Chapter 12

Aurora’s POV:

Someone. A chill ran down my spine. She meant Seraphina.

“This is bad,” I whispered.

Because it meant that she wasn't only after my family, not only after my life and the goal of replacing me.

“It is,” She nodded. “That is why I need your help, to destroy as many as we can. The one I found couldn't have been the only one. And what better time than the nights around the full moon?”

I pursed my lips.

Lyra shifted.

“Does this mean she would plant these anywhere? Even in a hospital?” Lyra asked suddenly.

I turned to my best friend, brows furrowed.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Elder Miriam spoke, cutting off Lyra briefly, “Yes. In fact, a hospital is a place that’s rife with chaotic energy. Life and death occur there at any given time. And even in times of peace, most doctors have intense pure energy. Placing one of those objects there is simply a given.”

My chest ached.

So she was also likely to act in the hospital.

I recalled that Asher had fallen sick the day before and she had come to the hospital with Alaric. Surely, she couldn't have placed it during that time?

I had assumed the actions Seraphina took the previous day were solely to warn me and retaliate against my previous actions. But now I had to rethink it.

“Have you noticed anything?” I asked Lyra, my tone quiet.

She hesitated slightly then nodded.

Her hand moved to the sachet hanging from her waist, the one Elder Miriam had given her for protection.

“You remember the morgue, it's quite far from our offices and the wards. Usually there's no reason to go there but… I felt exhausted and took a long walk last night. Passed by that place. It usually is a little creepy but… Not the way it was last night,” her voice grew hushed by the end of it.

The morgue was often empty of bodies during this time of peace, also with most families choosing to bury their dead in their family plots or in case of those without family, in the general resting place for all pack members some miles away. But even then, knowing the little I now did about these mystic energies and how hospitals contained a lot of it, my body couldn't contain a  shudder.

Damn it, she went that far.

“When we go to work tomorrow, Lyra,” I growled. “We’ll go there to deal with it.”

“Of course,” She nodded but Elder Miriam spoke up once more.

“Not only that,” the aged woman said. “You need to plant some seeds of your own. More of this,” she pointed at Lyra’s sachet. “I can help you make some to take to work tomorrow, to banish any of that evil energy around. Also, plant some in your colleague’s offices, or place them around places with a lot of foot traffic. This will prevent their minds from being shaped by that thing.

I nodded, feeling arush of warmth from her words. I wasn't alone in this. I wasn't fighting this battle the same way I did in my previous life. For a second, I felt a pang of regret at the foolishness of my past life. How had I not spoken up before? How had I stayed at that home pretending everything was fine even when it wasn't? And how had  let things get so far that everyone I knew turned against me, and I died in a way that was both shameful and terrifying?

Not this time, I told myself. I was stronger than my past.

I would erase everything Seraphina tried to build in this place.

Even if I would eventually be divorced from Alaric and leave this pack, it still held a lot of memories, and I had enjoyed being Luna for a time. My personal troubles shouldn't affect the destinies of an entire pack.

The next morning I left Elder Miriam’s house early to get to work. The sun had already risen, and I hadn't even bothered to send word toAlaric that I wouldn't be staying at home for the next couple of days. Knowing his current state, it would only lead to another argument. I had spent half of the entire night meditating, gathering herbs under the light of the waxing moon and learning to make those useful healing sachets. She helped me to channel my energy into it, putting forth intentions of healing, of protection and of a clear mind. All good things.

By the time midnight rolled around I collapsed in a boneless heap and Elder Miriam only laughed, saying that this was endurance training and soon my powers and Luna essence would grow to accon=modate.

Lyra met me at our staff office. Even if we had clocked in an hour early, there were no hints of tiredness in our bodies, only anticipation.

I pulled out the bag holding seven neatly sewn sachets, each stuffed with sage and other herbs. The bag was heavy, pulsating with energy that made me feel light and powerful.

“One in here,” Lyra found a hiding spot for me to place one in our staff room, and another for the other staff room. Once those two were placed, we placed one hidden behind the wall clock right above the ward entrance. The placements were well thought out by myself and Lyra the night before.

Then, once everything was placed, we went with heavy steps towards the morgue.

The last remaining sachet in my hands vibrated with a hum, sending warmth rushing through my entire body. Even the morning sunlight that streamed in through the glass windows felt brighter than usual. However, as soon as we stepped into the morgue, the temperature suddenly dropped by at least 10 degrees.

I could feel it, right inside here.

That dark aura seems to swallow the brightness of the day whole, leaving a cold, dim atmosphere in the morgue.

Even deep within, my wolf roiled, itching to come out in a way it hadn't for a very, very long time. I was angry. And so was I.

…