- 7 hours ago
After He Let Our Pup Die, I Rejected The Gamma Commander - Fantasy Drama | Werewolf Series (ENG)
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The first thing the PAC doctor told me when I woke up was that my pup was gone.
00:06The second was that my mate, Zane, our PAC's formidable Gamma Commander,
00:10was too busy comforting another woman to answer the hospital's frantic mind links.
00:15When Zane finally burst through the clinic doors, he brought the freezing stench of the storm with him.
00:20His eyes were bloodshot.
00:22But he didn't look at me with grief.
00:24He looked at me with pure, unadulterated fury.
00:30A fucking life, Serena!
00:31How could you make a decision like that without a single word?
00:37I slipped in the mud, trying to board up our roof during the storm.
00:41I called out for you through our bond.
00:43He lunged forward, his large, calloused hand gripping my chin, forcing me to meet his furious gaze.
00:49The doctor said you miscarried.
00:52But I know you, Serena.
00:54You were furious that I gave the sanctuary pass to Quinn.
01:00Did you take Wolfsame?
01:02Did you kill our pup just to spine me?
01:06I slapped his hand away.
01:09You gave her the pass to the human safe zone.
01:11You left me to weather the storm alone while you fixed her roof because she's scared of thunder.
01:16If the pup survived, we wouldn't have the resources to feed it anyway.
01:22Zane growled, pacing the room like a caged beast.
01:27If you just learned to budget properly, my gamma stipends is more than enough to feed you and a pup!
01:34Oh, really?
01:36But how would that work, Zane?
01:38You have to save half your stiffage to support Quinn.
01:46Quinn's an omega.
01:48She's fragile, and she's my dead captain's widow.
01:52He died saving my life on the battlefield.
01:55It is my sworn duty to take care of her.
01:58Why are you always so fucking jell-a-grieving widow?
02:04I stared down at my flat, aching stomach.
02:06The phantom weight of my pup was a gaping hole in my soul.
02:10Ever since I got pregnant, Quinn had been crying every single day.
02:14She would show up at our porch, tears spilling over her huge, innocent eyes,
02:18sobbing about how she was barren.
02:20How she would never be blessed with a pup.
02:22It didn't take long for Zane to lose his patience.
02:24He started scolding me in front of the entire pack,
02:27calling me an insensitive bitch for rubbing my pregnancy in Quinn's face.
02:32Believe whatever helps you sleep at night, Commander.
02:36The pup is gone.
02:37You win.
02:39Before Zane could snap back, the heavy hospital door creaked open.
02:43Serena, did you really, did you really kill the pup?
02:48Her face as pale as snow, she gasped out.
02:52It's my fault.
02:53My body is so weak, and Zane worries about me too much.
02:57If you were angry, you should have punished me.
02:59Why would you hurt an innocent pup?
03:03Zane rushed to her side, wrapping his strong arms around her waist,
03:07catching her before she could fall.
03:09His eyes were filled with nothing but raw, tender panic.
03:12Even an outsider, you can see how monstrous this is.
03:15You murdered your own flesh and blood, and now you're taking it out on Quinn?
03:19Zane, don't yell at her.
03:21It's my fault.
03:22I'm just a burden.
03:23His large hand rubbing circles on her back.
03:25So gentle.
03:27So practiced.
03:28I watched them.
03:29The agonizing cramps in my uterus flared, but the pain in my chest had entirely disappeared.
03:34There was nothing left but ice.
03:36Serena, Quinn is having a panic attack.
03:39I'm taking her back to the pack house.
03:41You need to cool off and think about what you've done.
03:45He scooped the delicate omega up in his arms and strode out of the room without a backward glance.
03:50Silence swallowed the room.
03:54Silence swallowed the room.
03:56A nurse hurried in.
03:57Where did the gamma go?
03:58Your surgery bill is still short of 20 silver coins.
04:02I laughed.
04:03A dry, scraping sound.
04:07I'm discharging myself, I said, ripping the IV out of my arm.
04:12I'm discharging myself.
04:14Are you crazy?
04:16You just had a DCU to clean out the miscarriage.
04:19You're still bleeding.
04:19You could die.
04:22I'm hard to kill.
04:27I was done.
04:28I didn't want him, and I didn't want this bond anymore.
04:33Zayn looked at the papers I slapped onto the cheap, rotting wood of my slum apartment table.
04:38He burst into a harsh, grating laugh that vibrated with his gamma dominance.
