Chapter 4:

The Healer's Secret

The cell felt even smaller when they threw me back in. I sat against the cold wall, my mind racing.

The poisoning had been obvious to anyone with medical knowledge. Kieran had been poisoned for weeks, maybe months. Small doses, building up slowly in his system.

But why now? Why let Kieran collapse in front of everyone?

Unless... Victor wanted everyone to see Kieran's weakness. To see that their Alpha couldn't even protect himself. To plant doubt.

Hours passed. No one came. No food, no water, no news.

I didn't know if Kieran was alive or dead.

I tried not to think about him, but my mind wouldn't cooperate. Images kept flooding back, his smile, his laugh, the way he used to hold me.

Finally, I heard footsteps in the corridor. But not the heavy boots of guards.

Maya appeared outside my cell. Alone.

"You shouldn't be here," I said.

"The guards are busy. Half the pack is panicking." She studied me through the bars. "He's alive. Because of you."

Relief flooded through me. "Did the nightshade root work?"

"Yes. Sara said without it, he would've died within hours." Maya moved closer. "How did you know? That's not common knowledge. Even Sara didn't know that remedy."

"I... learned from a healer once."

"Where? When? That's pack knowledge, passed through bloodlines. Not something rogues learn."

I stayed silent. There was no good answer.

"You know," Maya said softly, "Celeste knew that remedy. Our grandmother taught her just before she died. Said it was family knowledge, to be kept secret."

My heart stopped.

"Strange coincidence," Maya continued. "A rogue knowing my dead sister's secret medicine."

Heavy footsteps sounded from above.

"I have to go. You'll be called again soon." She turned to leave, then paused. "Whoever you are... thank you. For saving him."

Then she was gone, as quietly as she'd come.

My hands were shaking. Maya suspected. She had to. But did she really think I was Celeste? Or just someone connected to our family?

---

Guards appeared shortly after. This time there were five of them, all armed, all watching me like I might attack.

"The Gamma wants to see you," one said.

My body tensed.

Why would Victor want to see me?

They brought me to a different room. Smaller, darker. Victor stood in the center with several pack elders.

"The rogue saved the Alpha," Victor said immediately. "How convenient."

"She knew about the poison," an elder named James added. "Almost like she knew it would happen."

"I saved his life!" I protested.

"Or you're working with whoever poisoned him," Victor said. "It's an old trick. Create a problem, then solve it. Makes you look like a hero."

"That's crazy!"

"Is it?" Victor moved closer. "A strange rogue appears. The Alpha gets poisoned. The rogue miraculously knows the cure. Either you're the luckiest wolf alive, or you're a spy."

"If I wanted the Alpha dead, why would I save him?"

"To gain our trust. To get close to him." Victor smiled coldly. "But I see through you."

"You see what you want to see."

"I see a threat to our pack." He turned to the elders. "She dies at dawn. That's my judgment as Gamma."

"You can't do that!" I struggled against my chains. "The Alpha said—l"

"The Alpha is unconscious, fighting for his life. I'm in command now."

"No, you're not."

Everyone turned at the new voice.

Maya stood in the doorway. She wasn't alone. Several pack members stood behind her, including Sara the healer.

"The Alpha is awake," Sara announced. "And he wants to see the prisoner."

Victor's face flushed red. "That's impossible. The poison"

"Is leaving his system, thanks to her remedy." Sara looked at me. "He's demanding to see the wolf who saved him."

"This is a mistake," Victor said. "She's dangerous, can't you all see that?"

"Then let the Alpha decide that," Maya said. "Unless you're questioning his judgment?"

It was a trap. Victor was smart enough to see it. Questioning the Alpha publicly meant challenging his authority. Even as Gamma, that was dangerous.

"Fine," Victor said through gritted teeth. "But when she shows her true nature, remember I warned you."

They brought me to Kieran's room. He was propped up in bed, still pale but alert. His blue-gray eyes found mine immediately.

"Alpha, you should be resting," Victor said.

"I'll rest when I'm done here." Kieran stood, each step obviously painful. "Why?"

"Why what?" I asked, caught off guard.

"Why save me? You don't know me. You owe me nothing. So why?"

I met his gaze, letting some real emotion show. "Because someone is trying to kill you, and that's wrong. Because your pack needs you. Because..." I swallowed hard. "Because I know what it's like to be betrayed by someone you trust."

Something flickered in his eyes. Recognition? Impossible. But his wolf was stirring, I could sense it. Interested in a way that clearly confused him.

"Release her," he ordered.

Everyone looked shocked.

"Alpha..." Victor started.

"She saved my life, Victor. She's earned a chance." Kieran swayed slightly, and Sara steadied him. "Move her to the guest quarters. Post guards if you want, but she's not a prisoner anymore."

"This is a mistake," Victor said quietly.

Kieran turned to his Gamma. Even weakened, his presence was commanding. "The only mistake was not realizing I was being poisoned in my own home. We'll discuss your failure to protect your Alpha later."

Victor went pale. "I had no idea…"

"No? You handle my security. You oversee my meals. Either you're incompetent, or you're involved. Which would you prefer?"

The threat hung heavy in the air. Victor bowed his head. "I'll investigate immediately, Alpha."

"Good." Kieran turned to me. "You have medical knowledge. You'll help Sara treat me until I'm recovered."

"I'm not a healer..."

"No, but you recognized wolfsbane poisoning when my own healer didn't. That's good enough." He started to leave, then paused. "And Raven? If this is some trick to get into my pack, if you're involved in this in any way..."

He let the sentence hang.

"I'll kill you myself. Slowly."

My blood ran cold.

But as the guards led me to my new room, I couldn't help but think: I was free. I had access to the pack house. To Kieran. To Victor.

And I had one hundred days to prove my innocence and expose the truth.

The game had just begun.

But this time, I'm the one in control.