The Alpha's Mate Is Way Too Irresistible is a thrilling paranormal romance that dives into the world of werewolves, destiny, and irresistible attraction. A young woman discovers that the man destined to be her mate is the powerful Alpha of a wolf pack, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. But their bond comes with dangerous consequences as rivalries and secrets threaten their love. Can they fight against the forces that want to tear them apart, or will their love be their downfall?
#ParanormalRomance #AlphaMate #WerewolfRomance #FantasyDrama #ForbiddenLove #DestinedToBe #AlphaAndMate #SupernaturalLove #RomanticFantasy #NewRelease #FantasySeries #PackLeader #UnbreakableBond
#ParanormalRomance #AlphaMate #WerewolfRomance #FantasyDrama #ForbiddenLove #DestinedToBe #AlphaAndMate #SupernaturalLove #RomanticFantasy #NewRelease #FantasySeries #PackLeader #UnbreakableBond
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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,
00:07so she arranged for me to be mate of a dying man alpha case.
00:11She walked me to the door, guilt written across her face.
00:14Sure, case's injury means he can't get hard.
00:17At least you'll be spared the agony of bearing pups.
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,
00:40was carried back from the battlefield in blood.
00:42His mother Martha had already lost her mate.
00:45Now 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.
00:56I 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.
01:13Parading your body in front of every male in this pack?
01:15Which one of them wouldn't catch your scent and lose his mind?
01:18It'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.
01:30Just-
01:31Leah, 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.
01:43But the maid burst in breathless.
01:45Miss Chloe, word from the Valerius Estate.
01:48Alpha 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.
02:02Chloe.
02:03She clasped Chloe's hand.
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.
02:16Her 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.
02:23No 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.
02:48She'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.
02:58I first saw him through the offense gaps, thin wrist hollow cheeks hunched over a cracked
03:02bowl with nothing in it.
03:04I started passing food through the gaps, bread first, then soup, then whatever I had, day
03:08after day.
03:09I watched him change.
03:10The hollows in his cheeks filled out.
03:11His shoulders broadened.
03:12He started training before dawn, running laps around the back wall while I was still half
03:17asleep.
03:17When he passed, I went to find him that same night.
03:19I was happy-
03:20Leah, I'm betrothed now.
03:23It 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.
03:53She walked me to the door.
03:54Even though Case can't get hard, at 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 housewife.
04:10Case was too weak to stand through the full maid blessing ritual.
04:13I completed the bond rites beside a ceremonial sword instead.
04:16Martha watched from the front, eyes wet the whole time.
04:18When it was done, I was alpha Case's maid.
04:20The mating chamber was quiet.
04:22I pushed the door open carefully.
04:23Case was already inside, half reclined against the headboard and a white bathrobe collar open at the throat.
04:28Face pale but composed.
04:29He turned when he heard me.
04:31I 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.
04:40I'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.
04:46Before the ritual, one of the older maids had pulled me aside and pressed something into my hands.
04:50There are other ways between mates.
04:53You might find it useful.
04:55I had no idea what she meant until I opened it.
04:57Heat pooled in my core just from looking at the pages.
05:00Is 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.
05:10Then wash up and rest.
05:12He 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.
05:24The thin fabric clung to every curve.
05:25Heavy breasts straining against the cloth.
05:27Slim waist giving way to the flare of my hips.
05:30I'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.
05:40His throat worked as he swallowed.
05:42I grabbed my outer robe and pressed it against my chest.
05:45Alpha, I thought you were asleep.
05:47A long pause.
05:48Low, restrained, like he was holding something back.
05:51I could sleep later.
05:52My breath hitched.
05:54He 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.
06:02Somehow falling into the same rhythm as his.
06:04Then Case turned and walked to the door.
06:06The moment cool night air rushed in, I snapped back to my senses.
06:10He'd already disappeared into the darkness.
06:12I turned it over in my mind.
06:14When he looked at me just now, his eyes had flashed with something unmistakably like shock.
06:19Had my figure actually frightened him?
06:21Before 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.
06:33He'd apparently gone to shower.
06:35By morning, he was already gone.
06:37Ivy came in to help me dress.
06:39From the corridor outside came the sound of a man sneezing.
06:42Once, then again, then a third time.
06:44Martha's headmaid's voice carried clearly through the door.
