't treat him. Take him away."

The poisoned male on the stretcher forces himself upright.

His eyes lock onto mine. "So you're the hidden Healer everyone talks about? The one who supposedly cures anything?"

I say nothing.

He smirks. "I heard you heal anyone who comes to you. Even rogues begging on the street. Guess that was all just an act."

"Rogues and everyone else, I'll heal," I say calmly. "But you? Never."

His face twists. Rage floods his scent. "Do you have any idea who I am? You dare talk to me like that?"

"No idea," I say. "Don't care."

His voice cracks through the clearing like thunder. "Then let me spell it out for you! I am the Crown Prince of this kingdom! My mother is the Queen! My father is the Lycan King! You're nothing but a wild she-wolf hiding in the woods. You dare defy me?!"

My heart sinks like a stone.

So it really is him.

The second I saw that royal crest, I had a feeling.

He's her son.

My nails dig into my palms, but my face stays blank.

The Prince takes my silence for fear. It makes him bolder.

He's panting, sweat dripping down his neck, but his voice is pure venom. "You think I'm bluffing? One word from me and your entire bloodline is dead! I'll burn this shack to the ground! Everyone you care about will pay for your disrespect today!"

I look up at him. "You done?"

He chokes. The fury freezes on his face.

My voice drops cold. "Then get out. And take your filth with you. You're dirtying my yard."

That does it.

"You lowborn bitch!" he snarls. "You dare look down on me?!"

Every guard in the yard drops their gaze. No one makes a sound.

The Prince's eyes go bloodshot. He roars at his men. "What are you standing around for?! Tear this place apart! Tie her up! I want her on her knees begging for my mercy!"

The guards glance at each other. Nobody moves.

"Are you deaf?!" he screams. "Disobey me and I'll have every one of you executed!"

The lead guard has no choice. He steps forward.

I stare straight at the Prince. Every word clear.

"Do you want to die here?"

He goes rigid. Fear flickers behind the rage.

"The poison in your body gives you three days," I say. "You keep raging like this, your blood will push the toxin straight to your heart. Another half hour of this, and no one in this world can save you."

The fear in his eyes is real now. He grits his teeth. "Are you threatening me?"

"Just stating facts."

His chest heaves. He spits out three words. "Fine. Fine. Fine."

His voice drops low, dripping with malice. "You refuse to heal me? Good. The second I get back to the Palace, I'm telling my father and mother. I'll have your whole pack wiped out. Every last one. Let's see how tough you are then."

I laugh.

Fifteen years ago, the sky burned red and bodies covered the ground. His precious mother already wiped out everyone I had.

He frowns. "What the hell are you laughing at?"

I just look at him. Silent.

After a long moment, he snarls at his guards through clenched teeth. "We're leaving!"

They lift the stretcher and start down the mountain.

At the tree line, the Prince whips his head around one last time. "You'll regret this. I'll make you beg for death and not get it!"

I stand at my gate, watching them stumble down the trail like beaten dogs.

That's when Emerald comes running, eyes red and frantic.

"Miss! What were you thinking?! That was the Crown Prince! Save him and we'd be set for life! You always said you wanted to save up to give your family a proper burial. This was our chance!"

I stare at the distant mountains. My voice is ice.

"If I saved him, their souls would never rest."

Emerald goes still.

I turn and walk inside. I press my last few coins into her hands. "Emerald, you need to leave. Now. I just made an enemy of the Crown Prince. When the storm comes, you'll die if you stay."

She drops to her knees. "I'm not leaving! You saved my life. Wherever you go, I go. Even if it kills me."

I look at her loyal face and lower my voice. "Then go to Silver Moon Valley right now. The coffins..."

Emerald kowtows three times, tears streaming, and disappears down the mountain in the dark.

I sit alone in the yard all night. I don't sleep.