04:45A formal mate rejection?
04:47Are you out of your fucking mind, Serena?
04:49You're throwing away our bond over a sanctuary pass?
04:52A bond with you is worse than having no bond at all.
04:55I am done watching Quinn's pathetic act.
04:57I am done being stepped on so you can play the tragic, honorable hero.
05:02Then go do your duty.
05:04Just leave me out of it.
05:07Sign the paper.
05:09I, Serena, reject you, Zayn.
05:12See...
05:17I know your hormones are everywhere because of the miscarriage.
05:20You're emotional.
05:22I get it.
05:24I'm gonna try and be patient with you.
05:27He stepped around the table, reaching out to pull me into his chest.
05:31Serena, stop this.
05:33Pack your bags.
05:34Come back to the pack house.
05:36We can talk about the rejection later.
05:38That is your house.
05:39Not mine.
05:41Get out.
05:42If you don't sign it, I'll petition the Alpha to forcibly sever the bond.
05:46Zayn rubbed his temples, looking exhausted.
05:50You don't have a job here.
05:51You don't have a clan backing you.
05:55How do you plan to survive without me, Serena?
05:58You'll starve in this neutrals.
06:04Don't worry about me, Commander.
06:06I just secured a permit to open an epithetary stall in the dirt market.
06:10Gathering herbs in the mud is a filthy job, but it'll keep me fed.
06:15Serena!
06:16How could you do manual labor like that?
06:19It's all my fault.
06:20I shouldn't have taken the path to the human zone.
06:22You can beat me.
06:23You can curse me, Serena.
06:24But please don't humiliate Zayn like this.
06:28Working in the dirt market ruins his reputation as a Gamma.
06:36Look at her, Serena.
06:37Look at how selfless Quinn is.
06:38And look at yourself.
06:40When did you become such a cold-blooded, spiteful bitch?
06:44You'd rather dig in the mud and drag my name through the dirt
06:46than come home and act like a proper mate.
06:48You are unbelievable.
06:50Take your pathetic stray and get the fuck out of my house, Zayn.
06:52You're dirtying my floor.
06:53Good.
06:53If you want to act tough, then stay here.
06:55Let's see how long your pride lasts when you're freezing to death.
06:57He wrapped a protective arm around the sobbing Quinn and stormed out,
07:01slamming the rotting door so hard the hinges screamed.
07:05Leave her be, Quinn.
07:06She's just throwing a tantrum.
07:08I walked slowly to the door and slid the heavy iron deadbolt into place.
07:12Crawl back to you?
07:14I'd rather let the rogues tear my throat out.
07:16The neutral zone market smelled of sweat, raw meat, and desperation.
07:20I rented the cheapest open-air spot by the gutters and set up my apothecary stall.
07:25I woke up before dawn to forage in the dangerous outskirts and stayed up late brewing healing salves and stamina
07:31potions.
07:32Because my potions were potent and my prices fair, my stall quickly became the busiest in the market.
07:38In this harsh world, hard work was my only currency.
07:42Gossip trickled down from the human safe zone.
07:44I heard that Quinn had used my sanctuary pass to get a cushy job in the human textile factory.
07:49She wore a brand new cashmere coat bought by Zayn.
07:52But she was too fragile.
07:54She complained about the cotton dust hurting her throat,
07:57whined about the lad machines,
07:59took sick leave constantly,
08:00and ruined a massive batch of expensive dyed fabric.
08:04The human boss wanted to fire her,
08:06but Zayn used his gamma influence to protect her.
08:09I just smirked,
08:10handed a fresh bottle of Wolfbane Antidote to a mercenary,
08:13and felt absolutely nothing.
08:16One evening, as I was packing up my crates,
08:19the heavy stomping of combat boots made the ground vibrate.
08:22Several heavily armed market enforcers blocked my stall.
08:26Zayn's personal beta guard, Jax, was among them,
08:29pacing anxiously, avoiding my eyes.
08:31My stomach dropped.
08:33Before I could speak,
08:35the enforcer captain, wearing a red armband, stepped up.
08:38Serena, we received a tip.
08:41You're accused of smuggling lethal contraband into packed territory.
08:44You must have the wrong person.
08:46I sell healing herbs.
08:48What contraband?
08:49Search it!
08:51Four wolves tore my stall apart.
08:53Less than two minutes later,
08:55an enforcer dragged two heavy wooden crates from under my table
08:58and smashed them on the ground.
