Chapter 2

After leaving the werewolf council hall, I completed the procurement tasks for the pack's facilities using the list Lucas had given me.

Unfortunately, the work aggravated my injuries and caused them to become infected. My fever wouldn't come down, and all I wanted was to take some medicine and get a little sleep.

The door creaked open.

Lucas walked into the room carrying an outfit. He reached out and touched my cheek. "Why are you still burning up? Have you taken your medicine?"

I nodded.

He tucked me in and placed the clothes beside my bed. "Get some sleep. There's a banquet tomorrow morning, and the Alpha King will be attending. As the Luna, you have to be there."

I stared at the formal dress. Although he'd specifically chosen one with loose sleeves, just thinking about the restrictive feeling made my injured arm ache.

Suppressing the pain, I asked, "But in my current condition–"

"Eleanor, don't be difficult. Just get a good night's sleep, and you'll feel better. Look at Caroline. Her ankle is sprained, and she's still attending. You're the Luna. You can't just hide away and refuse to show your face."

My arm throbbed in time with my heartbeat. I turned over and closed my eyes, choosing not to respond.

Lucas sighed, closed my medicine case, and left.

Early the next morning, I arrived at the banquet with Lucas.

The Alpha King was holding a proposal and praising Caroline. "Caroline, you've done an excellent job completing the task I assigned you."

I recognized the label on the cover. It was the pack's water purification facility distribution plan, something I'd spent three years developing.

The Alpha King beamed. "Water quality has been a problem for this pack for years. I never expected you to come up with such a good solution so soon after joining us. You're certainly a talented graduate."

He turned to face Lucas, who had just arrived, and teased him with a smile. "Lucas, Caroline has done such excellent work despite her injury. You'd better make sure you treat her well."

Caroline looked pale. She was still leaning on her crutches. "I can't take all the credit. I was only responsible for gathering the information."

But Lucas spoke up on her behalf. "She really has worked very hard."

I stood to one side while clenching my fists.

The pack's water quality problems had troubled me for three whole years. I'd conducted weekly field visits, gone door to door to survey residents, and revised the proposal countless times before finally completing it.

When I'd submitted it to Lucas for review, he'd simply put it aside. "The Alpha King is very busy right now. The water issue can wait. I'll pass it along to him later. You should take some time to rest first."

I'd thought he was concerned about how much effort I'd put into traveling to every corner of the pack.

I never imagined he would give Caroline all the credit for my work.

I was about to speak up and explain the truth to the Alpha King when Lucas beat me to it. "Eleanor, the Alpha King wants to take a picture with Caroline. Help her hold her things."

Caroline smiled politely and handed me her purse. "Sorry to trouble you, Luna."

The photographer raised his camera. Lucas frowned and waved me away. "Stand farther back. Don't block the shot."

I held Caroline's purse so tightly that it hurt my palm. Just as the flash went off, Caroline tilted her head toward Lucas.

Perhaps sensing an unusual fluctuation through our mind-link connection, Lucas glanced at me.

For a moment, I thought he would call me over. Instead, he simply pointed out that Caroline's hair was out of place and gestured for her to fix it.

I smiled bitterly. When I stood up, the movement pulled at my injured arm, sending a stabbing pain through it.

I placed Caroline's purse on the table and left.

It didn't matter. No one cared whether I stayed or went.

Lucas reached out through our mind-link connection and asked where I was going.

I didn't respond. I simply went home and started packing.

I would be leaving the next day, so I needed to sort through my books, research materials, and clothes beforehand.

When I ignored his mind-link messages, he began calling me repeatedly.

I had just picked up when his irritated voice came through. "Eleanor, the Alpha King hasn't even left yet. How could you just walk out without permission? Don't you even understand basic etiquette as the Luna?"

"I'm not feeling well," I replied flatly.

He paused, sighed, and softened his tone. "Then get some rest. Just don't do this again–"

I didn't want to listen to another lecture from him, so I hung up.