Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Moonlight spilled across the scene like a cascade of silver. "Ouch...""Just a moment longer, be brave..." Andrew paid no mind to my whimpers, his large hand cradling my neck, firmly seating me atop his lap, his fingers dancing along my waist. "Lina, you'll be my mate officially in half a month." As the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, Andrew had desires that were as untamed as his nature. His labored breaths caused his partially unbuttoned shirt to flutter with each heave. He nuzzled into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply. When he lifted his gaze, his eyes were thick with longing, as if he wished to devour me whole. "Your vanilla scent is intoxicating. I'm itching to bond you as my Luna." The remnants of my shredded red dress lay around us. I caressed the flushed skin around his eyes, my look one of profound affection. "My heart is yours, my Alpha." With a primal growl, Andrew grasped my chin, his lips stifling my gasps, pulling me closer into the heat of his embrace. The tempest subsided to a whisper. Andrew, believing me to still be lost in slumber, stepped out onto the balcony to speak with his Wolven Clan pack brothers. "My Luna will be the epitome of obedience, caring for my parents, selflessly devoted to our pack." His laughter rang out, carefree and oblivious to my awakened state. "Louise cherishes her dreams and her freedom. I couldn't bear to cage her spirit. Lina is different. Her hefty inheritance will bolster our pack. She's the picture of compliance with my mother, and in my arms, she's the outlet for my deepest urges, the ideal sex mate." I traced the fiery claw marks etched into my skin. Those were the emblems of Andrew's ardor, the indelible signs he had etched upon me in a moment of fervent possession. My parents were renowned healers in Southland, both lost to the ravages of war. Andrew's mother, convinced of my healing touch, would nightly makes things difficult for me, demanding foot massages to keep her spry and well. However, tonight, Andrew did something unexpected. He stood up for me, yanking me from his mother's grasp. I mistook it for tenderness. It turned out, he was just haunted by memories of Louise and needed an outlet. Louise, his first flame, was a free spirit, always searching for medicinal herbs. She was not about to tie herself down to any packmate too soon, not with so many options around. Rejected, Andrew turned to me, the compliant one. I did not make a fuss when I learned the truth. Instead, I sought out the tribal healer the very next day. "Teacher, you've always dreamed of studying Northland herbs, right? How about I go in your stead?" The tribal healer was taken aback. "Lina, you're a natural, and I'd be thrilled for you to study herbs. However, you're set to become a Luna in half a month. Northland is far and dangerous. Will Andrew agree?" he asked. "He doesn't have to," I said, meeting the tribal healer's astonished gaze with a resolute nod. "Because I'm going to reject him." Andrew was clueless about my own dreams. Unlike Louise, who gallivanted under the guise of healing, flirting with those from every pack, my dream was always to heal and save lives. However, blinded by love, I abandoned that dream to the harsh Northland for Andrew and his family.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I had not even made it home when I spotted Andrew and Louise just outside. Louise, always the wanderer, made an unexpected return to the Blood Moon Pack. Her first move was to corner Andrew right at our doorstep, her face a mix of pride and defiance. "After all these years, you couldn't even bother to tell me about the bonding ceremony? Scared I'd swoop in and take you from her?""It wouldn't matter, you'll never be my Luna." Tears sprang to Louise's eyes. "Oh, I see how it is! You've moved up in the world and found your true love? Well, hear this: being a Luna is nothing but chains and frustration, not to mention dealing with your impossible mother. I don't want any part of it! I crave dreams and the thrill of the world beyond, not you!" With a heavy sigh, Andrew drew Louise into a hug. "I know, and I couldn't stand to put you through that. That's why I had no choice but to choose Lina—she's docile and agreeable." Could not stand to put her through that? He used the excuse of pack duty to strip me of my inheritance. His mother, ever so picky, had once thrown a basin of scalding foot water at my back. He claimed I was his mate, meant to serve him body and soul, suggesting I would be better off learning bedroom tricks than medical knowledge to keep him entertained. Did he ever truly care about my well-being? Spotting me out of the corner of her eye, Louise curved her lips into a sly smile. "You even had Lina quit her job as a healer for me. Aren't you worried she'll fight back?""Not a chance. She's head over heels for me. Besides, she'd rather be my Luna than a healer any day." Andrew's embrace tightened around Louise. "Without her, you're free to chase your dreams and become the most renowned healer in Southland." I could not help but scoff. The day I met Andrew, he was sprawled out by Twin Shores Lake, a victim of wolfsbane poisoning, his life hanging by a thread. I brought him back to life from the brink of death with my healing touch and a handful of herbs, but it knocked me out cold for three days straight. He stayed by my side the whole time. "Lina, you're the best healer I've ever seen," he told me then. When I finally came to, Andrew was there, looking at me with eyes so soft and warm that I could have sworn he felt the same instant spark I did. I was all in, ready to ditch my healer's path to be his rock, his Luna. It turned out that he was seeing someone else's ghost in me—Louise. All that warmth was for Louise, and he wanted me to give up my dreams for Louise, too. Now that I got the truth, I was heading back up to Northland. I was going back to chase my dreams, to dive into the herbs I loved, for whatever time I had left.