The Healer Who Couldn't Save Her Own Sister.

Chapter 3

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Banishment and Sanctuary

Watching my sister after I had bathed her with warm water and fed her, a small smile formed on my lips as I gently touched her hair.

“You’re safe now, Iris,” I muttered.

My eyes drifted around the small house we had lived in for the past fifteen years—since we lost our parents. Back then, my sister was four, and I was eight. No one cared.

But when I came of age and they discovered my healing power, everything changed. Everyone suddenly wanted to associate with me—for the benefits.

I had thought things would change for the better. I was the strongest healer among my peers… yet I was paid the least.

I didn’t question it. I didn’t ask.

Even though it hurt… as long as I saw him, that was all that mattered.

Guilt filled my chest as memories flooded back—everything we had been through… everything I had put my sister through. She had asked us to leave many times, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

And I had lived like that for years.

Not anymore.

I stood up, about to take my bath, when a sharp bang hit the fragile door. Another hit, and it would have shattered.

“Who’s there?” I called out, the weakness in my body slipping into my voice.

When I opened the door, I saw them—just as I expected. The guards.

“Elara, your presence is required at the council hall,” one of them said.

My brows furrowed as I clenched my hands. What do they want now?

After a quick glance at my sister, I grabbed my jacket and followed them.

The hall was filled with the council of elders. Serena was there too, along with Rowan, who sat weakly in his chair.

My eyes lingered on him for a moment.

He was barely holding on. The curse was still eating him alive.

Seeing all of them made one thing clear—

Tonight wasn’t going to be easy.

“We’ve called you here tonight because you’ve acted against the will of the Moon Goddess,” Alfred, one of the elders, began.

“And what exactly is the will of the Moon Goddess?” I cut in, my sharp tone slicing through the air.

Murmurs spread across the room. Shock flashed across Alfred’s face—just like everyone else’s.

“You!” Throne slammed his hand against the desk. “Since when did you become this bold? Will you let the Alpha die?”

I let out a small chuckle.

“The day I started choosing myself.”

From where Rowan sat, I saw the disbelief on his face—just like the others.

Their stares said everything. They knew exactly what they had done.

I had been their good girl. The one who never spoke back. The one who obeyed every order.

And all of it had been because of the love I thought I had for him.

Then his frail voice broke through the silence.

“Y…you would let me die?” he rasped. “You’ve always wanted to be Luna. I’ll make you one.”

Serena’s eyes flared at the word Luna. “You can’t do that,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Then do you want me dead?” Rowan growled weakly—before coughing violently. Serena quickly patted his back, shooting me a look filled with hatred.

“Don’t worry, Serena,” I said calmly. “I’m not taking your position. It’s not something I’m interested in anymore.”

I paused, letting my words sink in.

“But if it’s something bigger—like being Alpha… I might consider it.”

A smug smile played on my lips as I watched their reactions.

Shock. Rage. Disbelief.

“What?” one of the elders snapped. “That is the highest position any woman could ever want—and you dare speak like this?”

“She’s too full of herself,” another elder scoffed. “Is it not just healing power? There are many stronger healers across the continent.”

“You see, Rowan,” she said, holding his hands with a look of compassion so forced it was almost obvious—only they were too blind to see it. “She never loved you. She only wanted power.”

Things escalated faster than I had expected, but it was exactly how I wanted it.

“You’re not fit to be in this pack with us, Elara,” Throne said. “As a result, you will be banished—unless you rethink your decision.” He brought out a file containing the banishment papers.

I could feel their gazes on me as they waited for my response. Serena, on the other hand, looked anxious. The slight tremble in her hands, no matter how much she tried to hide it, gave her away.

A smile graced my lips as I spoke.

“Rethink my decision? Like I said, the only thing that could make me rethink it… is if I’m given the Alpha’s position.”

I caught the glint of excitement in Serena’s eyes at the mention of that word. She didn’t even try to hide it.

“You’re nothing more than greed,” one of the elders snapped. “Let’s banish her. We don’t want her corrupting the rest of the wolves.”

I watched as they handed Rowan the paper.

Despite how weak he looked, the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable as he stared at me.

“You never loved me,” he said.

His hand trembled as he picked up the pen and signed the papers.

But beneath that hatred… I could still see it.

A part of him wanted me to stay.

He was just too proud to say it.

Without another word, I turned and left the room, heading straight home.

This was what I wanted. Staying would have only made things worse—they would have broken me… or worse.

By the time I got home, my sister was already awake. She still looked weak, but she could stand.

“We are leaving,” I said the moment I saw her.

A knowing look crossed her face—she must have heard already. News like this spread fast.

As we got closer to the border, reality began to settle in.

I had nowhere to go.

I might have escaped… but I had nothing.

Then I saw it—a black SUV.

My eyes lit up. Whoever owned that had to be rich.

A figure stood beside it.

As we got closer, it became clearer.

It was like he had been waiting for us.

A smile spread across his face as he walked toward us.

“Alpha Caden!” I greeted, surprise filling my voice. He was the Alpha of the only thriving pack on the continent. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard about the banishment, Elara,” he said. “I came to help you and your sister.”

“Help us?” Iris asked, unconvinced.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” he continued. “I heard what happened, and I happened to be nearby. Besides… you’re Elara. You’re not someone people forget. You saved my people.”

“But that doesn’t mean you should help us,” I said, still unsure.

“I could have lost sixty percent of my people that year,” he replied. “But you saved them. Now it’s my turn.”

A small smile formed on my lips. That was when I had first started healing—and their pack was where my power truly grew.

But I also knew how wolves could be.

I glanced at my sister. Her pale skin, her dry lips—she was still weak.

I couldn’t let her suffer because of me.

“Alright then,” I said. “Let’s go.”

Caden immediately opened the door.

But before I could step in, Iris pulled me back and wrapped her arms tightly around me.

“I don’t know what changed,” she whispered, “but you… the you I knew before would have chosen the Alpha over me. Thank you for not doing that.”