Healer Luna's Heart

Uninvited Guest

The man in front of her had facial features similar to Austin's, with a strong jawline and athletic posture, but his eyes were brighter.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Nolan Darkmore," said the young man as he bowed respectfully. "Austin's distant cousin, the Alpha who is said to be busy."

Seara blinked. She looked Nolan up and down.

This man was wearing a very neat formal suit, but there was a childish impression on his clean-shaven face.

"Did you just graduate from basic academy? You look still... very young," asked Seara, looking at the man's face in front of her.

Nolan wasn't offended. Instead, he chuckled, revealing his neat row of white teeth.

"Age is just a number. But, try to guess what attracted me to say hello to you," Nolan asked back with a meaningful smile.

"I don't know," Seara replied, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

"The scent of Cattleya, a beautiful and understated flower. You're like that, Seara."

Seara shook her head, amused. Instead of feeling uncomfortable like she did when facing the intimidating Austin, Seara felt that Nolan was a pleasant change of pace. This man was polite, undemanding, and most importantly, he didn't look like he wanted to pounce on her every second.

Seara's first impression changed completely as they talked.

They walked side by side towards the tulip garden, the pride of the pack house.

Amidst the colorful expanse of flowers, Nolan suddenly bent down. With a quick and elegant movement, he picked three pink tulips.

"For you," he said, handing her the flowers.

Seara accepted them hesitantly. "Thank you. The flowers are beautiful. But is it okay to pick them?"

"Just a few. The garden is still beautiful," he replied casually.

"You're right," Seara said with a small nod.

"Pink tulips are my symbol for starting something new. The beginning of a relationship, perhaps?" Nolan looked deeply into Seara's eyes.

Seara thought to herself. This boy was really blunt.

He must be at least seven years younger than her.

To Seara, Nolan was just a new friend who was fun to chat with to forget about the headache caused by Austin's antics and the fight with Delcy earlier that morning.

However, before Seara could respond, Nolan took Seara's right hand. With a very royal and polite gesture, he kissed the back of Seara's hand gently.

Seara's face flushed instantly. She was not used to this kind of structured sweet treatment.

Austin usually only knew how to pull her roughly, or kiss her until she was breathless.

A slight smile appeared on Seara's lips, she felt appreciated as a woman.

"Hmm."

A familiar heavy cough broke the atmosphere. Austin was standing not far from them with Beta Alex.

Austin's face looked cloudier than a winter storm. His eyes immediately fell on the pink tulips in Seara's hand, then shifted to Nolan's hand, which was still holding Seara's fingers.

"Nolan," Austin greeted him in an icy tone.

Without further ado, Austin stepped forward and pushed Nolan's hand away from Seara's.

He turned to Alex with a sharp gaze. "Beta, starting now, enforce a ban on picking tulips throughout the pack house area. Anyone who violates this will have their food ration cut for three days."

The Beta could only sigh resignedly as he noted it down on his tablet. “Understood, Alpha.”

Nolan straightened his back, completely unfazed. “You’re so stingy, Austin. It’s just a flower.”

"That's a flower in my garden," Austin replied curtly. He then quipped, "Then why are you here without notice? As far as I remember, the Darkmore family doesn't have any visits scheduled this month."

Nolan smoothed his suit. "My father sent me. The Lycan Council has begun to question the efficiency of your leadership in Lycanisius after the recent incidents. I'm here to keep an eye on you."

Nolan paused, then smiled defiantly. "And to be blunt, my father has named me as your replacement candidate if you are deemed a failure as Alpha. The Council ministers don't like leaders who have too much personal drama."

Austin laughed hollowly, a laugh full of arrogant confidence. "Go ahead and try, Nolan. Leading the pack isn't just about wearing expensive suits and charming women. You need sharp fangs, not just a sweet tongue."

"We'll see about that," Nolan replied casually. He then turned to Alex. "Beta, prepare a room for me. I want a room close to Seara so I can protect her from any 'disturbances'."

"No," Austin cut in quickly. "He will stay in the west wing, far from Seara. Seara is my Luna candidate, she is under my full protection."

Seara, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up because she felt her name was being used as a commodity.

"Wait a minute. My future Luna? I haven't agreed to that crazy idea, Alpha. Don't make a unilateral decision."

Nolan laughed out loud at Austin, who had just been 'rejected' in public.

"See? She hasn't even agreed yet. So, my chances are still wide open, right?"

Seara rolled her eyes. She looked at Austin seriously. "Instead of worrying about Nolan's room, you better take care of Delcy. Make sure she doesn't mess with me again or provoke my anger if you don't want to see her face covered in permanent scars. Now, I have to go to training."

