The Bloodmoon Pack's hospital was a total mess. Healers kept shuffling in and out of Benjamin's room, doing everything they could just to stabilize him for a bit longer. Benjamin lay unconscious, blood all over the sheets and floor.

Joel paced back and forth, anxiety written all over his face. He didn't stop until he spotted Richard hurrying over. Only then did he finally let out a breath of relief. Grabbing his son's shoulders, he asked urgently, "Richard, did you find that mysterious healer?"

Before Richard could answer, Perry suddenly stepped forward. She scanned Benjamin quickly and seriously, then turned and barked out, "Everyone out! Except Alpha Richard and Healer Miles!"

Nobody in the room recognized her. She'd walked in behind the Alpha, didn't look like a healer, and now she was giving orders like she owned the place. Everyone froze, stunned.

Richard's face darkened. "You heard her. Everyone else, leave."

Alpha's command overruled all doubts. The others lowered their heads respectfully and left in a hurry. Joel glanced at Perry with concern. "Richard, is she Perry Lake?"

He knew of Perry, but she wasn't Richard's mate-at least not officially. He had no idea why Richard brought her.

"Yeah, that's her." Richard hesitated for a breath as her name almost crossed his lips-there was warmth there-but he quickly steadied his tone. "She's also the mystery healer we've been looking for."

"What?" Joel looked completely shocked.

"I know it's hard to believe," Richard said quickly, already stepping into the room, "but trust me-it's her."

Inside, Perry had already placed her hand gently on Benjamin's head, eyes closed, sensing something. Richard stared at her, momentarily dazed. Her lashes trembled as she focused, lips pressed tightly together like she was under serious pressure.

"How is he?" Richard asked softly.

Perry didn't look up. "I'll give him my blood. It's the only way."

Richard froze. That was the last thing he expected. He hesitated, clearly uneasy. He didn't want her to get hurt, or worse, overdo it. "Is that really necessary? There's no other way?"

"This is my gift," she said gently, but she meant every word. "My mentor figured it out-my blood's unique. It can neutralize certain poisons, including whatever's in Benjamin."

Richard frowned, clearly not happy with how casually she said it. He knew it couldn't be just a few drops-there was definitely going to be a price, and he hated that she was willing to pay it.

Perry didn't back down. She met his eyes, steady and stubborn. His stare burned with frustration, but she held firm.

"Miss Lake, maybe you should think this through," Miles spoke up from the side, clearly uncomfortable. These two hadn't even looked at him once. "This isn't exactly a safe call."

Of course Perry understood that. But saving Benjamin meant more to her than playing it safe. She gave a small nod. "I get it. I know my limits. If it's just Benjamin, I'll be okay."

She looked over at Richard, her expression firm as she made her decision clear. Richard let out a long breath but gave in, choosing to go with what she wanted. Turning away, he tried to swallow the ache in his chest and let Perry do what she came for.

Miles came back quickly with the blood-drawing equipment. Richard waited outside, restless, watching Perry work on Benjamin. His eyes couldn't help but linger on the way she focused completely, her face calm and precise. "She's really something else."

He couldn't lie to himself-he wanted her. Details that slipped past him before suddenly made more sense; her figure reminded him of the she-wolf from that night, and her long, soft hair... he could almost feel its touch against his skin.

Richard narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. Belen had told him that night, it was Mara. But after actually meeting Mara, something hadn't quite clicked. Still, he'd told himself he'd mate with her-if he had to.

Caught up in these thoughts, he didn't even notice when Perry stepped out. She looked pale, enough to make his chest tighten with concern. But he held back, keeping his tone neutral as he asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Perry replied with a tired smile. "Just need... a little rest."

She swayed slightly, and before either of them realized, he was holding her up by the waist. She froze for a second, then slowly relaxed in his arms. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned into him, clearly running out of energy.

Looking down at her face as she drifted off, Richard made a quiet decision and carried her to his place. The wolves who saw him walk by with an unknown female in his arms stared, jaws damn near dropping. Their Alpha, being soft with a female? That was new.

