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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born with heavy breasts and lush curbs.
00:03My half-sister Chloe was afraid her mate Brad would go feral over me, so she arranged for
00:08me to be mate of a dying man Alpha Case.
00:10She walked me to the door, guilt written across her face.
00:14Sure, Case's injury means he can't get hard, at least you'll be spared the agony of bearing
00:19pups.
00:20Don't worry.
00:21An Alpha who can't perform there is probably exceptional everywhere else.
00:25Three months later, I was begging for mercy every single night.
00:28And I desperately wanted to ask Chloe what exactly she meant by, can't get hard.
00:34Case Valerius, the Blackwood Pax Alpha and the Lycan King's most trusted war commander, was
00:40carried back from the battlefield in blood.
00:42His mother Martha had already lost her mate.
00:44Now she was watching her son die.
00:47Someone suggested a deathbed mating.
00:49Healthy mate's strength could flow into him and pull him back.
00:52Chloe rushed to play matchmaker and presented me to Martha before I could object.
00:55I had no way to refuse.
00:57If I wouldn't agree, she'd transfer me to serve 60-year-old Elder Kevin.
01:00I knew she resented my history with her mate.
01:03I swear, I had no feelings for Brad.
01:06What good is a vow?
01:07Do you have any idea how distracting you are?
01:10I hunched my shoulders.
01:11Tears slid down my cheeks.
01:12Parading your body in front of every male in this pack?
01:15Which one of them wouldn't catch your scent and lose his mind?
01:17It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I don't trust males.
01:21Do you know how powerful Alpha Case is?
01:23If my mother and Martha weren't old friends, you won't have this opportunity.
01:27Chloe, I don't want to be anyone's offering.
01:29I'd rather scrub kitchen floors, just-
01:30Leah, are you out of your mind?
01:33If I hadn't vouched for you, Martha wouldn't have given you a second glance.
01:36You wouldn't even be worthy of being in Case's mate.
01:39I was about to tell her I'd been binding my chest as tight as possible, but the maid burst
01:44in breathless.
01:45Ms. Chloe, word from the Valerius estate, Alpha Case has woken up.
01:50Chloe dragged me straight to Valerius estate.
01:52I followed her through the main hall to a set of heavy double doors pulled half shut.
01:56Through the gap, I could make out a man's shape in the bed.
01:59Thin, motionless, chest-rattling with coughs every few minutes, she clasped Chloe's
02:04hands.
02:04Thank you for everything you've done for Case.
02:06I won't destroy a girl's future over it.
02:09Mrs. Valerius, the bond should still be completed.
02:11Leah arrived the same day Case woke up.
02:13That's the moon goddess guiding us.
02:15Seal the bond properly, her life force will keep pulling him back towards health.
02:17Before she could speak, the healer Ella stepped out, expression tight.
02:21You can speak freely.
02:22No one here shouldn't hear it.
02:25Alpha Case has regained consciousness, but an arrow struck his inner thigh during battle.
02:30I'm afraid he will no longer be able to-
02:32Unable to do what?!
02:33Chloe looked more desperate than Martha.
02:35He will no longer be able to get hard.
02:37Martha's knees gave out.
02:38I caught her before she hit the floor.
02:40She looked up at me with hollowed eyes.
02:42Leah, knowing this, are you still willing?
02:46Of course she is.
02:47She's just an Omega with no prospects.
02:50She should be grateful.
02:51Chloe was already answering for me.
02:53I didn't speak right away.
02:54There had been a young wolf in the poor quarter behind our estate.
02:57I first saw him through the fence gaps, thin wrist hollow cheeks hunched over a cracked
03:02bowl with nothing in it.
03:03I started passing food through the gaps, bread first then soup, then whatever I had, day
03:08after day.
03:08I watched him change.
03:10The hollows in his cheeks filled out, his shoulders broaden.
03:12He started training before dawn, running laps around the back wall while I was still half
03:16asleep.
03:17When he passed, I went to find him that same night.
03:19I was happy-
03:20Leah.
03:21I'm betrothed now.
03:22It wouldn't be proper.
03:23A pouch of silver dropped over the fence into the dirt.
03:26I picked it up and walked away.
03:28Consider my debt repaid.
03:33I gathered my skirts and knelt in front of Martha.
03:36My lady, I'm willing.
03:39I'll complete the bond, care for Case, and serve you as long as you need me.
03:44Luna Martha kept her word and prepared a dignified mating dress for me.
03:49Chloe deliberately chose a day when Brad was away on pack business to send me off.
03:52She walked me to the door, even though Case can't get hard.
03:56At least you'll be spared the pain of bearing pups.
