Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I nodded as the sleek, black Lamborghini Aventador that costs more than tens of millions, rolled to a perfect stop in front of me. The leader of the Elders, an older werewolf with silver streaks in his hair and eyes that seemed to see right through me, stepped out and gestured grandly toward the car. "Xena, you deserve this," he said, his voice grave but proud. "Please accept this tailored car, exclusive to you. You're our pack's hope." I glanced at the car, its polished surface gleaming under the moonlight, and then back at him. "Healing others... that's my obligation," I said quietly, almost reflexively. "You don't have to do this.""No, Xena," he replied firmly. "This car is tailored to your every feature. And most importantly, it has a unique function, every traffic light will turn green only for you. So you can get to those in need faster. Heal them more efficiently." I exhaled and nodded. "Okay. I got it." I slid into the driver's seat, the leather hugging me like it was made for my body, and started the engine. The growl was deep and commanding, and I felt a thrill of power as I drove out. I drove directly to Yorick's villa. My mate Yorick would be much surprised when he saw me with such a nice car. He never knew what I was capable of, as I had already signed the Non-disclosure Agreement with the leader of the Elders. I pulled into the garage, the Aventador's lights cutting through the shadows. Yorick leaned against the counter with a smirk, his arms crossed. "Where did you borrow that from?" he asked casually, eyebrow raised. "It's mine," I said, keeping my tone flat, still deciding to hide my identity. "Oh, 'it's mine,' huh?" He mocked my words, tilting his head. "Well, then I'll just sell it... buy more votes from the Lycan chairman, Mr. Blackthorn." I froze for a fraction, then let anger flare up in my chest. "How dare you? I told you; this is not a joke. It's only for emergencies. Got it?" He shrugged, an easy smile on his face. "Alright, alright." I started walking toward the door, but his muttered words followed me. "When I succeed in being the Alpha, I'll teach you who's the boss, my little mate." I felt grieved, turning to see if he's joking or something, but he got a phone call and vanished into the night. *** My routine only broke when an urgent call came in at midnight. The Elders' leader's voice was tense over the line. "Xena... you need to drive the tailored car. The Lycan Chairman needs a cardiac surgery. It's your specialty. In werewolf history, no one has succeeded at this surgery. You... you're the exception. His life depends on you." No hesitation. I tried my best to reach to Yorick's villa, ready to race across several states. The villa was eerily quiet; guards and maids had all gone to bed. Before I even reached the garage exit, a figure blocked my path. Green eyes glinted in the dark. "Finally, you're here, bitch. I'd made several calls asking you to speed up," the she-wolf hissed. "I've waited forever." I froze. She mistook me for a driver or something? Then I caught a faint scent of Yorick on her. The realization hit me like a knife. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Don't waste time with questions. Go get the car." I ignored her. I had a promise to keep, the Lycan Chairman had to survive. I climbed in and started the engine, but she yanked the door open. "Now, go to the Nighty Bar!" I stared at her, tension tightening in my chest. "Who are you to tell me the destination?""You are asking the dumbest question. Do you even know who owns this car?" She yelled at me. "It's mine." I stated the fact. She scoffed. "That's hilarious. Yorick would kill you if he heard you say that.""Who are you to Yorick?" I still wanted to give another chance for them to explain. "You have no right to call him Yorick. He's your Alpha, got it? Now cut the nonsense and drive me to the bar!" I laughed coldly in my head. Since when had he officially become Alpha? My mind raced; my main concern was still the surgery, and my secondary concern, the Alpha election, was tied to Yorick. Could I still sway the Chairman to support him? Could I even trust Yorick after this? Ignoring her, I pressed the accelerator. Five minutes in, I took a left turn, and she suddenly grabbed the steering wheel. "Are you deaf or something? I said the Nighty Bar! Yorick's waiting there!" I slammed the brakes. "Are you crazy?!" Her eyes rolled, frustration cutting through the air. "Behave. Follow my orders. NOW-THE BAR!" I jumped out, heart pounding. The