"I can't help worrying about her," he muttered once he'd laid her down on his bed, heart pounding a little too hard. "She looks so fragile... like she actually needs someone."

He sat by her side, watching her, soaking in every little expression. That strange pull toward her only grew stronger. An urge to kiss her welled up inside him-so he did. A quick, almost sneaky kiss on her cheek. It felt right.

For a second, he thought he caught that sweetness in the air again. He blinked, shook his head, and quickly left the room, stepping out into the cold to cool off. He took in a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

Perry stirred something in him-strong, consuming desire. It wasn't normal; he didn't react to others like this. He was a powerful Alpha, unmated by choice, never willing to let feelings cloud his judgment.

But with Perry... Rich had to admit it-he'd fallen for her. Hard. The feeling mirrored that intense rush they'd always said came with finding your true mate. Maybe he really needed to figure out what was going on with Mara Morgan.

He didn't go back inside until Perry woke up. When he did, she was sitting on the bed, a bit shy but smiling up at him. "Sorry about earlier. I feel way better now."

"It's okay," Richard said softly. "You scared the hell out of me, passing out like that."

He even threw in a wink-something totally out of character for him. If Byron had seen it, he'd probably choke on his drink. Perry, though, cracked up laughing. Her impression of Richard shifted. She'd thought he was this cold, serious Alpha-but there was more to him. A charming side she hadn't expected. And it made her heart skip a beat.

"By the way, where am I?" she finally asked, noticing just how soft the bed was. And that scent... definitely an Alpha's place. Her smile faltered a bit, the realization creeping in.

"Ahem," Richard tugged at his collar and cleared his throat, his voice laced with teasing. "You're in my house, you know."

"What?" Perry blinked, half-convinced she'd misheard him or he was joking.

But Richard looked dead serious. "Exactly what you're thinking. I brought you back to my place. Perry-can I call you that? Or should I stick with Miss Lake?"

"No, I mean-yes, Perry's fine," she stammered, clearly flustered. "Sorry, I didn't realize this was your home."

"Right. You thought only a luna could sleep in my bed or something?"

He leaned forward, resting both hands on the mattress. His fingers were so close to hers that he could have held her hand with just the slightest move.

Perry's face turned a faint shade of pink. She bit her lip and didn't reply. Sliding off the bed quickly, she avoided his hand-which he suddenly reached out and caught. Her cheeks flushed even deeper as she struggled to pull away.

"Thanks for looking after me," she said, trying hard to stay calm. "But I really have to go. Benjamin still needs treatment."

That was true, yes, but more than that, it was the only excuse she could think of right now. She had no idea how to deal with Richard. She had feelings for him-no doubt about that-but they scared her. And honestly, she still had to figure out who that alpha from that night was.

Richard got to his feet and pulled her into his arms. Perry froze. She didn't fight back. He cupped her face, locking his eyes with hers. "Tell me how you feel. I can't hide it anymore-I want you."

"No..." She tried to protest, but before the word fully left her lips, Richard kissed her hard. His cool lips pressed firmly against hers, tongue slipping past as he deepened the kiss. Her eyes softened, hazy with emotion, and she made no move to resist.

The passion in his kiss was overwhelming. Her body melted under his touch, instinctively leaning into it. A part of her had been waiting for this, so for once, she let herself go. Just for a moment.

His hands circled her waist, trailing slowly up her back, feeling her tremble under his fingers. When she whimpered softly, eyes pleading and glassy, it made something primal stir in him.

"Mark her. Claim her," a voice in Richard's head whispered fiercely. "Make Perry Lake yours. Once you do, she won't leave. She's your mate."

He held back. Barely. Instead, he kissed her more deeply, tongues tangled, pressing in harder. Tears welled up in Perry's eyes as her face flushed redder. Richard, caught in the moment, slid his hand toward her waist, seeking more.

