The day Sophia's pregnancy was announced, I was barred from entering the Herbary.
There was no formal notice. No explanation of any kind.
While I was inside the Healer's Lodge, taking stock of the supplies I intended to take with me, I discovered that several of the commonly used calming herbs had all been marked with a red seal.
I reached for them. A guard stopped me.
"Apologies, Ms. Moonveil. You are not permitted to use these."
I froze.
"These are part of my own formulas."
The guard simply repeated, "It's the Alpha's orders."
That was the moment I truly understood. I no longer had a place in this pack.
That afternoon, I was summoned to the pack council hall.
Kael stood at the council table, paging through the pack's ledgers.
I stood there for a long while before he looked up.