09:00The wood splintered.
09:02Dozens of pure silver daggers,
09:04coated in refined, weaponized wolf's vein,
09:07spilled out onto the cobblestones.
09:10That's weaponized wolf bait on those silver blades.
09:13She's selling lethal weapons to rogues.
09:17I dug this now, was too.
09:19That's a death sentence.
09:22I stared at the silver daggers,
09:24my blood turning to ice.
09:26Those crates weren't mine.
09:27I had been framed.
09:29The crowd parted, and Quinn shrank forward.
09:32Serena, how could you be so stupid?
09:35But her eyes gleamed maliciously as they swept over me.
09:38She cried, making sure her voice carried to everyone.
09:41I told you to stop doing illegal things,
09:44but you called me a nosy bitch!
09:49She pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket,
09:52waving it as if it burned her fingers.
09:54You said, you said because you lost the pup,
09:56you wanted to make fast money to buy your way into the safe zone.
09:59It was the most absurd, sickening lie I had ever heard.
10:03Zane pushed his way to the front.
10:05When his eyes landed on the wolf's vein-coated silver,
10:08his face turned the color of ash.
10:10He looked at me, his-
10:14Serena, if you needed money, why didn't you come to me?
10:17Why would you shame me and the pack by doing this?
10:20Zane, don't blame her!
10:21She lost her mind after the miscarriage.
10:24I tried to stop her, but she said
10:25I didn't understand what it's like to be poor.
10:28He turned to the Enforcer Captain.
10:32Captain, she has committed a crime.
10:34I am a gamma of this pack.
10:36I will not shield a criminal.
10:38But, please, considering she recently suffered a miscarriage
10:44and is mentally unstable,
10:49show her mercy.
10:51I will take her punishment.
10:53I will beg the Alpha.
10:57I'll give up my rank to pay off her sins.
11:01Just, just, don't let them execute her.
11:05In my past life, I would have begged for this kind of protection.
11:09Now, hearing it, knowing he said it only because he completely bought Quinn's bullshit,
11:14made me want to vomit.
11:15He didn't even ask me if I did it.
11:17He just instantly condemned me,
11:20playing the righteous hero who still loved his broken, wicked mate.
11:24Four years as mates, Zane?
11:26And you genuinely think I'm the kind of bitch
11:28who would smuggle wolf-lice coated silver
11:30just for a quick buck?
11:31I spat, my voice laced with venom.
11:34Zane flinched.
11:35His eyes were completely bloodshot,
11:37filled with that sickening, patronizing disappointment.
11:42The contraband is literally sitting in front of you.
11:45Do you want to be executed, Serena?
11:48Is it so fucking hard to just admit you made a mistake?
11:51He grabbed my shoulders, his grip bruising my skin.
11:53Just plead guilty.
11:54Pay the fine.
11:56I'll handle the Alpha.
11:57I will strip myself of my Gamma title
11:59to save you from the Silver Block,
12:01but you need to submit!
12:04This was Zane,
12:06always intoxicating himself
12:08with his own profound, sacrificial love
12:10while physically shoving me into a fucking abyss.
12:13I didn't do it!
12:15I snarled, shoving his chest so hard he stumbled back.
12:21I'd rather let them tear my throat out
12:24than confess to a lie!
12:26Suddenly, old Madam Clara,
12:28the human woman who rented me the stall space,
12:31charged forward.
12:32She was brandishing a heavy iron soup ladle like a weapon.
12:35Who the hell are you calling a smuggler?
12:37This girl works herself to the bone
12:39before the sun even rises!
12:42She doesn't have time to deal with rogue scum!
12:45Then, Clara paused, her eyes widening.
12:48Wait a damn minute.
12:49I saw you!
12:50You were sneaking around Serena's crates last night.
12:54I thought you were just a jealous friend snooping around.
12:58You planted this shit!
13:03Quinn's face lost every drop of color.
13:06She immediately swayed on her feet,
13:08clutching her chest as if she had been shot.
13:11My heart!
13:12And just like that,
13:13the crowd's sympathy swung right back
13:15to the frail, trembling Omega.
13:17Weakness was always a weapon.
13:19Zane's expression turned utterly lethal.
13:23Blind you shelving to history.
13:25Are you, you sign-tid you people,
13:27Stott's been spotting the Xurid to Gowen
13:30and his belongs in a night to Ghent.