Austin just stood there with his jaw clenched as Seara walked away.

Nolan waved at Seara and shouted, “I’ll stop by during your break, Beautiful!”

In the academy’s medical room, Seara tried to focus. Healer Winona—a meticulous middle-aged female wolf healer—accompanied her.

In front of them was a guard soldier suffering from a shoulder fracture due to combat training.

"Remember, Seara. You are a non-dominant healer," Winona explained. "You cannot force the energy out. You have to feel it flow like water filling the cracks in the broken bones. Place your hands on his shoulder, close your eyes, and imagine the bones coming back together."

Seara took a deep breath. She placed her hands on the man's shoulder.

At first, she felt a warm pulse in her palms. Slowly, a dim green light appeared.

Seara concentrated fully. She could feel the rough texture of the broken bones beneath the man's skin.

Gently, she directed her energy to reconnect the separated parts.

Sweat began to bead on Seara's temples. Healing fractures was much more exhausting than simply healing scratches.

After five intense minutes, a soft 'click' sounded, and the soldier breathed a sigh of relief as the pain subsided.

"Good job, Seara. You have natural talent, but you need better emotional control," Winona praised confidently.

Seara wiped her sweat. When lunchtime arrived, she felt her stomach growling.

As soon as he left the training room and headed for the academy cafeteria, he saw Nolan standing there, leaning against a pillar and playing with his motorcycle keys.

"You're right on time," said Seara.

"I'm never late for a date with a beautiful woman," replied Nolan with a wink.

They sat in a quiet corner of the cafeteria. Seara ordered beef soup, while Nolan only ordered coffee and salad.

While eating, Nolan started talking about many things. However, Nolan's conversation always returned to his rivalry with Austin.

"You know, Austin always thinks he's the best because he was born seven years before me," Nolan stirred his coffee. "In every family competition, in every hunt, he always wins. He thinks I'll always be a kid."

Seara chewed her food. "But you seem very competitive now."

"Because now I'm his equal, Seara. In terms of physical strength, he may be slightly superior, but in terms of strategy and influence on the Council? I can destroy him,"

Nolan leaned forward. “And I’m serious about making you my mate. Not because I want to beat Austin, but because you’re attractive.”

“He’s too weak to fight anyone, let alone have you.”

The voice came out of nowhere. Austin appeared out of nowhere and sat down in the empty chair between Seara and Nolan. The atmosphere suddenly became very tense.

Austin stared at Nolan with obvious contempt. "Stop poisoning her mind with your ridiculous ambitions, Nolan. You still need seven more years to reach my level."

Austin then glanced at Seara's food tray. Without permission, he took a piece of meat from Seara's bowl and ate it.

"The food is too bland for a future Luna."

"Austin, move aside. You're limiting my space," protested Seara, pushing Austin's body slightly.

Nolan didn't want to lose. He pushed Seara's tray closer to him. "Come on, Seara, don't mind this old Alpha. Tell me about your childhood."

Austin responded by pushing the tray back towards him. "She doesn't have time to talk to strangers."

"I'm your cousin, Austin. Not a stranger!" Nolan pushed the tray back again with a little force.

"You're a wolf in sheep's clothing," Austin replied, pushing the tray roughly until Seara's soup bowl slid to the edge of the table.

The tray was finally pushed too hard and tilted, spilling the rest of the hot meat soup onto the table and a little onto the hem of Seara's practice dress.

Seara slammed her spoon down on the table with a loud clang. She was breathing heavily with anger.

She stood up, glaring at Austin and Nolan alternately with sharp eyes.

"Enough!" Seara shouted, causing several people in the cafeteria to turn their heads. "I just want to have a quiet lunch. You two are acting like puppies fighting over a bone!"

She pointed at Austin with a trembling finger. "And you, Alpha. Your presence always disturbs the peace of my life. You're jealous, but you won't admit it, so you ruin my lunch? What an amazing Alpha!"

Seara had completely lost her appetite. She turned and walked away with long strides, leaving the two male wolves in an awkward silence.

"Seara, wait!" Nolan tried to chase after her.

"Seara, come back here!" Austin ordered.

But Seara didn't stop. She turned around briefly just to point at Austin's face.

"Don't follow me! If I see your face within five meters of me for the next hour, I swear I'll poison your drink with wolfsbane."

Nolan stopped walking, staring at Seara’s receding back, then turned to Austin, who was still standing frozen with a flushed face from anger.

"Austin," Nolan called softly, his tone now more serious. "If she really is your Moon candidate, why does she look like she wants to strangle you every time you speak?"

Austin didn't answer. He just clenched his fists tightly, staring after Seara with mixed feelings of anger, possessiveness, and a little guilt that he didn't want to admit.