Three years after her rejection, Luna had settled into a rhythm of life that felt as natural as breathing. Her days began before dawn with meditation in her garden, followed by rounds at the main medical facility, then a full schedule at her private clinic. Evenings were for research, reading, and the occasional social obligation that kept the medical board satisfied with her progress toward a "balanced" life.
The theater date with David Chen had gone surprisingly well—they had both laughed until their sides hurt at the bumbling werewolf comedy, and David had proven himself to be charming company without being pushy or demanding. They had gone on three more casual dates since then: a farmers market, a jazz concert, and a hiking trip to the nearby waterfalls. Luna found herself genuinely enjoying his company, though she was careful to keep things light and friendship-focused.
On this particular Tuesday morning, Luna was reviewing patient files when her assistant, Rebecca Clearwater, knocked on her office door with an expression that mixed excitement and nervousness.
"Dr. Nightwood? There's someone here to see you. Well, several someones, actually. They don't have an appointment, but they said it's urgent."
Luna looked up from the chart she was reviewing—a complex case involving twin pups with a rare genetic condition. "Medical emergency?"
"I don't think so," Rebecca said carefully. "They're all healthy-looking. But Luna... I think they're from outside our territory. Way outside. Their scents are unfamiliar, and they're all wearing really expensive clothes."
Intrigued despite herself, Luna saved her work and followed Rebecca to the clinic's main waiting area. What she found there made her pause in the doorway.
Five individuals sat in her modest waiting room, and they stood out like exotic birds among sparrows. Three men and two women, all clearly high-ranking wolves based on their bearing and the subtle but unmistakable aura of power that surrounded them. Their clothes were indeed expensive—tailored suits and designer dresses that probably cost more than Luna made in a month.
The apparent leader of the group was a woman in her forties with silver-streaked auburn hair and intelligent gray eyes. She wore a burgundy business suit that screamed executive authority, and when she stood to greet Luna, her movements were graceful but commanding.
"Dr. Nightwood," the woman said with a slight smile, "thank you for seeing us without an appointment. I'm Dr. Catherine Blackthorne, and these are my colleagues from the Northern Territories Medical Council."
Luna's eyebrows rose slightly. The Northern Territories were legendary among werewolf packs—a confederation of the strongest, wealthiest, and most influential packs on the continent. They were ruled by the Alpha King, whose very name carried weight throughout the supernatural world. What could they possibly want with a small-town pack doctor?
"Please, have a seat," Luna said, gesturing toward her consultation room, which was larger than the waiting area. "Rebecca, could you bring some coffee for our guests?"
As the group settled themselves around Luna's consultation table, she studied their faces, trying to gauge their intentions. They didn't seem hostile, but there was definitely an agenda here.
"Dr. Nightwood," Dr. Blackthorne began once they were all seated, "we've been hearing remarkable things about your work. Stories of healings that border on miraculous, techniques that combine traditional and modern medicine in ways that produce extraordinary results."
Luna chose her words carefully. "I've been fortunate to help some patients who were considered beyond conventional treatment. But I'm hardly the only healer exploring alternative approaches."
One of the men, a distinguished-looking beta with kind eyes, leaned forward. "Dr. Richardson, Northern Territories Chief of Medicine," he introduced himself. "Dr. Nightwood, we've reviewed the case files your mentor, Dr. Moonwhisper, shared with us with patient consent. The spinal cord injury that was completely healed in two weeks. The comatose patient who awakened after a single session. The pregnancy complications that resolved instantly under your care. These aren't just alternative approaches—they're medical miracles."
Luna felt a familiar flutter of unease. Her abilities were becoming harder to explain away as simply skilled technique, and the last thing she wanted was to become some kind of medical curiosity or research subject.
"I've been blessed with a gift for healing," she said diplomatically. "Combined with excellent training and a deep understanding of traditional pack medicine, I've been able to help some patients in ways that might seem unusual."
Dr. Blackthorne smiled knowingly. "Dr. Nightwood, you can speak freely with us. We're not here to expose or exploit your abilities. Quite the opposite, actually."
The second woman in the group spoke up for the first time. She was younger than Dr. Blackthorne, with dark hair and warm brown eyes that reminded Luna somehow of chocolate. "I'm Dr. Maria Santos, and I specialize in supernatural medical phenomena. What you're doing—true healing with actual energy manipulation—is incredibly rare. We estimate maybe one in ten thousand werewolves has any degree of natural healing ability, and what you're demonstrating is off the charts."
"The Northern Territories has been seeking a specialist in advanced healing techniques," Dr. Richardson explained. "Someone who can handle cases that conventional medicine can't touch. Based on everything we've seen and heard, you're exactly what we've been looking for."
Luna blinked in surprise. "Are you... offering me a job?"
"We're offering you an opportunity," Dr. Blackthorne corrected. "A chance to work with the most challenging cases in our territory, access to resources and research facilities that most healers can only dream of, and the opportunity to advance your abilities under the guidance of other gifted individuals."
The third man, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. He was younger than the others, probably close to Luna's age, with an intensity that suggested he took his work very seriously. "I'm Dr. Alex Morrison, supernatural genetics researcher. Dr. Nightwood, your healing gift appears to be hereditary, based on what we know about your grandmother. With proper training and the right resources, you could potentially develop abilities that could revolutionize supernatural medicine."
Luna felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they were suggesting. Leave Moonridge Pack? Leave her clinic, her patients, the life she had carefully built from the ashes of her rejection?