03:59Don't worry.
04:00An alpha who can't perform in that area is probably exceptional in every other.
04:04Honestly, none of what Chloe said had even crossed my mind.
04:07I told myself I was simply moving to a new household.
04:10Case was too weak to stand through the full mate blessing ritual.
04:13I completed the bond rites beside a ceremonial sword instead.
04:15Martha watched from the front, eyes wet the whole time.
04:18When it was done, I was Alpha Case's mate.
04:20The mating chamber was quiet.
04:21I pushed the door open carefully.
04:23Case was already inside, half reclined against the headboard and a white bathrobe collar open
04:27at the throat, face pale but composed.
04:29He turned when he heard me.
04:30I had no intention of taking a mate.
04:33If it doesn't trouble you, we can treat this as a sibling arrangement.
04:38Tonight the bed is yours.
04:39I'll take that.
04:41Tomorrow you move to the guest quarters.
04:43He had thought of everything.
04:44It wasn't what I'd expected.
04:45Alright.
04:45Before the ritual, one of the older mates had pulled me aside and pressed something into
04:49my hands.
04:50There are other ways between mates.
04:53You might find it useful.
04:54I had no idea what she meant until I opened it.
04:57Heat pooled in my core just from looking at the pages.
04:59Is it too hot?
05:01Case was watching me from the bed, eyes direct, unblinking.
05:04The dress is heavy.
05:06I'm a little warm.
05:09Then wash up and rest.
05:11He pulled the blanket over himself and turned toward the wall.
05:14Within minutes, his breathing evened out.
05:15I set the handbook down on the vanity and took down my hair.
05:18Then the layered robes piece by piece until I was standing in nothing but my nightgown.
05:22I turned to the mirror.
05:23The thin fabric clung to every curve, heavy breasts straining against the cloth, slim
05:27waist giving way to the flare of my hips.
05:29I'd spent years trying to hide this body.
05:31In a nightgown at midnight, there was nothing left to hide behind.
05:34I walked straight into Case's gaze.
05:36He wasn't asleep.
05:37His chest rose hard.
05:38The tips of his ears went red.
05:39His throat worked as he swallowed.
05:41I grabbed my outer robe and pressed it against my chest.
05:45Alpha, I thought you were asleep.
05:47A long pause, low, restrained, like he was holding something back.
05:51I could sleep later.
05:52My breath hitched.
05:53He rose slowly to his feet, his tall frame casting a shadow over me.
05:57The handbook's images came flooding in.
05:59My breathing shifted without me meaning it to, somehow falling into the same rhythm as
06:03his.
06:04Then Case turned and walked to the door.
06:06The moment cool night air rushed in, I snapped back to my senses.
06:09He'd already disappeared into the darkness.
06:12I turned it over in my mind.
06:13When he looked at me just now, his eyes had flashed with something unmistakably like shock.
06:18Had my figure actually frightened him?
06:20Before I lay down, I made a firm decision.
06:23Tomorrow morning, I was binding my chest at least one full loop tighter.
06:27I was hovering somewhere between sleep and waking when Case slipped back in.
06:31The tips of his hair still beaded with water.
06:33However, he'd apparently gone to shower.
06:34By morning, he was already gone.
06:37Ivy came in to help me dress.
06:38From the corridor outside came the sound of a man sneezing.
06:41Once, then again, then a third time.
06:44Martha's headmaid's voice carried clearly through the door.
06:47Alpha Case.
06:48Why didn't you call someone to heat the water?
06:51It's already summer, but the nights are still cold.
06:53Of course you've caught a kill.
06:55I'll go brew tea right now.
06:56I glanced at Ivy.
06:57Does the Alpha usually take cold showers?
07:00I honestly don't know, miss.
07:04I dismissed her and locked the door.
07:06I wound a strip of cloth tied over my undergarments,
07:09then pulled on the most conservative dress I could find in the wardrobe.
07:12High neck, loose cut, heavy fabric.
07:14Then I went to living room.
07:15Case was already there when I arrived, seated beside Martha.
07:18She lit up the moment she saw me, her whole face warm with welcome,
07:21until Case coughed and the warmth vanished instantly.
07:24Case, I have a few private words for Leah.
07:26Go rest for a while.
07:28Case rose and left without a word.
07:30Martha waved me over and took both my hands on hers, eyes glistening.
07:34Sweet girl, our Case is lucky to have you.
07:37The warmth faded from her face.
07:39A quiet bitterness crept into her voice.
07:42The pack healer says the injury drained his life force.
07:44There's no telling how long he has left.
07:47Some of the elders suggested I find a child for him to adopt to carry on the bloodline.
