#movie #hotdrama2026 #trending #bestmovie2026 #The Alpha She Chose #FullMovie - BEST MOVIE 2026
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00:00On my first birthday, Alpha Brune set out all kinds of things for me to pick from as birthday gifts.
00:05Instead, I crawled straight towards six-year-old Alpha Air Cohen and grabbed his crotch.
00:11The hall erupted. The high priest said we were chosen by the moon goddess as mates.
00:15Everyone believed it, including me, but no one could have guessed that we would grow up to be bitter enemies.
00:20At 16, Alpha Brune told me it was time to choose a mate.
00:24Before I could speak, Cohen sneered in front of the whole hall.
00:27I'd rather be torn apart by rogues than mate with her.
00:30At the time, I actually thought he was joking.
00:32It wasn't until our mating day that I realized how horribly wrong I was.
00:36On our mating night, he abandoned me. He never came to my bed.
00:40By morning, I was the silverhoned pack's laughingstock.
00:43After that, he brought others home every night.
00:51He let his lovers boss me around, treating me like the lowest, dirtiest slave.
00:57Numb and broken, I went to him, begging him to break the mating bond.
01:01He refused. He snatched up a crystal glass and hurled it straight at my face.
01:06It smashed against my forehead, blood pouring down into my eyes.
01:10Consumed by grief and illness, I died alone in the freezing, forgotten dungeons beneath the pack house.
01:17Then, I opened my eyes.
01:19The chandeliers were bright again.
01:21The hall was loud again.
01:22I was back on the exact day the Alpha was meant to decide my fate.
01:39I parted my lips to speak, but a sudden wave of grief choked me.
01:43My eyes began to burn.
01:45Even facing this a second time, the memory still cut straight through me.
01:49Blood Fang had wanted Silverhorn Land for years.
01:52Last winter, they came for it.
01:54My father and brothers rode north with the pack's best.
01:57Before he left, my father told me to chill the moon wine for their victory feast.
02:01My brothers were loud as ever.
02:03Shoving, laughing, yelling over one another.
02:05At the time, I only thought they were being annoying.
02:07The next time I saw them, they were dead.
02:09Wrapped in torn cloth, laid out on stretchers.
02:12Still.
02:14My mother drowned in grief soon after.
02:16A few months later, she followed them into the grave.
02:19That whole house was wiped clean.
02:21Everyone in that house was gone.
02:22A wolf beside me laughed under her breath.
02:25Oh, come on, Alpha.
02:26Why even ask?
02:28Everyone in Silverhane knows Alera's been obsessed with Cowan for years.
02:31Girl probably whimpered his name into her pillow.
02:33My eyes burned.
02:35But no tears came.
02:36In my last life, I went to him hollowed out.
02:39Begged him to break the mating bond.
02:41He answered by hurling a crystal glass at my face.
02:44It split my forehead open.
02:45He still refused to let me go, even while I was dying.
02:49Alpha Brun was about to speak again.
02:50I inhaled hard and cut him off.
02:53Alpha.
02:54Cowan and I grew up together.
02:56I have never loved him.
02:57The chamber went dead quiet.
02:59Even Cowan, off to one side, looked caught off guard.
03:02Is that true?
03:03Alpha Brun narrowed his eyes.
03:05I knew the trap.
03:05If I didn't name a wolf, he would name one for me.
03:08So I lowered my head and gave him one.
03:11Yes, Alpha.
03:11There is someone I want.
03:12Varric.
03:13Alpha Varric of the Nightclaw Pack.
03:15He is the only one I want.
03:19Varric was Alpha Brun's younger brother.
03:21The war hero who helped crush Bloodfath and stabilize the northern packs.
03:25Half the north respected him like a living legend.
03:28Then, one year ago, he collapsed on the road back from the border.
03:32He never woke up.
03:33The pack healer said he might spend the rest of his life in that bed, but I knew better.
03:38In my last life, he woke in the third year of my marriage.
03:41And when I was at the very end, he was the only one who ever tried to help me.
03:46Elara.
03:48That's too hard a road.
03:50Varric may still be Alpha of Nightclaw in name, but he lies unconscious.
03:54His territory is unstable.
03:56You would be walking into a nest of vipers.
03:59Choose someone here instead.
04:00One of my own men.
04:01Alpha.
04:02I already swore before the altar.
04:04On my family's honor.
04:06In this life, I will mate no one but Alpha Varric.
04:09Please, grant me this.