bumper had scraped the wall, but the car was fine. Before I could climb back in, she mindlinked her soldiers. They appeared, moving with precision and force. The leader stepped forward. "Beta Selene. Sorry for the delay.""Beta Selene?" I whispered under my breath, confusion and disbelief warring in me. "Yeah," one soldier spat. "She's the Beta's daughter from Lycan Chairman's pack! Don't you dare to defy her, you little Moon pack member!" Another soldier continued, "You realize who you're crossing, don't you? She's also Alpha Yorick's girlfriend!" My blood ran cold. Alpha Yorick? I stared, stunned. Cheating wasn't the only thing he'd done behind my back. I squared my shoulders. "You can send her wherever she wants, but not with this car. This car is mine." They laughed. "Oh really? Do you even know how much this car costs? You own it? How about saying you're the Lycan Chairman too? This car is Alpha's exclusive for picking up Beta Selene!" Enough. I pulled out my phone. "Fine. I'll call Yorick myself." Selene's green eyes fixed on me, fists clenched. I dialed, waiting impatiently as the line rang. When he finally picked up, my blood froze. "Yorick," I hissed. "Did I tell you not to touch my car? Now get your so-called girlfriend and her soldiers out of it!" His laugh made my stomach drop. "Xena... do you know who Selene is? She's the Beta's daughter. She gets everything best in the pack. And you? You're just a healer. Your job is to please her. That's what you should do." I stood there, phone trembling in my hand, heart pounding. To please her? Did he even understand how urgent this surgery was? Did he understand that the fate of the Lycan Chairman, and his own future as Alpha, hung in the balance?

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I had enough of this stupid Yorick, but I forced myself to stay calm. I had to. My mind screamed at me to rip into him, but I swallowed it down. "Yorick," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "my job is never to please anyone. And my job right now... is saving the Lycan Chairman." There was a long pause. Then he laughed, this deep, mocking laugh that made my skin crawl. "Wait, what did you just say? Lycan Chairman? Hahaha... oh my god, that's the biggest joke I've heard all day. And you're saying... you're gonna save him?" I grit my teeth. "Yorick, listen... that's a long story, but I really need to get to him right now. You better...""Enough!" He barked, cutting me off. "Xena, think before you speak. I know the Lycan Chairman got hospitalized. Every healer in every pack has tried to save him. But you... you're a healer who barely treats anyone. What can you even do for him?" I clenched my fists. Time was slipping away, and if I didn't speak up, I'd miss the golden window. "Yorick, listen to me. Cardiac surgery... that's what he needs. And I'm the only one who-""Wait-are you really gonna say you're the only one who can save him? You liar!" He barked, venom lacing every word. "Don't you dare say 'Lycan Chairman' again! He's the one who decides the next Alpha! Got it?" I felt my stomach drop. Helpless. Furious. "I don't need your trust, Yorick. Just... tell your girlfriend to leave me alone." He snorted. "Oh, by the way, Selena already brought her best friend, a well-known healer from another pack, to the Chairman's place. So you, Healer Xena, can relax." My chest tightened. Relax? That was impossible. "Wait... are you 100 percent sure that healer can do cardiac surgery?" I asked, my voice trembling with disbelief. I'm the chief healer. I should know every capable healer in the entire werewolf community. There's no way someone else could do this. He laughed. "Yeah... 1,000 percent sure." Then, click. The line went dead. I stared at the phone, stunned. So it was fate. Destiny was stopping me from saving the Lycan Chairman. And maybe it was destiny stopping Yorick from ever being Alpha. Selena, who had been standing behind me, smirked. