- 8 hours ago
I was born with huge breasts - FULL EP 2026
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born with huge breasts, yet I was the Dark Knight pack's lowest-ranking Omega.
00:06When Angelina caught her fiancé staring at me,
00:10she sold me to the Iron Howl pack's Alpha, a man left half-dead by war.
00:17Riker is ruined down there, but maybe he's still useful in other ways.
00:24Months later, I was the one begging for mercy.
00:29Every. Single. Night.
00:35Ruin down there? Not even close.
00:41Alpha Riker Ironhawa was carried back from the Northern Front,
00:45drouched in blood, barely breathing.
00:48The pack's seer gave her one desperate option, a blood oath.
00:53Find an Omega, use her blood and a Moonlight Vow.
00:56Fuse their fates together to keep his dying soul tethered to this world.
01:01When word reached the shadow pack, Angelina jumped at the chance.
01:06She couldn't wait to get rid of me.
01:08I was a ticking time bomb to her.
01:11Say no, and I'll sell you to that old Alpha up north.
01:16He loves breaking worthless Omegas like you.
01:19I knew exactly why she hated me.
01:22She had found out about my past, with Silas, her new fiancé.
01:26I opened my mouth to defend myself, to tell her I wrapped my chest so tight my ribs bruised,
01:31that I bound myself even in the blistering summer heat, but a guard burst through the heavy doors.
01:39Lady Angelana, riders from the Ironhowl pack are here.
01:43They say Alpha Riker is awake.
01:47Angelina hauled me straight into the Ironhowl estate,
01:51in the massive bedroom.
01:54He lay completely still.
01:56Muffled, agonizing coughs broke the silence.
01:59A faint metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.
02:04Lady Grace clutched Angelina's hands, tears streaming down her face.
02:09Thank you for everything, Angelina.
02:12But he's awake now.
02:14We don't need the blood oath anymore.
02:17Lady Grace, the contract must go on.
02:20Why?
02:21Amelia is blessed by the goddess.
02:24Think about it.
02:25The second she agreed, Ryan woke up.
02:27If we finish the bond, your Alpha might fully recover.
02:31Lady Grace cast a hesitant glance at me.
02:34Just then, the pack healer stepped out of the bedroom.
02:38He looked at her, struggling to speak.
02:41My lady, the Alpha.
02:43Spit it out.
02:44There are no outsiders here.
02:46He is awake, but his wolf is shattered.
02:48I fear he will never shift again.
02:50He might not even be able to claim a mate.
02:53Claim a mate.
02:54For an Alpha, being unable to mark meant one thing.
02:58The pack was cut off from the goddess's blessing.
03:02There would be no pure blood air.
03:04The words dropped like a bomb.
03:07Lady Grace's knees buckled.
03:08I quickly reached out and supported her.
03:11She looked at me, her eyes completely broken.
03:14Child, are you still willing to marry my son?
03:18I swear I will never mistreat you.
03:20You can just be a daughter to me.
03:22Angelina answered before I could even breathe.
03:25She will.
03:26She absolutely will!
03:28A wolfless orphan Omega?
03:30Marrying into the Iron Hall pack is the luckiest day of her miserable life.
03:35I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
03:38I wasn't always a nobody.
03:39My father was Lucian, the Shadow Pack's healer.
03:43When he died, I was left with nothing.
03:45The man we'd funded for years.
03:48Silas threw silver over his door and never looked back.
03:52Debt collectors came for me.
03:54Grand Elder Damon bought my papers out of pity and made me a slave.
03:58And Silas?
04:00He became Angelina's fiancé.
04:02I pretended I didn't know him.
04:05I kept my head down and served Angelina.
04:08But eventually, she found out.
04:11I stopped fighting my fate.
04:13I stepped forward, lifted my skirt, and dropped to my knees before Lady Grace.
04:19My lady, I will do it.
04:21I will marry Alpha Ryer and bind myself to the blood oath.
04:25Lady Grace kept her word.
04:27She oversaw every detail of my wedding dress herself.
04:31Angelina specifically picked a day Silas was away to ship me off.
04:35She shoved my debt papers into my hand, a guilty smirk on her face.
04:39I know Ryder is ruined down there.
04:42But look on the bright side.
04:44You'll never have to suffer through childbirth.
04:46And who knows?
04:48A crippled Alpha might compensate in other ways.
04:51I blocked her out.
04:53To me, I was just swapping one master for another.
04:56The carriage stopped before the moon goddess statue in Iron Hell territory.
05:00The entire pack was gathered.
05:03Alpha Ryer was too weak to stand.
05:05I swore my vows to his heavy broadsword.
05:07The pack oracle dragged a bone laid across my palm,
05:11squeezed my blood onto an ancient parchment,
05:14sealed the blood oath.
05:15When I pushed open the heavy oak doors to his bedroom,
05:18Ryok was propped up against the headboard.
05:20He wore a dark robe.
05:22His face ghost pale.
05:24Alpha.
05:25He turned his head.
05:27I froze.
05:28He was devastatingly handsome.
05:31A sharp jawline, deep-set features.
05:34But his eyes.
05:36Deep, amber eyes that stared right through me.
05:39His voice was a low, gravelly rasp.
05:42Amelia.
05:43I have no intention of getting a wife.
05:46If you don't mind, we will live as brother and sister.
05:49Tonight's ceremony was my mother's idea.
05:52She's terrified rival packs will sense my...
05:55condition.
05:56And attack.
05:57You can take the lounge for tonight.
05:59I'll have a guest room prepared for you tomorrow.
06:01I didn't know what to say.
06:04I finally nodded.
06:06Okay.
06:07Riker looked relieved.
06:09He pulled the heavy blankets up and turned away.
06:12Get some rest.
06:14Soon, his breathing steadished.
06:16I walked to the vanity, pulled off the crown, and loosened my hair.
06:19I unbuttoned my wedding dress.
06:21Silk piled at my feet.
06:22I looked at my reflection in the bronze mirror.
06:25Heavy curves.
06:26A waist so tiny it looked like it could snap.
06:29But there were also ugly, bruised welds from years of tight chest binding.
06:33I turned around, reaching for my nightgown, and I met Riker's eyes.
06:39He wasn't asleep.
06:41Those dark amber eyes were open, locked dead onto me.
06:45The fireplace cast flickering shadows over his face.
06:48He was completely flushed, his Adam's jankle bobbing hard.
06:52I snatched my dress off the floor, clutching it tightly against my chest.
06:57My voice trembled.
06:59You were supposed to be asleep!
07:02Silence.
07:03A long, heavy silence.
07:06When he finally spoke, his voice was an entire octave deeper.
07:10Rougher.
07:11Like he was suppressing a dark growl.
07:16I can sleep later.
07:19The heavy blanket slipped off his chest.
07:21He planted his feet firmly on the floor, and stood up without a single stumble.
07:26He was bare-chested.
07:28I stopped breathing.
07:30His torso was a roadmap of pure violence.