But just as his fingers brushed her skin, she snapped out of it. The heat in her cheeks faded, and she shoved him away suddenly. Richard hadn't expected it, didn't resist.

He stared at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Why?"

"I can't... I really have to go," she said, voice shaking. "This isn't right."

She dropped her gaze and wiped at the tears in her eyes. Her lips were still tingling from his kiss, her heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst.

Richard just stood there, eyes full of emotion. Then finally, he let out a long breath and gave a small nod. "Okay. Go."

They stepped out of the alpha's home together, walking in silence back to the hospital. Perry could feel his gaze on her the whole way, and it stirred a storm in her chest. One thought kept echoing in her mind: "He's changed his mind... he actually loves me now."

They got back to the hospital pretty quick. Facing what she had to do, Perry finally managed to calm herself.

She walked straight into the room, leaving Richard behind. Benjamin was still passed out but looking way better-his face had some color now. Perry took his hand and started treating the organs the virus had wrecked over the past month.

Richard told the other healers helping her that no one was allowed to question her decisions or spill anything about who she really was. If anyone crossed the line, they were out of the pack. The treatment went on until evening, and by the time it ended, Benjamin was waking up.

He struggled to open his eyes and saw the girl sitting by his bed. Perry let go of his hand, pushed her hair back, and her pretty face was completely visible. Benjamin had never seen a female wolf that stunning-he was momentarily stunned.

With a soft smile, Perry asked, "Feeling any better, Mr. Scott?"

"It doesn't hurt that much anymore," Benjamin replied without thinking. He couldn't help staring at her, his heart racing a bit. His eyes were clear, just a bit shaky, and his voice weak. "You saved me, didn't you?"

Perry nodded. She pulled the blanket up for him and tucked his hand underneath, totally missing the way his face had just turned pink. "You need to rest. Give it some time, and you'll be back on your feet."

"Thank you," Benjamin murmured with a gentle smile.

He kept his gaze locked on her big, bright eyes. He had no clue who she was, but he knew one thing-when he was hanging by a thread, she pulled him back. He suddenly felt like saying more.

Right then, Richard walked in. He'd been standing at the door, watching since Benjamin woke up. His expression was hard to read, not quite angry, but definitely off. He looked at Benjamin and said, "I'll send someone in to take care of you."

Richard saw the way Perry smiled at his brother, saw that look in Benjamin's eyes-so full of wonder and... something else. Jealousy hit Richard hard for a second, and he didn't like it one bit.

Perry didn't notice his mood at all. Her mind was still focused on Benjamin as she gave him one last check. Satisfied he was stable, she stood up and left without even glancing at Richard.

He was about to follow her when Benjamin called out, "Richard, can we talk for a sec?"

Richard hesitated, looked back at his brother lying weakly in bed, and decided to stay.

Meanwhile, Perry was already out of the hospital. Richard stood there distracted, feeling her presence fade. She left the Bloodmoon Pack without even telling him where she was going, and that hit him harder than he expected.

Right now, Perry was on her way to treat Tom Pierce for his syphilis. It was something they'd agreed on earlier. She didn't have a steady job, and healing werewolves was both her hobby and a way to make money.

Tom had managed to message her, and they'd arranged to meet at a restaurant.

As Perry stepped out of the car, she spotted him right away-sitting in a quiet corner, trying hard not to draw attention to himself. She walked over calmly and took a seat across from him without so much as a hello.

"Give me your hand. I need to check it."

Tom handed it over, and she placed her fingers on his wrist. After a brief moment, she let go, pulled out a folded note and a pen from her bag, and scribbled a formula down on it.

"You need to take this consistently. Find a healer to make it up for you."

"Got it," Tom said quickly, snatching the note like it was a winning lottery ticket. "Miss Lake, if this cures me, I'll owe you big time. Anything you need-just say the word. I mean it."

He looked up at her with gratitude shining in his eyes, but then suddenly ducked his head and turned his face toward the wall. Perry raised an eyebrow, thrown off by his odd move. She glanced around instinctively.

"What's going on with you?"