06:48Alpha Case, why didn't you call someone to heat the water?
06:51It's already summer, but the nights are still cold.
06:54Of 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?
07:01I honestly don't know, miss.
07:04I dismissed her and locked the door.
07:07I 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 her, his eyes glistening.
07:35Sweet girl, our Case is lucky to have you.
07:38The warmth faded from her face.
07:39A quiet bitterness crept into her voice.
07:42The pack healer says the injury drained his life force.
07:45There'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.
07:54But 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,
08:15chest tight with an ache I couldn't name.
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.
08:25I never imagined she would think this far ahead on my behalf.
08:28My thoughts drifted to the mother I had never known.
08:31If 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.
08:38I've gone and made you cry too.
08:40Leah, there's no need to be so formal.
08:42Call me mom, just like Case does.
08:44She squeezed my hands.
08:46Sweetheart, 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.
09:01I nodded.
09:02I 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
09:16and prepared medicinal meals for him every day to rebuild his strength.
09:20Only the two of us ever knew about it.
09:21From the looks of things, he was the one who told Chloe,
09:23just to get me driven out.
09:24The lengths he had gone to were truly something.
09:26I carried the steaming soup to the bedroom
09:28and 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.
09:40It makes more sense for me to move.
09:42His sharply handsome face didn't shift so much as a fraction.
09:45At least eat first.
09:50You 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,
10:07said a few words to the servants,
10:09and swept past me.
10:10In that moment, I confirmed one thing.
10:12Alpha Case couldn't stand the sight of me.
10:14I followed his instructions
10:16and had Ivy deliver his daily healing meals to the study from then on.
10:20The pack healer says Case's condition has stabilized significantly.
10:24I 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,
10:32which had been slowly filling with pieces
10:34Martha had gifted me since my arrival.
10:36Leah, you never wear any of these.
10:38Isn't it a waste to just put them away?
10:42How is it a waste?
10:44Every one of these can be converted to cash.
10:46That's my security fund.
10:48But Lady Martha gave these to you personally.
10:50Are you really going to sell all of them?
10:53Not right now.
10:55But if the mate bond is ever severed,
10:57naturally I'd sell them and keep the money on hand.
10:59Ivy's expression shifted to pure bewilderment.
11:02As she turned away, she dropped her voice to a murmur.
11:05Alpha.
11:07I spun around and met a pair of ink-dark eyes.
11:10Case looked worse than ever.
11:12Case's face was even paler than before.
11:14His gaze was sharp and cutting,
11:15fixed on me with cold precision.
11:17The look unsettled me completely,
11:19but I didn't dare let a single trace of it show.
11:21Alpha, is there something you need?
11:23A journal.
11:24We looked together.
11:25I checked the shelves.
11:26He checked the writing desk.
11:28Neither of us spoke.
11:29I spotted the journal pushed to the very back of the top shelf
11:32behind a row of my mother's medical notes.
11:34I reached up on my toes.
11:35My fingertips just grazed the cover.
11:37Case's hand came over mine.
11:39Warm.
11:40Steady.
11:40He reached past me without effort
11:42and closed his hand around the journal.
11:44I turned my head.
11:45His face was right there.
11:47Closer than I'd realized.
11:49He was looking down at me.
11:50Then I lost my footing and pitched straight into him.
11:53My heavy breasts hit his chest first.
11:55My waist went straight into his palm,
11:57his hand catching me before he could react.
11:59Case didn't step back.
12:00His ear tips went red.
12:02His throat worked as he swallowed.
12:03When he exhaled,
12:04the breath came out uneven against the top of my head.
12:06I scrambled upright,
12:08face burning.
12:08Your journal.
12:09He took it without a word and walked out.
12:11Perfect.
12:12My standing in his eyes had just sunk even lower.
12:14After that day,
12:15I made every effort to avoid crossing paths with Case.
12:18He was injured and recovering.
12:20He needed to stay calm.
12:21But there was one more thing bothering me.
12:23Brad had been sending notes three times already.
12:25I hadn't opened a single one.
12:26Just dropped them in a box.
12:27Then Ivy pressed one into my hand that morning
12:29and lowered my voice.
12:30It's not just a note this time.
12:31He's here.
12:32Side entrance.
12:33Says he won't leave until you come out.
12:35I clenched my fist and walked out.
