Chapter 3

The next morning, my phone exploded with notifications.

"Blood Claw Pack Head Healer Halen Rhodes is under investigation for the unauthorized possession of banned substances. The Moonlight Pack Healers’ Association has suspended her duties effective immediately."

My name was there in plain black and white. But those drugs weren't mine!

"Dammit!" I called my boss and close friend immediately. "Emma, this is a mistake! Those drugs aren't mine!"

"Halen, I don't want to believe it either," Emma said, her voice heavy with concern. "But an anonymous tip came in. Someone claimed they saw you taking those substances from your locker, and they provided full evidence."

"Who reported me?!"

"It was anonymous." Emma paused. "Halen, the decision is final. You’re suspended until the investigation is over. If the charges are proven, your healer's license will be permanently revoked."

I sat on my bed, my hands shaking. My license was my life. I had taught myself healing at six, became an apprentice at eighteen, a full healer at twenty, and Head Healer by twenty-three. This job was the only thing I had to keep me afloat. And now, it was ruined.

Buzz—Buzz—

Another notification. This time from the werewolf forum.

"The True Face of the Blood Claw Pack's Head Healer! Not only did she poison her own kind, but she’s also hoarding illegal substances!!"

The post already had thousands of comments.

"I knew it! A sweet person like Ella wouldn't lose her wolf for no reason. This bitch did it!"

"Halen Rhodes should be exiled! She doesn't deserve to be a healer!"

"She treated me once. I feel sick just thinking about it. Did she use illegal drugs on me too?"

"Demanding full punishment for Halen Rhodes! Make her pay!"

The phone wouldn't stop vibrating with messages of pure rage. Some were from patients I had saved; others were complete strangers.

They didn't know the truth at all, yet they cursed me with the most vicious words imaginable.

I turned the phone off and buried my face in my hands. Tears leaked through my fingers.

Why? Why was this happening?

I forced myself to go to the medical center to find evidence. As soon as I walked in, the staff stopped talking, their eyes filled with suspicion and disgust.

"Halen, you shouldn't be here," Emma said, intercepting me. "I want to believe you, but you’re banned until this is settled."

"Emma, I need to check my locker! I’m being framed!"

"Halen," Emma whispered, "you need to lay low."

Before I could explain, a mob gathered at the entrance. They held signs that read: "EXILE THE SNAKE HALEN!" and "WE DEMAND JUSTICE!"

"There she is! Halen Rhodes!" someone screamed.

"Get out, you bitch!"

Stones, rotten vegetables, and clumps of mud flew at me.

I shielded my head and ran, the sounds of angry shouts and chasing footsteps right behind me.

My clothes were stained, and a stone gashed my forehead, sending blood trickling down my face.

I curled up in a dark alley, trembling, when a pair of red high heels appeared in front of me.

It was Ella.

She was wearing a cream Chanel dress, her hair perfectly styled—a sharp contrast to my bloodied, disheveled state.

"Halen," Ella knelt, her eyes shimmering with fake pity. Then she leaned in and whispered, "I’m the one who reported you."

"What?" I stared at her, stunned.

"I framed you," she said, her hand gripping my wrist. "I put those drugs in your locker. I bought the media. I forged the evidence." A flash of triumph crossed her face before shifting back to a look of vulnerability. "Did you really think you could stay by Domine’s side for three years? I’m going to destroy your reputation. Let’s see if Domine chooses you or protects me."

"You—"

Suddenly, Ella grabbed her own arm and raked her nails across her skin, drawing deep, bloody gashes. In her weakened state, she shouldn't have bled that much—unless she had taken anticoagulants beforehand.

"Halen!"

A roar of fury came from the end of the alley. Domine. He stormed over, his eyes colder and more disappointed than I had ever seen.

"Domine..." Ella threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically. "I just wanted to talk to her... to stop her from doing something stupid... but she said she didn't want my help... she tried to kill me... I don't have a wolf, I can't defend myself..."

Domine looked at the blood on Ella's arm, his face turning livid. He looked at me as if I were a total stranger.

"Halen, I am so disappointed in you."

His words pierced my heart like a blade.

"Domine, let me explain—"

"Explain what?" he snapped. "Why you framed Ella? Or why you’re hiding illegal drugs?"

"I didn't! She set me up!"

"Enough!" Domine bellowed. "Ella just returned to the country recently; how could she possibly frame you? Stop making excuses, Halen."

He swept Ella up into his arms. "It hurts..." she whimpered against his chest.

"I’m taking you to be treated right now," he said softly. "You’re going to be okay."

He had never used that tone with me. Not once.

As they disappeared, I stood in the alley, shaking. That’s when Lucas appeared, holding a black box.

"Halen Rhodes." Lucas looked at me with pure disdain. "The future Luna says you owe her more than just heart’s blood. You owe her your dignity."

He opened the box. Inside was a collar.

"What is that?" I stepped back.

"Your punishment," Lucas sneered. "Since you made Ella lose her wolf, you should feel what it’s like to be powerless. This collar is laced with silver powder and wolfsbane extract. Once it’s on, you’ll feel a constant burn, and your wolf will be suppressed."

"You can't—"

Lucas didn't give me a chance to fight. He lunged, pinning me down and snapping the collar around my neck.

The agony was instant. My wolf let out a pained howl before falling into a suffocating silence. I dropped to my knees, clutching my throat, unable to even scream.

"It’s the Luna’s order," Lucas said, looking down at me. "And of course, Domine authorized it. Consider this a down payment on the debt you owe. There's plenty more to come."

He walked away.

I collapsed on the ground. The collar felt like a ring of fire, charring my skin. I could smell my own flesh burning. It hurt—god, it hurt. But the despair hurt more. I had been discarded by the pack. I had lost my love, my career, and my name. Now, even my wolf was suppressed.

I curled into a ball as the rain began to fall. The cold water mixed with the blood from my neck, soaking into my clothes.

Six days left until the Mating Ceremony.

I struggled to my feet and began the long crawl back to my rental. Every step made the collar burn deeper. But I couldn't fall. I had to get my father out. I had to survive.

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