"Nothing," Tom answered, his tone rough. "Just thinking of a way to thank you."

Perry frowned, puzzled-until she spotted them: Richard Scott and Mara Morgan, not far off.

Mara had her arm looped intimately through Richard's, walking close beside him, smiling soft and sweet like they were the perfect mated pair. Perry's jaw tensed, lips pressing together before she looked away.

Her thoughts went in a million directions-flashes of Richard's kiss earlier, now replaced by the sight of him with Mara. Her chest tightened.

Once Tom saw they were gone, he finally turned back to her and lowered his voice.

"Miss Lake... you're Alpha Richard's mate, aren't you? If I'd known, I swear I wouldn't have made that stupid deal with Francis!"

He had clearly assumed Richard saved her because she was his mate. Perry felt her mood nosedive even more.

"No, I'm not. And Alpha Richard already has one. You saw her just now-that she-wolf next to him."

"What?" Tom looked like he'd seen a ghost. Sweat popped out on his forehead, and panic flickered in his eyes. The woman with Richard-Mara Morgan-was someone he'd slept with not long ago.

Shit. If Richard ever found out, it wouldn't just be him that paid the price-his whole pack could be dragged down with him.

Perry caught the fear radiating off Tom and found it weirdly amusing. She had no clue what he was really panicking about, though. She just assumed he misunderstood something.

"You thought I was his mate? Seriously? No way. And don't worry-I'm not gonna castrate you."

"Even if you keep quiet, Mara's gonna get Richard to kill me," Tom freaked out in his head.

He forced a shaky smile, clearly scrambling for words. "I mean... how could Alpha Richard even go for someone like her? She's got nothing on you. You're way more his type."

Perry didn't take the compliment well. Her heart sank, and she really didn't want to keep digging into this topic. So she moved on. "Well, as long as Alpha Richard's happy with her, that's all that matters, right? Why do you care so much about who his mate is?"

"You're right, yeah," Tom replied, voice low and full of dread. He got up too fast, clearly itching to bail, clutching the prescription tightly. He left in a hurry, muttering to himself about Mara the whole way out.

He remembered when Belen showed up with his guys-only then did he realize he'd messed up. He thought he'd slept with Perry, but nope, it was Mara. Belen's decision to keep it under wraps meant Silverfang Pack didn't want word getting out. As long as Tom stayed quiet, Richard wouldn't find out, so no revenge.

That calmed him down a little. But then his mind turned dark again. What if he'd given Mara his disease? And then she passed it to Richard? That would be a total disaster.

Tom shook off the thought, panicking. Whatever. Not his problem. He just needed to lay low.

Meanwhile, Perry watched him leave in such a fluster, frowning. Something about that whole conversation felt off... but she couldn't put her finger on what was missing. Letting out a sigh, she decided to just let it go for now.

Back at the hotel, Gina greeted her at the door, practically bouncing. She threw her arms around Perry in a big, excited hug.

"I still can't believe you actually managed to treat Alpha's brother! That's insane!" she beamed.

Perry chuckled, flashing a smug smile. "You know healing's my thing."

"Bet Pierce was scared out of his mind, huh? Dylan told me Richard beat the crap out of him. Oh-and what about that jerk Francis? After what he did to you, you're not just gonna let that slide... right?"

"Of course not," Perry said, voice sharp. "I've already got a plan. You'll see soon enough."

Getting Tom Pierce on her side was part of why she helped him at all. Francis would never guess she'd turn things around this way.

Now, with him in her corner, she could finally go after Francis with no worries.

That morning, Irene and Sarah headed to the hospital to check on Mara. They walked in, expecting to offer her some comfort, but instead were met with Mara excitedly talking about her and Richard's "romance" like she was floating on clouds.

"You guys just don't get it," Mara said dreamily. "Alpha Richard is so incredibly accepting of me."

Irene blinked at her, clearly confused. Sarah looked like she'd just been slapped, then snapped, "Wait, when did this start? You and Alpha Richard? Why haven't we heard a single thing?"

