The Healer's Choice

The five rogue wolves stood motionless in the snow.

Watching.

Waiting.

Their glowing eyes reflected the light from Seraphina's lantern.

Fear gripped her chest.

The storm howled around her, carrying the scent of blood through the frozen night.

The young woman lying in the snow wasn't moving.

Blood stained her clothing.

A lot of blood.

Too much blood.

Every instinct screamed at Seraphina to close the door.

To return to the safety of the cabin.

To survive.

For herself.

For the baby.

Yet she couldn't.

Not while someone needed help.

One of the rogues stepped forward.

He was enormous.

Nearly seven feet tall in human form.

Scars covered his bare arms and neck.

His dark eyes narrowed as he studied her.

"You should go back inside."

His voice was rough.

Dangerous.

Seraphina tightened her grip on the lantern.

"If she's injured, I can help."

The rogue laughed.

The sound held no humor.

"She'll probably die."

The words hit her like a slap.

"Then she needs help even more."

For several moments, nobody moved.

The rogues exchanged glances.

Almost as if they couldn't decide what to make of her.

Finally, the scarred man sighed.

"Stubborn."

Then he stepped aside.

Allowing her passage.

Seraphina didn't waste a second.

She hurried through the snow toward the injured woman.

The closer she got, the worse it looked.

Deep claw marks covered the woman's side.

Blood soaked through her shirt.

Her skin had turned pale.

Dangerously pale.

"Oh no..."

Seraphina immediately knelt beside her.

The woman couldn't have been older than twenty.

Her pulse was weak.

Barely there.

Without treatment, she wouldn't survive the night.

Seraphina quickly removed her cloak.

Pressing the fabric against the wound.

The woman cried out weakly.

"Easy."

"It's okay."

The familiar words came naturally.

The same words she'd spoken countless times while training as a healer.

The same words nobody had offered her when her own life fell apart.

"Can you hear me?"

The injured woman managed a slight nod.

"What happened?"

A shadow crossed her face.

"Hunters."

The single word made the rogues growl.

Seraphina looked up.

"Hunters?"

The scarred rogue's expression darkened.

"Not human hunters."

A chill ran through her body.

"What do you mean?"

No one answered.

The silence was answer enough.

Whatever had attacked this woman was something even the rogues feared.

That realization terrified her.

"We need to get her inside."

One of the rogues frowned.

"You trust us?"

Seraphina blinked.

The question surprised her.

Did she?

No.

Not really.

But they had allowed her to help.

And they hadn't attacked her.

That was more kindness than she'd received from her own pack.

"I trust that you don't want her dead."

The scarred rogue stared at her.

Then, unexpectedly, a faint smile appeared.

"You really are different."

Before she could ask what he meant, he bent down and carefully lifted the injured woman.

Together they carried her back to the cabin.

---

The small room felt crowded.

The rogues remained near the door while Seraphina worked.

She cleaned the wounds.

Stopped the bleeding.

Applied herbs from her travel satchel.

Hours passed.

Outside, the storm continued raging.

Inside, the woman slowly stabilized.

Finally, Seraphina leaned back in exhaustion.

The patient would survive.

Relief washed through her.

A small victory.

One life saved.

Maybe hers wasn't completely ruined after all.

"She's going to live."

The scarred rogue nodded.

"Good."

For the first time, silence settled comfortably between them.

The rogues no longer looked threatening.

Just tired.

Worn down by life.

Much like her.

"My name is Seraphina."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

The rogue looked surprised.

Then he nodded.

"Ronan."

He gestured toward the others.

"Finn."

"Darius."

"Kael."

"Marek."

The introductions felt strangely normal.

As though they weren't strangers hiding in a dangerous wilderness.

As though they were simply people sharing shelter from a storm.

Ronan studied her carefully.

"You don't belong here."

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

"Apparently I do."

His eyes softened slightly.

"No."

"You don't."

The simple statement nearly broke her.

Because deep down, she knew he was right.

She didn't belong in the Rogue Lands.

She belonged in a warm home.

With a family.

With people who loved her.

Instead, she had nothing.

Nothing except—

Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.

Ronan noticed.

His gaze sharpened.

Understanding flashed across his face.

"You're pregnant."

The cabin fell silent.

Seraphina's heart skipped.

She hadn't told anyone.

Not yet.

Not since the rejection.

Slowly, she nodded.

The rogues exchanged surprised looks.

Then something unexpected happened.

Ronan lowered his head.

Not in submission.

In respect.

The others followed.

One after another.

Seraphina stared.

"What are you doing?"

Ronan's expression became serious.

"Protecting the future."

Confusion filled her.

"What does that mean?"

Before he could answer, the injured woman suddenly gasped awake.

Her eyes flew open.

Wild with fear.

She grabbed Seraphina's wrist.

Hard.

"They're coming."

The terror in her voice sent chills through the room.

Ronan immediately stood.

"Who?"

The woman looked toward the window.

Toward the darkness outside.

And whispered three words that drained every trace of color from the rogues' faces.

"The Shadow Pack."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Even the storm seemed to pause.

Seraphina looked from face to face.

Every rogue appeared terrified.

Not nervous.

Not worried.

Terrified.

And suddenly she realized something.

The Rogue Lands had predators.

And then there were monsters.

The Shadow Pack was one of them.

A loud howl echoed through the forest.

Close.

Far too close.

The injured woman began shaking.

Ronan moved toward the door.

His hand dropped to the knife at his belt.

Another howl followed.

Then another.

Then dozens more.

Surrounding the cabin.

A cold knot formed in Seraphina's stomach.

Because whatever was out there...

Had already found them.

End of Chapter Three