"I appreciate the offer," she said slowly, "but I have responsibilities here. Patients who depend on me, a practice I've worked hard to establish—"
"We understand," Dr. Blackthorne said gently. "This isn't a decision to make lightly. But Luna—may I call you Luna?—what we're offering isn't just a career change. It's a chance to fulfill your true potential as a healer."
Dr. Santos leaned forward earnestly. "Luna, imagine having access to the largest supernatural medical library in North America. Imagine working with patients whose conditions challenge everything we know about healing. Imagine being part of research that could help thousands of people."
"And," Dr. Richardson added with a slight smile, "imagine a salary that reflects the true value of your unique abilities."
Luna's mind raced. The offer was tempting—incredibly tempting. She had always hungered for knowledge, for the chance to push her abilities to their limits and discover what she was truly capable of. The Northern Territories represented the pinnacle of supernatural medicine, a place where her gifts would be understood and appreciated rather than viewed with suspicion or amazement.
But leaving Moonridge felt like abandoning everything she had fought to build. This place had been her sanctuary, her proving ground, the stage where she had transformed from rejected mate to respected healer.
"How much time do I have to consider this?" she asked.
"We're hoping to fill the position within the next month," Dr. Blackthorne replied. "But for the right candidate, we're willing to be flexible. We're not trying to pressure you, Luna. We just want you to know that there's a place for you in the Northern Territories whenever you're ready to claim it."
Dr. Morrison reached into his briefcase and pulled out a thick folder. "This contains detailed information about the position, the research facilities, living arrangements, and compensation package. There's also some preliminary information about other gifted healers who work in our territory. You wouldn't be alone in having unusual abilities."
After the delegation left, Luna sat in her office staring at the folder they had given her. The compensation package alone was staggering—nearly ten times what she made at her current practice. The research opportunities were exactly the kind of advanced work she had dreamed about during her medical training.
Rebecca poked her head in cautiously. "Dr. Nightwood? Your next patient is here. Mrs. Patterson for her arthritis treatment."
Luna tucked the folder into her desk drawer and tried to focus on the familiar routine of patient care. But throughout the day, her mind kept wandering to the offer. The Northern Territories. Advanced healing research. The chance to work with the most challenging cases in the supernatural world.
That evening, she found herself in her garden again, seeking the peace that usually came from tending her medicinal herbs. But tonight, even the familiar ritual couldn't quiet her racing thoughts.
"You look like someone who's received interesting news," came a familiar voice from the garden gate.
Luna looked up to see David Chen approaching with two cups of what smelled like her favorite tea. Over the past few months, he had become attuned to her moods and needs in a way that was both comforting and slightly unnerving.
"How do you always know when I need company?" she asked, accepting the tea gratefully.
"Practice," David replied with a gentle smile, settling on the bench beside her. "Plus, Seraphina mentioned seeing some very official-looking wolves leaving your clinic today. She was worried you might be in some kind of trouble."
Luna laughed despite her turmoil. "Not trouble. The opposite, actually. I've been offered a position with the Northern Territories Medical Council."
David's expression shifted subtly—surprise, followed by what might have been disappointment, though he tried to hide it. "That's... that's incredible, Luna. The Northern Territories? That's like being recruited by the major leagues."
"It is," Luna agreed, studying his face in the fading light. "David, I haven't decided anything yet. I'm not even sure I want to leave Moonridge."
"But you're considering it," he observed quietly.
Luna nodded, surprised by the honesty in her own voice. "I am. The research opportunities, the chance to work with other gifted healers, the resources they could provide... it's everything I've ever dreamed of professionally."
"But?" David prompted gently.
"But this is home. This is where I rebuilt my life, where I learned who I really am. These are my people, my patients." She paused, looking at David meaningfully. "My friends."
David was quiet for a long moment, sipping his tea and staring out at the herb garden. Finally, he spoke. "Luna, can I ask you something? If Marcus had never rejected you, if you were still planning to be his Luna, would you consider this offer?"
The question caught her off guard. "That's hypothetical—"
"Humor me," David insisted gently.
Luna thought about it honestly. If she had been Marcus's intended Luna, focused on pack politics and social obligations, would she have pursued medicine with such single-minded determination? Would she have pushed her healing abilities to their current level? Would she have been brave enough to even consider such an ambitious career move?
"No," she admitted quietly. "I probably would have been too comfortable, too focused on being what he needed me to be to pursue my own dreams so aggressively."
"Then maybe," David said softly, "Marcus's rejection was the best thing that ever happened to you. Maybe it freed you to become who you were always meant to be."
Luna stared at him in surprise. It was exactly what she had been thinking but hadn't been brave enough to voice.
"And maybe," David continued, his voice careful but determined, "this offer is the next step in that journey. Luna, I care about you. More than I probably should, given how clear you've been about keeping things casual between us. But I care about you enough to want you to have everything you deserve, even if that means you leave Moonridge."
Luna felt something shift in her chest—a loosening of the tight control she had maintained over her emotions for so long. David's selflessness, his willingness to support her dreams even at his own expense, was something she had never experienced before.
"David—"
"Don't say anything now," he interrupted gently. "Just think about it. Think about what you really want, not what you think you should want. And whatever you decide, know that you have at least one person here who believes you're capable of anything."
As David left that evening, Luna remained in her garden until full darkness fell. For the first time in three years, she allowed herself to dream beyond the boundaries of Moonridge Pack. To imagine herself in state-of-the-art research facilities, working with the most challenging cases in the supernatural world, pushing her abilities to their absolute limits.
It was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure. But for the first time since her rejection, Luna felt ready to be afraid again. Ready to take a risk that could change everything.
The question was whether she was brave enough to actually do it.