Mara missed the bitter edge in Sarah's voice, her own face lighting up with this shy little smile. She almost let slip what happened last night, but Belen had warned her to keep their plan under wraps. So instead, she improvised.

"Not too long ago. It was kind of love at first sight, you know? He never chose Perry as his mate because-get this-he's been into me all along! He even said last night I'm his destined mate."

It was a total lie, of course. What really happened was Mara found out Richard's schedule and "accidentally" ran into him. She claimed she had dinner plans with Belen, so she and Richard ended up walking in together.

She moved in close, grabbed his hand, and to her delight, he didn't pull away. Maybe he actually felt something too?

What made her even giddier was the idea that people who saw them would think they were together. If enough folks believed she was Richard's true mate, maybe she'd really become the Bloodmoon Pack's Luna one day.

Sure, Richard left her on the second floor and didn't invite her to stay for dinner, which irked Mara a little-his face looked like he was still figuring things out. But her excitement drowned out any doubts.

After hearing Mara talk, Irene clapped her hands. "That's amazing, Mara! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Mara hesitated, then threw out a quick excuse. "Richard told me to keep it quiet for now. We're still not official-just kind of... flirting, I guess."

Sarah glared at her like she'd just bitten into a lemon. The idea of Mara being loved by Richard while Sarah got completely ignored twisted her up inside. It just didn't sit right.

So she blurted out, "Yeah? Then does Richard know about you and Pierce?"

Mara instantly turned pale. Her eyes widened, and she hissed, "What are you even saying? There's nothing going on between me and Alpha Tom! Sarah, how could you just throw that out there like that?"

Irene jumped in, startled. "Exactly! Sarah, why would you say that? Mara doesn't even know Alpha Tom that well. The one who slept with him was Perry! That was totally her, Perry Lake. You've got it all wrong."

"Yeah, yeah," Sarah muttered, trying to hide her guilty conscience. She straightened up. "It was Pierce and Perry. I heard he kidnapped her again not long ago, took her to his villa. They might even end up being mates."

Irene gasped, putting on a fake cheerful front. "Really? Wow, good for her! That'd mean we'd have Stonepeak Pack's support. If Perry becomes their Luna, honestly, it's a win-win for all of us."

They both burst into laughter, but Mara suddenly felt uneasy. Her skin started to itch-especially her legs. She glanced down and saw red blotches popping up. She figured she must've eaten something she shouldn't have.

"What's going on with you?" Irene, sitting next to her, gave her a look.

Panic started bubbling inside Mara. She shook her head quickly. "I probably had something I'm allergic to."

"Just get the healer to look at you later," Irene said offhandedly. "You need to stay in top shape for Richard, got it?"

"Got it. Aunt Irene, are you sure Pierce and Perry are going to end up together?"

"Pfft, that lowlife isn't going anywhere. Give it time, and we'll see them stuck together as mates," Irene sneered.

Mara let out a quiet breath, reassured by Irene's smug confidence. Her thoughts drifted back to the run-in with Richard the night before-sweet and thrilling. Perry Lake was a threat to that. Annoying as hell. There was no way Mara was letting that woman mess with her shot at love.

After Irene and Sarah left, things only got worse. The itching intensified by the afternoon. She kept scratching at her legs and couldn't take it anymore-finally called in the healer.

He lifted her shirt slightly, frowning as he examined the rash. "This doesn't look like a typical allergic reaction. You might want a more thorough check-up."

"I-yeah, of course," Mara stammered, face draining of color. A sudden wave of dread hit her. Her mind flashed to Tom Pierce-he'd been with a lot of female wolves. What if he passed something to her?

-

Perry let go and looked closely at Benjamin's face. He looked a lot better today, and even his loose hospital gown couldn't hide his charisma. Benjamin watched her, his voice calm and smooth. "Miss Lake, I really appreciate everything you've done."

"Just doing my job," Perry grinned, visibly in a good mood. "I'm glad to see you recovering."