13:32Are you trying to give her a fatal heart attack
13:35just to escape punishment?
13:39Put the cuffs on her!
13:41Now!
13:43The Enforcer Captain didn't hesitate.
13:46He pulled out a pair of heavy, pure silver handcuffs
13:49that burned a werewolf's skin on contact.
13:51Zane turned away,
13:52shielding Quinn from the sight,
13:54playing the heartbroken mate to perfection.
14:00Take her to the cells.
14:01I'll come down to sort it out.
14:04Before the silver could touch my wrists,
14:06the deafening screech of heavy tires
14:07ripped through the market.
14:12The air instantly grew impossibly thick.
14:15Everyone present immediately dropped to their knees,
14:18bearing their necks in submission.
14:20The pure, terrifying dominance
14:22of an Alpha aura washed over the street.
14:24Alpha Jackson stepped out of the vehicle,
14:27his boots hitting the pavement like thunder.
14:32What in the goddess name is happening
14:34to the wolf who just saved our entire pack
14:36from a smuggling ring?
14:37Alpha Jackson was the absolute law.
14:39A ruthless, fair leader
14:41who valued strength over all else.
14:43Zane scrambled to his feet,
14:45instantly snapping a salute,
14:46his face coated in cold sweat.
14:49Alpha!
14:50It's an internal dispute.
14:52Serena was caught smuggling silver daggers,
14:54and I am enforcing the law!
14:57Smuggling?
15:00Are you a fucking idiot, Zane?
15:02Serena is the one who tipped my personal guard
15:04off to this shipment!
15:08Zane blinked,
15:09completely,
15:10utterly stunned.
15:15She tipped you off?
15:16But,
15:17there's an eyewitness
15:18who saw her-
15:19Gamma, Zane.
15:20If you lack even the basic
15:22investigated instincts
15:23to see a blatant frame-up,
15:25you're not fit to lead my warriors.
15:29Alpha!
15:30I'm trying to hurt!
15:31Get the medic!
15:32Alpha!
15:32My,
15:34my heart,
15:36my,
15:36my heart.
15:41Zane reached for her
15:42purely on instinct,
15:43but Jackson's massive hand
15:45swatted him away like a fly.
15:48He nodded to the man's,
15:50the pack doctor.
15:51The doctor knelt,
15:52gripping Quinn's wrist
15:53with brutal efficiency.
15:55He pried open her eyelids
15:56as she thrashed
15:57and shrieked in panic.
15:59Her pulse is perfectly strong.
16:01Pupils dilating normally.
16:03Her heart is healthier than mine.
16:05This Omega is entirely faking it.
16:07It's a pathetic theatrical performance.
16:11Zane looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
16:13He turned slowly,
16:15staring down at Quinn,
16:16his mind fracturing in real time.
16:19Quinn?
16:20You told me you had a congenital heart defect.
16:22You told me you were done-
16:23Quinn's lips trembled.
16:24Zane,
16:25I was just scared.
16:27The doctor is wrong.
16:29Alpha Jackson scoffed.
16:30He snapped his fingers.
16:33That's her!
16:34Shut up!
16:35That's the bitch
16:36who paid me 50 silver oins
16:39to stash the crates
16:40under the apothetrile stall.
16:42She promised me more money
16:43when the girl was executed.
16:45I still carry her scent
16:47on the silver daggers.
16:49Zane snatched the rogue by the throat,
16:51smelling the indisputable proof.
16:53The faint,
16:54sickeningly sweet scent
16:56of Quinn's omega pheromones
16:57coated the contraband daggers.
16:59His entire spine seemed to snap.
17:02He dropped the rogue
17:03and stared at his hands.
17:05Why?
17:07I gave you the sanctuary pass.
17:11I let my own pup die
17:12to take care of you.
17:17Why would you frame Serena?
17:20Realizing she was trapped,
17:22Quinn dropped the fragile act.
17:25Because I hate her!
17:27Why does she get to have you?
17:29Why does she get a pup
17:30while I'm stuck
17:31as a useless widow?
17:32And don't act like
17:33a fucking saint, Zane!
17:35If you actually trusted her,
17:37you wouldn't have condemned her
17:39without a single question.
17:40You handed her
17:41to the wolves yourself!
17:42You're just a stupid, gullible fool!
17:46Every word was a razor blade
17:48slicing straight across Zane's throat.
17:50Take her to the dungeons.
17:52Stripper of her widow benefits.