07:33A massive, jagged claw mark ripped diagonally across his chest.
07:38Round, dark arrow scar littered his abdomen.
07:41Every mark was a brutal testament to his legendary past.
07:45He took a step toward me.
07:48His massive shadow swallowed me whole.
07:51My legs trembled.
07:53Every instinct in my body screamed at me to run.
07:56I remembered the older omegas whispering about alphas.
07:59Right now, all those dirty whispers flooded my mind.
08:03Riker stood right in front of me, looking down.
08:06His gaze dragged from my face, down my neck,
08:08to the dress clutched against my chest,
08:11then slowly back up to my eyes.
08:13There was no disgust, no pity,
08:16only a dark, burning emotion I couldn't understand.
08:19Then, he turned on his heel,
08:22walked straight out the door.
08:24I stood there, my heart pounding out of my chest.
08:28I looked down at my bruised, bound ribs.
08:32I wanted to disappear.
08:34I walked back to the mirror,
08:37tracing the ugly purple indepts with my trembling fingers.
08:41I thought,
08:42tomorrow,
08:43I'll pull the bindings even tighter.
08:46I lay down on the Shea Lounge,
08:48pulling a thin blanket over myself,
08:49and closed my eyes.
08:51As I was half asleep,
08:52the door creaked open.
08:54Ryder was back.
08:56His hair was dripping wet.
08:57I felt him stand over the lounge,
09:00watching me for a long time.
09:03Then, a soft, ragged sigh,
09:06like wind rustling dead leaves.
09:08He got back into bed and didn't make another sound.
09:11The next morning,
09:12I woke up early.
09:14Ryder was already gone.
09:15I sat at the vanity,
09:17brushing my hair.
09:18Outside in the hallway,
09:19I heard an older servant's whispering,
09:21Alpha,
09:22if you needed to bathe,
09:24why didn't you ask for hot water?
09:27An ice-cold shower in your condition?
09:30Please, Alpha,
09:31you must take care of your body.
09:34My brush stopped midair.
09:36A cold shower?
09:38On his wedding night?
09:40I shook my head.
09:42Impossible.
09:44He was practically a corpse.
09:46I picked up the long strip of binding cloth,
09:50wrapped it around my chest,
09:53pulling it much tighter than yesterday.
09:56For my first month at the Iron Howell estate,
09:58Ryder completely avoided me.
10:00Every morning,
10:01I checked in with Lady Grace.
10:03Then,
10:04I headed straight to the kitchens
10:06to brew his healing medicine.
10:08It was one of the few ways
10:10I could make myself useful.
10:12My late father was the Shadow Packs healer.
10:15She had asked on my third day,
10:17her eyes holding desperate hope.
10:20I hear you know your way around herbal remedies.
10:23Ryder isn't healing.
10:25We've cycled through three pack-heapers
10:27with zero results.
10:29If you are willing.
10:32I am.
10:35I brewed his remedies every day
10:38using herbs I'd learned from my father.
10:41I delivered the very first bowl myself.
10:43I carried the wooden tray
10:46into his bedroom.
10:47He was leaning against the window,
10:50reading.
10:50The afternoon sun caught the edges
10:53of his brown hair,
10:54turning it to spun gold.
10:57The heavy door clicked.
10:59He looked up.
11:00The second our eyes locked,
11:02his pupils constricted,
11:03I whispered,
11:04using his formal title,
11:06Alpha,
11:06I brought your medicine.
11:09Ryden's gaze lingered on my face
11:11for a fraction of a second.
11:13Then it dropped to the steaming bowl.
11:15He said flatly,
11:17his voice completely attached,
11:19pure ice.
11:20Leave this to the servants from now on.
11:23I don't mind doing it.
11:25It's not the same.
11:26Have a maid bring it.
11:27He took the tray from my hands,
11:29downing the scalding brew
11:31in three massive gulps.
11:32Then he turned his back to me
11:34and went straight back to his book.
11:36I stood frozen by the door.
11:38The message was clear.
11:40He couldn't stand the sight of me.
11:43After that day,
11:44I handed the bowl to a maid.
11:46I never stepped foot
11:48in his bedroom again.
11:49A month passed.
11:51One morning,
11:52she grabbed my hands.
11:53Amelia,
11:54guess what?
11:55The pack healer
11:57just checked Riger's vitals.
11:58He said his body
12:00is actually repairing itself.
12:01He even asked
12:02if I hired a new physician.
12:05Child,
12:06this is all you're doing.
12:08I'm just doing my job, my lady.
12:10No.
12:11You did the impossible.
12:14Three pack healers
12:15and gallons of expensive tonnets
12:16did absolutely nothing.
12:18Your medicine saved him.
12:20She slipped an ancient,
12:21heavy silver bracelet off her wrist.
12:23It bore the iron howl crown.
12:26She pressed it into my palm.
12:29Riger's grandmother gave this to me.
12:31Now,
12:32it belongs to you.
12:34I couldn't refuse her.
12:36Back in my room,
12:38I locked the bracelet
12:39in a small wooden chest.
12:41It sat next to several other pieces
12:43Lady Grace had given me,
12:44several pieces of jewelry.
12:46Every single piece
12:48was worth a fortune.
12:49My maid watched me,
12:51stashed them away,
12:52totally confused.
12:54My lady,
12:55why don't you ever wear them?
12:57Lady Grace picked them out
12:58just for you.
13:00Because one day,
13:01I can pawn these for silver.
13:04You want to sell them?
13:06Not today.
13:07But if the day comes,
13:09when I finally have to leave this place,
13:11this is my escape fund.
13:14A deep voice echoed.
13:16Leave?
13:16I whipped around.
13:17Ryder was standing dead center
13:19in the doorway,
13:20looking even paler than usual,
13:22his amber eyes absolute ice.
13:24Alpha,
13:25do you need something?
13:26His gaze dropped from my face
13:28to the treasure box in my hands.
13:30Then he looked away.
13:32His voice was dangerously calm.
13:34I left some old belongings
13:35in this room.
13:36I came to get them.
13:38I can help you look, Alpha.
13:40What is it?
13:42A journal.
13:43Okay.
13:44Do you remember
13:45where you left it?
13:47No.
13:47I immediately started
13:49searching the cabinets.
13:51I spotted a worn leather journal
13:52pushed to the very back
13:54of the top shelf.
13:55I got up on my tiptoes
13:57to reach it.
13:58Just as my fingers
14:00brushed brush the spine,
14:02a massive hand
14:03covered mine.
14:04Ryder's bare skin
14:05scraped my knuckles.
14:07A violent jolt of electricity
14:09shot straight up my arm.
14:11I looked up.
14:13It was the closest
14:15I had ever been to his face.
14:17Up close,
14:18his dark eyes
14:19were mesmerizing.
14:23A razor-thin ring of gold
14:25circled his pupils.
14:26It was the deniable mark
14:28of Alpha blood.
14:29Even broken,
14:30even allegedly wolf-lip,
14:32that gold ring
14:33still burned fiercely,
14:35like a glowing ember
14:36refusing to die.
