Chapter 3
“Ten days,” I said. “Let’s see if you can get Skyclaw’s Alpha on his feet… or if I can bring Lunarcrest’s Alpha back from a coma.”
I looked Aria dead in the eyes. “Well? Do you dare take the bet?”
The crowd stirred immediately.
Someone near the back muttered, “Lucian’s been out cold since that boulder hit him. His wolf barely has a pulse. That’s way worse than busted legs.”
A passing Beta added, “Yeah, if it weren’t for Lunarcrest’s ancestral power keeping him alive, he’d be dead already.”
“If Miss Scarlett pulls it off, it’d be a damn miracle.”
“Ten days? No way. Even a month wouldn’t be enough.”
All the whispering only made Aria’s smug smile grow wider.
“I accept,” she said sweetly, loud enough for everyone to hear. “With the Moon Goddess as our witness, I’ll show everyone your so–called ‘miracle cure‘ is just a scam.”
I gave a cool little smile. “I don’t lose.”
Leo cut in, voice hard.
“Lucian’s wolf has lost its healing spark. You couldn’t even fix my legs, Scarlett–and now you think you can revive him? Admit defeat now, and I might just let you stay in Skyclaw.”
I let my gaze drift to his legs.
“Alpha,” I said smoothly, “I hate to break it to you–again–but Moontear Moss isn’t some magic potion. Be careful, or Aria’s ‘healing‘ might end up giving you more than you bargained for.”
With that, I turned and walked away.
That night, word of our bet spread like wildfire across Shadowmoon Land.
hruf course, dumped ten million dollars into backing Aria, trying to
By morning, wolves were placing bets left and right–Team Am Auto–added to the Library boost her credibility.
The next morning, Mrs. Howard came to escort me to Shadowmoon Land’s biggest werewolf hospital.
Using a bond bowl, I drew a bowl of my blood and mixed in Moonlight Sal Grass to disguise it as a standard remedy. I gave it to Lucian to drink.
Give it seven days—he’d wake.
“Miss Scarlett,” Mrs. Howard said softly, “thank you. Whether Lucian wakes up or not, Lunarcrest will never forget what you’ve done.”
“Whatever you need–name it. We’ll do whatever it takes.”
She slipped a moonstone bracelet from her wrist and offered it to me.
I gently pushed her hand back. “I’m not doing this for gifts, Mrs. Howard. I’m doing it to win.”
“But don’t worry,” I added. “He’ll wake up.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“I heard about the bet with Aria. We’ve placed ten million on you. If you win, it’s yours–with interest.”
Her voice trembled with hope as she pressed on, “Please. Don’t turn it down. You’ve earned every cent.”
Before I could answer, Aria strutted in, pushing Leo right up to us.
“Well, no wonder you rushed to help Lucian,” she said with a fake laugh. “You’re just here for the money.”
She turned to Mrs. Howard with a sugar–sweet smile. “Mrs. Howard, don’t get fooled. Scarlett couldn’t fix Leo’s legs. What makes you think she can wake Lucian? You’ll regret putting your trust in her.”
Mrs. Howard–gracious as she usually was–hardened in an instant. Her voice turned to ice.
“I trust Scarlett. Your opinion isn’t needed, Miss Aria.”
Aria’s smile wavered. She blinked fast, summoning those fake tears like clockwork.
Chapter 3
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“I was only trying to help…”
Leo, of course, fell for it. His whole face softened.
“Mrs. Howard,” he said, slipping into that ‘diplomatic Alpha‘ tone, “I know our packs have had their differences, but I have to speak plainly. Scarlett’s a fraud. Don’t let her anywhere near Lucian.”
I raised a hand, stopping Mrs. Howard before she could speak.
Then I looked at Leo–really looked–and let my eyes drop to his legs.
“Leo,” I said calmly, “have you seriously not noticed how your legs are getting worse?”
