"Finally, my dear niece. You've come to your senses." Dr. Dahlia Fields greeted her with a warm smile, pulling her into a tight hug. “So are you ready?”
Lavender managed a small smile. “I’m ready now, Aunt Dahlia. I want to work here, learn, and start over.”
Dahlia’s gaze softened. “You’ve come to the right place. But you should know, working at Silverpine isn’t just about tending to wounds and mixing potions. You’ll start with field training, visiting remote werewolf villages and dangerous territories. Rogues often lurk in those areas. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
Silverpine was more than a medical facility; it was a safe house for werewolves across the continent. Renowned for its advanced healing course, Silverpine was the ideal destination for aspiring healer wolves, drawing patients and students from distant territories. This was where Lavender would rebuild her life.
“I’m not afraid,” Lavender said, even raising her head a little higher. “I need this, Aunt Dahlia. I need to reclaim who I was before everything.”
Her aunt studied her for a moment, then nodded. “All right. Let’s get you started.”
As Lavender filled out the application form, her mind wandered to memories she had tried to bury. It had been years since Alpha Cedar had proposed to her during a sparring session. Cedar had been 27 at the time, already feeling the burden of his age and the growing impatience of not having met his fated mate. As an Alpha, the pressure to find his destined partner was immense, with whispers in the pack questioning why fate had not yet blessed him. Lavender, on the other hand, had been just twenty, young, and eager to prove herself. Cedar had admired her strength and resilience, seeing in her a partner who could stand by his side and complement his leadership.
“You’re my chosen mate,” he had said, gripping her hands tightly. “Even if my true mate comes along, I’ll reject her. You’re all I need, Lavender.”
She’d believed him. Believed in their bond. And when they marked each other that day, she thought their future was set in stone. But fate had a cruel way of intervening, shattering the life she had built.
“Cedar won’t let you go,” Dahlia’s voice broke through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. “You know how possessive Alphas can be. He’ll try to stop you.”
Lavender’s jaw tightened, her grip on the pen firm. “That’s why I’m asking for your help. Train me to become a true healer wolf. I want to be strong enough to reject him officially, without needing his consent.”
Dahlia’s eyes widened slightly, then she smiled. “You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you? Very well. I’ll help you. But it won’t be easy, Lavender. You’ll need to pour your heart and soul into this.”
“I’ve already lost everything,” Lavender said quietly, looking down at the accomplished form in her hand. “There’s nothing left to lose. Except myself. And I won’t let that happen.”
Her aunt nodded, placing a hand on Lavender’s shoulder. “Then let’s get to work.”
When Lavender got home, the maids were cleaning when she saw Cedar. The sight of Cedar looking toward the kitchen, where Fern was assisting with cleanup, made her stomach turn. The soft smile on his lips, the way his eyes lingered—it twisted the knife already lodged in her heart.
“We need to talk,” Lavender said, stepping into his line of sight and blocking his view of the kitchen.
Cedar hesitated but nodded. “Let’s go to my office.”
Inside, the tension was thick. Cedar gestured to the chair, but Lavender remained standing. “Who is Fern to you?” she demanded, her voice sharp.
Cedar sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’ve told you, it’s complicated. I’m helping Flint.”
“Then why isn’t she with him?” Lavender’s voice trembled with restrained fury. “Why is she here, where you can’t stop looking at her?”
Cedar’s frustration flared. “You’re imagining things, Lav. Trust me.”
The words stung. Trust me. The same words that once reassured her now felt empty and hollow.
You are a liar, Cedar! She screamed inwardly.
But then, after her application was approved and she completed her healing training, she would reject him and walk away.