14:38My heart slammed
14:40against my ribs.
14:41Your journal, Alpha.
14:43I yanked my hand back,
14:45spinning around
14:46to step away,
14:47but the edge
14:48of the thick rug
14:48caught my heel.
14:49I pitched backward
14:52into empty space.
14:54Ryder caught me instantly.
14:57My back slammed flush
14:59against his hard chest.
15:00Even through my suffocating
15:02chest binding,
15:03I felt the raw heat
15:05radiating off his body.
15:06His heartbeat
15:07mammored against my spine,
15:09fast,
15:10wild.
15:11I pulled away.
15:13I...
15:13I need to go.
15:15I fled.
15:16I'm an idiot.
15:17He couldn't even stand
15:18the sight of me,
15:19and I just threw myself
15:21right into his arms.
15:22Now he was going
15:23to absolutely loathe me.
15:25Half a month went by,
15:26and a new nightmare started.
15:29Someone was leaving me notes.
15:31The first one was slipped
15:32under my fate chopping knife
15:33in the kitchen.
15:35A neatly folded piece
15:36of parchment.
15:37Just one line,
15:38meet me at the west gate.
15:40No signature,
15:41but I knew that handwriting.
15:43Simus.
15:44I crumpled it into a ball
15:46and tossed it straight
15:47into the roaring fireplace.
15:49The second note
15:50was slid under my bedroom door.
15:51This one was a lot bolder.
15:53I know you're suffering.
15:55A wolfless Omega
15:56is nothing in the iron howl pack.
15:58Riker won't even look at you,
16:00would he?
16:01I can give you a real life.
16:04I ripped the parchment to shreds
16:06and threw it in the trash.
16:08The third time,
16:09my maid shoved a note
16:10into my hand.
16:11She looked absolutely terrified.
16:15My lady,
16:16it's not just a note this time.
16:18There's a man at the west gate.
16:20He says he's not leaving
16:22until you show up.
16:23My knuckles turned bone white
16:24as I crushed the paper.
16:26I stormed out of my room,
16:28strode down the heavy stone corridor,
16:30and yanked open the west gate.
16:33A man was standing just outside.
16:35He murmured,
16:36pulling back his dark hood.
16:37His face was handsome,
16:39but completely soulless.
16:41Amelia,
16:41you finally came.
16:43My voice was absolute zero.
16:45Silas,
16:46you will address me as Lady Ironhow.
16:48He froze.
16:50Lady Ironhow,
16:52do you have any idea
16:53what happens if Alpha's mate
16:54is caught sneaking out
16:55to meet another man?
16:56I'm getting promoted.
16:58Eastern territory.
16:59Come with me.
17:01It's better than rotting here
17:03with a crippled Alpha.
17:04I took a sharp step back,
17:06staring at him with pure disgust.
17:08You want me to be your mistress?
17:09Simus nodded,
17:11totally serious.
17:13Why the hell would I throw away
17:14my title as the Alpha's wife
17:16just to be your dirty little secret?
17:19Everyone in the north
17:20knows Riker Ironhowl,
17:23has one foot in the grave.
17:24He's dying.
17:26He can't even claim a mate.
17:27And he can never give you
17:29what you actually need.
17:31His eyes dropped to my chest,
17:33even buried under layers
17:34of thick cobblik
17:35and suffocating binding.
17:37His gaze felt like a violation
17:38I could feel
17:39through every layer of cloth.
17:40A beautiful thing like you,
17:42it's a tragic waste.
17:44I know exactly what game
17:45you're playing, Simus.
17:47You owe me your life.
17:48Did you forget?
17:49My father kept you
17:50from starving for three years.
17:52When they shattered your leg
17:53in the fighting pits,
17:54I was the one
17:55banding your bones.
17:56But the one time
17:56I actually needed you,
17:58what did you do?
17:59You stood behind a locked door.
18:02You told me you were engaged
18:04to the Grand Elder's spoiled brat.
18:06And you threw a bag of silver
18:07over the wall.
18:09I never spent a single
18:10copper of that silver.
18:12It's buried under the old oak tree
18:14outside the shadow pack borders.
18:16If you want it back,
18:18go dig it up yourself.
18:21Just give me some time.
18:22I'll talk to Angelina.
18:23I'll convince her to let you...
18:25Let me what?
18:27Be your pathetic little side piece?
18:30Listen to me very carefully, Silas.
18:32I will never be any man's whore.
18:35Never set foot near this gate again.
18:37My husband is the Alpha
18:39of the Iron Howl Pack.
18:41The most dangerous territory
18:43in the North.
18:45If he finds out
18:46you've been stalking his wife,
18:49do you honestly think
18:50you'll live to see that promotion?
18:52You'd really choose
18:53a crippled freak over me?
18:55I glared at him,
18:57years of suppressed rage
18:58finally boiling over.
18:59My husband bled
19:00to protect this pack.
19:02His scars are his honor.
19:04As a wolf,
19:05you call yourself a warrior?
19:06A man sworn to defend?
19:08You have zero right
19:09to talk behind his back.
19:11In my eyes,
19:12he is a true Alpha.
19:13Unlike you.
19:14You might have a working body,
19:16Silas,
19:17but your soul is rottened.
19:19I slammed the heavy door
19:20right in his face.
19:22I spun around to walk away,
19:23except it wasn't a wall.
19:24It was a man.
19:27Ryder was standing
19:27barely half a step behind me.
19:29I had no idea
19:30how long he had been standing there.
19:33Alpha.
19:34He looked down at me.
19:36You were just calling me
19:38your husband out there.
19:39Why so formal now?
19:42Why so formal now?
19:44My heart skipped a violent beat.
19:48Alpha,
19:49please don't misunderstand.
19:50As long as I am in the Iron Howl pack,
19:53I know my place.
19:54I will never betray you.
19:59It's getting late.
20:01I need to brew your evening remedy.
20:02I tried to slip past him.
20:04As I brushed by,
20:05Ryken's hand shat out.
20:06His long fingers
20:07wrapping around my arm.
20:09I lost my balance
20:10and tumbled straight
20:11into his chest.
20:12I threw my head back,
20:13crashing right into Ryder's
20:15deep, smoldering gaze.
20:16We were inches apart.
20:17If either of us leaned in,
20:19our lips would touch.
20:21My cheeks burned like fire.
20:23I could feel his chest
20:24rising and falling,
20:25hard, irregular.
20:27What do you mean
20:28as long as I am
20:29in the Iron Howl pack?
20:32Are you counting down
20:33the days until you can leave?
20:35I couldn't exactly say
20:37I'm leaving the second you die.
20:39No.
20:40I didn't mean that.
20:42Alpha, you're hurting my arm.
20:46Everything you said to him
20:47out there,
20:49did you mean it?
20:51Which part?
20:52He released my arm
20:53and took half a step back.
20:54Like a terrified rabbit,
20:56I bolted.
20:57I saw his face,
20:59completely flushed.
