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Saint Jude’s Hospital is the type of hospital that gives the others a bad rep. The nurses are kind and actually know how to do their job. The air itself around here might reek of medicine but it also reeks of sophistication and top-notch medical services.

And the healer in front of me looks like he has a good head on his shoulders, but for the life of me, my wolf and I can’t trust his words.

I want to believe his words.

I want to believe in his professional charm.

But this is the second time my little girl has been sick, and it’s driving me insane.

Last time it was an allergic reaction, this time it was a fever, what about…what about next time?

What’s happening to Lina, and why does it seem to happen every time I’m away from her? Is it the city? Is this place bad for her? Or maybe it’s me…I have been negligent.

“And the tests?” My voice comes out shaky as I cross my hands on my chest, “You said you would run more tests, so how can you give her the all clear yet?”

“We carried out a few tests, Miss Winter, just like I assured you, and they all came back with the same result. She had a fever that got out of hand. The results also showed a protein marker in her blood, but it’s not the cause of the fever.”

I swallow hard this time, my throat closing in on itself as I remember how the last doctor spoke of it.

“She had an allergic reaction back then, and the healer also said he noticed a protein marker in her blood, but it was dormant.”

The healer keeps his face impassive, not giving me too much to scare me into a heart attack before he speaks. “It is, and the presence of such a marker is rare, but fortunately for her and for you, like the last healer said, it’s dormant.”

And because I didn't pay attention to the last healer last time, my ears prick as I swallow saliva down my parched throat.

“What would happen if…if the marker wasn’t dormant?”

“Then we would diagnose Lina with Moonborne Syndrome. Personally, I'm not acquainted with treating the disease, because it happens to one in a million werewolves, but if the marker were active, Lina’s condition would be worse.”

The healer’s words ring like static in my ears.

It’s not his words about Lina worsening if her marker were active—it’s about the disease he mentions.

Moonborne Syndrome.

The two words ring in my ears like a horrific shriek. I’ve heard of the disease. I remember the two words so clearly, because when I woke up as a kid in the streets, cold andshivering with no memories, no parents, nothing to my name, the only sentence that ran in my head was: she has Moonborne Syndrome.

I might have buried that sentence through years of stress and trying to fend for myself, but I remember it clearly now.

If Lina has it and the last doctor said it’s rare, that means I have it too. That means I gave my baby that marker, whether or not it’s fatal.

Did Moonborne syndrome have a possible hand in me losing my memories when I was young?

“Miss Winter? Miss Winter?”

Reality slams back into me as I stare at the healer and clear my throat apologetically.

“You have nothing to worry about. Lina is okay, and you can leave with her today. Tell you what though, if Lina has any symptoms or signs that she’s not doing okay, you can bring her back in. I’m available at all hours, Miss Winter.”

Regaining my composure, I give him a wan smile. “Thank you for everything.”

He shrugs, almost sheepishly. “No need to thank me. If anyone deserves the credit, it’s Mr. Hells. He...wasn’t exactly subtle about his expectations. Made it quite clear we were to keep her alive or he’d fire everyone from the top down.”

My eyes widen. “He said that?”

He chuckles. “Among other things. Let’s just say, your daughter has a very...determined guardian. He’s at the front desk now, handling the final bill. You might want to tell him the good news.”

Alaric paid the bills?