Chapter 3

The next morning, I found Clara's photograph circulating through the pack group chat.

She'd posted a selfie from Adrian's living room, wearing his oversized shirt and the moonstone pendant I'd bought for him.

Wait, isn't that the Alpha's house?

And she's wearing his clothes!

I knew there was something between them.

By the time I reached the medical division, nearly everyone was gathered around Clara in the break room.

"Come on, Clara. You spent the night at Alpha Adrian's place. Are you two finally together?"

Clara covered her mouth, laughing nervously.

"Don't be ridiculous. The storm was terrible, and Alpha Adrian was just worried about me."

"Just worried? He practically threw himself into an explosion to save you!"

Someone sighed dreamily.

"Imagine having an Alpha who protects you like that."

I stopped outside the doorway.

Clara spotted me and immediately smiled.

"Leah! Come here. Tell them nothing happened!"

Before I could answer, another healer spoke.

"Why ask Leah? She wasn't even there."

A few people laughed.

I turned away without saying anything.

Three years ago, when I'd first arrived in Silvercrest, nobody had offered me a seat at their table. I'd spent months volunteering for difficult shifts, treating injured warriors, and studying pack regulations before anyone remembered my name.

Clara had been here eight months.

Yet everyone already adored her.

All because Adrian had made it clear she mattered to him.

At my desk, I found another message from the Elders' Council.

Your transfer request is under review. Please confirm that your receiving pack has approved your return.

I immediately contacted my mother.

She answered almost at once.

"Leah? Is everything all right?"

Hearing her voice made my throat tighten.

"Mom, would you and Dad still welcome me home?"

There was a brief silence.

"Sweetheart, you never needed to ask."

I stared at my screen until the words stopped blurring.

My parents belonged to Ashwood Pack, where I'd grown up before moving to Silvercrest for Adrian.

I'd been so determined to build a future here that I'd turned down every opportunity to return.

"I'll explain everything when I get home," I whispered.

"Whatever happened, we'll be here."

After ending the call, I forwarded the confirmation to the Council.

For the first time since the festival, I felt something other than exhaustion.

Just before noon, Marcus from administration hurried into the medical division.

"Did you hear? Alpha Adrian has ordered a custom mating ring!"

Every head turned.

"A mating ring?"

"Is he finally choosing his Luna?"

Marcus nodded excitedly.

"I saw the jeweler's confirmation on his desk. There's going to be an announcement soon."

Several healers immediately surrounded Clara.

"Oh my Goddess, congratulations!"

"No wonder he let you stay at his house!"

Clara lowered her head, smiling shyly.

"Please don't say that. Alpha Adrian hasn't told me anything."

But she made no effort to correct their assumptions.

I returned to my work.

Adrian had mentioned ordering a ring several weeks earlier. He'd even asked whether I preferred moonstones or diamonds.

Back then, I'd spent an entire evening imagining our mating ceremony.

Now, the thought brought me no happiness.

The department administrator, Mrs. Harper, appeared beside my desk.

"Leah, could you come with me?"

Inside her office, she closed the door and handed me a folder.

"Your transfer paperwork came through. Are you certain about leaving?"

I nodded.

She sighed.

"You're one of our best healers. Three years of excellent evaluations, and you've practically been running this division yourself."

I looked at the folder.

"Mrs. Harper, may I ask something?"

"Of course."

"Was my promotion rejected again?"

Her expression changed.

For three consecutive years, she'd recommended me for Head Healer. Each application had been returned without approval.

Finally, she nodded.

"Alpha Adrian said you still needed more experience."

I almost smiled.

Three years of extra shifts and additional training, all because I believed a future Luna should earn the pack's respect.

Apparently, I still hadn't earned his.

Mrs. Harper hesitated.

"Leah, have you offended the Alpha somehow?"

"No," I answered quietly. "I've just spent three years trying not to."

That afternoon, Adrian summoned the entire medical division to an emergency meeting.

He stood at the head of the conference table, his expression cold.

"Yesterday's medical supply report contained serious errors. The eastern patrol station received the wrong allocation of recovery herbs."

My stomach tightened.

Clara and I had worked on that report together.

I'd prepared the treatment requirements, but Clara had entered the final quantities into the system.

I'd noticed a discrepancy late that evening and corrected it before the delayed supplies could cause harm.

Adrian placed a printed report on the table.

"Who was responsible?"

Clara lowered her head.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. I must have entered something incorrectly."

A few healers immediately tried to comfort her.

"Everyone makes mistakes."

"She's still learning."

Adrian's expression softened briefly before he looked at me.

"Leah, weren't you the acting supervisor?"

"Yes, but Clara entered the quantities. I discovered the mistake and arranged the correction."

"Then why wasn't it prevented?"

I stared at him.

"Because I didn't know she'd changed the numbers until the report had already been submitted."

Adrian folded his arms.

"A supervisor is responsible for her entire team. You can't simply blame a junior healer when something goes wrong."

Clara's eyes filled with tears.

"Alpha, please don't punish Leah. It really was my fault."

He turned toward her.

"You're still inexperienced. Mistakes happen."

Then he faced me again.

"But Leah has worked here for three years. She should know better."

My injured arm throbbed beneath its bandage.

I wondered whether he even remembered how I'd gotten hurt.

Adrian picked up the personnel file in front of him.

"Effective immediately, Leah is relieved of her acting supervisory duties. Her leadership allowance will be suspended for one month."

The room fell silent.

I'd spent three years earning that position.

One mistake I hadn't made was enough to take it away.

Adrian continued, his voice perfectly steady.

"Clara will assume the acting supervisor role during the transition."

I looked up sharply.

The woman whose error had caused the problem was being promoted to replace me.

And Adrian was looking directly at me, waiting for my response.

"Do you have any objections, Leah?"