---- Chapter 5 I froze. "What?" Vivian realized she'd let something slip and looked at Ethan, flustered. "You've messed up healing rituals before?" I pressed. "Th-that was just an accident..." Vivian stammered. Amemory flashed in my mind. Two years ago, a bad infection swept through the pack. I was away at a medical conference, and the pack needed urgent treatment. By the time I got back, three pack members were dead, and a dozen more were seriously ill. Ethan told me it was because "some trainee healer ---- used the wrong potion formula." That trainee healer was kicked out immediately, and no one ever mentioned her name again. The Elder Council chewed me out, saying the tragedy was due to my "lack of oversight." My Luna rank was dropped a level, and it took mea whole six months to get it back. "Tt was you." I looked at Vivian. "That trainee healer two years ago, that was you." Vivian's face went pale. "I..." "you mixed up the silver root and wolfs bane, turning the potion into poison." I walked towards her, step by step. ''Three pack members died because of it." "Tt wasn't on purpose!" Vivian shrieked. "I just got the recipe mixed up!" "So," I turned to Ethan, "you knew all along." ---- Ethan avoided my eyes. "Sophia..." "you knew Vivian killed our pack members, but you let me take the blame." My voice was terrifyingly calm. "You made me apologize to the Elder Council, made me take all the responsibility. " "T was trying to protect her..." Ethan said weakly. "Protect her?" I scoffed. "Then who was going to protect those three innocent packmates who died? Who was going to protect the Elder Council you lied to?" "Sophia, that's all in the past..." "In the past?" I cut him off. "Now she's messed up the sacred ritual, and the whole pack is facing disaster. Is that 'in the past' too?" Ethan finally grasped how serious things were. He whirled on Vivian, his voice harsh. "Why didn't you tell me you didn't know how to lead the ritual?