7.New Identity

Anna’s POV

Blue River Clan

“Anna, why are you coming back so late? Where have you been these days? The number of patients in the tribe has increased, and my back almost broke from the workload. You've been nowhere to be seen, and I almost had Alpha Oscar send someone to look for you.”

A woman around 70 years old, with white hair and a bulky figure, leaned on a cane in her left hand and held a jar of liquor in her right, standing at the clinic's entrance, drinking and babbling.

Sorry, Camila, I got too engrossed in picking herbs on the mountain and got lost in the forest.

I expressed my apology through sign language, then grabbed Camila's alcohol.

"Hmph, I knew you'd get lost in the herb picking, stuck in the forest. Wait, Anna, don't touch my alcohol!" Camila glared at me grumpily.

You're getting old, drinking is bad for your health.

I continued signing, but Camila didn't take it seriously.

“One lives only once, so one must enjoy life. I'm almost heading to the grave anyway, drinking more or less makes no difference.”

I sighed helplessly and stopped stopping her.

The Blue River Clan was surrounded by a wide river, with vast and resource-rich land, featuring an abundance of rare medicinal herbs. Under Alpha Oscar Nelson's leadership for a century, the werewolves of the Blue River Clan lived and worked peacefully, enjoying calm days.

Camila is the local physician, named Camila Edwards. She has no relatives, and her only granddaughter, Anna Edwards, drowned in the river eight years ago. Hence, she's somewhat eccentric, and the werewolves of the Blue River Clan call her the Mad Granny. Five years ago, while mourning Anna by the river, she accidentally saved me, mistaking me for her granddaughter. Since then, I've assumed Anna's identity and lived in this small clinic. According to the werewolves I've treated in the Blue River Clan, Camila used to wield her cane at people casually and kept the clinic closed for nearly three years until my arrival, after which her condition improved.

Back in the room, I set aside the bamboo basket, stood in front of the mirror, and combed my golden long hair. I touched my eyes; they were no longer brown but hazel. It turns out I inherited my mother's looks.

Four years ago, I learned about a herb called Black Mandala from Camila. It's a poisonous plant that can allow the parasitic dark melanin to live on a werewolf's body. Eating Black Mandala would damage the vocal cords of the werewolf, even changing their skin, hair, and pupils' color. I found it intriguing and began searching for this herb.

It wasn't until three years later, about a year ago, that I found it on the Black Rock Peak. Camila said that to detoxify, one must use poison against poison. Without hesitation, I ingested Black Mandala. After three days and nights of excruciating pain, feeling like my body was being burnt alive, I was reborn.

What I look like now is what I really look like, and I realize that I have been sick for the past 23 years.

“Anna, rest early tonight. Don't tinker with your herbs tonight. Join me tomorrow morning at the Alpha's camp for medical rounds.” Camila's reminder came from outside the door.

I tapped the table to signal agreement.

The next day, at the Alpha's camp.

“You've finally arrived, Camila, Anna, follow me.” A maid followed by two soldiers welcomed me and Camila, then hurriedly led us into the main building, and we followed closely.

The Alpha's camp was vast, with corridors crisscrossing each other. Though I've been here a few times, I still didn't quite know my way around. It's said that Alpha Oscar married two women, one a noblewoman werewolf from the Blue River Clan named Willow, and the other a human woman named Hailey. Willow bore Alpha two sons, Luke and Caleb, while Hailey had a son, Henry.

“Mrs.Willow has developed severe rashes on her skin recently, and she's restless at night, becoming increasingly irritable, worsening her relationship with Mrs. Hailey.” The maid pulled at my sleeve and whispered.

I nodded, having lived as Anna here for five years; I was somewhat informed about the Alpha's family situation. Willow was noble, arrogant, disdainful of Hailey, and held a grudge against her for taking away half of Alpha Oscar's love. Therefore, sometimes, she would cause trouble for Hailey.

This time, Willow fell ill for no apparent reason and naturally thought Hailey was taking revenge on her, plotting something in the process.

"Ava, how much is the reward for this task?" Camila, the old lady, turned a deaf ear. She wasn't interested in the gossip; she cared only about money for buying alcohol.

"Camila, don't worry; the reward will definitely satisfy you. You just need to heal Mrs.Willow." Ava, the maid, assured.

Upon reaching Mrs.Willow's room, my sensitive nose twitched, and I scanned the lush flowers by the window, vibrant and stunning.

"Mrs.Willow, I've brought the physician," Ava closed the door and approached the bedside.

"Good, let them in."

Apart from Ava, only I and Camila remained in the room. Ava drew the curtains, and with a glance, Camila gestured for me to come over. I understood. Camila had been guiding me in medicine with the aim of making me a proficient physician. The werewolves of the Blue River Clan were friendly; they neither mocked nor looked down on me for being mute.

What Camila didn't know was that I had long been a mature and professional physician.

I took a glance at Mrs.Willow, almost diagnosing her condition based on Ava's previous explanation. But to maintain my facade, I needed to pretend to be a novice physician.

I respectfully bowed to Mrs.Willow, using sign language.

Mrs.Willow, have there been any special changes in your diet in the past two months?

"Yes, I used to eat meals prepared by the nutritionist, but last month, Hailey sent homemade pastries as a celebration for my birthday. She claimed it was a human recipe she'd learned. After eating them, I started getting rashes and insomnia. That wretched woman must have poisoned them, trying to disfigure me!"

Mrs.Willow's voice rose with resentment as she covered her rash-covered face in distress.

Mrs.Willow, please calm down. Finding the source of the illness is important now.

 I comforted her.

According to Mrs.Willow, she attributed her skin allergy to eating pastries. However, if it were just food poisoning, the rash wouldn't persist for two months. Moreover, considering Mrs.Willow's noble status, the kitchen would undoubtedly be vigilant and not make the same mistake twice. Yet, Mrs.Willow's condition worsened, indicating that the real source wasn't food but something else.

I focused on the flowerpots by the window, continuing with sign language.

You seem to like flowers. How long have these flowers been here?

"Yes, the pale-yellow ones are bellflowers, two years old; the blue ones are bluebells, also two years old; the pink ones are roses, maybe a little over a year; and the red ones, geraniums, around... three months."

I nodded, continuing with signs.

There are twice as many geraniums as the other flowers. Do you prefer geraniums?

"I heard geraniums have the effect of dispelling dampness, relieving the body and mind. So, I had more prepared, but what does that have to do with my illness?" Mrs.Willow started to get impatient and looked towards Camila. "Camila, what I need now is a quick solution to my rash, not meaningless questions."

"Mrs.Willow, please rest assured; Ella will solve your problem." Camila glanced at me, seemingly understanding my intentions.

I approached the flowers, brought my head close to the geraniums, and frowned, as expected. I plucked the best five blooming geraniums, walked towards Mrs.Willow, and extended them to her.

A few minutes later, she frantically scratched the rash on her face and screamed, "Ella, get them away!"

I backed off, nodding, using sign language.

These geraniums have been tampered with. The particles released by the tampered flowers cause skin allergies and itching when in contact with the skin.

With almost fifty geraniums in your room, a large number of particles flew onto your skin, exacerbating your symptoms.

"Geraniums... it's because of these geraniums?" Mrs.Willow suddenly realized and immediately shouted, "Ava, throw all these flowers out right now!"