Chapter 1

ELARA'S POV 

The leather restraints squeezed tightly on my wrists, securing me to the cold table. I tried to squirm and shift, but they pulled tight, cutting into my skin. I gasped in short, burning breaths as I watched the needle, which was moving ominously close to my arm. I had been in this position hundreds of times before, but it just never got easier.

"Please… don't. I'm tired, doc. You know this isn't healthy," I tousled my hair with a head shake and continued in a barely audible whisper. The acrid taste lingered on my tongue as I spoke the words, knowing that once again they would be muffled.

The pack's physician, Dr. Alder, avoided eye contact with me. He never did, ever. He maintained his interest in his work, hearing my requests as noise in the background.

I pouted my lips in pain as the needle pierced my skin and pushed into my vein. The sharp pinch caused tears to brim behind eyelashes. A chill ran through me as the warmth diffused in my arm and my blood filled the test tube.

"You know your words are meaningless, Elara. The sick need your blood to survive and I must do my job," Dr. Alder said, his tone devoid of emotion. "It will be done soon."

I wanted to scream at him, to make him know how inhumane and wrong this was. But I could not utter the words because I knew it would not change anything. Now this was my destiny. The healer.

The power in my blood would heal and cure those who were hurt or sick. They told me it was a gift, a blessing from the Moon Goddess. But it seemed like a curse - a burden to carry alone.

"What about me, doctor? Don't I have to live?" I wept as I felt tears well in my eyes. I glanced at the ceiling, watching the snake-like figure I had seen numerous times before. It was wrapped around a rod, which reflected my situation.

"You're unlike anyone else. You heal faster and your blood will always recover," replied Dr. Alder.

I tried to divert my attention from the pain and extreme fatigue that came with each extraction. My eyes were cloudy but I fought not to let my tears fall.

The needle was finally withdrawn. Dr. Alder carefully capped the tube containing my blood and unbuckled my wrist. I collapsed onto the table, completely drained of energy.

"Rest here for a moment, briefly," Dr. Alder told him, putting his gear away in a box. "You will be fine in a little while."

I nearly laughed out loud at that. "Is this the new improvement? You're lying in my face when you know I can die from this?" I cursed, the bitter taste on my tongue. How did he have the guts to say that to me? Every time they were taking my blood, part of me went along with it. Something that I would never regain.

Dr. Alder finally turned to me. His gaze cut into mine for a second, before he turned his head away.

"We can't endanger the lives of hundreds to save you alone. You're blessed by the Moon Goddess so be less selfish and contribute your bit in this Clan. This is the only thing you can do after all," he spat and strode away

My lips trembled at his words as they struck too close to the truth. I stayed still for a very long time, struggling to gather enough energy to stand up.

My arms and legs were more than I could manage. Finally, I strained my muscles to stand up, and the room began to spin about me. I grasped the edge of the table to prevent me from falling on the ground.

"I've got to go," I grumbled, comforting myself more than anything else. I left the clinic.

But as I staggered to the door, I could hear footsteps and my stomach curled up into knots.

"Oh, lo and behold look who we have here!" The voice, heavy with wicked amusement, made me shiver.

I didn't have to turn around in order to see the person. It was Seraphina and her cohorts. They were ever-present around me, just biding their time until the optimal moment to strike at me constantly.

"Where do you think you are going, freak?" another one teased Tasha and before I knew it, I was pushed from behind. I stumbled, barely catching my hand against the wall in time.

"I beg you. Leave me alone," I spoke softly, detesting my own pitiful voice. My voice quivered, a world away from its former strength.

Seraphina laughed, "The bitch can talk," and their hands gripped me, flinging me around like a rag doll.

“You foolish wench! You presume you're greater than us simply because you enjoy the Alpha's favor, right? I will slice you to pieces alive," Seraphina cursed and struck my face. 

I shouted and covered my cheeks.

"Keep her proper," she shouted. "The Alpha shouldn't notice any such bruises."

Her two friends restrained my wrists as I fought. Seraphina slapped my arms, my ribs, wherever was conveniently hidden by clothing. They could not risk the Alpha finding them.

I attempted to break free but their grip on my wrists was too strong. They brutally laughed as tears ran from my eyes.

"Stop, please. I beg of you. Just stop…" I pleaded desperately.

Seraphina halted and they let go of my arms. I fell on the ground helpless.

"We do not listen to you," screamed Tasha and inflicted a strong punch on my stomach.

I was unable to breathe for a second and clutched my stomach but they found it amusing.

"What are you people doing?" A voice suddenly echoed from the corner.

In an instant, Seraphina and her co-conspirators disappeared. They always made sure they were not discovered and always got away before their actions could be detected.

Seraphina was aware that I would not report her so she continued to harass me.

I pushed myself against the wall, shivering all over. I tried to compose myself, gasping for air terribly. The pack house was never far away, but at present it felt a million miles from me. I needed to be out of this situation, yet my whole body hurt and even standing up became nearly impossible.

With all my might, I made my way down the hallway, every painful step a strain. Reaching the door to the pack house, I leaned against it with whatever strength I had remaining. The laughter and conversation flowed out of the inside, like my previous life that felt so far away.

I had been an orphan as long as I could recall. I had no idea who my parents were or if they had ever lived inside the Lycan Pack. I knew nothing more than that I was a typical latent wolf amongst lycans. At least, I thought so at that time.

I led a pretty normal life. Although I was not one of them, the Lycans would treat me well. I had friends; wonderful friends with whom I spent my whole life and who showed me real love and affection. The only thing missing was a parent for whom I could say I was their own.

It wasn't until I sneaked out with my two best friends, Seraphina and Raven. The elders instructed us not to go to the waterfall at night but we wouldn't listen. We were in rebellion and thought they only wanted to keep us from having a good time. That night we went to the waterfall far into the woods and partied all night.

On the way back in the morning, a bear suddenly appeared and attacked us. We had not gotten our first shift yet and could not defend ourselves. Raven was the only person who could fight so he fought and Seraphina and I hid.

He managed to kill the bear but at the last moment, the bear tore his clothes and stabbed his belly. We screamed as Raven fell.

"Raven!" Seraphina shouted and came out from cover. She dropped to her knees beside him and held his face.

There was blood everywhere.

My heart pounded in my chest because I knew we were going to be in huge trouble if something went wrong with Raven.

Seraphina was hysterical and crying by now as I stood up.

"What do we do, Elara?"

"I… I don't know," I retched away. "He isn't going to make it." I shook my head.

It was a deep wound, so he fainted.

I was lost when at once I could feel a bizzare urge to move closer towards him. I knelt at his feet and followed my own instincts.

I bit my fingertips and let blood fall on the wound.

"What are you doing?" Seraphina asked and I shook my head. I didn't know myself but something compelled me to do it or he'd die.

A moment later, Raven gasped and his eyes opened. The wound healed itself right before our very eyes. Seraphina shrieked with shock and rolled her eyes backwards. She fainted.

We had to bring her back to the pack. She kept telling everyone else afterwards that I was a freak until the Alpha learned about it. The Alpha requested me to heal an Alpha, who was also close to death and that was the lifesaving moment for me.

Now I was nothing but a blood bank to them. They did not care about me and Seraphina bullied me for being a freak.