21:03That night,
21:04I had a wildly inappropriate dream.
21:07In it,
21:08Ryak's lips brushed
21:08against my cheek.
21:09His finger hooked
21:10onto the delicate lace
21:11of my nightgown.
21:12He whispered
21:13a dark,
21:14seductive purr.
21:16My lady,
21:17do you want this?
21:19In the dream,
21:20I nodded.
21:21Then his mouth
21:22crashed down on mine.
21:23It was fierce,
21:25intoxicating,
21:26driven by a deep,
21:27feral hunger.
21:28His tongue
21:29forced my mouth open,
21:31claiming every inch of me
21:32like a conquered territory.
21:36Ryder.
21:37I jolted awake,
21:38my pulse racing.
21:39My heart was threatening
21:40to rip through my chest.
21:41My clothes were soaked in sweat,
21:43clinging to my skin.
21:44Deep in my core,
21:46a strange,
21:46humiliating heat
21:47throbbed relentlessly.
21:49My maid heard the rustling
21:50and pushed the door open.
21:53My lady,
21:54are you alright?
21:56Bring me a sounded,
21:57terrifying of cold rusky.
21:59She brought the water,
22:01staring at my damp hair
22:02and flushed cheeks.
22:04It really is getting too hot
22:05for this time of year.
22:06I splashed the freezing water
22:08onto my face.
22:10The brutal cold
22:12shocked me back to reality.
22:14On our wedding night,
22:15Ryder took a cold shower.
22:17Was he also?
22:20I shook my head violently.
22:22No.
22:23It was impossible.
22:25He was practically broken in half.
22:27Right around noon,
22:29Lady Grace's maid
22:30delivered a message.
22:31My lady,
22:33the matriarch is hosting dinner
22:34in the gardens tonight.
22:35She insists you attend.
22:38I had been claiming
22:39I was ill
22:40to avoid the main dining hall
22:41for days.
22:43I was terrified
22:44of running into Ryder again.
22:47Terrified of staring
22:48into those amber eyes
22:49that made my pulse race.
22:51But when Lady Grace
22:52personally asked,
22:54I couldn't say no.
22:56At twilight,
22:57I walked down
22:57into the estate gardens.
22:59The garden was small
23:00but elegant,
23:01dominated by a towering
23:03pomegranate tree
23:04in full bloom.
23:05Crimson petals drifted
23:07onto the stone table.
23:09The table was laden
23:10with all my favorite dishes.
23:12All my favorite.
23:14Lady Grace sat
23:15at the head of the table,
23:16beaming at me.
23:18She smiled warmly.
23:20Come, sit.
23:22Ryder had the kitchens
23:23prepare this just for you.
23:25I froze.
23:27My eyes darted
23:28across the table.
23:30Ryder was sitting
23:30right across from me.
23:31He wore a heavy,
23:33dark brown coat
23:34that made his sharp features
23:35look even more lethal
23:36in the twilight.
23:37He was staring down,
23:39quietly adjusting
23:40his silverware.
23:42He must have felt my gaze.
23:44He slowly lifted his eyes.
23:47The exact second
23:48our eyes locked,
23:49my face caught fire
23:51all over again.
23:52I quickly snapped my gaze
23:54down to my plate.
23:56Subtly,
23:56Lady Grace lit a small platter
23:58of chestnut cakes
23:59toward me.
24:00Ryder specifically sent a rider
24:02down to the southern markets
24:03for these.
24:05He told me they were
24:06your favorite.
24:07I slowly raised my eyes
24:09to look at him.
24:10He didn't meet my gaze.
24:13I saw your birth date
24:14on our marriage contract.
24:17My heart gave a sudden,
24:19soft flutter.
24:20Nobody had ever
24:21remembered my birthday.
24:23Back in the shadow,
24:24pal,
24:25birthdays were only celebrated
24:27for wolves
24:27with actual power.
24:29A wolf-less,
24:31defect omega
24:31wasn't worth the memory.
24:33Lady Grace picked up
24:35a heavy clay jug
24:36and poured me a glass
24:37of rich,
24:38amber liquid.
24:39I've been saving this wine
24:41for years.
24:42I opened it tonight
24:43just for the two of you.
24:45But don't drink
24:46too much now.
24:48She stood up,
24:49claiming the night air
24:51was getting too chilly
24:51for her old bones
24:52and left us
24:53completely alone.
24:55The second Lady Grace
24:56vanished.
24:57A heavy silence
24:58fell over the garden.
25:00It was so quiet
25:01I could hear
25:02my own heartbeat pounding.
25:03To break the tension,
25:05I grabbed my cup.
25:06I chugged down
25:08the amber wine.
25:09It tasted dangerously sweet.
25:12Smooth on the way down,
25:13but it kicked
25:15like a mule.
25:16By my fourth glass,
25:17the world was starting
25:18to spin.
25:19I reached blindly
25:20for the empty platter
25:22in front of me.
25:23I tilted my head,
25:25peering at Rired
25:25through a blurry haze.
25:28Where is the last
25:29chestnut cake?
25:31Riker's lips
25:32trickled slightly.
25:33He said softly,
25:35I ate it.
25:37I don't know where
25:38I found the nerve.
25:39I planted my hands
25:40on the stone table
25:41and pushed myself up.
25:43I stumbled around
25:44the edge,
25:44leaning right into
25:45his face.
25:47I mumbled,
25:48Who said you could
25:49eat it?
25:50Spit it out
25:51right now.
25:53Riker just stared
25:54up at me.
25:55A dark fire
25:56flared in his
25:57amber eyes.
25:58He parted his
25:59lips slightly.
26:01Come find it
26:02yourself.
26:03I squinted
26:04at his mouth.
26:05You're never
26:06going to find it
26:06looking like that.
26:08Then how?
26:10Try using your mouth.
26:11My eyes slowly
26:13drifted down to
26:13his lips.
26:14They were sharp,
26:15lethal.
26:16But right now,
26:17slicked with sweet
26:18wine,
26:19they looked
26:19devastatingly soft
26:20and gleaming
26:21with moisture.
26:22I swallowed hard
26:24and without thinking,
26:25I crashed my lips
26:26onto his.
26:27The absolute
26:28second we touched,
26:30Ryder's entire body
26:31went steric as stone,
26:32but only for a
26:33split second.
26:34The next moment,
26:36his massive hand
26:36locked around the
26:37back of my head,
26:38my brain completely
26:40short-sucked.
26:41All I could feel
26:42was his mouth,
26:43his tongue,
26:44his ragged breathing,
26:45and the electric
26:46shock of his fingers
26:48threading deeply
26:48into my hair.
26:50We didn't rip apart
26:51until footsteps
26:52crunched on the
26:53gravel behind the
26:54flower beds.
26:55I jerked back.
26:56In the next instant,
26:57the world spun
26:58violently and the
26:59sky flipped upside
27:00down.
27:00My vision went
27:01pitch black.
27:01I collapsed.
27:03The splitting
27:04headache woke
27:04me up.