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned closer. "Wow," she said. "Can't believe Yorick even picked up your call. He must've been bored while waiting for me at the bar, so he just answered some random call." I swallowed my anger, my hands clenching at my sides. "Do you even know Yorick has a mate?" I asked slowly, trying to make her understand. She blinked at me like I'd just spoken another language. Then she tilted her head and laughed, this sharp, teasing laugh that grated on my nerves. "Let me guess... you're his mate, huh? The boring, pretending-to-be-mysterious mate. He told me about you before. Swore he'd dump you the moment he became Alpha." I froze. My blood ran cold. I thought he might be tired of me being busy with my work, so maybe he found some distraction... but to plan to reject me? That was heart-piercing. While I was breaking my back in the operating room, fighting for every coin, planning a future where he and I could stand taller together... he was already plotting how to throw me away. I glanced at my watch. If I waited another ten minutes, I'd definitely miss the golden window. "Fine," I said, taking a deep breath. "I have to go now. And if you try stopping me... you can't handle the consequences." Selena laughed, a cold, crazy sound echoed. "Consequences? Oh honey, what consequences? I'll be totally fine if I kill you right here, right now. You understand?" My patience snapped. I had no time to argue with her nonsense. I moved toward the car. Before I could even open the door, she raised a hand and muttered something to her soldiers. The leader of her little army stepped forward, massive and confident. He slammed a fist into my stomach with everything he had. I cried out as the air whooshed from my lungs. My phone flew out of my hand, skittering across the floor. Pain shot through my stomach. My healer instincts screamed, it's damaged, badly. Selena sauntered toward me, her high heels clicking against the concrete. Every step was deliberate, mocking. She stopped directly over me and pressed one heel down onto my chest, right above my ribs. The pressure made it hard to breathe. "Who told you you could leave?" she whispered, voice dripping with venom.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

She didn't fully press her heel onto my face this time, but it was close enough to make my stomach drop. Instead, she lifted it slightly, just enough to smile that horrible, triumphant smile. I could see the glint of her high heel, perfectly aimed at my eyeball. If she stepped down, I'd be blind. My heart raced. I tried to squirm, to move out of the way, but the soldier leader had me pinned. His weight pressed me down hard against the concrete. I wasn't a match for them-none of my healer skills mattered here. Selena's heel hovered, a heartbeat away from crushing my eye. My instincts screamed, and I screamed louder. "Sorry! Beta Selena! Sorry!" Her smile widened. She didn't step on me. Relief washed over me in a wave, but I knew this was temporary. Maybe... maybe if I played soft, I could buy myself some time. "Beta Selena," I began, my voice trembling, "please... I really need to go..." She didn't even let me finish. With a snarl, she yanked my hair with all her strength, jerking my head back so violently that my neck ached. "Long night ahead, bitch. Minutes ago, if you had just apologized and agreed to send me to the bar, maybe I'd forgive you. But now?" Her green eyes glinted with malice. "Now I know you're his mate, pretending to be a healer. Not that easy to let you go." She shoved me back down onto the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of me. I tried to sit up, to find words, but she frowned, impatient. "Silence means yes, huh? You're still planning to leave? Fine... time to face reality." I barely had time to process when her heel slammed down onto my index finger. Pain exploded through my hand, sharp and fiery. I screamed, my whole body trembling. No, no, no... not my fingers! I needed these. These are the tools that save lives! She laughed, a cruel, bone-chilling sound. "Hahaha... reality check, bitch! You will NEVER be the healer!" With each word, her heel came down harder. One... two... three... four times. Blood welled up instantly, the pain almost blinding. My finger throbbed like it was on fire. I clawed at the ground, trying to curl away. "No! No! Sorry! It's my fault! I'm sorry!" Tears stung my eyes, and I realized-I couldn't perform surgery like this. Not now. Not ever, maybe. Even my right hand alone wouldn't be enough to pull off the precision this cardiac surgery required. My life, my purpose-it felt like it was slipping through my fingers, literally. "Ohhh... someone's scared," Selena taunted, stepping closer. "But you know what? Too late. Too, too late." She glanced around, her eyes finally settling on my car. That damn car-the one the Elders had given me. "Oh, you said it's yours, huh? Guess I can make it... forever yours." Before I could react, she signaled her soldiers. I barely had time to register before the leader grabbed me, roughly shoving me toward the rearview mirror. My body pressed against the glass. No... no way... was he