18:00Quinn was dragged away,
18:02kicking and screaming obscenities
18:04into the night sky.
18:06Then,
18:06Alpha Jackson walked
18:08right up to Zane.
18:10You are suspended
18:11indefinitely, Zane.
18:13Until you figure out
18:13how to use your fucking brain,
18:15don't let me see you in uniform.
18:22Jackson turned to me,
18:23giving me a nod of deep respect
18:25before driving off
18:26into the night.
18:27I stood there,
18:29feeling the biting winter wind
18:30against my cheeks.
18:32I knew everything beforehand.
18:34I knew Quinn would try
18:35to frame me,
18:36so I tipped the Alpha off
18:37hours ago.
18:38It was a trap,
18:40and they both walked
18:41right into it.
18:46The crowd dispersed
18:47into the shadows,
18:48leaving nothing but
18:49broken crates,
18:50scattered silver daggers,
18:51and a shattered man
18:52standing in the mud.
18:53Zane seemed to finally
18:55wake from a nightmare.
18:58Serena!
19:01I'm sorry.
19:03Goddess,
19:04I am so fucking sorry.
19:06His dirty hands
19:07grasped empty air.
19:10I was blinded.
19:11I thought I was
19:12protecting you
19:13from execution
19:13by making you confess.
19:16You are con snow.
19:18You don't mow be the saunty,
19:20and I'm watched
19:20off the way.
19:21Come have to meet me
19:22of protectionist friends.
19:34Don't touch me, Zane.
19:36You disgust me.
19:43Take it.
19:44Take everything.
19:45We can start over.
19:46I'll make it right.
19:47I'll go to the Alpha tomorrow
19:48and beg for your
19:49sanctuary pass back.
19:50We can have another pup,
19:52Serena.
19:52I swear on my life!
19:55I stared at the crumpled money
19:57in his desperate,
19:58shaking hands.
19:59Do you remember
20:00what you were doing
20:00the afternoon
20:01I lost the pup,
20:02Zane?
20:05I was fixing
20:07Quinn's roof
20:08because of the storm.
20:10He froze,
20:11his mouth opening
20:12and closing.
20:15Yes.
20:17You were fixing
20:18another woman's roof.
20:20I spat,
20:21leaning down
20:22so my face
20:22was inches from his.
20:24Can this money
20:25buy back my blood?
20:26Can it buy back
20:27the heartbeat
20:28of my pup?
20:29I don't hate
20:30your sense of honor,
20:31Zane.
20:32I just pity
20:33your fucking stupidity.
20:34Our bond means
20:35less than dirt
20:36to me now.
20:36I turned away
20:37and walked toward
20:38the pack's public
20:39notice board
20:39in the center
20:40of the market.
20:41With a silver dagger,
20:42I carved my blood
20:44onto the wood,
20:44declaring a permanent
20:46spiritual mate
20:47rejection.
20:48The magic flared red,
20:50then snapped.
20:51The searing pain
20:52of a broken bond
20:53hit me,
20:54but it felt like
20:55glorious freedom.
20:56I left Zane
20:58kneeling in the dirt,
20:59wailing into the night
21:00like a dying animal.
21:02The great Gamma Commander,
21:04stripped of his rank,
21:05stripped of his mate,
21:06left with absolutely
21:07nothing but the ashes
21:09of his own arrogance.
21:10Two years pass
21:11like a blur
21:11of blood, sweat,
21:12and gold.
21:13Riding the wave
21:14of the expanding
21:15neutral zone,
21:16I transform my
21:16humble apothecary stall
21:18into a massive
21:19trade guild.
21:19I don't fear
21:20the exhaustion,
21:21and I don't fear
21:22the rogue-infested
21:23borders.
21:24Whatever rare herbs
21:25or enchanted weapons
21:26the market demands,
21:27my caravans deliver.
21:29Now I am the
21:30undisputed empress
21:31of the borderlands.
21:32I wear tailored suits
21:33instead of blood-stained
21:34jeans,
21:35and alphas from
21:36neighboring packs
21:36request meetings
21:37with me just to
21:38secure supply lines.
21:39It is during the
21:40grand opening
21:41of my newest
21:42flagship store
21:42that I hear news
21:44of Zane again.
21:45I stand behind
21:46the floor-to-ceiling
21:47glass of my office,
21:48directing my staff,
21:49when a shadow
21:50catches my eye
21:51across the street.