12:37I didn't notice the figure that followed
12:38from the far end of the courtyard.
12:40Brad was standing at the gate.
12:41You finally came.
12:42You should be calling me Mrs. Valerius.
12:44I said.
12:45He paused.
12:45Mrs. Valerius.
12:46Do you have any idea
12:48how many times you've put me
12:50in an impossible position with these meetings?
12:52I just wanted to tell you
12:53I'll be securing more power in the pack.
12:55Soon I won't need Chloe's father backing me anymore.
12:58He stepped closer.
12:59I'll buy a house, Leah.
13:00Come with me.
13:01Anything's better than staying with a dying man.
13:03He reached for me.
13:04I stepped back.
13:05You want me as your mistress?
13:07I laughed.
13:08Why would I give up being the Alpha's mate
13:10to be your mistress?
13:11The whole pack knows Case is dying.
13:13He won't last.
13:14And he can't even get hard anymore.
13:16His eyes drop deliberately to my chest.
13:19Isn't that a waste?
13:20I will never be anyone's mistress.
13:21Those injuries are his honor.
13:24You've benefited from every battle he won
13:26and you're standing here calling him less of a man?
13:28You're the one who's less.
13:30Come near me again
13:31and every note you've sent
13:32goes straight to Chloe.
13:34How do you think?
13:35That ends for you.
13:36His face went white.
13:37I swung the gate shut.
13:39I turned around
13:41and came face to face with Case.
13:42White shirt standing less than half a foot away,
13:45his full height bearing down on me.
13:47I managed.
13:48Alpha.
13:49A faint edge flickered across his expression.
13:52Wasn't it
13:53my mate just a moment ago?
13:55Why so formal all of a sudden?
13:56Please don't misunderstand.
13:58As long as I'm in this estate,
13:59I honor this bond
14:01completely.
14:02I looked down
14:03and started walking.
14:04Fast.
14:05It's getting late.
14:05I should go make your evening meal.
14:07I moved step past him.
14:08His hand closed around the mirror.
14:10I lost my foot and I pitched straight into him.
14:12My heavy breath against his chest.
14:14My waist caught in his breath.
14:16I looked up.
14:17His face was inches from mine.
14:18His eyes were deep and unreadable.
14:21One tilt forward
14:22and our lips would have touched.
14:23His breath hit my face.
14:25Warm.
14:26My breath hitched.
14:27Heat pooled low in my core.
14:29Case swallowed hard.
14:31As long as I remain in this estate.
14:33Each word slow.
14:34Deliberate.
14:35Are you counting down the days
14:37until you can leave?
14:38I couldn't exactly tell him
14:40I'll leave the day you die.
14:41No.
14:42Nothing like that.
14:44Alpha.
14:44I shifted in his grip.
14:46You're hurting my arm.
14:47Did you mean every word you said just now?
14:49I blinked and asked which part.
14:51Which part?
14:52He let out a quiet breath
14:54and released me.
14:55I bolted
14:55and I noticed
14:56for the first time
14:57his face had actual color in it.
14:59His cheeks were just as red as mine.
15:02That night
15:02I had a strange dream.
15:04Case's lips grazed slowly along my cheek.
15:06His fingers hooked into the strap of my slip
15:08voice dropping to a low murmur.
15:10Does my Luna want this?
15:11I nodded like someone
15:13completely under a spell.
15:14Then a fierce consuming kiss
15:15caught my lips
15:16and wouldn't let go.
15:17I jolted awake
15:18in a tangle of sheets.
15:19Heart still hammering.
15:20Breathless.
15:21Ivy knocked and came in.
15:22I asked her to bring
15:23a basin of cold water.
15:24She stared at my sweat damp hair
15:26and murmured
15:26It really is getting hotter.
15:28I splashed cold water
15:29onto my face
15:30and then it hit me
15:31that first night.
15:31Case.
15:32Cold shower.
15:32Surely he hadn't also been
15:34no impossible.
15:35He was injured and recovering.
15:36He was supposed to be
15:37keeping himself calm.
15:38At midday
15:38Martha's attendant arrived.
15:40Martha would like dinner
15:41in the garden tonight.
15:42She asks that you be sure to come.
15:44I'd been making excuses
15:45to avoid the main dining hall
15:46for days
15:47just to steer clear of Case.
