u

d to yield its he

s trembled. Once, coaxing medicine from herbs had been as natural as brea

hing what little energy I h

rled inward, rejecting

every heartbeat felt like glass in my chest. About how he mig

ding strangely to my presence. Moonflowers blooming out of season.

from my nerveless fingers. No one had visited in the thr

arah, the young pack healer. "I..

pain. Healing. Purpose. Something to focus on besides the agony of reject

wiping my hands on my worn

g a limping teenager, was Beta Marcus. His presence made my wolf c

ding into place. Inside, fear clawed at my thro

ntently. "Thomas here thought he could take on two dominants at

at had overtaken my small cabin since that night. They grew wild now, responding to my turbulen

dy my hands, but I couldn't stop glancing at the writhing vines along the walls. Would Marcus

was indeed swollen, angry red lines spider-webbing

ing the magical signature in the wound. The two dominant wolves

odded mi

ic even work now? The yarrow's rejection still stung. And worse – wha

hispered, and I realized

up with wrongness – twisted magic tangled in the muscle and bone. Before the reject

elt different. Strong

– which shouldn't even be growing indoors – crept across the floor toward us. My heart poun

's voice held

ing, growing into something I didn't understand and couldn't control. Somet

entle stream I was used to but a torrent. The moonflower vine wrapped around Thomas's leg, its blossoms glowing

a small, shocked sound. Ev

of injury. And Thomas... Thomas was staring at me with a mixtur

eathed. "I've never se

n felt foreign. The rejection hadn't weakened my magic as I'd expected

ell get me banished if I co

he reported to his Alpha? How long until I was called before the council to exp

time. That's all I could manage right now. One day at a time, and pray t

g the glowing moonflower vine. "You've a

d softly, drawing away

, her voice barely above a

ducked his head when Marcus shot him a shar

"Just be more careful with you

t made my wolf bristle. "James and Peter shouldn't have been using enhan

mas's health. I recognized the careful probe for what it

despite the fresh wave of fear. "Though there

nitial hesitation. "How did you do that with the moonflowers?

itted, watching as the vine slowl

e dangerous," Marcus observed qu

nts around us shivered in response to my spike of anxiety, and I f

ed leg. "It doesn't feel dangerous. It fee

countered, but his expression had softened sli

tened my spine. "But I'm still the pack healer. Magic

interjected, shooting Marcus a look that surpr

"No, we're not. But Luna... be careful. The council

me, I know. Is there anything else you need? Any ot

d intended. A potted herb on the w

stress coloring her tone.

I replied, exhaustion seeping in

now," he said finally, "some might see this

bly haven't seen the Alpha's face when some

arply. Thomas looked at his feet. And Marcus... Marcus

ing toward the door. "Your mother wi

uld stay, help you o

roke me. "Thank you," I managed. "B

l pouch into my hands. "Chamomile. For slee

ouch like a life

l be your friend if it pleases you" she whispered fiercely

, uncontrolled plants. The moonflower vine crept b

to me?" I whispere

eaves as my magic continued to transform

misery. My heart lurched – had Marcus re

familiar in a different way. Mae. The pack's eld

r gravelly voice tinged with amusement. "And I know why

laugh escaped me. "How cou

found your grandmother thirty ye

ow. I scrambled to my feet, yanking

e afternoon light. Her eyes – still sharp despite her

ms a bit more... enthusiastic

had died before I was born. I'd always been told my hea

d, settling into my one comfortable c

y growths, the twisting vine

're responding exactly as they sh

re desperately than I'd intended. "I d

side her chair. "It's time you l

down my spin

I assume? Rather distinctive, especial

k of seeing my reflection that night. My wolf had alw

aring my thoughts. "Just like your grandmo

" I whi

as powerful as you're becoming. The gift shows itself differently in each generation. Your grandmother's

rept closer, drawn to our conversation. "You

head. "I can't even con

of them do, not anymore. They've forgotten what it means wh

does i

my dear, that you are exactly what this pack needs. Whe

both jump. Mae's expressio

ae suggested, her eyes too knowing.

ted. "I can't.

od, offering her hand. "Better to fa

e dining hall and the usual dinner chatter died. Wolves who'd known me my entire li

ered. *Pack.

urmured. "You've d

the serving wolf – Katie, who'd come to me just last week

to the council's private dining room. Mae steered m

wo bites when the

next week," a male voice – Elder Richa

ice was Selene's mother, Amanda. "My daughter has chosen the tradit

wled in our shared mind, the sound full of suc

d lately." Elder Richards

. Once he and Selene complete the mating ceremony, any lingering effects wil

s, the potted plants that decorate

e whispered.

ne's voice had joined the co

, of course. Pure. Untainted. Not like..." She laughed

ter beside my p

tears I refused to let fall, I saw Katie take an act

choked out. "

un

up to find Sarah standing there, a tray in he

he other tables, then lifted her c

," someone called out. "Empty

fore I could say anythi

ince you're all so busy avoiding the healer who saved my leg tod

took the seat opposite, her usuall

" Mae murmur

plants were now growing thorns. Long, sh

to rein in my pain, my powe

as said fiercely. "Not

Selene would look beside him. My wolf was clawing at my insides, desperate to run, to hide, to do

pped my hand. "We're here," she said s

any less broken, but because for the first ti

ould shatter what w