21:52It is a man
21:53in a battered,
21:54stripped military jacket.
21:55His face is hidden
21:56behind a wild,
21:57unkempt beard,
21:58and his broad shoulders
21:59are completely hunched.
22:01He looks absolutely
22:02nothing like the arrogant,
22:03formidable Gamma commander
22:04he once was.
22:05He doesn't dare
22:06to cross the street.
22:07He just stands
22:08in the freezing rain,
22:10staring greedily
22:10through the glass
22:11at my figure.
22:12He looks like a starved,
22:14abandoned,
22:14stray dog,
22:15desperate,
22:16broken,
22:17and pathetic.
22:17I just stand there,
22:20meeting his gaze
22:21with absolute,
22:23chilling indifference.
22:24After a long minute,
22:25as if my lack of emotion
22:27physically burns him,
22:28he flinches,
22:29pulls up his collar,
22:30and limps away
22:31into the alley.
22:35The next morning,
22:36my beta assistant
22:37hands me a wrapped package
22:38left at the storefront.
22:40Inside sits a crudely carved
22:42wooden statue
22:43of a wolf pup.
22:43The wood is polished smooth,
22:46clearly rubbed
22:46by callous thumbs
22:47a thousand times over.
22:49Beneath it lies
22:50a bank transfer receipt
22:51directed to an orphanage
22:52under my name,
22:53and a heavily
22:54bloodstained letter.
22:55The handwriting is violent,
22:57shaky,
22:57desperate.
22:58Serena,
22:59I join the border
23:00suicide squad.
23:01I hunt the most
23:02rabid rogues now.
23:04It's a death sentence,
23:05but every time
23:05I clear a rogue camp
23:06or dismantle
23:07a silver trap,
23:08I tell myself
23:09I am building karma
23:10for the pup we lost.
23:11Quinn confessed
23:12to everything
23:12to get a lighter sentence.
23:14She admitted
23:15she set up
23:15the wolf's bane
23:16and silver daggers
23:17because she was jealous
23:18of your pregnancy.
23:19I sat outside
23:20the dungeon all night
23:21and vomited blood
23:22from the regret.
23:23I know you don't
23:24want to see me.
23:25I know my redemption
23:26means nothing to you.
23:27I carved this pup
23:28for the pup we lost.
23:30Throw it away
23:30if my scent disgusts you.
23:32I will never
23:33disturb you again.
23:34I finish reading
23:35the letter.
23:36My heart is a
23:37stagnant pool of water,
23:38not a single ripple.
23:39This self-indulgent
23:41guilt trip
23:41means absolutely
23:42nothing to me.
23:43Even if he gets
23:44his throat ripped out
23:45by a rogue tomorrow,
23:46it won't bring back
23:47the pup he let die,
23:48nor will it erase
23:49the trauma
23:49he carved into my soul.
23:51Without a second thought,
23:52I drop the wooden pup
23:54and the bloody letter
23:54straight into
23:55the incinerator bin.
23:56I wipe my hands
23:57and walk back out
23:58to the trading floor.
24:00Zane's profound love
24:01is far too late
24:02and entirely too cheap.
24:04Five years later,
24:05the pack territory
24:06suffers a devastating
24:07earthquake,
24:08collapsing entire sectors
24:09of the safe zone.
24:11I sit in the front row
24:12of the disaster relief
24:13commendation ceremony,
24:14honored as the top
24:16civilian sponsor
24:16and guild leader.
24:18The crowd erupts
24:19into deafening applause
24:20when the Alpha calls
24:21the name of the final recipient.
24:23Rogue hunter
24:24and rescue hero,
24:25Zane.
24:26The heavy velvet curtains part.
24:28A nurse pushes a wheelchair
24:30onto the stage.
24:31It is Zane.
24:32He wears a spotless,
24:34unranked military uniform,
24:36his chest heavy with medals.
24:38But beneath his waist,
24:39his pant legs
24:40are completely empty.
24:42Zane,
24:43what sustained you
24:44for ten hours
24:45as you held up
24:46the steel beam
24:46to save the pregnant Omega
24:48and in doing so,
24:49you lost both your legs?
24:53Because
24:55I have a debt to pay.
24:57I once murdered
24:58my own pup
24:58with my ignorance.
24:59This time,
25:00I had to save
25:01someone else's pup.
25:02The goddess gave me
25:03a chance to pay back
25:03the life I owe.
25:04That's all.