15:48But Martha had gone out of her way
15:50to personally extend the invitation.
15:51I couldn't say no.
15:52I stepped into the garden.
15:53A sprawling rose of Sharon
15:55was in full bloom.
15:56A gust of wind shook loose.
15:57A handful of deep crimson petals
15:59drifting down
15:59onto the stone table.
16:01Martha smiled
16:02and gestured for me to say
16:03Case mentioned
16:03it's your birthday today.
16:05He's the one who asked
16:06the kitchen to prepare
16:07all of this.
16:08I looked up
16:09and met a pair of burning
16:10intent eyes.
16:12Heat rushed straight
16:13to my face.
16:14Case slid a plate
16:15of chestnut cake
16:16in front of me
16:16without changing his expression.
16:18My birth mother
16:18died bringing me
16:19into the world.
16:20How did you know
16:21today was my birthday?
16:22I'd completely
16:23forgotten it myself.
16:24No one had ever
16:25once marked the day for me.
16:26It's not difficult
16:27to know it.
16:28Something in my chest
16:29gave one quiet
16:31inexplicable pull.
16:32Leah,
16:32this peach blossom wine
16:34is from my private reserve.
16:36I'm opening it
16:36just for you.
16:38But you two
16:39had better not drink
16:40too much.
16:40She pushed back
16:41her chair,
16:42said the summer evening
16:43breeze was too much
16:44for her old bones
16:45and left.
16:46The garden went quiet.
16:47To avoid the silence
16:48I put my head down
16:49and drank.
16:50One cup,
16:50then another,
16:51then another.
16:52The wine was sweet
16:52and dangerously potent.
16:54Before long,
16:54the edges of everything
16:55had gone soft and blurry.
16:56Case watched me
16:57but said nothing.
16:58By the third glass
16:59I'd stopped feeling
17:00the awkward silence.
17:01By the fourth
17:02I'd stopped feeling
17:03much of anything.
17:05I reached across the table
17:06toward the last piece
17:07of chestnut cake.
17:08Where's the last piece?
17:10I looked up.
17:10I ate it.
17:11I have absolutely
17:12no idea
17:13where the boldness came from.
17:14I leaned straight
17:15toward his face.
17:16Who told you to eat that?
17:18Spit it back out?
17:19I pressed against his chest
17:20trying to peer
17:21into his mouth.
17:21You won't find it that way.
17:23Case looked down
17:23at me perfectly calm.
17:25Then how am I
17:25supposed to find it?
17:26I straightened up
17:27and stared at him.
17:28A faint flush
17:29crept across his cheeks.
17:30Try using your mouth.
17:30My gaze drifted
17:31to his slightly redden lips.
17:33I swallowed once
17:34and kissed him
17:35without hesitation.
17:37Case went rigid
17:37his breathing
17:38lurching unsteady.
17:39Then control shifted.
17:41His hand cupped
17:41the back of my head
17:42and he pressed in deeper.
17:44Harder.
17:45Alpha
17:45The night air is cool.
17:47Lady Martha asked me
17:48to bring you both a wrap.
17:50Neither of us
17:50pulled away
17:51until footsteps
17:51sounded from behind
17:52the flower bed.
17:53I had no idea
17:54how much I'd seen.
17:55I shot to my feet
17:56and the next instant
17:57the world tilted.
17:58Everything went dark.
17:59When I woke up
17:59with a splitting headache
18:00it was already morning.
18:01I suddenly remembered
18:03I'd promised Michael
18:04to visit Case's father's grave.
18:06It was late.
18:07I started rushing around
18:08for my things.
18:10Leah, don't worry.
18:11The driver is still
18:12getting the car ready.
18:14Ivy,
18:16was it you
18:16who brought me back
18:17last night?
18:18No.
18:18The Alpha carried you back.
18:19I spun around
18:20to check her face.
18:21She nodded,
18:22completely serious.
18:23I didn't say anything stupid,
18:24did I?
18:25Ivy bit back a smile.
18:26Well,
18:27the Alpha set you down
18:28on the bed
18:28and you grabbed his sleeve
18:29and wouldn't let go.
18:30You kept calling
18:31my mate
18:32over and over
18:33until his whole face
18:35went red.
18:36Ivy,
18:37don't you dare
18:37make things up!