07:53But if I did that, wouldn't I be stealing your whole future from you?
08:00I'm already grateful you came into this family to save Case.
08:03I can't let you sacrifice the rest of your life on top of that.
08:06I've thought it through.
08:07If Case's time does come, I'll have him issue you a formal mate release.
08:11Your future stays protected.
08:12I reached up and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, chest tight with an ache I couldn't
08:16name.
08:17Mrs. Valerius, thank you for looking out for me.
08:20I had come here thinking of myself as nothing more than a transferred Omega servant.
08:24I never imagined she would think this far ahead on my behalf.
08:28My thoughts drifted to the mother I had never known.
08:30If she had been alive, if I had grown up under a mother's protection,
08:34I never would have ended up in any of the situations I'd been through.
08:37Look at me. I've gone and made you cry too.
08:39Leah, there's no need to be so formal. Call me mom, just like Case does.
08:44She squeezed my hands.
08:45Sweetheart, I have one more thing to ask.
08:48Chloe mentioned you know how to prepare medicinal soups.
08:51I'd like you to take over Case's daily meals and care.
08:55I just want him to live a little longer.
08:57That's my one selfish wish.
08:59By the end, her voice had gone rough.
09:00I nodded.
09:01I headed to the kitchen to gather ingredients.
09:05The last time I'd prepared medicinal soup was several years ago,
09:08back when Brad was not yet Chloe's mate.
09:10One day, I found him collapsed at our back gate and brought him around.
09:13Out of sympathy, I dug through my mother's old healer journals
09:15and prepared medicinal meals for him every day to rebuild his strength.
09:19Only the two of us ever knew about it.
09:21From the looks of things, he was the one who told Chloe, just to get me driven out.
09:24The lengths he had gone to were truly something.
09:26I carried the steaming soup to the bedroom and found Case directing servants to pack up his belongings.
09:34Alpha, what's this about?
09:36Weren't we agreed that I was moving to the guest room?
09:39I have fewer things. It makes more sense for me to move.
09:41His sharply handsome face didn't shift so much as a fraction.
09:44At least eat first.
09:49You can leave this kind of thing to the maid from now on.
09:56It's no different coming from me.
09:59It is different.
10:02Have Ivy bring it from now on.
10:04He finished the soup in a few quick swallows, said a few words to the servants and swept past me.
10:09In that moment, I confirmed one thing. Alpha Case couldn't stand the sight of me.
10:14I followed his instructions and had Ivy deliver his daily healing meals to the study from then on.
10:20The pack healer says Case's condition has stabilized significantly.
10:23I can see the color coming back to his face.
10:27Leah, that's entirely because of you.
10:29Back in my room, I tucked it into my jewelry box, which had been slowly filling with pieces
10:34Martha had gifted me since my arrival.
10:36Leah, you never wear any of these. Isn't it a waste to just put them away?
10:42How is it a waste? Every one of these can be converted to cash. That's my security fund.
10:48But Lady Martha gave these to you personally. Are you really going to sell all of them?
10:52Not right now. But if the mate bond is ever severed, naturally I'd sell them and keep the money on
10:58hand.
10:59Ivy's expression shifted to pure bewilderment. As she turned away, she dropped her voice to a murmur.
11:05Alpha.
11:07I spun around and met a pair of ink dark eyes. Case looked worse than ever.
11:12Case's face was even paler than before. His gaze was sharp and cutting, fixed on me with cold precision.
11:17The look unsettled me completely, but I didn't dare let a single trace of it show.
11:20Alpha, is there something you need?
11:22A journal.
11:24We looked together. I checked the shelves. He checked the writing desk. Neither of us spoke.
11:28I spotted the journal pushed to the very back of the top shelf behind a row of my mother's medical
11:33notes.
11:33I reached up on my toes. My fingertips just grazed the cover. Case's hand came over mine. Warm, steady.
11:40He reached past me without effort and closed his hand around the journal. I turned my head.
11:44His face was right there, closer than I'd realized. He was looking down at me. Then I lost my footing
11:51and
11:51pitched straight into him. My heavy breaths hit his chest first. My waist went straight into his palm,
11:57his hand catching me before he could react. Case didn't step back. His ear tips went red. His throat
12:02worked as he swallowed. When he exhaled, the breath came out uneven against the top of my head. I scrambled
12:07upright, face burning. Your journal.
12:09He took it without a word and walked out. Perfect. My standing in his eyes had just sunk even lower.
12:14After that day, I made every effort to avoid crossing paths with Case. He was injured and
12:19recovering. He needed to stay calm. But there was one more thing bothering me. Brad had been sending
12:23notes. Three times already. I hadn't opened a single one. Just dropped them in a box. Then Ivy pressed
12:28one into my hand that morning and lowered my voice. It's not just a note this time. He's here. Side
12:32entrance.