27:06I forced my
27:07eyes open,
27:08squinting at an
27:09unfamiliar ceiling.
27:13This was the
27:14Alpha's bedroom.
27:16What the hell
27:17am I doing here?
27:21My lady,
27:22you got completely
27:23drunk last night.
27:24Alpha Ryder
27:25carried you back.
27:28Did I say anything
27:30stupid?
27:32Absolutely.
27:33He tried to lay
27:34you down,
27:35but you grabbed
27:35his sleeve and
27:36refused to let go.
27:37You kept calling
27:38him husband over
27:40and over a day.
27:41His entire face
27:42turned bright red.
27:44Get out!
27:47She giggled and
27:48bolted from the room.
27:51I lay there for a
27:52long time,
27:53totally paralyzed,
27:55until someone
27:55knocked.
27:57My lady,
27:58the matriarch's
27:59waiting at the
27:59gates.
28:00We're heading to
28:01the sacred peak
28:01for the blessing.
28:02I scrambled out
28:02of bed,
28:03splashed some water
28:04on my face,
28:05and practically ran
28:06out of the castle.
28:09Lady Grace was
28:10already sitting in
28:11the carriage.
28:12No rush,
28:13dear.
28:14Take your time.
28:16The carriage rolled
28:18out of Iron Hell
28:18territory,
28:19following a dirt road
28:20up toward the
28:21sacred peak.
28:22The mountain was
28:23holy ground for
28:23northern wolves.
28:25Legend said the
28:25wolf god himself
28:26left his mark
28:27there.
28:28The coronation
28:29ceremony for each
28:30generation of Alpha
28:30takes place there.
28:32Halfway up the
28:32trail, my mind was
28:34still consumed by
28:35what happened last
28:35night.
28:36I kissed Rigan,
28:37and then I
28:38completely passed
28:38out.
28:39I had absolutely
28:40no idea what
28:41happened next.
28:43Amelia.
28:45Is there someone
28:45else in your
28:46heart?
28:47You've been dodging
28:48Riken for weeks.
28:50If you want out
28:51of this marriage,
28:52just say the
28:53word.
28:53You're young.
28:54You shouldn't waste
28:56your entire life
28:56tied to a-
28:57No, it's not
28:58that at all.
28:59Then what is it?
29:00Before I could
29:01answer, the entire
29:02carriage lopperged
29:03violently.
29:05The wooden wheels
29:06suddenly spun out
29:07of control.
29:08The driver was
29:10gone.
29:11Amelia!
29:12I realized there
29:12was a cliff
29:13right ahead.
29:14Lady Grace, hold
29:15on to me tight.
29:16We have to jump.
29:17Jump?
29:18We'll break our
29:19bones!
29:20There's a cliff
29:21right there!
29:21If we don't jump
29:22right now, we're
29:23dead!
29:26We tumbled violently
29:27over the jagged
29:28cliffside.
29:29My left arm was
29:30locked dead around
29:31Lady Grace.
29:32We were dangling
29:33in midair, with
29:34nothing but a
29:35massive, bottomless
29:36gorge beneath our
29:37feet.
29:37Hold on!
29:38The guards will
29:39find us!
29:40Let me go,
29:41Amelia.
29:42The branch
29:43can't hold both
29:44of us.
29:45I've lived a
29:46long life.
29:47Yours is just
29:48starting.
29:49I won't let go.
29:51You are the
29:52first person to
29:53actually treat me
29:54like a Hugh
29:54being in this
29:55hellhole.
29:56You are my
29:57family now, and I
29:58don't abandon my
29:59family.
29:59The branch gave
30:00way a few more
30:01inches.
30:02My fingers were
30:03slipping.
30:04Inch by
30:05excruciating inch,
30:06my nails drug into
30:08the rough bark,
30:09drawing blood,
30:10pure despair
30:11washed over me.
30:12Then, a voice
30:13tore through the
30:14air.
30:15Amelia!
30:16Riker has found
30:17us.
30:17He didn't hesitate
30:19at all.
30:20Ryder!
30:21Midair, his body
30:22began to violently
30:23shift.
30:24Coarse, gray fur
30:25erupted.
30:26Fingers elongated
30:28into lethal claws.
30:30He was a
30:30monstrous, silver-gray
30:32beast.
30:33His massive claws
30:34gouged into the
30:35solid cliff face.
30:36Stone shattered.
30:37His powerful
30:38hind legs kicked
30:39off the wall.
30:40He lunched
30:40outward, wrapping
30:41one massive front
30:42arm around me and
30:43Lady Grace.
30:44I was pinned flush
30:45against his chest.
30:47I felt his
30:48heartbeat, up on
30:49the ridge.
30:50Iron Howell guards
30:51finally arrived.
30:53Thick ropes dropped
30:54down the cliffside.
30:55Riker caught the
30:56lines in his
30:57baths.
30:57He secured the
30:58loops around us.
31:00The guards started
31:01hauling us up.
31:03The second I
31:04cleared the ledge,
31:05I looked down.
31:07Raiden was still
31:08clinging to the
31:09sheer rock.
31:10Those burning
31:11golden eyes locked
31:12entirely on me.
31:13Then, they hauled
31:15him up too.
31:16The moment his
31:17paws hit the
31:17dirt, he shifted
31:19back.
31:20He was half-naked,
31:22his torso covered
31:24in fresh wounds,
31:25but he seemed to
31:27feel absolutely
31:28nothing.
31:29You're bleeding.
31:33I'm fine, Lady Grace.
31:36She's alive, but
31:37you threw yourself
31:40out of a moving
31:40carriage.
31:41You hung onto that
31:43branch.
31:44He abruptly cut
31:45himself off.
31:46Something was
31:47glistering in those
31:48golden eyes.
31:50It wasn't alpha
31:51fire.
31:52It was tears.
31:55Riker.
31:56He didn't answer.
31:58He just lowered
31:59his head and rested
32:00his forehead against
32:01my uninjured
32:01shoulder.
32:02His massive arms
32:04wrapped around me,
32:05pulling me flush
32:06against his bare
32:07chest.
32:08I'm okay.
32:09You caught me.
32:10All around us,
32:11the Iron Howall
32:12guards silently
32:13turned their backs
32:13and looked out over
32:15the vast distance.
32:16Only Lady Grace
32:17stayed.
32:17She watched us
32:18from the dirt,
32:19a soft,
32:20tearful smile
32:21spreading across
32:22her face.
32:23I was bedridden
32:24for an entire
32:25month.
32:26My dislocated
32:27shoulder took
32:28a month to heal,
32:30agonizingly slow
32:31for a wolfless
32:32Omega.
32:32For that entire
32:33month, I didn't
32:34see Riker once.
32:36Lady Grace had
32:36locked herself away,
32:38still shaken by
32:39the fall.
32:40The entire estate
32:41felt suffocatingly
32:42tense.
32:43Every guard wore
32:44a grim, solemn
32:45expression.