18:38She covered her mouth
18:39laughing and ran out.
18:41I met Martha
18:41at the front entrance.
18:43Case's father's grave
18:44was on a hillside
18:45just beyond
18:45the pack territory.
18:46I sat in the back
18:47of the car,
18:48completely distracted,
18:49replaying the moment
18:50I'd kissed Case last night.
18:52Martha must have
18:53misread my expression.
18:54Leah,
18:55is there someone
18:56you have feelings for?
18:57I've noticed
18:58you've been avoiding
18:59Case these past few days.
19:01Please,
19:01this Farnas Kissening,
19:03please don't be upset
19:04with me for pushing
19:05you two together
19:06at dinner last night.
19:07I thought if the two of you
19:09couldn't be mates,
19:10you could at least
19:10be friends.
19:11But if you're uncomfortable
19:13or if you want to leave,
19:15just say.
19:16I'll have him
19:16sever the bond.
19:17I won't let you
19:18be trapped here.
19:19Mom,
19:20no,
19:20it's not that.
19:21I was thinking
19:21about something else.
19:22What is it?
19:23I was still figuring out
19:25how to answer
19:26when the car lurched.
19:27The engine screamed.
19:29The car swung hard
19:30with tires off the road
19:31crashing through brush,
19:32the whole frame shaking.
19:33I grabbed Martha
19:34and looked at the driver,
19:35slumped over the wheels,
19:36unconscious,
19:37no one to hit the brakes.
19:39I had a lift,
19:40straight ahead.
19:40Martha grabbed my arm.
19:42Leah,
19:42what do we do?
19:44We jump now.
19:45Whatever hurt you now
19:46will be hurt.
19:47We'll die if we don't.
19:49Hold on to me.
19:50I wrapped myself around her
19:51and we threw ourselves clear
19:52the instant the wheels
19:53left solid ground.
19:54We hit the cliff edge
19:55and went over it.
19:57My hand shut out
19:57and caught a root
19:58shut out in the walk face.
20:00My other hand locked
20:01around Martha's wrist.
20:02Below her was a straight drop
20:04into nothing.
20:07Mom,
20:08don't look down.
20:09Hold on to me.
20:10Ivy and the others
20:11are right behind us
20:12in the second car.
20:13They'll be here soon.
20:14The root groaned
20:15under our weight.
20:17Let me go.
20:18We're too heavy.
20:19It's going to snap.
20:20I'm old.
20:21I've lived my life.
20:23You have to keep
20:24living yours.
20:26Mom,
20:27I would rather die
20:28with you
20:29than watch you fall.
20:30Hold on.
20:31They're coming.
20:32My arms are going down.
20:33The pain had gone so deep
20:34it had stopped
20:35feeling like pain at all.
20:37Leah,
20:38don't move.
20:38I'm coming down.
20:39He climbed down
20:40the cliff face.
20:41A strong arm
20:41came under me.
20:43He'd called me
20:44by my name
20:45the first time.
20:46He untied the rope
20:47from his own body
20:48and looped it around
20:48my waist.
20:49Then climbed down further
20:50and did the same
20:51for Martha.
20:51The people above
20:53pulled together.
20:54We came up
20:54one at a time.
20:55It wasn't a hallucination.
20:57Case had saved us.
20:58He held me,
20:59brow creased.
21:01Why is there
21:02so much blood?
21:02Martha clutched
21:03her face,
21:04sobbing.
21:04She shielded me
21:05when we jumped.
21:07I didn't get a scratch.
21:09It's all hers.
21:12My eyelids felt like lead.
21:19Leah,
21:20don't sleep.
21:21I'm taking you to Ella.
21:22He lifted me into the car
21:23and I stayed curled
21:24against his chest.
21:25His forehead was damp
21:26with sweat.
21:26He kept one hand
21:27on the wheel
21:28and kept talking.
21:29Leah,
21:30stay awake.
21:31I'll get you chestnut cake.
21:33I'll give you all the jewelry
21:34you want to sell.
21:35You don't have to wait
21:36for me to die.
21:38I'll write the bond release today.
21:40You can leave
21:41whenever you want.
21:42My chest kept clenching.
21:44Something wet
21:45hit my face.
21:46I looked up at the sky
21:47through the windshield.
21:48It wasn't raining.
21:49It wasn't raining.
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