Chapter 3

At the far end of the hallway, a window stood open, letting the cool breeze scatter the sharp smell of antiseptic.

"Did you say all that on purpose to my mother?"

She leaned against the wall, the gentle facade peeling away instantly. "I was talking about my own life. Does that bother you?"

"This is between us," I said, keeping my voice low. "Leave my mother out of it."

"Between us?" She scoffed, her eyes flashing with pure spite. "Emily, you've been a dirty little secret for seven years. Now you want to talk about *us*? I might be wolfless, but I'm an Alpha's daughter. Who are you? How do you even compare to me?"

My fists clenched.

"Do you really think he'll ever mark you?" she sneered. "He's stringing you along. Playing both sides. And your mother's silver poisoning... who knows if she'll even survive? At her age, with her weak heart, one slip-up and she's gone..."

The slap cracked across the hall before I even realized my hand had moved.

My palm burned. She stumbled back, clutching her cheek. But before she could scream, heavy footsteps broke the silence.

"Emily!"

James rushed forward, pulling her behind him and grabbing my wrist.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Jessica hid behind his back, tears spilling instantly. "James... I just wanted to help. Mrs. Clark was alone... I don't know why Emily got so mad, I didn't say anything..."

I stared at James. "Ask her what she said."

He frowned, looking between me and Jessica's swollen cheek. "What could she have said? Emily, no matter what, hitting her is wrong. When did you become like this?"

A bitter laugh escaped my throat, tears stinging my eyes. "When did I become like this? James, you're the one who—"

"Enough." He cut me off, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and steering her toward the stairs. "I'm taking her home. Cool off, and think about what you did today."

That night at 11:40 PM, bad news arrived.

The specialist Healer had been abruptly reassigned. No explanation given.

I stood by the doorway, gripping my phone, when hushed voices drifted down the hall.

"...That's her. Kept as a side-piece for seven years."

"Seriously? She looks so decent."

"You never know. The real Luna showed up right at the clinic."

I stood there, frozen.

The next morning, the rumors reached my mother's ears.

Pale and trembling, she leaned against her pillows. "Emily... tell Mom the truth."

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

Suddenly, she clutched her chest, collapsing sideways.

My father burst in from the hall, scrambling to catch her. An apprentice Healer rushed inside, checked her vitals, and ran out panicked.

When he returned, he told us the lead Healer was gone. They could only administer basic herbs to slow the silver spread while waiting for a replacement.

My father grabbed the apprentice's collar. "Where is the specialist? You said everything was arranged!"

The boy shook his head helplessly.

My mother's eyes were half-open, staring at me. Her lips parted, but she couldn't make a sound.

I pulled out my phone and dialed James.

Seven rings. Call declined.

I called again. No answer.

My father paced the floor, muttering frantically. I couldn't answer him. My fingers hovered over the keypad, numb.

Finally, I dialed an unfamiliar number.

Jessica picked up, her tone languid. "Looking for James?"

"Put him on."

"He's in the shower. You can tell me."

"Bring the Healer back."

Silence lingered on the line for a few seconds before James's voice came through.

"Have you come to your senses?"

"Bring him back," I sobbed, tears spilling down my face. "Please."

"Fine," he said calmly. "Come to Riverside Manor and apologize to Jessica. The second she forgives you, the Healer goes back."