32:45A heavy,
32:47suffocating
32:47pressure hung
32:48in the air,
32:49like the calm
32:50right before
32:51a brutal storm.
32:52Thirty days later,
32:54I could finally
32:55walk on my own.
32:56I pushed my
32:57door open.
32:59The stone
33:00corridor was
33:00completely empty.
33:01I walked
33:02towards the
33:03stairace.
33:04When I passed
33:05Riker's scudial,
33:06the door was
33:06shut tight.
33:08I hesitated
33:09for a second,
33:10but I didn't
33:10knock.
33:11I made it to
33:11the front entrance
33:12and pushed open
33:13the heavy oak doors.
33:16Ryder was
33:16standing at the
33:17bottom of the
33:17grand steps.
33:19Standing completely,
33:21his face
33:22hidden in the
33:22shadows.
33:24He walked up
33:25and handed me
33:25a small wooden
33:26lockbox.
33:27I took it,
33:29popped the lash.
33:30Inside was a
33:31land deed,
33:32the ownership
33:33papers for a
33:34small estate
33:35and a signed
33:36mate nullification
33:37contract.
33:38My entire body
33:39went ragged.
33:40You're kicking me
33:41out?
33:41When Ryuk looked
33:42at me,
33:43his eyes
33:43were absolute
33:44ice.
33:45But beneath
33:45that frozen
33:46surface,
33:47I saw
33:47something else,
33:48pure agony.
33:50His voice
33:51was like a
33:51frozen lake.
33:53I know you've
33:54been waiting for
33:55this.
33:56You've been
33:57dodging me,
33:58hiding from me.
33:59You wanted
34:00nothing to do
34:00with this pack.
34:02You hoarded
34:03every piece of
34:04jewelry my mother
34:05gave you,
34:05just waiting for
34:06the day you could
34:06pawn them to
34:07escape.
34:09Isn't this
34:09exactly what
34:10you wanted?
34:13My lips
34:14parted,
34:14but no sound
34:15came out.
34:16He turned
34:17around,
34:18showing me
34:18his back.
34:19Leave,
34:20Amelia.
34:20From this
34:21moment on,
34:21you have zero
34:22ties to the
34:23Iron Howl Pack.
34:25My voice
34:26was so light,
34:27a single breeze
34:28could scatter it.
34:29So that's what
34:30the great alpha
34:30thinks of me.
34:31He didn't turn
34:32back around.
34:33Leave now.
34:34I never want
34:35to see your face
34:36again.
34:37The estate
34:38guards marched
34:39me straight
34:40out the gates.
34:41My maid
34:42trailed behind
34:43me,
34:43clutching a
34:44small bag.
34:45Her eyes
34:46were red
34:46and swollen.
34:48She sniffed.
34:49The alpha
34:50ordered me
34:50to go with
34:51you.
34:54He said
34:55you were
34:55used to me.
34:56I didn't
34:56say a single
34:57word.
34:58We boarded
34:58the carriage
34:59and drove
35:00straight out
35:00of Iron Howl
35:01territory.
35:02We stopped
35:03at a small
35:04border town.
35:05I pawned
35:06one of the
35:06silver bracelets
35:07from the
35:07lockbox,
35:08rented a
35:09small cottage
35:09and settled
35:10in.
35:11The very
35:12next morning,
35:13a new
35:13official notice
35:14was nailed
35:15to the
35:15town square.
35:18I stood
35:19frozen in
35:19front of the
35:20wooden board,
35:21staring at the
35:22parchment bearing
35:23the seal of
35:24King Alpha.
35:25The notice
35:25read clearly,
35:26Alpha Riger
35:27Ironhowo is
35:28charged with
35:29treason,
35:29accused of
35:30colonning with
35:31the southern
35:31packs,
35:32leaking northern
35:33defense maps,
35:33and causing
35:34the entire
35:35northern border
35:36to collapse.
35:37The Alpha
35:37King had
35:38officially ordered
35:39his arrest.
35:40Riker was
35:40already locked
35:41in the
35:41royal dungeons,
35:42awaiting
35:43judgment.
35:43The entire
35:44Ironhowl estate
35:45was placed on
35:46full lockdown,
35:47no one in,
35:48no one out,
35:49pending a royal
35:50investigation.
35:51I stood in front
35:52of that board as
35:53my blood turned
35:53to absolute
35:54kice.
35:55Collusion.
35:56Treason.
35:57The royal
35:58dungeons.
35:59I thought back
36:00to those burning
36:01golden eyes on
36:02the cliff.
36:02Those weren't
36:03the eyes of a
36:04traitor.
36:05Those were the
36:06eyes of a man
36:06who would die
36:07to protect his
36:08pack.
36:09He didn't kick
36:10me out because
36:10he hated me.
36:11He kicked me
36:12out because he
36:13knew this was
36:13coming.
36:14My hands
36:15balled into
36:16tight fists.
36:17My nails dug
36:18violently into
36:19my palms.
36:20My maid
36:21timidly asked
36:21behind me,
36:22My lady,
36:24is there anything
36:25we can do?
36:26I closed my
36:27eyes and took
36:28a deep,
36:29shaky breath.
36:30My mind
36:31drifted back
36:31to my father,
36:32Lucian,
36:33the shadow
36:34pack's healer.
36:35He was an
36:35ordinary wolf
36:36with absolutely
36:37zero combat
36:38skills,
36:38but the entire
36:39pack deeply
36:40respected him
36:41because he
36:42pulled countless
36:42warriors back
36:43from the brink
36:44of death.
36:44He used to
36:45tell me the
36:45exact same
36:46thing,
36:47over and
36:47over.
36:48Power isn't
36:49just fangs
36:49and claws,
36:50Amelia.
36:51Knowledge,
36:52strategy,
36:53connections.
36:54That is
36:54true power.
36:56A smart
36:56omega can use
36:57those to
36:58move the
36:58entire world.
36:59I snapped
37:00my eyes
37:00open.
37:01I know
37:02exactly what
37:03to do.
37:04It took me
37:05three brutal
37:06days to track
37:07that person
37:08down.
37:09Lord Clement
37:09Greystone,
37:10the royal
37:10beta of the
37:11king's pack.
37:13Twenty years
37:13ago,
37:14he was gutted
37:14in a war
37:15against the
37:15shadow flick
37:16pack.
37:16He contracted
37:17a lethal
37:18blood infection.
37:19My father
37:20saved his
37:20life with a
37:21rare herbal
37:22remedy.
37:23Lord Greystone
37:24met me in
37:25his private
37:25study.
37:26His voice
37:27was a deep
37:27gravelly
37:28baron tone.
37:29You say
37:29you're Lucian's
37:30daughter?
37:31Yes,
37:32my lord.
37:33I lowered
37:33my head,
37:34the instinctive
37:35sign of
37:36respect from
37:36an omega to
37:37a high-ranking
37:38wolf.
37:38He studied
37:39my face.
37:40You look
37:41exactly like
37:42him,
37:43especially the
37:44eyes.
