Leo instinctively yanked his beast–hide coat over his legs.
“Scarlett, what the hell are you talking about? Ever since I took Aria’s herbs, my legs have been feeling better than ever.”
A flicker of panic crossed Aria’s s eyes, but she quickly masked it and stepped in front of him.
“Scarlett, you’re not a doctor,” she said, voice syrupy. “This is all part of the recovery process. Give it a few days–Leo will be back on his feet.”
“Maybe you should focus on waking Lucian instead.”
I just smiled and let her talk.
A few days later, after I gave Lucian my blood–infused remedy, Mrs. Russell called me out of the blue. She told me she’d seen how Aria brewed her so–called medicine.
In addition to the usual herbs, Aria had added a
Before I could ask more, something stirred
drops of some clear liquid–poured straight from a vial with no label.
om the hospital bed.
I rushed over.
“Alpha Lucian? Can you hear me?”
His eyelids fluttered.
“Scarlett…?”
He looked right at me, eyes clear.
I blinked.
“You… know who I am?”
Shadowmoon Land had heard rumors of a healer named Scarlett
Most only knew the name.
-some whispered I could cure anything—but I rarely showed my real face in public.
Before he could answer, Mrs. Howard burst into the room and nearly tackled him in a tearful embrace.
I stepped back and slipped out.
Later that night, Mrs. Russell sent me a video. It showed Leo’s legs–worse than before. The muscle had started to wither, almost shriveling.
His wolf howled in agony.
That unlabeled liquid? Poison, no doubt about it.
In my past life, Leo had clung to the belief that Aria’s Moontear Moss would save him.
I wondered how he’d feel now, knowing that her so–called cure was what destroyed him. Would he still call her his fated mate?
Over the next few days, Lucian powered through rehab.
By day seven, he was walking.
And then came the tenth day–the deadline of the bet.
ཚ ཟ རཾ ཋ
Nearly every wolf in Shadowmoon Land pa
Moonstone Hall for the results.
When Lucian and I walked into the banquet hall side by side, the room went dead silent.
Then the murmurs started.
“Is that Lucian? The Alpha of Lunarcrest? He’s
“No way. I bet five million on Aria…”
he’s awake?!”
“She really is the miracle healer. The best pack doctors couldn’t save him, but she did.”
Color drained from Aria’s face. She stared at me like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“You… actually woke Lucian?”
I smirked.
Chapter 4
1.26%
“You lost, Aria. Time to pay up.”
A
from the losing crowd growled under his breath. “Should’ve known better than to trust her.
the of the winners laughed. “A bet’s a bet, Miss Aria. Time to apologize to Scarlett and get the hel
Bef
“Who
eyes
darted around, searching for a lifeline. “I…”
she could say more, a voice thundered from above.
o said we lost?”
Everyone turned.
At the top of the grand staircase stood Leo–upright, steady.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“Holy hell… Leo’s standing?”
“Maybe Aria wasn’t bluffing after all. Even Scarlett said his legs were done for…”
“If both of them are healed, then who wins the bet?”
Aria’s smirk came roaring back. She tilted her chin up and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“See that? Told you Leo’s on his feet.”
Leo’s eyes locked onto mine, cold and sharp.
You said I was a lost cause, Scarlett. And yet, here I am–standing tall. Still think I was wrong
I stared at him, then said evenly, “Maybe your legs could’ve been saved once. But now?”
I shrugged. “They’re done for.”
fake.”
of Shadowmoon.”
to
call you a fraud?
