The Healer Luna

FIONA Every werewolf knows that the last thing you see before you die is the Moon Goddess, her hands outstretched to welcome you home. That isn’t what I saw. And that is how I know that I did not die. I forced my eyes open and the world spun. The lights were too bright, my mouth was dry and when I tried to get up, pain exploded from almost every joint in my body. I barely managed to roll to the side before retching uselessly onto the ground. “Stars and scars, she’s awake!” I heard someone yell. “Wait…” But they were already gone. What the hell happened to me? I wiped my mouth and took in my surroundings. I was in the clinic. Did I pass out? I stared at my hands as the memory of the moments right before I lost consciousness flashed in my mind. Too many wounded..too much pain..the noise inside my head growing louder until.. Oh dear goddess, what have I done? Suddenly, the curtains of the tent were ripped open and sunlight flooded in, stabbing my eyes. Warriors poured inside, surrounding my bed, all speaking at once. It made the throbbing in my temples worse. “Enough.” A firm voice called over the rest. “Give her space.” Commander Beatrice stepped forward and the crowd fell back. She bowed, pressing my hand to her forehead. “Dr. Fiona.” “Commander Beatrice.” I forced a smile. “It seems like half the camp is gathered in front of my bed.” She straightened, not bothering to hide the relief that flickered across her face. “Forgive us doctor, but when we found you lying unconscious at the entrance to the clinic, we all feared the worst. Especially after…” Her voice trailed off. Just two days ago, some rogues had managed to breach our defenses. I can still hear the bomb that had nearly destroyed half of the camp. I rose to my feet and staggered. The commander reached for me but I waved her off. “How are the soldiers I was attending to at the clinic?” I asked evenly. But before she could respond, someone burst into the tent, screaming my name at the top of their lungs. It was Edward, my only real friend in this moon-rotted war zone. “Finny!!” I barely had time to brace myself before he threw his arms around me, sobbing loudly into my shoulders. “You’re awake!” He blubbered “You saved me…and then I thought we’d lost you…and then…” He was sobbing so much that his words were barely coherent. You would think I’d died and returned back to life. Some of the other soldiers rolled their eyes and even Beatrice hid a smile behind her hands. Edward was an…unusual soldier. His soft features and bright green eyes made him seem younger than most fighters and his high pitched voice probably didn’t help. At first it was strange how easily he became my friend and I was worried people might get the wrong idea. But it soon became clear to me and the rest of the camp members that Edward was just…well…Edward. I bit back my laughter and patted his shoulder. “There, there Edward. It’s good to see you’re fine as well. How’s your leg?” He’d been among those who had gotten injured in the last attack and I was a little surprised to see him jumping about. Edward sniffed and looked in my eyes. “You don’t know?” He said. “Don’t know what?” I replied. Commander Beatrice leaned in. “Perhaps doctor, it would be best if we spoke alone?” I nodded at her and she immediately sent out the crowd. I turned to her, my hand clasped in front of me to hide their shaking. “You may speak now.” I said. Beatrice straightened. “Doctor Fiona, everyone in the clinic where we found you, hundreds of werewolves who were dying, they are all suddenly…well.” Blood rushed between my ears. “What do you mean ‘well?’” “I mean healed, Doctor.” she replied with undisguised awe in her voice. “You healed them.” I laughed and wagged my finger at her. “Nice try, Beatrice. Who came up with this little prank, Edward?.” But Beatrice did not laugh along with me. I stared at her. “Wait, you’re serious.” The commander nodded. “Impossible.” I half choked, half whispered, turning away so she wouldn’t see my face drained of color. “Doctor,” Beatrice reached for me. “Are you alright, do you need to sit down?” But I moved past her, my head in my hands. The last thing I remember before waking up here was walking through the clinic, hearing all the wounded people crying for help. And then…nothing. And now I wake up to the claim that I have somehow healed all those people? I turned back to face the Commander. “Beatrice, healers are extremely rare and those that do exist are all in the palace, working on the behest of the Bishop and the King.” She shrugged. “Maybe, you’ve actually been a healer all this time.” I scoffed loudly. “What’s next, am I going to sprout wings and discover that I was secretly a fairy all along as well?” Beatrice crossed her arms. “This is no joke, doctor.” “Oh moon above!” I exclaimed, staring at her. “Surely, you cannot allow warriors who were sick and delirious with pain to lead you astray. The goddess healed them. Call it a miracle.” But Bearice wouldn’t stop looking at me like she really believed that I had healed all those people. I stared at my hands and my heart fell. Me, a healer? Oh no. I rushed closer to her. “How many people besides you know about this?” I whispered. She looked warily at me. “Not many. Only the injured warriors who were conscious at the time. Doctor, are you sure you don’t need to rest?” I grabbed her hands. “Beatrice, I need you to listen to me carefully. What happened here, cannot leave this camp.” Beatrice frowned slightly. “I don’t understand...” I shook my head sharply, cutting her off. “You can tell the rest of the warriors that it was the goddess herself and my presence there was simply a coincidence.” Gently, she pulled her hand from my grip. “You are asking me to lie to my soldiers.” “I am asking you to protect them. Our people are already suffering. If you allow this news to spread, everyone will risk their lives, bringing their sick to me, expecting something that I am not certain I can even control.” Beatrice shook her head. “But you can learn to control it, can’t you?” “And what happens until then?