CHAPTER FIFTEEN: ELENA'S HOSTILITY

After spending most of the day successfully healing three people with Dr. Martinez's guidance, I was exhausted but happy.

The child's infection was completely gone, the elderly man's joint pain had disappeared, and the woman's wound had closed perfectly.

But I was so tired I could barely walk straight.

"That's enough for today," Dr. Martinez said firmly when she saw me swaying on my feet.

"Laila needs rest, food, and plenty of water."

As we left the clinic, I noticed Elena waiting outside.

Her arms were crossed and she had an angry expression on her face that made me nervous.

"Elena," Kieran said when he saw his sister.

"Is everything alright?"

"We need to talk," Elena said, looking directly at me.

"Privately."

"If you have something to say to Laila, you can say it in front of me," Kieran said protectively.

"No," Elena said sharply.

"This is between me and Laila."

I felt scared, but I also didn't want to cause problems between Kieran and his sister.

"It's okay," I told Kieran quietly.

"I can talk to Elena alone."

Kieran looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded reluctantly.

"I'll be right inside if you need me," he said, giving Elena a warning look before going into the house.

Elena waited until Kieran was gone, then turned to face me with cold eyes.

"We need to get something straight," she said in a harsh voice.

"I don't understand," I said nervously.

"This whole healing thing, the way everyone's treating you like you're some kind of saint - it needs to stop."

I felt confused and hurt.

"I thought you supported me today when those people were being demanding."

"I supported you because they were being unreasonable," Elena said.

"But that doesn't mean I'm happy about what's happening here."

"What do you mean?"Elena stepped closer to me, her face angry.

"Do you know what this pack was like before you showed up?" I shook my head.

"We were strong. Independent. We didn't rely on anyone else to solve our problems."

"If someone got hurt, they healed naturally or they dealt with it. We didn't go running to some magical person to fix everything for us."

"I never asked anyone to run to me," I said quietly.

"I'm just trying to help."

"That's the problem!" Elena said, raising her voice.

"Now everyone thinks they need your help for every little thing. They're becoming weak and dependent."

"But if I can help people feel better, isn't that good?"

"No!" Elena said firmly.

"It's not good. Do you know what happens to packs who become too dependent on one person? They fall apart when that person leaves."

"I'm not planning to leave," I said.

"Aren't you?" Elena's eyes got even colder.

"What happens when you decide our pack isn't good enough for you?"

"What happens when some other Alpha offers you more money or a better territory?

"What happens when you get tired of living with a bunch of werewolves who can't even shift properly?"

Her words stung.

"I would never abandon people who need me."

"Everyone says that until something better comes along," Elena said bitterly.

"And then the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces."

I felt tears starting in my eyes.

"Why are you being so mean to me? I thought you were starting to accept me here."

"I defended you today because those people were being unfair," Elena said.

"But that doesn't mean I trust you."

"And it definitely doesn't mean I'm happy about my pack becoming weak and dependent on someone who could disappear at any moment."

"Elena, I—"

"Save it," Elena cut me off.

"I've seen what happens when packs put all their faith in one special person."

"My grandmother told me stories about packs that fell apart when their healer died or left. People forgot how to take care of themselves."

"So you want me to stop helping people?"

"I want you to stop making my pack weak," Elena said harshly.

"I want people to remember that they're strong enough to handle their own problems."

"But what about the little girl who was sick? Should I have let her suffer because helping her might make people dependent?"

Elena's expression softened slightly, but then hardened again.

"One sick child doesn't justify making an entire pack helpless."

"I'm not making anyone helpless," I said, feeling frustrated.

"I'm just using my abilities to help when I can."

"And what happens when you can't?" Elena demanded.

"What happens when you're not here, or when you're too tired, or when you meet someone you can't heal?"

"What happens to all these people who have forgotten how to be strong on their own?"

I didn't have a good answer to that.

"I see the way they look at you," Elena continued.

"Like you're some kind of savior. Like you can fix everything that's wrong in their lives."

"That's not healthy for them, and it's not fair to you."

"So what do you think I should do?"

"Leave," Elena said bluntly.

Her word hit me like a physical blow.

"What?"

"Leave before you make things worse. Go find another pack, or live on your own, or go back to where you came from."

" Just stop making my family and my pack dependent on someone who doesn't really belong here."

Tears were rolling down my cheeks now.

"I do belong here. Kieran said I belong here."

"Kieran feels sorry for you," Elena said cruelly.

"He brought you here because he wanted to get revenge on your ex-mate. Don't think his kindness means anything more than that."

"That's not true," I whispered, but Elena's words made me feel sick inside.

"Isn't it? Has he told you he loves you? Has he claimed you as his real mate?"

"Or does he just call you his 'companion' and let you sleep in a guest room?"

Each word felt like a knife in my heart.

Elena was voicing all the fears I had been trying not to think about.

"He cares about me," I said weakly.

"Maybe. But caring and loving are two different things."

"And even if he does care, what happens when he finds his real mate?"

"What happens when the Moon Goddess sends him someone who actually belongs in his world?"

"I..." I couldn't finish the sentence because Elena might be right.

"You're setting yourself up for heartbreak," Elena said, her voice getting a little gentler.

"And you're setting my pack up to fall apart when you leave."

"The kindest thing you could do for everyone is to go now, before people get even more attached to the idea that you can fix all their problems."

I was crying openly now. Elena's words hurt so much because part of me worried they might be true.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," I sobbed.

"Then leave," Elena said simply.

"Tonight. Before this gets any worse."

"Elena!" Kieran's angry voice came from the doorway.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Elena turned to face her brother with a defiant expression.

"I'm telling her the truth that you're too soft-hearted to say."

"You're being cruel to someone who's already been through enough cruelty," Kieran said furiously.

"Laila, are you alright?"

I couldn't answer because I was crying too hard.

Kieran immediately came over and put his arms around me protectively.

"What did you say to her?" he demanded, looking at Elena.

"I told her that making our pack dependent on her healing abilities is dangerous,"

Elena said stubbornly.

"And I told her that staying here will only end in heartbreak for everyone."

"That's not your decision to make," Kieran said angrily.

"Someone has to think about what's best for the pack long-term," Elena shot back.

"You're so busy protecting your pet project that you can't see the bigger picture."

"Laila is not a pet project!" Kieran's voice was getting louder.

"She's a member of this pack who deserves respect and kindness!"

"She's a temporary member who could leave at any time," Elena said coldly.

"And when she does, she'll take our pack's strength with her."

"That's enough!" Kieran roared.

"Luna is staying, and that's final. If you can't treat her with basic decency, then maybe you should be the one to leave."

Elena looked shocked.

"You'd choose her over your own sister?"

"I'd choose kindness over cruelty," Kieran said firmly. "Every time."

Elena stared at him for a long moment, then looked at me with something that might have been regret.

"Fine," she said quietly.

"But don't come crying to me when this all falls apart."

She walked away, leaving me crying in Kieran's arms.

"Don't listen to her," Kieran said softly, holding me close.

"Elena is scared and angry, and she's taking it out on you unfairly."

"But what if she's right?" I whispered against his chest.

"What if I am making people weak? What if I don't really belong here?"

"You belong here," Kieran said firmly.

"And you're not making anyone weak. You're using your gifts to help people, and that's a beautiful thing."

But as he held me and tried to comfort me, I couldn't stop thinking about Elena's words.

Was I really helping people, or was I just making them dependent on me?

And what would happen when Kieran eventually found his real mate and didn't need me anymore?

Maybe Elena was right.

Maybe I should leave before I made things worse for everyone.

But the thought of leaving Kieran and going back to being alone in the world made me cry even harder.