planning to start the car with me tied like this? My chest tightened. If that car moved, I would die, for sure. "No! Please! You can't-" I shouted, struggling, but she slapped me across the face hard. My head snapped back, stars exploding behind my eyes. "Shut up," she hissed. "Will you?" Her voice was ice, sharp and commanding. Then she gestured again, and the soldier leader hit the ignition. The engine roared. Tires screeched. I shrieked as my body scraped along the road, every nerve screaming in agony. Blood ran hot down my arms, sticking my hair to my skin. I tried to close my eyes, praying for the pain to stop, for this nightmare to end, for death to take me. The car jerked to a sudden stop. Before I could catch my breath, Selena was there, looming over me, and she slapped me again, hard. "Who told you to close your eyes, bitch? You should see how fast your car can go! Let's start over. NOW!" Her soldiers grabbed me and forced my eyelids open, the tape cutting into my skin. The car roared to life again, and this time they drove onto a newly paved road. I wanted to scream, to fight, to use my powers-but my body was already screaming louder than my mind. Then, suddenly, the car jolted.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

"Yorick! Did I tell you to wait for me at the bar?!" Selena screamed, her voice piercing the night air as soon as she spotted a car pulling up. Her excitement was ridiculous, almost funny, if I weren't in this much pain. And she almost jumped out of the car. The moment the car door swung open, Selena froze. It wasn't Yorick. It was Ethan. His bodyguard uniform marked him immediately, but more than that... he had always been reliable. The guy had seen me talking to the Elders before, but never betrayed me to Yorick. That meant something. That meant I could... maybe... trust him. I groaned, weak, barely able to speak. "Ethan... please... hospital... now..." My voice cracked with pain. Every breath hurt, every movement sent sparks of fire through my mangled wrists and scorched skin. However, Selena's voice turned high-pitched, whiny, almost comical. Ethan couldn't hear me. "Where's Yorick? I wanted him to pick me up!" Ethan glanced at her, his jaw tightening. "Yorick already left," he said firmly. "He went straight to the Lycan Chairman's residence. His condition got worse, and every Alpha candidate was asked to be there. He said to tell you... you don't need to go to the bar." Selena's face scrunched, frustrated. "Why bother? I already asked my best friend to go there. With him, the Lycan Chairman will be totally fine. Totally fine!" I tried to push my body upright. My arms and back screamed in protest. My wrists were mangled beyond comprehension; even trying to raise my hand made bolts of pain shoot through my arms. I moaned, loud enough for Ethan to hear, hoping someone would actually listen. Then Ethan finally saw me. Ethan's eyes widened. "Shit..." he muttered, scanning around. He saw me lying fragile and battered on the ground, burned and scraped, clothes shredded, hair sticking to my blood and sweat. "Ms. Xena!" He ran to me, trying to untie the ropes that bound me. Relief surged in my chest. Finally, someone who might save me. Finally, someone I could trust. But Selena... she wasn't done. She stomped back into her car like a storm and slammed the engine to life before Ethan could reach me. My wrists... both of them... I felt them tearing, burning, twisting. I screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the roaring engine. Ethan cursed, slamming his own car into hers, trying to force her to stop. Metal crunched, tires skidded, and finally, Selena slammed the brakes hard, squealing. She spun around, glaring, furious. Ethan jumped out, yelling at her, "Enough! I need to get Xena away! Yorick needs her, NOW!" Selena's face twisted in disbelief. "What? He... he left the bar because of this... bitch?!" She howled, completely unhinged, rage mixing with heartbreak. "How could he do that to me?!" I felt Ethan's hands finally on me, cutting through the ropes. The pain was blinding, but relief washed over me. "Hurry…" I gasped, every breath burning in my throat. "My phone...give me my phone." Ethan shoved it into my shaking hands. My fingers barely obeyed me, but I forced them across the screen, letter by letter, until the message was sent: "Sorry. I can't make it...I can't do the surgery." For a moment, everything was silent except for the pounding in my ears. Then the reply came, only one line: "Stay where you are. The army is already on the way to get you."