Chapter 1: The Fatal Warning

I've been a healer in the Neutral Territory for almost ten years.

I've always put my patients' lives before my own.

So when the trauma wing called, I didn't hesitate. I turned and rushed back.

But just as I reached the entrance to the trauma wing, a line of scrolling red text appeared out of nowhere.

I froze.

I shook my head, rubbed my eyes, wondering if the full moon watch had finally fried my brain.

But the blood-red words were still there, floating right in front of me.

【It's over. The second you step into the advanced healing room, they'll call the Luna's time of death.】

【They're just waiting for you to walk in and be the damn scapegoat.】

【The entire room will cover for the Elder's daughter, Stella. They'll pin the Luna's death on you and call it medical malpractice.】

【BE CAREFUL!】

I gasped, a sharp intake of breath.

Stella. She was a healer from my class and the only daughter of Head Elder Harrison.

Why would she want to frame me?

A million questions exploded in my mind. I had no idea what to do.

Just then, I heard the screech of tires.

A bulletproof SUV with the Ironclaw Pack's sigil tore into the Sanctuary's outpost.

Wolf guards jumped out, the reek of blood clinging to them.

At that exact moment, my phone buzzed like crazy.

It was Stella.

"Cora, where are you? Hurry up!"

"The high-concentrate wolfsbane antidote is ready. We're just waiting for you to administer the injection!"

"Get moving. I'm waiting for you outside the healing room!"

My blood ran cold reading those three urgent messages.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

A high-ranking Luna.

Stella desperately pushing me into the healing room.

As panic gave way to logic, I realized this was just a standard case of wolfsbane poisoning.

There were plenty of senior Elders at the Sanctuary tonight.

Why did they need me, a healer fresh off an exhausting watch, to rush back and lead the team?

The more I thought about it, the more I believed the red lines were real.

The moment I put on that healer's white coat, I'd be a lamb to the slaughter.

The Luna's death would be my fault.

With all my colleagues pointing fingers, I'd never be able to clear my name.

I couldn't let myself think about it anymore.

The thought sent a chill down my spine.

I stared at Stella's messages and didn't reply.

Almost ten minutes had passed since I got the call.

A wild plan flashed in my mind.

If the red lines said I was being set up, then I'd take the gamble.