04:13I bent into a full formal bow.
04:15The room held its breath.
04:17Alpha Brun fell silent.
04:19Then, Elder Edmund spoke from the corner shadow.
04:21If the girl is this devoted to Varric, let her have him.
04:26Edmund wasn't just an old man with opinions.
04:28He represented the High Northern Council.
04:30Once he spoke, even Alpha Brun couldn't press much farther.
04:34At last, Brund exhaled.
04:35Very well, Elara.
04:37Varric is my brother.
04:38As both is Alpha and his brother, it falls to me to arrange his making.
04:41If you are willing, this will be a blessing for him.
04:44And for both our packs.
04:45Your parents are gone.
04:46Luma Sigrid will oversee the preparations.
04:51Thank you, Alpha.
04:53Last time, I chose the wrong man.
04:55I would not make that mistake again.
04:58And Varric.
04:59In my last life, Nightclaw tore itself apart while he lay unconscious.
05:04By the time he woke and clawed his way back to power, his legs were ruined for good.
05:09He once showed me kindness when no one else would.
05:12This time, I would be there when he needed someone most.
05:16If the Moon Goddess gave me one more chance, I wouldn't just help Varric stand.
05:20This time, neither of us would kneel.
05:24A few days later, Luna Sigrid's maid, Mara, summoned me to finalize the mating ceremony.
05:29We had barely reached Luna's residence when Mara stopped short and bowed her head.
05:33Alpha hair.
05:34I looked up.
05:35And there he was.
05:36Cohen.
05:36He just stared at me with that familiar, cutting look.
05:39Brows drawn, eyes full of suspicion.
05:41I lowered my head and dipped into a polite curdie.
05:44Alpha air.
05:45He frowned immediately.
05:46Of course he did.
05:48He was used to a different version of me.
05:50In my last life, I always found out when he'd be visiting Luna.
05:53I'd bake buttercakes myself.
05:56Time everything perfectly.
05:57Pretend our meetings were accidents, all for the chance to place those sweets in his hands.
06:02He never ate them.
06:03He either threw them away or tossed them to the servants.
06:06Then he finally spoke, and the disgust was exactly where I remembered it.
06:10Alara, enough.
06:11You're marrying my uncle, so stop embarrassing yourself and stop chasing me.
06:15This is pathetic.
06:17And honestly, you make me sick.
06:18For a second, I almost laughed.
06:20Last time, I kept trying to explain.
06:22It only made him despise me more.
06:24You're mistaken, Alpha hair.
06:25I made myself clear in the council hall.
06:27I have no feelings for you.
06:29Really?
06:30So what now?
06:31You just happen to wander in here?
06:33And I'm supposed to believe that?
06:35Luna asked for me.
06:36We're discussing the ceremony.
06:37If you doubt it, ask Mara.
06:39Cohen glanced at her.
06:41Mara nodded.
06:43Varric's half dead.
06:45Marry him, and you'll waste your whole life beside a body that can't even claim you.
06:50You needn't worry.
06:51I chose Alpha Varric long ago.
06:53If I can stay by his side, that's enough for me.
06:56Awake or asleep, I'd still choose him over you.
07:01Luna Sigrid smiled the second she saw me.
07:04A warm smile.
07:05A polished voice.
07:06But there was calculation under both.
07:08The moment I sat down, her eyes flicked past me.
07:11That's it?
07:11You came alone?
07:13Ashbrook house is empty.
07:15There's no one left to come with me.
07:17Very well.
07:18Let's settle the ceremony.
07:19She spread two parchment sheets across the table.
07:22Two dates.
07:23June 3rd, October 19th.
07:25The second I saw October 19th, my stomach clenched.
07:28That had been the date of my last wedding.
07:30The day I was mated to Cohen.
07:32The elders had called it blessed.
07:34The sky answered with a storm.
07:36Rain tore the ceremony apart.
07:37After that, the pack began whispering that I was cursed.
07:40That I carried ruin in with me.
07:42The council seems to prefer October 19th.
07:45It's an auspicious date.
07:46Why don't we settle on that?
07:48Luna, I appreciate the care.
07:50Still, I would like the ceremony set for June 3rd.
07:53It's already May.
07:54That's very soon.
07:56Wouldn't that be rushed?
07:57I want to reach Alpha Varric as soon as possible.
08:00If the preparations are hurried, I accept that gladly.
08:03That was the exact moment Conan walked in.
08:05He heard every word.