He locked eyes with her a little too long, and Perry, feeling nervous, quickly looked away-missing the flicker of disappointment across his face. Benjamin hoped for something more, but Perry always kept some distance.

And then, of course, Richard showed up. Again.

Right on cue, his brother walked in and immediately stepped between Perry and Benjamin. Perry had no choice but to stand. "What now?"

Over the past few days, the second it was just her and Benjamin, Richard would show up with any excuse. Today was no different.

"Nothing really," Richard said, avoiding her gaze. His jaw was tight, clearly irritated, and Perry didn't even know why. He shoved a box into her hands. "I wanted to give you something to thank you for helping Benjamin."

"I'd like to thank you, too," Benjamin said out of nowhere. He was still lying there but sat up a bit, flashing her a playful smile. "You've taken such good care of me. I owe you."

Just as Perry was about to turn them both down, Richard yanked her by the arm, pulling her back. She stumbled a step and glared at him. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'll handle it," Richard said with a tight smile. "It's my responsibility."

He didn't even give Benjamin a chance to reply. Dragging a fuming Perry down the hallway, he stopped just outside the room. She shoved him off, tense with irritation. "I don't need you paying me off."

"You saved Benjamin," Richard said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The least I can do is pay you properly."

Before Perry could snap, he pulled a check out of his pocket. Her eyes widened at the amount, shock quickly replacing the irritation on her face. "This is way too much, Alpha Richard. I have my own rates."

"The extra's just a tip for everything else," he said firmly.

Perry let out a quiet sigh and crossed her arms. "There's no way that qualifies as a tip. Once Benjamin is fully recovered, I'll send you a proper invoice."

She didn't move a muscle to take the check, just stared at him with that stubborn look. Richard hesitated, then finally tucked the check back into his pocket. "Alright then. I'll find another way to make sure you get it."

"Relax, I don't overcharge," Perry joked casually.

Just then, her phone buzzed. She glanced down.

It was Tom Pierce. She gave Richard a quick apologetic wave and rushed off. Richard tried to follow, but she shot him a warning glare that stopped him in his tracks. In the end, she left the hospital by herself.

Once she was out of Bloodmoon territory, she called Tom back. He answered instantly, his voice upbeat and impressed. "Oh, Miss Lake, that formula of yours worked wonders. I'm seriously feeling a lot better."

"It's just the beginning," Perry said, her tone serious. "You need to keep taking it every day."

"I will," Tom promised, then switched gears. "Also, Francis came to me. Apparently he's desperate to borrow some deltas, asked for my help. You're his daughter, and yeah, you're helping me out medically-but with the kind of crap he's pulled on you? I'm not sure I can bring myself to help him. I'm kinda stuck."

"Me treating you has nothing to do with him. It's your call," Perry said softly, voice calm but distant.

"Good. I was gonna turn him down anyway and let him stew in his own mess," Tom said with a snort. "Honestly, what kind of man uses his own daughter as some bargaining chip? Even I think he's scum."

Perry didn't respond. Her expression twisted into one of disgust, but Tom couldn't see that.

She knew exactly what kind of man Tom was-slick, opportunistic, another manipulative alpha no better than Francis.

After hanging up, she took a ride back to the Crown Regent Hotel.

Perry sat in the lobby, waiting on Gina to finish getting ready. They had dinner plans tonight-Gina wanted to celebrate the fact that Perry was out of danger, and Perry had agreed.

Just then, some new arrivals stepped through the doors. Francis walked in with Sarah by his side. He had a dinner meeting at the hotel's fancy restaurant, and Sarah had asked-no, begged-to come along.

Francis started making calls right after stepping inside, while Sarah zeroed in on Perry the second she spotted her.

With her chin held high and voice shrill, she strutted over. "Well, well-look who it is. Perry Pierce?"

Perry slowly looked up, her gaze sharpening to a deadly edge.

Sarah had come to humiliate her, tossing out snide remarks about her being Tom's supposed mate-and that hit a nerve deep.