Chapter 8

Seraphina's POV

When he entered the hall, I instinctively lowered my head, not daring to look directly at him. His Alpha aura made the entire space fall silent. I prepared myself for the most awkward scene—watching him walk straight to Mira, continuing to cold-shoulder me in front of everyone.

However, Lucian walked directly to where Willow and I sat, taking a seat beside me. His warmth and presence were within reach, our shoulders almost touching.

I was so surprised that I couldn't speak, my mind completely blank. Why would he choose to sit beside me now? For the past two years, he had always deliberately kept his distance.

Mira's face darkened for a moment, but she quickly regained her smile. "Lucian, I was just sharing your hunting treasures with everyone," she said in a sweet tone.

Lucian merely nodded slightly. Seeing this, Mira immediately changed the subject: "A Pack from the north has invited me to their battle skills demonstration next month. Their Alpha even personally delivered the invitation." She cast a proud glance at me, as if declaring her popularity.

"Interesting news," Willow said lightly, though her gaze never left Lucian and me. "Speaking of news, you two have been mated for two years now. When can the Blackmane Pack expect an heir?"

My cheeks instantly flushed. How could I explain that in these two years, Lucian and I had never even shared a bed? "The Silver Shadow Herb House has been very busy lately, many pack members need healing... we're not ready yet."

Willow nodded thoughtfully. "What about your research? How is the new formula you mentioned in your last letter progressing?"

Relieved, I quickly took out my notebook. "Yes, I've been researching a new method to treat Silver Claw disease. I recently discovered a key synergistic effect between moon flower extract and river sage, and the preliminary results are promising."

I was explaining in detail when Dwayne's cold voice suddenly interrupted me.

"Treating the weak is a waste of resources," he said emotionlessly. "A true Alpha's mate should focus her energy on nurturing strong heirs, not spending all day with herbs."

His words hit me like a heavy blow, making it hard to breathe. This wasn't the first time I'd heard such criticisms, but being belittled like this in front of everyone still made my chest tighten.

Willow suddenly struck the stone floor with her staff, the crisp sound instantly silencing the entire hall. The Alpha pressure she emitted was chilling.

"Silence, Dwayne!" her voice thundered throughout the hall, "What else do you know besides fighting for territory? What right do you have to dictate to our pack's finest healer?"

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Claire tried to interject: "Dwayne only meant to say—"

"I know exactly what he meant to say," Willow coldly interrupted, her gaze sweeping the room. "You think pure bloodlines are everything? Without healers, your so-called noble bloodlines would be worthless in the face of disease!"

Mira tried to ease the tension, her voice soft: "Elder, please don't be angry. Dwayne is only concerned about the family's interests—"

"Don't tell me how to think, girl," Willow said sharply. She stood up, her presence majestic, as if she had returned to her prime. "You wear precious furs, boast of hunting trophies, and think yourselves superior? Without Seraphina's healing, how many of you would have survived last month's fever outbreak?"

The elder's words ignited a warmth in my heart. In this hall that always treated me as an outsider, someone finally affirmed my value—not just as Lucian's mate, but as myself, the healer.

Most puzzling to me was that throughout the entire process, Lucian remained seated beside me, his silence and companionship like a wordless declaration, though I couldn't quite decipher its meaning.

The tension in the hall remained heavy, as if the air itself had grown thick. Willow's defense still echoed in everyone's mind, and no one dared to speak first after her words. A warmth spread through my heart.

The silence was broken by Delilah clearing her throat gently: "The feast is ready, and the hunters have brought fresh game."

We followed her to the dining hall, where the aroma of meat made my stomach growl embarrassingly. I realized that since morning, I had been so busy with potions and worrying that I hadn't eaten at all.

In the dining hall, ceremonial torches illuminated the long stone tables, warm light washing over everyone's faces. Willow gestured for me to sit beside her, while Lucian took his place at the head of the table. I noticed Mira quickly claiming the seat across from him, though her smile never reached her eyes.

Willow leaned closer to me, her voice gentle: "Tell me about the northern tribes' healing methods. When I corresponded with their elders, I heard about a healer who uses frost-blooms for lung ailments."

I immediately perked up: "Yes, their techniques are unique! They harvest frost-blooms only during a specific period when the moon's energy perfectly balances with the cold. I've been experimenting with modified versions using southern equivalents."

For the first time in months, I felt truly seen and valued. Willow listened attentively, occasionally asking deeper questions. Other pack members gradually drew closer, temporarily setting aside their previous coldness and disdain, all captivated by my herbal research.

"What about your Silver Claw research?" Willow asked with concern. "Any progress?"

I sighed, my tone slightly downcast: "I'm very close, but I've hit a bottleneck. The main ingredient requires a special cultivation environment that's difficult to maintain with my limited resources."

Willow turned to Lucian, her voice firm: "You need to allocate pack resources to support Seraphina's research. She's saving our people, Lucian."

My heart raced faster as I stared down at my plate, not daring to look at Lucian's reaction. The silence seemed to stretch forever until his deep voice broke it:

"I'll need to see the complete formula and materials list." His tone was calm, with a hint of seriousness.

I looked up to find him staring directly at me, his gaze filled with an intense emotion, no longer the coldness of before. This attention left me somewhat at a loss.

"Oh, Lucian." Mira's voice interrupted this subtle moment as she gracefully offered a plate of deer heart. "I've saved the best part especially for you, the heart of this season's strongest buck."

Her gesture was intimate and confident, as if silently declaring her position. My stomach twisted with the familiar feeling of exclusion.

Willow's voice suddenly turned sharp: "Lucian, your mate has been working tirelessly for the pack. She needs to regain her strength, give her the best portion."

I was about to refuse, not wanting to become the focus of conflict, but Lucian had already cut a large piece of venison and placed it on my plate.

He said quietly, "This tastes good, you should like it."

Just as I was about to pick up the venison, the moonstone pendant at my throat suddenly grew warm, flashing with urgent blue light. My heart sank—this was Grayson's emergency signal.