The Moonstone was a legendary family relic, handed down to the eldest child in our lineage. It was said to hold immense power, capable of healing the deepest wounds—especially the bond between a shifter and their wolf. I possessed it, yet until now, I had no intention of invoking its strength. People warned that such power carried a heavy burden, and I was afraid of the responsibility it demanded.
Craig always assumed my pain came from jealousy toward Sonya, never once truly seeing me. “Really?” he sneered bitterly. “Changing your tactics now, huh? You can’t manipulate me with Dustin anymore, so you’re using yourself instead?”
It had been about a year since Dustin began to weaken. His once-rosy cheeks faded, his appetite disappeared, and even the pack healer couldn’t diagnose his illness. His veins darkened unnaturally, as if his blood thickened beyond nature’s design. Fainting became frequent, and though we shifters heal quickly from wounds, he couldn’t even shake off a simple headache.