12:33Says he won't leave until you come out. I clenched my fist and walked out. I didn't notice the figure
12:38that followed from the far end of the courtyard. Brad was standing at the gate. You finally came.
12:42You should be calling me Mrs. Valerius. I said. He paused. Mrs. Valerius. Do you have any idea
12:47how many times you've put me in an impossible position with these meetings? I just wanted to tell
12:52you I'll be securing more power in the pack. Soon I won't need Chloe's father backing me anymore. He
12:58stepped closer. I'll buy a house, Leah. Come with me. Anything's better than staying
13:02with a dying man. He reached for me. I stepped back. You want me as your mistress? I laughed.
13:08Why would I give up being the Alpha's mate to be your mistress? The whole pack knows Case is dying.
13:12He won't last. And he can't even get hard anymore. His eyes drop deliberately to my chest. Isn't that
13:18a waste? I will never be anyone's mistress. Those injuries are his honor. You've benefited from every
13:24battle he won and you're standing here calling him less of a man? You're the one who's less. Come near
13:30me
13:30again and every note you've sent goes straight to Chloe. How do you think that ends for you?
13:36His face went white. I swung the gate shut. I turned around and came face to face with Case.
13:42White shirt standing less than half a foot away, his full height bearing down on me.
13:46I managed. Alpha. A faint edge flickered across his expression. Wasn't it my mate just a moment ago?
13:54Why so formal all of a sudden? Please don't misunderstand. As long as I'm in this estate,
13:59I honor this bond completely. I looked down and started walking. Fast. It's getting late. I
14:05should go make your evening meal. His eyes were deep and unreadable. One tilt forward and our lips
14:22would have touched. His breath hit my face. Warm. My breath hitched. Heat pooled low in my core. Case
14:29swallowed hard. As long as I remain in this estate. Each word slow. Deliberate. Are you counting down
14:35the days until you can leave? I couldn't exactly tell him I'll leave the day you die. No. Nothing
14:42like that. Alpha. I shifted in his grip. You're hurting my arm. Did you mean every word you said
14:48just now? I blinked and asked which part. Which part? He let out a quiet breath and released me. I
14:54bolted
14:55and I noticed, for the first time, his face had actual color in it. His cheeks were just as red
15:00as mine. That night, I had a strange dream. Case's lips grazed slowly along my cheek. His fingers
15:06hooked into the strap of my slip, voice dropping to a low murmur. Does my luna want this? I nodded
15:12like
15:12someone completely under a spell. Then a fierce, consuming kiss caught my lips and wouldn't let go.
15:17I jolted awake in a tangle of sheets. Heart still hammering. Breathless. Ivy knocked and came in. I asked
15:22her to bring a basin of cold water. She stared at my sweat damp hair and murmured,
15:26It really is getting hotter. I splashed cold water onto my face and then it hit me that first night.
15:31Case. Cold shower. Surely he hadn't also been, no, impossible. He was injured and recovering. He was
15:36supposed to be keeping himself calm. At midday, Martha's attendant arrived. Martha would like dinner
15:40in the garden tonight. She asks that you be sure to come. I'd been making excuses to avoid the main
15:45dining hall for days just to steer clear of Case. But Martha had gone out of her way to personally
15:50extend the invitation. I couldn't say no. I stepped into the garden. A sprawling rose of Sharon was in
15:54full bloom. A gust of wind shook loose. A handful of deep crimson petals drifting down onto the stone
16:00table. Martha smiled and gestured for me to say, Case mentioned it's your birthday today.
16:05He's the one who asked the kitchen to prepare all of this. I looked up and met a pair of
16:09burning,
16:10intent eyes. Heat rushed straight to my face. Case slid a plate of chestnut cake in front of me
16:16without changing his expression. My birth mother died bringing me into the world. How did you know
16:20today was my birthday? I'd completely forgotten it myself. No one had ever once marked the day for me.
16:26It's not difficult to know it. Something in my chest gave one quiet, inexplicable pull.
16:31Leah, this peach blossom wine is from my private reserve. I'm opening it just for you. But you
16:38two had better not drink too much. She pushed back her chair, said the summer evening breeze was too much
16:43for her old bones and left. The garden went quiet. To avoid the silence, I put my head down and
16:49drank.
16:49One cup, then another, then another. The wine was sweet and dangerously potent. Before long,
16:54the edges of everything had gone soft and blurry. Case watched me, but said nothing. By the third glass,
16:59I'd stopped feeling the awkward silence. By the fourth, I'd stopped feeling much of anything.
