One year after her rejection, Luna stood before the Pack Medical Board, her hands clasped behind her back as she waited for their decision. The five senior doctors and healers who comprised the board had been questioning her for over two hours, testing not just her medical knowledge but her judgment, her ethics, and her commitment to the pack's wellbeing.
Dr. Moonwhisper sat at the far end of the table, her expression carefully neutral despite the pride Luna could sense radiating from her mentor. The other board members included Dr. Harrison Vale—Seraphina's father and the pack's chief surgeon, Dr. Maya Sternheart—the pediatric specialist, Elder Thorne who oversaw traditional healing practices, and Dr. Robert Kim, the head of emergency medicine.
"Miss Nightwood," Dr. Vale began, his stern expression softening slightly as he looked at the young woman who had become like a second daughter to him over the past year. "Your test scores are exceptional. Your practical skills assessment was flawless. Your patient reviews are overwhelmingly positive."
Luna held her breath, sensing a 'but' coming.
"However," Dr. Kim continued, "you're requesting full certification after only eighteen months of training. The standard program takes three years minimum."
"I understand the concerns about timeline," Luna replied respectfully. "But I believe my record speaks for itself. I've completed double the required clinical hours, assisted in over two hundred surgeries, and maintained a patient satisfaction rating of ninety-eight percent."
"Tell us about the Henderson case," Elder Thorne said, leaning forward with interest. "The child who was brought in with the mysterious fever that wouldn't break."
Luna's mind immediately went to that terrifying night three months ago when six-year-old Emma Henderson had been rushed in with a temperature of 105 degrees that wasn't responding to any conventional treatment. The little girl had been delirious, convulsing, and failing fast despite every modern medical intervention.
"Traditional medicine wasn't working," Luna said carefully. "Her parents were desperate, and we were running out of options. I asked permission to try some of the old healing techniques my grandmother taught me."
"And what happened?" Dr. Sternheart asked, though Luna suspected she already knew the answer.
"I combined modern medicine with traditional energy healing. I placed my hands on Emma and... I don't know exactly how to explain it, but I could feel the sickness in her body. It was like a dark knot of infection that conventional antibiotics couldn't reach. I used focused healing energy to break up that knot while the medical team continued supportive care."
What Luna didn't mention was how her hands had actually glowed with a soft silver light during the healing, or how she had somehow been able to see the infection as clearly as if she had x-ray vision. Some things were too strange to put in official reports.
"Emma's fever broke within an hour," Dr. Moonwhisper added when Luna remained diplomatically silent about the more unusual aspects of the case. "Full recovery within forty-eight hours. It was remarkable."
"There have been several similar cases," Dr. Vale observed, consulting his notes. "The Morrison boy's broken spine, Mrs. Chen's complicated pregnancy, the Williams family after their car accident. You seem to have an unusual success rate with cases that stymie other healers."
Luna shifted uncomfortably. Her growing abilities were becoming harder to hide, and she wasn't sure how the medical board would react to healing gifts that went far beyond normal pack doctor training.
"I believe in combining the best of traditional and modern medicine," she said diplomatically. "Sometimes the old ways work when new techniques don't."
Elder Thorne smiled knowingly. "Your grandmother was gifted in the same way, child. Moira Nightwood could heal with a touch and see sickness before it fully manifested. The gift often skips generations."
Luna's eyes widened. Her grandmother had died when she was twelve, and while she remembered the older woman's gentle hands and soothing presence when Luna was sick or injured, she had never known about any special abilities.
"My grandmother never mentioned anything about healing gifts."
"She wouldn't have," Elder Thorne replied. "Moira was cautious about such things. There was a time when healers with unusual abilities were viewed with suspicion. She learned to hide her gifts, to make them seem like ordinary medical skill."
Dr. Kim leaned forward with interest. "Are you saying Luna has inherited some kind of supernatural healing ability?"
"I'm saying she has a gift that goes beyond textbook medicine," Elder Thorne replied carefully. "And our pack is fortunate to have her."
The board members exchanged glances, and Luna could feel the weight of their decision hanging in the air. She had worked tirelessly for this moment—full certification would mean she could practice independently, open her own clinic, and truly establish herself as a healer in her own right rather than just Dr. Moonwhisper's assistant.
