The Alpha’s Lost Mate

Chapter 3: The Healer’s Secret

The rogue’s attack played over and over in Elara’s mind as she sat by the creek the next morning, the soft trickle of water doing little to calm her nerves. The memory of its glowing eyes, the sharpness of its claws, and Kade’s command echoed endlessly.

She traced her fingers along a smooth stone in her hand, trying to focus on anything else. But the glow from her fingertips the night before kept creeping into her thoughts.

That faint, silvery light—it hadn’t been normal. It hadn’t been anything she’d seen before, even in the most unusual pack stories.

“What’s happening to me?” she whispered to herself, letting the stone drop into the water with a soft splash.

A voice startled her. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

Elara spun around to see Elder Lyra standing a few feet away, her calm expression betraying a hint of curiosity. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, child, but you’ve been sitting here for hours, talking to yourself. What troubles you?”

Elara hesitated, unsure if she wanted to share the truth. She barely understood it herself. “It’s… nothing. I’ve just been thinking about the attack.”

Lyra’s gaze sharpened as she stepped closer, her weathered hands folded neatly in front of her. “It’s not just the rogue that’s haunting you, is it? Something happened. I can see it in your eyes.”

Elara looked down, her chest tightening. “I don’t know how to explain it,” she admitted. “Last night, when the rogue came for me… something changed. There was this… light.” She held out her hands, as if trying to summon the glow again, but they looked normal now—plain, unremarkable. “It was coming from me.”

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly, and she inhaled sharply. “I see.”

“What does that mean?” Elara asked, her voice rising. “I don’t even know what it was. It just… happened.”

Lyra’s expression softened, though her eyes remained focused, calculating. “Your grandmother used to speak of something similar. A gift that runs in your bloodline, though rare. Very rare.”

Elara’s breath caught. “You mean… this isn’t just me? It’s something… inherited?”

“Yes,” Lyra said, her tone grave but gentle. “Your grandmother called it moonlight healing. It’s a power tied to the light of the moon, a gift to heal, to nurture life itself. But it’s not a power to take lightly, child. It requires understanding. Control.”

Elara shook her head, disbelief washing over her. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? Why did my grandmother never say anything?”

“She didn’t want to burden you,” Lyra replied. “Your mother didn’t have the gift, and your grandmother believed it might have skipped you as well. But it seems the moon had other plans.”

Elara sank onto a nearby rock, her mind racing. “I don’t even know what to do with it. I don’t know how it works, or why it happened last night.”

Lyra knelt beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Your grandmother left behind her journal, full of her discoveries and thoughts about this gift. It’s time you read it. The answers you seek may be there.”

Later that evening, Elara sat alone in her cabin, her grandmother’s journal resting on the table before her. The worn leather cover felt heavy in her hands, its weight a reminder of the secrets it held. She hadn’t touched it since her grandmother’s passing, too afraid it would only stir old memories. But now, she had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, she opened it, the pages yellowed and soft with age. Her grandmother’s handwriting, neat and looping, filled the first few pages with notes on herbs and remedies. But as she flipped through, she found what she was looking for.

“Moonlight Healing,” the heading read, bold and deliberate. Elara leaned closer, her eyes scanning the text with a mix of fear and fascination.

“Our bloodline carries a gift tied to the moon’s light. It is a rare power, one that allows us to channel the moon’s energy for healing and protection. But it is not without its risks. The gift requires balance, discipline, and a strong will. Without these, it can become as dangerous as it is powerful.”

Elara’s breath hitched as she read on, her fingers trembling. Her grandmother had described the gift in detail—how it awakened under the full moon, how it could heal wounds and bring life to even the most withered plants. But there was more.

“The bond between the moonlight healer and their mate is crucial. Together, they can strengthen and control the power. But if the bond is broken… the healer may lose themselves entirely.”

Elara froze, her heart pounding. A mate. Her thoughts immediately went to Kade, the one who had rejected her, the one who had looked at her like she was a mistake. Could he really be tied to this gift? To her?

She slammed the journal shut, her chest heaving. “No,” she whispered. “This has nothing to do with him. It’s my gift, not his.”

But even as she tried to push the thought away, a soft warmth spread through her hands, and a faint silvery glow flickered at her fingertips. She stared at them, her breath catching as the glow grew brighter, pulsing in time with her heartbeat.

Meanwhile, Kade sat alone in his cabin, his fists clenched as he stared at the fire. He couldn’t shake the image of Elara from his mind—the way she’d looked at him during the ceremony, the pain in her eyes, and the rogue lunging for her in the woods.

He had told himself he was protecting the pack by rejecting her.

She wasn’t what he needed, wasn’t strong enough to stand beside him. But then why couldn’t he let it go? Why did his chest feel tight every time he thought of her?

“You’re brooding,” Liam said, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

Kade glared at him. “I’m not.”

“You are,” Liam said, stepping inside. “Let me guess—it’s Elara.”

Kade’s growl was low and warning, but Liam didn’t back down. “You can’t keep pretending this doesn’t bother you, Kade. It’s written all over your face.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” Kade snapped. “She’s not my mate.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “She is. Whether you like it or not. The moon doesn’t make mistakes, Kade. Maybe you should stop fighting it and figure out why it chose her.”

Kade didn’t answer. He didn’t want to admit Liam might be right. Instead, he stood abruptly, heading for the door.

“Where are you going?” Liam called after him.

“Out,” Kade replied curtly.

As night fell, Elara stood outside her cabin, staring up at the moon. The soft glow from her hands hadn’t stopped, and it was stronger now, almost alive. She couldn’t ignore it anymore. She needed answers, but she didn’t know where to start.

The sound of footsteps behind her made her spin around, her heart racing. Kade stood there, his expression unreadable, his silver eyes catching the moonlight.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.

“We need to talk,” he said, his tone low.

“About what?” she shot back. “You made it pretty clear what you think of me.”

Kade hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Things have changed.”

“Changed?” Elara laughed bitterly. “The only thing that’s changed is that now I know I don’t need you.”

Her hands glowed brighter, and Kade’s eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the light. “What is that?”

“It’s none of your business,” Elara said, stepping back. “Just leave me alone.”

Before either of them could say more, a low, menacing growl came from the trees. Elara’s blood ran cold as she turned, her glowing hands trembling as another rogue emerged from the shadows.

“Stay behind me,” Kade said, his voice sharp.

But Elara didn’t move. This time, she wasn’t going to run.