17:04I reached across the table toward the last piece of chestnut cake. Where's the last piece?
17:09Case? I looked up. I ate it. I have absolutely no idea where the boldness came from. I leaned
17:14straight toward his face. Who told you to eat that? Spit it back out? I pressed against his chest,
17:20trying to peer into his mouth. You won't find it that way. Case looked down at me, perfectly calm.
17:24Then how am I supposed to find it? I straightened up and stared at him. A faint flush crept across
17:29his
17:29cheeks. Try using your mouth. My gaze drifted to his slightly redden lips. I swallowed once and kissed him
17:35without hesitation. Case went rigid, his breathing lurching unsteady. Then control shifted. His hand
17:40cupped the back of my head and he pressed in deeper, harder. Alpha, the night air is cool. Lady
17:47Martha asked me to bring you both a wrap. Neither of us pulled away until footsteps sounded from behind
17:52the flower bed. I had no idea how much Ivy'd seen. I shot to my feet and the next instant
17:56the world tilted.
17:57Everything went dark. When I woke up with a splitting headache, it was already morning.
18:01I suddenly remembered I'd promised Martha to visit Case's father's grave. It was late.
18:07I started rushing around for my things. Leah, don't worry. The driver is still getting the car ready.
18:14Ivy, was it you who brought me back last night? No, the Alpha carried you back. I spun around to
18:19check
18:20her face. She nodded, completely serious. I didn't say anything stupid, did I? Ivy bit back a smile. Well,
18:26the Alpha set you down on the bed and you grabbed his sleeve and wouldn't let go. You kept calling
18:30my
18:31mate over and over until his whole face went red. Ivy, don't you dare make things up. She covered her
18:38mouth laughing and ran out. I met Martha at the front entrance. Case's father's grave was on a hillside
18:44just beyond the pack territory. I sat in the back of the car, completely distracted, replaying the moment
18:49I'd kissed Case last night. Martha must have misread my expression. Leah, is there someone you have
18:56feelings for? I've noticed you've been avoiding Case these past few days. Please don't be upset with me
19:04for pushing you two together at dinner last night. I thought if the two of you couldn't be mates, you
19:09could at least be friends. But if you're uncomfortable or if you want to leave, just say. I'll have him
19:16sever the
19:16bond. I won't let you be trapped here. Mom, no, it's not that. I was thinking about something else.
19:22What is it? I was still figuring out how to answer when the car lurched. The engine screamed. The car
19:28swung hard with tires off the road crashing through brush, the whole frame shaking. I grabbed Martha and
19:34looked at the driver, slumped over the wheel, unconscious, no one to hit the brakes. But straight
19:39ahead. Martha grabbed my arms. Leah, what do we do? We jump now. But if we hurt you now, we'll
19:46be hurt.
19:47We'll die if we don't. Hold on to me. I wrapped myself around her and we threw ourselves clear the
19:51instant the wheels left solid ground. We hit the cliff edge and went over. My hand shot and caught a
19:58roof jutting from the water face. My other hand locked around Martha's wrist. Below her was a straight drop
20:03into nothing. Mom, don't look down. Hold on to me. Ivy and the others are right behind us in the
20:11second
20:12car. They'll be here soon. The root groaned under our weight. Let me go. We're too heavy. It's going to
20:19snap. I'm old. I've lived my life. You have to keep living yours. Mom, I would rather die with you
20:28than watch you fall. Hold on. They're coming. My arms are going down. The pain had gone so deep it
20:34had
20:34stopped feeling like pain at all. Leah, don't move. I'm coming down. He climbed down the cliff face. A
20:40strong arm came under me. He'd called me by my name the first time. He untied the rope from his
20:47own
20:47body and looped it around my waist, then climbed down further and did the same for Martha. The people
20:51above pulled together. We came up one at a time. It wasn't a hallucination. Case had saved us.
20:58He held me, brow creased. Why is there so much blood? Martha clutched her face, sobbing. She shielded
21:05me when we jumped. I didn't get a scratch. It's all hers. My eyelids felt like lead.
21:19Leah, don't sleep. I'm taking you to Ella. He lifted me into the car and I stayed curled against
21:24his chest. His forehead was damp with sweat. He kept one hand on the wheel and kept talking.
21:28Leah, stay awake. I'll get you chestnut cake. I'll give you all the jewelry you want to sell.
21:34You don't have to wait for me to die. I'll write the bond release today. You can leave whenever you
21:41want. My chest kept clenching. Something wet hit my face. I looked up at the sky through the windshield.
21:47It wasn't raining.
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