LOGINPOV: Lyra Ashbourne I hadn’t realized how much my life had changed until Mira asked me whether I wanted to go into the village with her. A few weeks ago, I would have spent the entire morning wondering how long I could stay before someone asked me to leave. Now, I was standing in the kitchen, deciding whether to help Rowan prepare the herbs he needed for the infirmary or spend the afternoon with the women who had invited me to join them. I knew the paths around the territory, the people who worked in the gardens, and which children liked to sneak into the infirmary to ask Rowan questions. I had a place to sleep, work I enjoyed, and people who greeted me when I passed them. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped counting the days until I needed to leave. The thought came to me as I watched Mira tie a basket onto her arm. “Are you coming?” she asked. I looked around the kitchen before answering. “I think I’ll stay here today.” She smiled knowingly. “You sound like you’ve finall
POV: Lyra AshbourneThe territory became more quiet after the incident at the eastern boundary.The guards remained more alert than usual, but after a few days, there was no sign of the strangers returning. Cassian never told me exactly what they had found, and I didn’t ask again because I could tell he was still looking into it.Life at the infirmary, however, continued as normal.I spent most mornings with Rowan, learning about the plants that grew around the territory and helping with the people who came in for treatment. In the afternoons, I usually returned to the house with enough time to rest before dinner.It was during one of those evenings that I began noticing something about Cassian.He rarely talked about himself.I had heard stories about his territory, his position, and the people who followed him, but whenever a conversation came close to his own past, he found a way to change the subject.That evening, I found him sitting alone on the back porch.A book was open in hi
POV: Lyra Ashbourne By the end of the week, the infirmary had started to feel like home. I knew which shelves held the dried herbs, which jars Rowan reached for most often, and which parts of the garden needed to be checked before the others. I was still learning, but I no longer felt lost whenever I walked through the doors.That afternoon, I was helping Rowan organize a new batch of herbs when I heard several voices outside. Their tone was tense enough to make Rowan pause what he was doing and look toward the door.“What is it?” I asked.“I don’t know yet.”Before he could say anything else, the door opened and one of Cassian’s guards stepped inside.“Rowan, Cassian wants you at the eastern gate.”Rowan frowned. “Why?”“There was movement near the boundary.”I lowered the herbs in my hands. “Hunters?”The guard glanced at me before answering. “We don’t know yet.”Rowan turned toward me. “Stay here until I get back.”I nodded, and he followed the guard outside.I tried to return to
POV: Lyra Ashbourne The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. I stayed in bed for a few moments, thinking about my conversation with Cassian and Rowan the night before. I still couldn’t believe that I had been offered a position in the infirmary. It was something I had never expected, especially after arriving in the territory only a few days earlier. After getting dressed, I carefully made my way to the infirmary. The building stood on the quieter side of the territory, surrounded by small gardens filled with different herbs and plants. When I stepped inside, I noticed shelves covered with jars, dried leaves, bottles, and bundles of herbs hanging from the wooden beams. Rowan was already there. “You’re early,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep.” He smiled. “Good. It means you’re interested.” I laughed softly. “I think I’m more nervous than interested.” “You’ll get over that.” He handed me a small basket. “Come with me.” I followed him into the garden behind the infirmar
POV: Lyra AshbourneA few minutes later, Rowan entered the kitchen, and I immediately recognized him as the healer who had treated my ankle when I first arrived.His eyes moved from Cassian to me before settling on the herbs spread across the table.“I hear you know something about herbs,” he said.I gave a small shrug.“A little.”He smiled.“People who know very little usually don’t know that they know very little.”I couldn’t help smiling at that.“I mean, I know how to identify some healing plants, and I know which ones can help with things like fever, pain, swelling, stomach problems, and minor wounds. I also know that some plants can be dangerous if they’re used incorrectly.”Rowan’s expression became more interested.“Who taught you?”“My mother taught me what she knew, and I studied the rest myself.”He picked up one of the herbs from the table.“What is this?”I answered.He picked up another.“And this?”I answered that one too.Soon, his questions became more difficult, but
POV: Lyra AshbourneI stayed in Cassian’s territory for the next few days, and with each passing day, I found myself questioning almost everything I had been taught about people like him.When I first arrived, I had expected his pack to keep their distance from me. I was a stranger, a wolfless woman who had appeared in their territory injured and carrying a secret I wasn’t ready to share. I thought they would look at me with the same pity and judgment I had grown used to seeing from people back home.Instead, they treated me with a kindness I didn’t know how to understand.The young woman who had been waiting outside my room on the first morning introduced herself as Mira. She made sure I had everything I needed and never made me feel as though I was bothering her whenever I asked for something. She brought my meals, helped me find clothes that fit, and sometimes stayed to talk while I ate.At first, I assumed she was only doing it because Cassian had ordered her to look after me.Aft







