MY MATE IS THE VILLAIN EVERYONE FEARS

"You'll never become a real werewolf." The words followed Seraphina Nightvale everywhere. She heard them in the marketplace. She heard them during pack gatherings. She even heard them from children who were too young to understand how deeply words could hurt. At first, she cried. Then she learned to smile. Smiling made people believe their words didn't matter. It was easier than letting them see how much they did. The first rays of sunlight spread across Moonridge Pack as Seraphina pushed open the wooden doors of the infirmary. The familiar scent of herbs filled the air, making her shoulders relax. "Good morning," she whispered to herself. She loved this place. Here, no one cared that she couldn't shift into a wolf. Patients came because they needed help, not because they wanted to judge her. "You are early again." Seraphina smiled as Selene Everhart walked out of the storeroom carrying several bundles of dried herbs. "Good morning, Aunt Selene." Selene wasn't her real aunt. Twenty years ago, she had found a newborn baby wrapped in a faded blanket outside Moonridge's gates. That baby was Seraphina. Since then, Selene had raised her as if she were her own daughter. "You skipped breakfast again," Selene said, narrowing her eyes. Seraphina gave an innocent smile. "I wasn't hungry." "That's exactly what you said yesterday." "And the day before that." Without another word, Selene handed her a warm meat pie. "Eat." Seraphina laughed softly. "Yes, ma'am." She took a bite, and the warmth spread through her body. "I need more Moonshade flowers today," Selene said while arranging jars on a shelf. "The purple ones near the northern stream?" Seraphina asked. Selene nodded. "They're running low." "I'll collect them after we're done here." "And don't go too deep into the forest." "I won't." Selene looked at her suspiciously. "You always say that." "Because I always mean it." Selene chuckled. "We'll see." The infirmary door opened, and the first patient of the day walked in an elderly man holding his shoulder. "Good morning, Mr. Owen," Seraphina greeted him with a smile. The old man looked surprised. "You remembered my name?" "Of course. You told me your shoulder hurts more whenever it rains." A gentle smile spread across his wrinkled face. "You're the only one who remembers." Seraphina helped him sit down before carefully changing the herbal bandage around his shoulder. "Does this feel better?" He nodded. "Much better." "Come back in three days so I can check it again." "Thank you, child." As the old man left, Selene watched Seraphina quietly. "You have a gift." Seraphina smiled. "I just like helping people." "That's exactly what makes it a gift." Before Seraphina could answer, the door burst open. A little boy ran inside, breathing heavily. "Miss Seraphina!" She immediately knelt in front of him. "What happened?" "My puppy ran into the forest!" His eyes filled with tears. "My father says we should leave him... but he'll be scared all alone." Seraphina gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's your puppy's name?" "Snow." She smiled. "Then let's go bring Snow home." Selene sighed. "The flowers too." "I promise." Taking a small basket and a rope, Seraphina followed the little boy toward the forest. Neither of them noticed the black raven watching from a tall pine tree. Its crimson eyes followed Seraphina until she disappeared among the trees. Then, with one powerful flap of its wings, it flew north. Far beyond Moonridge's borders, a man dressed in black stood alone on a castle balcony. The raven landed on his arm. He gently stroked its feathers before asking one quiet question. "Did you find her?" The raven let out a soft cry. For the first time in years, the man's cold crimson eyes softened. "So... she's alive." The forest welcomed Seraphina with cool morning air and the sweet scent of pine. Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, creating golden patches on the narrow path. Birds sang from the branches above, and somewhere nearby, a stream flowed gently over smooth rocks. "This way!" the little boy shouted, pointing ahead. "Snow always runs toward the stream." Seraphina laughed softly. "Then let's hope he hasn't decided to become a wild wolf." The boy giggled despite his worry. "He thinks he's brave." "I'm sure he does." As they walked deeper into the forest, Seraphina knelt every few steps to collect Moonshade flowers. Their soft purple petals glowed faintly in the sunlight, and their sweet fragrance filled her basket. Selene would be pleased. "You really know a lot about plants," the little boy said. "Aunt Selene taught me." "Can you teach me one day?" "Of course." His face lit up. "Really?" "Really." He grinned from ear to ear before running ahead. "Snow!" His voice echoed through the trees. A