37:45My lord,
37:46I know this
37:46is an incredibly
37:47bold request,
37:48but I need
37:48your help.
37:49Speak.
37:50I need
37:51to see
37:51Riker
37:52Ironhouth.
37:53His thick
37:54eyebrows
37:55immediately
37:55drew together.
37:56I took a
37:57deep breath
37:58and briefly
37:59explained the
38:00situation,
38:00from the
38:01contract marriage
38:02to the
38:02cliffside
38:03ambush,
38:04from Riker
38:05violently
38:05kicking me
38:06out to
38:07the sudden
38:07treason
38:07decree.
38:08He is
38:09not a
38:09traitor.
38:11If he
38:11was leaking
38:12defense maps,
38:12why would
38:13he jump
38:13off a cliff
38:13to save
38:14me?
38:15If he
38:15was colluding
38:16with the
38:16shadow
38:16fleck pack,
38:17why the
38:17hell did
38:17they try
38:18to assassinate
38:18his
38:19carriage?
38:21If he
38:21is found
38:22guilty
38:22of
38:22treason,
38:23anyone
38:24who
38:24helps
38:24him
38:25swings
38:25from
38:26the
38:26same
38:26rope.
38:29I know.
38:30He looked
38:31at me,
38:31his expression
38:32unreadable.
38:33He finally
38:33said,
38:34Your father
38:35pulled me
38:35from the
38:35grave.
38:36I owe
38:37him my
38:37life,
38:38and I am
38:39paying that
38:39dact to
38:40you.
38:41He grabbed
38:41an ink
38:42quill from
38:42his desk,
38:43wrote a few
38:44lines on a
38:45heavy parchment,
38:46stamped his
38:47wax seal on
38:47it.
38:48This is a
38:49visitation
38:50pass,
38:50but you
38:51only have
38:52thirty minutes.
38:55The royal
38:55dungeons were
38:56buried deep
38:57beneath the
38:57king's castle,
38:59freezing,
39:00damp,
39:01where the air
39:01reeked of
39:02rotting iron
39:03and mold.
39:04A royal
39:04guard stopped
39:05in front of
39:06the very last
39:06iron door.
39:08He jammed a
39:09key into
39:10the lock.
39:12Alpha Iron
39:12Howl is a
39:13high-risk
39:13traitor.
39:14Remember,
39:15you only have
39:15thirty minutes.
39:16The iron
39:17door opened.
39:18I stepped
39:19inside.
39:21Ryder looked
39:21up.
39:22His hair
39:22was a
39:22tangled mess.
39:24Heavy stubble
39:24shadowed his
39:25jaw.
39:26His skin
39:26was deathly
39:27pale,
39:27his cheekbones
39:28jutting out
39:29sharply.
39:30He had lost
39:30so much weight,
39:31but his eyes
39:32hadn't changed.
39:33The second
39:34those deep
39:35amber eyes
39:35saw me,
39:36his pupils
39:37narrowed
39:37sharply.
39:38What are you
39:39doing here?
39:40I stood at
39:41the door,
39:41just staring
39:42at him.
39:43The dungeon
39:44air was freezing
39:45and damp,
39:46but my eyes
39:47burned hot
39:47with tears.
39:48Is this why
39:49you kicked
39:50me out?
39:52You knew
39:53they were
39:53coming for
39:53you,
39:54didn't you?
39:55Ryder didn't
39:55say a word.
39:57I walked
39:58right up to
39:58him.
39:59I crouched
39:59down,
40:00bringing my
40:00face level
40:01with his.
40:02You were
40:03framed,
40:03weren't you?
40:04Ryder just
40:05looked at me.
40:06He sat
40:07in complete
40:07silence for
40:08a long time.
40:10Then,
40:10he slowly
40:11reached out,
40:13his thumb
40:13gently wiping
40:14a tear
40:15from my
40:15cheek.
40:16Amelia,
40:17you shouldn't
40:17be here.
40:19Tell me
40:20the truth.
40:21Who framed
40:22you?
40:23What can
40:23I do
40:24to help?
40:25Ryder's
40:25long fingers
40:26tightened
40:27slightly
40:27against my
40:28palms.
40:28Amelia,
40:29you can't.
40:30The Shadow
40:30Fleck Pack.
40:31They colluded
40:32with a traitor
40:33inside Ironhowl,
40:34doctoring the
40:35border defense
40:35maps.
40:36But I have
40:37zero proof.
40:38All the evidence
40:38was scrubbed.
40:39My only witness
40:40died in a sudden
40:40accident three
40:41days ago.
40:42A heavy,
40:43sickening dread
40:44settled in my
40:45chest.
40:45Ryker's voice
40:46suddenly turned
40:47to steel.
40:48But I didn't
40:49just sit and
40:50wait.
40:50Before they
40:51arrested me,
40:52I smuggled a
40:52letter to the
40:53Alpha King,
40:54detailing the
40:54entire Shadow
40:55Flag plot
40:56and naming the
40:57traitor.
40:57Did the King
40:58get it?
40:58Ryker closed
40:59his eyes.
41:00I don't know
41:01if it was
41:02intercepted.
41:03I squeezed
41:04his hand even
41:04tighter and
41:05pleaded,
41:06there has to be
41:07a way.
41:07I'll go back
41:08to Lord
41:08Greststone.
41:09Amelia,
41:11when you
41:11leave this
41:12cell,
41:13do absolutely
41:14nothing.
41:14The walls
41:15have ears.
41:16How can you
41:16be so sure?
41:18I can't say
41:19much, but I
41:21promise you
41:21within seven
41:22days I will
41:23walk out of
41:23here, because
41:24I never make
41:25a promise I
41:26cannot keep.
41:27He stared at
41:28me, his gaze
41:29fierce, yet
41:30devastatingly
41:31gentle.
41:33Seven days
41:34from now, we
41:35will watch the
41:35sunrise together.
41:36Okay?
41:37I nodded.
41:38I looked up,
41:39straight into
41:40those burning
41:40golden eyes.
41:42He whispered,
41:43his rough thumb
41:43tracing my
41:44jawline.
41:45Amelia, I
41:46absolutely love
41:47everything about
41:47you.
41:47Ryder bent
41:48down and
41:48picked me up
41:49horizontally.
41:50I lightly
41:51pounded on
41:51his solid
41:52chest.
41:52You promised
41:53me we were
41:53going to
41:53watch the
41:54sunrise.
41:54He carried
41:55me inside
41:55and kicked
41:56the front
41:56door shut.
41:57I'm watching
41:58you first.
41:59He laid
42:00me down on
42:00the bed and
42:01stood by the
42:02edge, staring
42:03down.
42:03I lay there,
42:05my heart
42:05hammering so
42:06hard it hurt.
42:07He leaned
42:07down, one
42:08massive hand
42:09braced next
42:10to my head.
42:10His other
42:11hand slowly
42:12reached for the
42:12thin ribbon
42:13tying my
42:13collar together.
42:14He pulled
42:15it loose.