25:05After the ceremony,
25:06Zane's former beta,
25:08Jax,
25:08intercepts me
25:09in the VIP hallway.
25:10Jax has red,
25:12swollen eyes.
25:12He holds out
25:13a small velvet box
25:14with trembling hands.
25:18Guildmaster Serena,
25:20Zane asked me
25:21to give this to you.
25:25A dark,
25:25rusted stain
25:26of his own blood
25:27mars the golden surface.
25:32He says he has
25:33no right to see you.
25:35This was the gift
25:36he promised your pup
25:37years ago.
25:37It's the only valuable
25:38thing he has left
25:39in this world.
25:40He also told me
25:41to tell you,
25:42Quinn was released
25:42from prison last month.
25:43She froze to death
25:44on the streets
25:45outside the safe zone.
25:49Zane says it's karma.
25:52Their karma
25:53finally caught up.
25:55I look at the
25:55blood-stained metal.
25:56It cost him his legs.
25:58It cost him
25:59half his life.
26:03Tell him I don't
26:04hate him anymore.
26:05Hating him
26:06is a waste
26:06of my energy.
26:10I pull a silver pen
26:11from my blazer
26:12and scribble
26:12a quick line
26:13on the back
26:13of my business card,
26:15dropping it
26:15onto the box.
26:17I turn on
26:18my stiletto heels,
26:19my steps echoing
26:20sharply against
26:21the marble floor.
26:22The note on the card
26:23reads,
26:24Mutual non-disturbance
26:25is the best ending.
26:27Zane traded his legs
26:28for that pregnant
26:29wolf's life.
26:30That repays her.
26:31It repays himself.
26:33But regarding me,
26:34I have already
26:35moved on
26:35and I never look back.
26:37The golden scissors
26:38slice cleanly
26:38through the red silk ribbon
26:40outside my newly built
26:41guild headquarters.
26:42I smile flawlessly,
26:44waving at the pack leaders
26:45and human merchants
26:46who have gathered
26:47to celebrate.
26:48Madam Serena,
26:49the Alpha's office
26:50just sent word.
26:52Zane
26:53passed away
26:55this morning.
26:58My hand
26:59holding the scissors
26:59pauses,
27:00exactly one second,
27:02completely ignoring
27:03the whisper.
27:05Excellent turnout today.
27:07I hand the scissors
27:09to an assistant
27:09and walk gracefully
27:10into the warm,
27:11brilliantly lit
27:12banquet hall.
27:13I do not
27:14attend his funeral.
27:16A week later,
27:17an enforcer delivers
27:18a heavy iron lockbox
27:19to my penthouse.
27:20They tell me
27:21it is Zane's
27:22dying wish.
27:23I miss you so much
27:24I can't breathe.
27:25Serena,
27:26I dreamt of our pup.
27:27He called me dad,
27:28but when I reached out,
27:29my hands were covered
27:30in his blood.
27:31Serena,
27:32if only I hadn't
27:33given her that pass.
27:34If only you were
27:35still by my...
27:35I look at the pile
27:36of letters.
27:37There is no grief
27:38in my chest,
27:39only a profound,
27:40liberating exhalation
27:42of relief.
27:43It's finally over.
27:45The flames roar to life,
27:47greedily devouring
27:48the paper.
27:48The firelight reflects
27:50in my calm,
27:51dry eyes.
27:52Ash drifts up
27:53into the cold night sky,
27:54disappearing
27:55into the falling snow,
27:57leaving absolutely
27:58no trace behind.
27:59The following spring,
28:01I visit the border orphanage
28:02and adopt a wolf pup
28:03who lost his parents
28:04in a rogue attack.
28:06His eyes are as clear
28:07as a mountain spring.
28:08I name him Nova,
28:10not to remember the past,
28:11but to celebrate
28:12a supernova of new life.
28:14He will inherit my empire,
28:16not a legacy of sorrow.
28:18Mom, dinner is ready.
28:20The board members
28:21are waiting to toast you.
28:27I have wealth,
28:29absolute power,
28:30and a son who adores me.
28:32A sudden blizzard
28:33begins to howl
28:34around the glass,
28:35looking exactly like
28:36the storm from that afternoon
28:37when I lost my first pup
28:38and nearly bled out alone.
28:41Back then,
28:41I thought the sky was falling.
28:43Now,
28:44I know it was just
28:45the brutal birth
28:45of my freedom.
28:46I know it was just
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