moment later, a small white puppy darted out from behind a bush, barking happily. "There you are!" the boy cried, scooping the puppy into his arms. "I found you!" Seraphina smiled as she watched them. "You gave everyone quite a scare, Snow." The puppy wagged its tail as if apologizing. "Thank you, Miss Seraphina," the boy said. "My father said no one would help because he's just a dog." Seraphina gently scratched Snow behind the ears. "Every life is important." The boy nodded seriously, as though committing those words to memory. "I'll remember that." She watched him hurry back toward the village, Snow safely in his arms. Only after he disappeared from sight did the forest become quiet again. Too quiet. Seraphina frowned. The birds had stopped singing. Even the wind seemed to have disappeared. She looked around slowly. "That's strange..." A twig snapped somewhere behind her. She turned quickly. Nothing. Only trees. "Probably a rabbit," she whispered. Still, she couldn't shake the strange feeling that someone was watching her. She forced herself to continue gathering flowers. Just as she reached for another Moonshade blossom, she noticed fresh footprints in the soft earth. They weren't hers. They were much larger. She crouched beside them. "Wolf tracks?" The prints were deeper than normal, as though whatever made them was incredibly heavy. But something didn't make sense. Moonridge warriors rarely patrolled this far north. She reached out and lightly touched one of the prints. It was still warm. Whoever had left it... Had passed by only moments ago. A chill ran down her spine. She quickly stood and decided it was time to return home. As she turned around, a soft growl echoed from somewhere in the distance. Her body froze. It wasn't loud. It wasn't threatening. It sounded... lonely. She listened carefully. The growl came again. Curiosity slowly replaced her fear. "Is something hurt?" She took a cautious step toward the sound. Then another. The growl became quieter. Soon, she reached a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. There, lying beneath an old oak tree, was a wolf. Its fur was black as the night sky. One of its front legs was bleeding. An iron trap was clamped tightly around its paw. Seraphina gasped. "Oh..." The wolf immediately lifted its head. Its crimson eyes locked onto hers. For a moment, neither of them moved. Most people would have run. Every story she had ever heard warned that wolves with red eyes were dangerous. But all Seraphina saw was pain. "It's okay," she whispered. "I'm not going to hurt you." The wolf let out a low growl. "I know." She slowly knelt a few feet away, making sure not to move too quickly. "You don't trust me." "I understand." The wolf continued watching her carefully. Seraphina opened her basket and removed a clean cloth and a small jar of healing ointment. "I only want to help." She gently slid the items across the grass instead of approaching. "If you let me." The wolf's ears twitched. It looked at the ointment. Then back at her. Several long moments passed. Finally... It stopped growling. Seraphina smiled softly. "Thank you." She slowly crawled closer until she was beside the trapped paw. The iron trap had cut deep into the wolf's leg. Someone had set it deliberately. "Who did this to you?" she whispered sadly. Very carefully, she loosened the trap. It sprang open with a loud snap. The wolf flinched but didn't attack. "You were very brave," she said as she cleaned the wound. She spread the healing ointment over the cut before wrapping it with the clean cloth. "There." She leaned back with a smile. "It should feel better in a few days." The wolf looked down at its bandaged paw. Then it looked at Seraphina again. Its crimson eyes were no longer filled with caution. They held something she couldn't understand. Almost gratitude. Before she could think about it, distant voices echoed through the forest. "Search this area!" "I found footprints!" "They're fresh!" Seraphina's heart skipped a beat. Moonridge warriors. If they found this wolf, they would kill it without asking questions. She looked at the wolf. "You have to go." The wolf remained where it was. "Hurry." The voices were getting closer. The wolf slowly stood. For one brief moment, it gently brushed its head against Seraphina's hand. She froze. Then, without another sound, it disappeared into the trees. Seconds later, Beta Rowan stepped into the clearing with three warriors. He looked around suspiciously. "Seraphina?" She quickly stood. "Beta Rowan." "What are you doing this far north?" "I was gathering Moonshade flowers." His sharp eyes scanned the clearing. Then they stopped on the broken iron trap lying in the grass. His expression changed. "Who opened this?" Seraphina's heart began to race. She looked at the trap then back at Rowan. "I..."