Chapter 48: Rouge Wolf In The Woods
1406 Words
Luna's POV
I woke up breathless, my heart thudding in my chest like it wanted to escape.
It was the same nightmare over and over again—flashes of blood, the sound of a woman screaming, and a fire I couldn’t put out no matter how hard I tried.
My skin felt sticky from all the sweat, and my bedsheets tangled around my legs like vines. For a moment, I just sat there in the dark, trying to shake off the image of Elder Nyra’s face. Her voice echoed in my head, soft yet with a hint of sadness.
I sighed, rubbed my eyes, and stood up. It was still early in the day, but the sky outside my window was bright blue.
The house was quiet except for the creaking wood under my feet as I walked barefoot down the hall.
I saw a Karen carrying a basket of fresh bread near the kitchen door. I reached out and took a piece, trying to be sneaky.
“Luna,” she said, raising an eyebrow. I stopped in my tracks, thinking I had been caught.
“Don’t forget the herbs. The garden still needs planting.”
“I won’t forget, Elder Karen,” I said with a small smile, turning my back and biting into the warm bread. “I just needed a little fuel first.”
“Don’t think I didn't see you swipe that piece of bread, child. Go, and don’t come back with poison ivy again. You had bumps for a week,” she muttered.
I rolled my eyes. “That happened one time. One time! And I’m never living it down.”
I hurried back to my room, slipped on my worn red hoodie, and grabbed the basket by the door. The forest wasn’t far from the elder home. I had been going there to pluck herbs ever since I was little. Part of my job as a healer.
I liked coming to the forest, even though some said it had a mind of its own. Don't we all?
Walking past the trees, I let the silence of the surrounding calm me. The herbs I needed grew near the east clearing. I knelt down, gently plucking mint and sage, humming to myself. The scent of pine filled my lungs, and for the first time that morning, I felt like I could breathe again.
Then I heard a fast footsteps. Crashing through the leaves and breaking branches.
I froze when I saw what it was.
It wasn't a hunter, and it definitely wasn't a human.
It was something much larger.
I hid behind a thick tree trunk just as a massive grey wolf burst through the trees, panting hard. It ran to a stop, then collapsed right in front of me.
My heart was pounding again, but this time from an adrenaline rush. I peeped from behind the trunk. The wolf was bleeding, whimpering softly, trying to move.
And then it happened—bones cracked, the air felt lighter, and the wolf shifted.
A werewolf…
My eyes widened. It was a boy—no, a young man. Probably not much older than me. He had dark hair covered in sweat and dirt, and his side was torn open with a nasty gash of blood.
“Oh goddess,” I whispered.
I crept forward slowly, cautiously. He wasn’t moving anymore, just groaning softly. My hands trembled, but I couldn't just leave him like that—helpless.
I tore part of my hoodie and pressed it to his wound. He flinched but didn’t open his eyes. I reached into my basket, pulled out some sage, crushed it between my fingers, and pressed it to the wound to slow the bleeding.
“You’re going to be fine,” I said quietly. “This should buy you some time.”
He stirred a little, his lips parting. I caught a glimpse of his eyes—dark brown, maybe hazel, but no. His eyes were the color of the midnight sky—dark blue with a dash of mystery.
He closed his eyes.
I stood and backed away, throwing my hands in the air. “Hey! Someone! Over here!” I shouted into the forest.
Voices answered back in the distance.
I didn’t wait. I turned and ran, disappearing deep into the woods.
By the time his people had arrived, I was already halfway home.
*********
Back in the garden, I knelt in the dirt, planting the herbs like Elder Karen asked. My hands were filthy, but I couldn’t stop smiling.
Who was he? What pack did he belong to? Why was he alone?
I laughed to myself. “You really are crazy,” I whispered. “Helping strange wolves in the forest. What if he was dangerous? I could have gotten bitten.”
Still... something about his eyes had stuck with me—those dark eyes were like nothing I'd ever seen before.
I reached for my watering can when I heard footsteps. I thought I was being followed, but it wasn't until I recognised those steps that I realised I was being followed.
I looked up.
“Ray!” I squealed, running toward him.
He laughed as I jumped into his arms. “Easy, Luna!”
“You’re back! What happened? You look awful.”
Ray grinned, though he was covered in scratches and bruises. “Got caught in a crossfire. Two rival packs were fighting near the river border. I was passing through and got dragged in.”
I dragged him to the bench under the tree. “Got dragged in, huh?” I smiled at his pitiful attempt to lie. Ray loved going to battle. "Sit. You need to be cleaned up. You smell like burnt fur.”
He groaned. “Thanks for the welcome.”
As I started wiping his cuts with clean herbs and a damp cloth, I said, “I met someone today.”
Ray raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“In the forest,” I said, biting my lip. “He was a wolf. Hurt. He shifted right in front of me. I helped him but left before he could wake up.”
Ray narrowed his eyes. “Luna... that was reckless. What if he had gotten up and attacked you?”
“I know, I know.” I paused. “But something told me he wasn’t dangerous. I mean, he just looked lost.”
Ray sighed. “You have too much heart for your own good.”
“You love me anyway,” I teased.
He chuckled. “Of course I do.”
After I finished cleaning his wounds, I stood. “Okay, you’re patched up. Now you go back to the palace and rest, okay?”
“Wait,” he said, grabbing my hand. “I have news.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Good news?”
“Very good. The royal healer at the palace died today.”
My eyes widened. “Oh. Wait, how is that good news?”
“And,” he continued, “I told the Alpha about you. He wants to meet you. The royal family need a new healer. He’s willing to give you a chance.”
I dropped the rag in my hand. “Wait—me? In the palace?”
Ray nodded. “But you’ll need to leave tonight. It’s a long journey. But if you get there and prove yourself, the job is yours.”
I stood frozen for a second, then screamed. “YES!”
I ran inside, two steps at a time. My hands moved on their own as I packed. Jars of crushed herbs, bottles of healing portions, and my worn notebook were filled with drawings and formulas.
At the bottom of my drawer, I pulled out a small photo. One of Nyra and me. I stared at it for a while, pressing it to my chest.
“Wish me luck,” I whispered. “Maybe this will lead me to answers.”
I shoved the picture into my bag and ran back downstairs. Ray was already outside, shifting into his wolf form.
He nudged his snout toward me.
“Alright, alright, I’m ready!” I said, climbing onto his back.
As we took off through the trees, the wind rushed past my face, and for the first time in a long while, I felt something that wasn’t pain.
I felt hope.
No more nightmares.
- Writer
