Chapter 4 The Royal Healer's Dream

Serena

The moment I left the courtyard, I finally let myself breathe.

Not because I was calm.

Because if I stayed one more second, I wasn't sure what I would say to those Arrogant Alpha heirs.

My fingers tightened around my bag.

Father's ribbon was inside.

Dirty.

Torn.

Damaged.

Seven years of memories reduced to something they barely noticed.

Lyra was furious.

Spoiled Brat!

I walked faster.

"I know."

Spoiled, arrogant, oversized pups with crowns.

Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped me.

"You're not wrong."

They had everything.

Power.

Money.

Respect.

And somehow, they still couldn't understand what something small meant to someone else.

The Healers' Garden appeared beyond the stone archway, and my anger slowly faded.

Lavender.

Moon lilies.

Fresh water running through the narrow streams.

This place always reminded me who I wanted to become.

Not someone important.

Not someone powerful.

A healer.

Someone who could help.

Brother Finn looked up from trimming feverleaf.

"There she is."

His dimple appeared as he grin.

"Our hardest worker."

"I think you say that to everyone."

"I do."

He laughed.

"But today I mean it."

Matron Odelia walked out of the glasshouse carrying a basket of fresh herbs.

Unlike Brother Finn's easy warmth, she carried herself with quiet precision. Every movement seemed measured, every word carefully chosen.

She inspected me from head to toe.

"You're low in energy did you skipped lunch."

I blinked.

"...How did you know?"

"I'm a healer. Your body tells me what your mouth won't."

Then I heard footsteps behind me.

"Skipping lunch again are we?"

I turned.

Elias stood there carrying a box of fresh supplies.

His eyes met mine for a moment.

He didn't ask what had happened.

He simply nodded and went to work.

I heard Finn speaking, but my thoughts stayed in the courtyard.

Repeating my encounter with the triplets.

Finn narrowed his eyes.

"Someone has been replaced by a ghost."

I forced a smile.

"I'm here."

Finn glanced around dramatically.

"Your body is."

He tapped my forehead.

"Your mind is somewhere punching somebody."

A small laugh slipped out before I could stop it.

"Maybe."

"Ah."

He nodded seriously.

"The dangerous Serena is returning."

"I'm not dangerous."

Lyra growled.

We could be.

I ignored her.

Matron Odelia stopped cutting the herb and look at me.

That was all.

She always noticed things people tried to hide.

"You're distracted."

"I'm working."

She placed the basket down.

"You're surviving."

I looked at her.

A quiet silence settled between us.

"They're not always the same thing."

The words stayed with me.

I looked away and picked up a bundle of herbs.

"I can handle it."

"I know you can."

Her voice softened.

"That doesn't mean you should have to handle everything alone."

I didn't answer.

Because if I did, my voice might betray me.

She studied me for a long moment and her expression changed.

"Serena, you need energy to work."

I sighed.

"I'm not hungry."

"A healer who ignores herself eventually has nothing left to give."

I lowered my eyes.

Those words hurt because they were true.

"I'll eat."

"Good."

"You're very strict." Finn mumbled.

"Someone has to be."

Brother Finn nodded.

"She's terrifying."

Matron Odelia looked at him.

"Do you want to say that again?"

"No."

"Good."

A little later, while Matron Odelia wasn't looking, Elias set a wrapped pastry beside my basket.

"I don't need it," I whispered.

"You do."

"I can eat later."

"You said that yesterday."

I frowned.

"You noticed?"

"I notice when people I care about are trying to survive on stubbornness."

"Plus you're only quiet when you're hungry... or hurt."

The smile faded from my face.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

He probably heard the rumours before he walked in, but he didn't ask about the princes.

He didn't ask if the rumors were true.

He didn't ask why I had embarrassed myself in front of the future Alphas.

He simply sat beside me.

"You don't have to tell me which."

Something in my chest loosened.

I nodded slowly making him smile.

"So today, just eat."

Lyra sighed happily.

I like him.

I rolled my eyes.

Of course you do.

Finally.

I broke the pastry in half.

One bite.

Warm honey.

Soft bread.

For a moment, the whole world felt gentler.

The afternoon passed quickly.

Elias helped me organize the healing supplies while Finn complained about being surrounded by people who worked too much.

"You know," Finn said, tying a bundle of herbs, "normal people rest."

"You're saying that?" Elias asked.

Finn looked offended.

"I rest emotionally."

Matron Odelia sighed.

"That isn't a real thing."

"It should be."

I laughed.

A real laugh this time.

By sunset, the garden glowed beneath golden light.

Elias watched me place the final herbs into storage.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Depends."

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

I didn't hesitate.

"Moonstone Royal Hospital."

Finn stopped moving.

"Straight to the top."

I shrugged.

"If I'm going to dream..."

I looked toward the distant towers of Silverroot.

"I may as well dream properly."

Elias smiled.

Not like he was amused.

Like he believed me.

"Then I'd better start teaching you properly."

Those words meant more than he probably realized.

Not because he was Elias Rowan.

Not because I had liked him since I was sixteen.

Because for a moment... someone saw my dream and didn't laugh.

Something inside me settled.

For the first time all day...

I believed it might actually happen.

After work, I received my small wages.

I counted every coin carefully.

Food.

New moon flowers for Father's memorial.

Academy supplies.

Tuition.

Everything I needed.

Then I counted what remained.

Almost nothing.

I sighed.

At least Mother would handle the debt.

She had promised.

The walk home was quieter than usual.

The market lights flickered as merchants packed away their stalls.

I held my bag closer.

I have to buy new flowers.

Then go home and fix the silver ribbons.

I would forget what happened today.

I turned onto the path leading toward Black Hollow.

Then I stopped.

A tall figure stood beneath the trees.

Dark clothing.

Cold eyes.

I knew him.

Lord Alaric Thorne.

My stomach dropped.

"Serena Blackwood."

His voice carried through the empty road.

"I've been looking for you."

I tightened my grip on my bag.

"Why?"

His smile held no kindness.

"You really don't know, do you?"

The world seemed to go quiet.

Why was he here?

"My mother pays every month."

Alaric smiled like we were discussing business, not my family's ruin.

"Not anymore."

He adjusted one of his gloves.

"Three months."

"She hasn't pay a dime."

My stomach drops.

"I've been patient."

He takes another step.

"But patience..."

His smile widens.

"...collects interest."

Behind him, three wolves stepped silently from the trees.

Their paws barely made a sound against the forest floor.

One.

Then another.

Then the third.

They didn't bare their teeth.

They didn't growl.

They simply spread out behind him, cutting off every path back to Black Hollow.

Lord Alaric adjusts his cuff.

"Your mother didn't pay."

His eyes settled on me.

"Perhaps..."

"Perhaps she knew exactly what she was offering instead."

My heart sanked.