42:15I panicked,
42:16instinctively
42:17throwing my
42:18hands over
42:18my chest.
42:19Don't look,
42:19it's ruined.
42:20Ryker gently
42:21pulled my
42:22hands away.
42:23His long
42:23fingers traced
42:24the deep, ugly
42:25bruising right
42:26under my
42:26collarbones.
42:28His skin
42:28was squirting
42:29hot, but his
42:31touch was
42:31impossibly light,
42:33like he was
42:34handling shattered
42:35glass.
42:35It's not ruined.
42:37They are
42:38beautiful.
42:41He pressed his
42:42lips to my
42:42collarbone, trailing
42:44soft, burning
42:46kisses over every
42:47single purple
42:48mark.
42:48My entire body
42:49shivered, not
42:51from the cold.
42:52My body grew
42:53uncontrollably hot.
42:55Ryker, he lifted
42:57his head.
42:57The rumors.
43:00Everyone said
43:01you were ruined
43:02down there.
43:03At dust on the
43:04sixth day, a new
43:05notice was nailed
43:06to the town
43:07square.
43:07I pushed my
43:08way through the
43:09massive crowd.
43:10I got up on my
43:11tiptoes to read
43:12it.
43:12The Alpha King
43:13had officially
43:14investigated the
43:14claims, finding
43:15that the charges
43:16against Alpha
43:16Ryder Ironhawk
43:17were completely
43:18false.
43:19The true
43:19mastermind was
43:20the Alpha of
43:21the Shadowfing
43:22pack, working
43:22with traitors
43:23planted inside
43:24Ironhawk.
43:24Every conspiter
43:25had been arrested.
43:26Ryder Ironhawk
43:27was fully
43:28acquitted and
43:28released.
43:29A massive roar
43:30of relief erupted
43:31from the crowd.
43:31He did it.
43:32He promised me
43:33seven days, and
43:34he did it in six.
43:35That night, I
43:36didn't sleep a
43:36single second.
43:37I sat right by
43:38the small window
43:38in my cottage,
43:39staring out into
43:40the eastern horizon.
43:41The wind howled
43:42across the dark
43:42wastelands.
43:43I didn't know if
43:44I was waiting for
43:44the sunrise, or if
43:46I was waiting for
43:46him.
43:47Maybe both.
43:48Just as the
43:48very first sliver
43:49of gray hit the
43:50sky, I heard
43:51it.
43:51A knock.
43:52Quiet.
43:53Restrained.
43:54But heavy.
43:55Knock, knock,
43:56knock.
43:56A pause.
43:57Knock, knock,
43:58knock.
43:58I practically
43:59launched myself
43:59out of my chair.
44:00I threw myself
44:01at the door.
44:02My shaking hands
44:03grabbed the lash.
44:04I took one massive
44:04breath and pulled
44:05it open.
44:06Ryder was standing
44:07right there on the
44:08porch.
44:08He was wearing
44:09fresh clothes, a
44:10heavy dark coat,
44:11and black slacks.
44:12His messy hair had
44:13been slicked back.
44:14He was still pale as
44:15a ghost, but his
44:16eyes were ablaze.
44:17The exact second
44:18those dark amber
44:19eyes locked on mine,
44:21they flared like a
44:21torch lighting up a
44:22pitch black cave.
44:23I threw myself
44:24right into his arms.
44:25My arms locked
44:26around his neck.
44:27I buried my face
44:28deep into his
44:28shoulder.
44:29I breathed him in.
44:30The rotting stench
44:31of the dungeon was
44:31completely gone.
44:32It was just clean,
44:33pure Riker.
44:34Riker crushed me
44:35against his chest.
44:36Amelia, I'm back.
44:38I couldn't even speak.
44:39I just nodded furiously
44:40into his coat.
44:41Then I felt a hot,
44:42wet drop hit my hair.
44:44I slowly tilted my
44:45head up.
44:45Riker's eyes were
44:46rimmed bright red.
44:48The morning sun hit
44:48his face, casting him
44:50in a warm golden
44:51glow.
44:51My gaze drifted from
44:52his eyes down to his
44:53collar.
44:54And then, further down,
44:55I instantly froze.
44:57I had jumped out of
44:58bed so fast.
44:58I hadn't put on my
44:59chest banding.
45:00My loose cotton
45:01nightgown hid nothing.
45:02My curves were
45:03unmistakable under the
45:04thin fabric.
45:04I instinctively tried
45:05to twist away and run.
45:07But Riker's arms
45:08locked like steel bands,
45:10pinning me flush
45:11against him.
45:12He murmured, a low,
45:14raspy chuckle rumbling
45:15in his chest.
45:16Where do you think
45:17you're going?
45:17I ducked my head to
45:19hide my burning cheeks,
45:20my voice dropping to
45:21a barely audible
45:22whisper.
45:23I...
45:24You hate it.
45:26Ryder slowly lowered
45:27his head, his lips
45:28brushing against my ear.
45:29Who told you that?
45:32My lady, why don't you
45:35find out for yourself?
45:36My brain completely
45:37short-kited.
45:38His mouth trailed
45:39from my jawline,
45:40down my neck,
45:42down to my colicones,
45:43and then,
45:44dangerously lower.
45:46Every single kiss
45:47drove me absolutely
45:48insane.
45:50His thick fingers
45:51tangled deep into
45:52my hair,
45:53massaging my scalp.
45:54I completely melted
45:55against the sheets,
45:57giving myself over
45:58entirely to his touch.
45:59I had a dream
46:00about this once.
46:02What dream?
46:03He murmured
46:03every single detail
46:05into my ear.
46:06It was the exact
46:07same dream.
46:08My dream.
46:09You.
46:10But his mouth
46:11crashed down on mine,
46:13swallowing my words.
46:14This kiss
46:15wasn't like the garden,
46:16just raw,
46:17unhinged hunger.
46:19He forced my lips open,
46:20claiming every inch
46:21of my mouth.
46:22His teeth grazed
46:24my lower lip.
46:25My hands
46:25instinctively reached up,
46:27tracing the hard ridges
46:28of his stomach.
46:33Amelia,
46:33do you know
46:34what you're doing?
46:35I nodded.
46:36Do you understand
46:37what this means?
46:39If I claim you tonight,
46:42there is no going back.
46:45You belong to me.
46:48Forever.
46:50I looked up at him.
46:51This wasn't the dying man
46:53rotting in a bed.
46:55This wasn't a broken prisoner.
46:56This was Ryer Ironhowl,
46:59the alpha of the Ironhowl pack,
47:01the most lethal apex predator
47:03in the north.
47:05And he was mine.
47:07I've been yours for a long time,
47:09since the exact second
47:11you caught me on that cliff.
47:13Golden fire erupted
47:14in his eyes.
47:15He dropped his head,
47:17pressing his forehead
47:18against mine.
47:19Our rag breaths
47:20tangled together.
47:22He swore,
47:23Then I am never
47:24letting you go.
47:26Never.
47:27Never.
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