"Miss Nightwood," Dr. Vale said finally, "your dedication and skill are undeniable. However, we do have some concerns about your emotional readiness for full independent practice."
Luna's heart sank. "Sir?"
"You've thrown yourself into your work with admirable intensity," Dr. Sternheart explained gently. "But you work eighteen-hour days, you haven't taken a single vacation day, and several staff members have expressed concern that you're using work to avoid processing personal trauma."
"My personal life doesn't interfere with my patient care," Luna said firmly.
"No, it doesn't," Dr. Moonwhisper agreed. "But Luna, they have a point. You can't heal others indefinitely while avoiding healing yourself."
Luna looked around the table at the five medical professionals who had become her surrogate family over the past year. They weren't questioning her competence—they were worried about her wellbeing.
"What would you have me do?" she asked quietly. "Marcus made his choice. I've made mine. I'm building a life based on helping others rather than depending on someone else for my happiness. Isn't that healthy?"
"It would be," Dr. Kim replied, "if you were also maintaining friendships, hobbies, and some kind of social life outside of work. When was the last time you went to a pack gathering that wasn't medical related?"
Luna couldn't remember. After Marcus's wedding, she had withdrawn from most social activities, finding them painful reminders of the life she had lost. Work had become her sanctuary, her patients her purpose.
"I have friends," she protested weakly.
"Seraphina doesn't count," Dr. Vale said with gentle humor. "She's practically family, and even she's worried about you."
"The point is," Elder Thorne interjected, "healing is about balance. A healer who ignores her own needs will eventually burn out, and then she's no good to anyone."
Luna absorbed their words, recognizing the truth in them even as part of her resisted. Work had been her escape, her way of proving she was valuable even if she wasn't wanted as a mate. But perhaps they were right that she had taken it too far.
"What are you suggesting?" she asked.
"Full certification," Dr. Moonwhisper said with a smile, "with conditions."
Luna's heart leaped with hope.
"You'll work no more than sixty hours per week," Dr. Kim stated. "You'll take at least one weekend per month completely off. You'll attend at least two social pack functions per month. And you'll consider dating again within the next six months."
"Dating?" Luna's voice squeaked slightly. "I don't think—"
"Not necessarily for marriage," Dr. Sternheart said gently. "But you need to remember that you're a young, beautiful, talented woman with a lot to offer. Marcus's rejection doesn't define your worth or your future romantic prospects."
Luna felt heat rise in her cheeks. The truth was, she had been approached by several unmated males over the past year, but she had politely declined all invitations. The thought of opening her heart again, of risking another rejection, terrified her more than any medical emergency.
"I'll consider it," she said finally.
"That's all we ask," Dr. Vale replied. "Luna, you've earned this certification through exceptional skill and dedication. Just remember that being a healer means taking care of yourself too."
As the board members filed out, congratulating her and discussing the logistics of her new independent practice, Luna remained seated, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what had just happened. She was now a fully certified pack doctor at twenty-five years old, two years ahead of schedule.
Dr. Moonwhisper approached, placing a motherly hand on Luna's shoulder. "Your grandmother would be so proud."
"I wish she were here to see it," Luna said softly.
"Who says she isn't?" Elder Thorne remarked, having lingered behind the others. "The spirits of our ancestors watch over us, child. And I suspect Moira has been guiding your healing gift from the beginning."
After they left, Luna sat alone in the conference room, staring at her certification papers. She had achieved everything she had worked for, proven herself beyond any doubt. So why did she feel so empty?
The answer came to her as she walked through the pack grounds toward her small apartment. Achievement was satisfying, but it wasn't fulfilling in the way she had hoped. She had spent a year proving she didn't need anyone, but proving something and actually believing it were two different things.
That evening, Seraphina arrived at Luna's door with a bottle of champagne and a determined expression.
"We're celebrating," she announced, pushing past Luna into the apartment. "And then we're going to talk about how you're finally going to start living again instead of just surviving."
As her best friend popped the cork and poured celebratory drinks, Luna realized that perhaps the medical board had been right. She had learned to heal others, but she still had work to do on healing herself.
The question was whether she was brave enough to try.