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I packed up fast. Andrew had swiped my inheritance, leaving me with nothing but a few medical tomes. Those books were stuffed with my notes on Northland's herbs, a treasure trove of knowledge. Northland had it all. Food, herbs—you name it. Southland packs do not hold a candle to it. They all started in Northland but got kicked out by the big guys after a scrap over the land. Southland's Wolven Clan dreamed of Northland but were scared stiff of it. Even a free spirit like Louise stuck to the Southland packs. Me? I snuck off to Northland once, just to get my hands on those herbs, not caring what my parents would think. Would Andrew still have seen me as a yes-woman with no dreams after finding my notes? I could not waste time wondering what was in his head. I just wished I had not run into him, who had been all poisoned, on my way back. Saving him felt like a waste then, especially of those magical herbs I gathered in Northland. No worries. By tomorrow, I would be back on the road to Northland, gathering the herbs I loved. That evening, I got a text from Andrew. There was a pack dinner, and he wanted me at the restaurant. When I walked in, Andrew and Louise had already claimed the head table. Louise gave me a haughty look like she owned the place, then turned back to her animated storytelling about the Southland packs' oddities. All eyes from the Wolven Clan were on me, including Andrew's, which held a clear warning: 'Don't stir up trouble.' Was that all to make Louise happy, to see me bite my tongue and smile? 'Alright, I'll play your game one last time before I go,' I mused. I quietly took a seat in the back, not making a sound. Andrew looked pleased, a smug lift to his brow. Someone asked Louise why she had come back to the pack all of a sudden. She threw a challenging look my way. "It's Andrew's bonding ceremony. I had to be here. However, I never expected his choice to be so... tame." She giggled at Andrew. "She's as lively as a log. Won't she bore you to death?" I just rubbed my nose and kept my eyes on the medical book I was flipping through, acting as if I were just an observer. Andrew did not like my act one bit. He glared at me, his frown deepening. "Lina, Louise is speaking to you! What's with the attitude?" Seeing the medical book in my hand, his annoyance grew. "Weren't you supposed to be devoted to helping me? Why waste time on this nonsense?" Before I could even respond, one of Louise's friends, a female from the Wolven Clan, jumped in with a taunt. "Your parents have been gone for ages, and you're still playing the healer? Such a pretender. You know you're out of Andrew's league, right?""Don't worry, with Louise handling the healing, you just need to be a Luna. Focus on the finances and the bedroom skills—that's plenty!"

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

The room erupted with laughter. Louise, hearing the jest, was overjoyed, playfully grabbing Andrew's arm. "Hey, don't be so tough on Lina. She's not like me; she hasn't traveled much or met many people. The fact that she's willing to bury her nose in books shows she's got ambition!" She craned her neck to peek at the book in my hand. "Is that a medical text? Lina, to be a healer, reading alone won't cut it. You need real-world experience and wisdom! You've got to be bold, travel between packs like I do—that's how you learn the good stuff!" Louise went on bragging about her adventures, and everyone looked on with admiration and awe. Andrew's gaze, which had been filled with irritation because of me, softened into tenderness and affection when he turned to her. "You're incredibly brave for a girl, Louise! I wouldn't even dare dream of doing what you do.""Obviously, I'm not one of those women who just orbits around home and their mate! My goal is to master the art of healing, to be a true support to my Alpha." Louise shot me a scornful look. She puckered her red lips and slumped against Andrew, whispering hotly in his ear, "And let's not forget, when it comes to the bedroom skills, I can hold my own against any woman." Andrew's pale ears blushed a delicate pink. Louise, seeing his reaction, taunted me with even more glee, "Looks like our Alpha's got needs that aren't being met, Lina. Seems you're falling short in your duties. "You know, there are these wild magical herbs up in Northland that bloom on the night before the full moon. Eat them, and even the most indifferent male will spend the night with you. Sounds like they're made for you!" I noticed a flicker of recognition cross Andrew's face as if the name of the herb struck a chord. "You're mistaken." I snapped the medical book closed and faced Louise head-on. "The magical herbs bloom the day after a full moon, known for their detoxifying properties. It's said to induce a hallucination of love, but only with one's destined partner. Otherwise, it's as good as useless. "You got the effects and the harvest time all wrong. Looks like your expertise isn't that impressive, Louise," I said with a hint of mockery. Louise went pale instantly, and Andrew, standing beside him, froze, his eyes flickering