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air. “Do I just keep pretending that I can actually heal people? And what happens when the Sunglow court finds out about this?” The commander shrugged. “I am sure the Bishop and the king would be glad that there is another healer.” “Ah.” I laughed sarcastically, running my fingers through my hair. “Tell me, Beatrice, do you have any idea why I chose to come here in the first place?” “Because you are stubborn?” she replied. “Because I wanted to help people. In whatever little way that I can. If this healer business gets to the palace I will not be allowed to help anyone at all.” “That’s not true.” She said and I scoffed slightly. “Oh please, as far as the royal family and the Bishop is concerned, healing is a privilege only for those who can afford it.” Those words are close to treason and the commander frowned slightly. “I am sure not everyone at the palace thinks like that. If they found out about you they might…” “No.” I turned away from her, my voice firm. “I’d really rather not risk my freedom on the hope that someone in the palace is actually concerned about the rest of us.” The commander shook her head and turned away. “Please Beatrice,” I begged. “If you care about me at all, as your friend, you’d do this for me.” Beatrice was silent for a long time. But eventually her face softened and she nodded. I almost threw my arms around her neck. But she was not a hugger and I wasn’t certain she wouldn’t misinterpret my hug as an attack and punch me in the eye, Luna or not. So I settled for grinning widely at her, my hands clasped under my jaw. “Thank you, thank you so much.” “But Doctor, If you wish this to remain a secret then, perhaps it would be best for you to return home.” The smile fell from my face like a rock. I took a step back. “No Beatrice, I can’t just leave. The camp..” “Is in good hands. After the blow we dealt to the rogues who attacked us, I do not believe they will be returning anytime soon and all the sick are now well thanks to you. You should go home and get some rest.” The offer to return was more tempting than when Edwards tried to convince me to sneak into the camp kitchen with him. “Plus,” Beatrice added with a smirk. “You're always rubbing it in our faces, saying how you miss your husband.” I didn’t even bother to hide my grin. Beatrice was right. I did miss my husband. My husband was Damian Sinclair, the alpha of the Silver moon pack and when I decided to take my medical skills to the frontline, he had been my biggest supporter. Even when my brother thought I was mad. It was not easy being the alpha of a pack, but Damien always made time to support my skills as a doctor. I had been worried that being away for six months would be too much and sometimes I felt guilty for leaving him alone to deal with the rigors of leading the pack. But he had promised me that he would be waiting for me. All I had to do was return in one piece. His words of encouragement were part of what had kept me going all this while. But now I missed my home. And my bed. And clothes that hadn’t been washed in the nearest pond. I nodded, trying to hide my sudden excitement. “You’re right. I should go home.” Beatrice smiled and touched my arm. “We will never forget what you’ve done for us.” Oh what the heck. I threw my arms around her neck. “And I will never forget you all either.” The commander patted my back awkwardly, gave me a small salute and left with a quiet nod. Almost the whole camp came out to watch me leave. I say almost because for some reason Edward was nowhere to be found. I felt a little sad that I was leaving without saying goodbye but no one could find him. The journey back home passed in a blur of sleep and I only woke up when we drove though the white birch trees that marked the entrance of the Silver moon pack estate. Rogue attacks plagued every werewolf pack this side of the River but this far from the border, the attacks felt distant and unreal. Now I was returning home and I realized with a deep breath that I could not wait to see my husband. The guards and maids at the entrance to our estate seemed startled to see me. But they quickly let me through. Bowing low and rushing to take my bags. I smiled eagerly at them, hoping the bags under my eyes and the weight I had lost wasn’t too obvious. The rest of the pack members all rallied around me, their voices gushing about how much they had missed me and my presence. It was good to be back home. “Luna Fiona.” I turned around to see Damien’s second, Elias Wood walking up to me. He bowed low, lifting my hand to his forehead. “Hello Elias.” I said with a small smile “How fairs the pack in my absence.” He did not smile back. But then again, Elias never smiles. “We have missed your presence, Luna Fiona.” He replied. I looked back towards the house. “And the alpha?” Some emotion flickered across Elias’ face but it was so fast that I couldn’t be sure I hadn’t imagined it. “He is well.” He said. I bit my lip, suddenly worried. “Please don’t tell me he already knows I’m here, I was hoping to surprise him.” “Luna…” Elias hesitated. He has never hesitated to answer me before. I waved my hands. “Wait no, don’t say a word. Let me go in and find out for myself.” Then before Elias could respond, I gathered my skirts in my hands and stomped up to the house. The maid at the door almost fell when she saw me. “Luna!” She exclaimed, glancing over shoulders. “You’re back!” I chuckled at the level of surprise in her voice. “I merely travelled for a while, Amelia.” “Of course Luna.” She curtsied low . “W…welcome home.” As I walked in, I looked around the house. Nothing was as I had left it. Even the pictures of us on the wall were gone. “Did the alpha order a renovation in my absence?” I asked, reaching out to brush my fingers against the new chairs. I could feel my heart pounding with excitement. Somehow Damien must have heard of my return and started working on a surprise for me. I bit back a giggle, The maid lowered her head and would not meet my eyes. “Shall I take you to your room, Luna?” She said instead. If this was all part of Damien’s surprise , I was a little too exhausted to play along. I needed to see him. I needed him to hug me and hold me and tell me he missed me as much as I missed him. “Where is the alpha?” I said. “Take me to him.” The maid fell silent. Her lips were shaking and she wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Look,” I sighed. “I’m sorry I ruined the surprise but I promise you will not get in trouble. Now where is my husband?” “He is in the master suite, Luna.” She answered without lifting her head. Without another word, I turned away from her and made my way up the winding spiral staircase of the mansion. My palms felt sweaty and my chest was tight with excitement. What could Damien possibly have planned on such short notice? I wiped my hand on my skirts and reached for the door of the master bedroom and pushed it open. All at once, my world tilted off its axis. I had to lean forward to grab the door to keep from falling. Lying in our bed and making love to another woman, was none other than my husband, Damien Sinclair. Something tore loose inside my chest and the world in my ear went silent.