with a mix of reproach and curiosity. I did not care about his reaction. The female friend, defending her, snapped at me, "Stop putting on airs! Everyone knows you're just cooking and washing feet all day, flipping through a couple of pages, and then you think you're some kind of herbalist from Northland? Why not claim you've been there too?" I met her gaze steadily. "I have, indeed." The table burst into laughter. "Oh please, you can't even tell a convincing lie. You've never left our pack, right?""Yeah, what else do you know besides the kitchen, the bathroom, and Andrew's big bed?""Lina, you look so grumpy today. Did Andrew's mom splash you with foot water again?" Ignoring their taunts, I reached for the book on the table, ready to leave, when I noticed Louise, tears brimming in her eyes, clutching at Andrew's sleeve, looking utterly wronged. "Andrew, I came back just to wish you well. I didn't expect your mate to be so unwelcoming! "The magical herb is an aphrodisiac, plain and simple. Her lies are just a way to bully and discredit me! If she doesn't welcome me, then I'll just go..." Louise tried to rise, but Andrew forced her back down, his face a stormy shade of blue as he hissed a warning at me, "Apologize to Louise for your lies." I gripped my medical text, defiant. "And what if I refuse?" "Don't even think about leaving this restaurant without the Alpha's say-so." The guy next to me, seeing I was not talking, snatched the medical tome I was gripping. Sheets of herbal notes fluttered to the floor, and one I missed was scooped up by Andrew, his brow furrowed in confusion. The man beside him peered over with a mix of curiosity and surprise, blurting out, "Is this stuff from Northland? Lina, did you actually go there?"

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

The paper Andrew picked up detailed the magical herbs. It was all there: where to find it, what it could do, and even a sketch I had made myself. "Hand it over," I said, my voice ice. Andrew stared at me, his face a mask of shock. Louise, quick to jealousy, grabbed the paper from him. "Lina, are you so desperate to be a healer that you've lost it? Lying, and now delusions? Making up herbal lore?" Her accusation fell flat. The room was silent, the Wolven Clan unmoved. Louise, fuming, crumpled my notes and tossed them into the fire. "I won't just watch you twist facts and disrespect the profession I adore!" she declared. Andrew was speechless. To convince him, Louise gave him a pitiful look. "It's all lies, Andrew. Even you hadn't been to Northland. Do you really think she could go there?" Andrew's gaze flickered to me, words caught in his throat. Finally, he murmured, almost consoling Louise, "It's just a piece of paper. No need to get worked up." Just a piece of paper? He knew what it was. He knew the magical herbs had cured his wolfsbane poisoning. He knew its power better than anyone. I never counted on him to be on my side, but I sure did not see him spinning such bold-faced lies to cover for Louise. Hey, it was no big deal. There was a whole world of opportunities out there, as vast as the fields of magical herbs in Northland. Without so much as a backward glance at Andrew, I strode out of the restaurant. After a good night's rest, I was all set to head Northland. That was when I noticed my medical book was gone from my desk. Andrew, stinking of booze, just tilted his head with a smirk when he saw my panic. "Louise wanted it, so I handed it over.""What are you saying? She called it a fake, so why take my book?!" I was shaking with rage, ready to confront Louise, but he shoved me back onto the sofa. "Louise is long gone with your book. "It's just a bunch of papers. Real or fake, what's the difference? You're a Luna, so why sweat the small stuff? "You hunted down those magical herbs for me, not just to cure my poison but hoping I'd fall for you, right? Consider your wish granted." He leaned in for a kiss, but I shoved him away, furious. "Back off! You're not what I want! My life has more to it than you! I've got my own path to follow! I'm out of here!" He checked his watch and released me, a knowing look on his face. "Right, time to wash my mom's feet." He sat back, closed his eyes, and did not bother looking at me again. "Make it quick, I'll be here waiting." I shot a harsh look at him lounging on the couch, my eyes void of any lingering affection. Ha. 'Sorry, your wait is over. Not now, not ever,' I mused. Andrew did not realize I was gone until I reached Twin Shores Lake, the boundary between our worlds. He had been out cold on the couch all night. Just before dawn, his mother burst into my room, hurling insults. "Lina, where did you go?! You skipped out on washing my feet last night and didn't even bother with breakfast this morning!" The commotion stirred him from sleep, and that was when he noticed my absence. Initially, he figured I was just peeved about the medical book, probably taking a breather at the nearby pack. However, then, a sharp pain seized his heart, and he crumpled to the floor. Andrew's wolfsbane poisoning had returned, unbeknownst to us all—the poison had not been fully purged from his system. He had been managing because my healing gifts had been keeping it at bay. Andrew's eyes snapped open, his forehead slick with sweat, as he gasped my name. His mother, beside herself with worry, lashed out, "Where's that Lina?! Is now really the time for her antics? Get her back here to cure my son!" The tribal healer was clueless. "Lina left for Northland alone last night, and she's not coming back. Didn't she tell you?""What?!"