08:07His steps slowed, only for an instant.
08:09But I caught it, and I saw the way his jaw tightened.
08:12Cohen, perfect timing.
08:14Alara wants the ceremony moved up to June 3rd.
08:16I think it's awfully rushed.
08:18Maybe you can talk some sense into her.
08:20She always listened to you when you were children.
08:25She's that desperate to marry my uncle?
08:28Why stop her?
08:29If we drag this out until October, we'll only look cruel.
08:32He meant that to sting.
08:33He wanted me to feel small.
08:35Instead, I lowered into a graceful curti.
08:38Thank you for understanding, Alpha Hare.
08:42You'll come to the mating ceremony on June 3rd, won't you?
08:47He went rutted.
08:48His face flushed with anger so fast it almost made me smile.
08:52For one second, he looked like he wanted to say something vicious.
08:55Instead, he muttered some excuse and left.
08:57I rose to take my leave.
08:58Oh, one more thing, Alara.
09:00I turned back.
09:02Since you have no family left,
09:04someone close to you should escort you to Nightclaw territory on the day of the ceremony.
09:08What about Conan?
09:10No, that won't be necessary.
09:12Elder Stonehill's son, Rainin, is loyal and dependable.
09:16He can escort me.
09:18Hmm.
09:20Very well.
09:22On the walk home, old memories followed me like ghosts.
09:25My grandfather trained Silverhand's young warriors.
09:28Conan and I grew up under the same roofs, on the same training grounds.
09:31As children, we used to slip away into the woods during drills.
09:34Once, deep in the forest, we crossed paths with a crazed bear.
09:38It charged.
09:39I shoved Cohen aside without thinking.
09:42The bear's paw caught me instead.
09:43It broke nearly half the bones in my body.
09:46I spent 15 days in the healing ward.
09:48Cohen cried so hard he could barely breathe.
09:50He clutched my hand and swore he'd spend his life making it up to me.
09:53Back then, I believed him.
09:55In my last life, all he gave me were tears.
09:57The old injury still arced when the weather turned cold.
10:00My eyesight had worsened too.
10:01Shadows blurred.
10:02This life, I was done bleeding for the same wound.
10:05I wasn't his promise anymore.
10:07I was going to Nightclaw.
10:10The wedding day kept creeping closer.
10:13All across Silverhorn, people talked about nothing else.
10:17The alliance.
10:18The ceremony.
10:19Alara leaving for Nightclaw.
10:21Even in the private wing of the stronghold,
10:23Cohen couldn't outrun it.
10:25Every servant.
10:26Same cursed name.
10:27It had been scraping at his nerves for days.
10:29He was just about to step out for air when Raynor, Elder Stonehell's son, walked in.
10:35Cohen flicked him a glance.
10:36What?
10:37Alara's heading to Nightclaw soon, right?
10:39Since she doesn't have any family left,
10:41Luna wants somebody to lead the escort to Varak's territory.
10:43Cohen's brow tightened at once.
10:45His first thought hit fast.
10:47Of course, Alara must have asked for him.
10:49All that talk about wanting Varak.
10:52Wanting the mating.
10:53A last little trick to get his attention.
10:55He lifted his glass, swirled the drink once,
10:57and took a slow sip.
11:01Then send someone.
11:03I don't have time for it.
11:05And I don't care.
11:06Well.
11:08Well what?
11:09Luna did suggest you first.
11:12But Alara said she didn't want to trouble you.
11:20So.
11:21She picked you.
11:23I mean.
11:25Maybe she just figured you were busy.
11:28I'm not.
11:29I've got nothing to do all day anyway.
11:32Right.
11:33I've got something to do.
11:34I'll go.
11:40Cohen.
11:42About what happened back then.
11:43Alara was innocent.
11:45You know she was.
11:46You've been taking that out on her for years,
11:48and it's not right.
11:50And now it's gotten this bad.
11:52You're not happy.
11:54And she.
11:55Rayla.
11:56Aren't you late for something?
11:58Your Majesty.
12:04Cohen rose and walked to the window.
12:06From there,
12:06he could just make out the distant silhouette of the old Ashberg house.
12:10His gaze darkened.
12:12At some point,
12:12the crystal in his hand had cracked under the force of his grip.
12:18Alara.
12:20Mating day came fast.
12:22Raynor and the others arrived early,
12:24waiting in the great hall before sunrise.
12:26When I walked down the staircase in my gown,
12:28Raynor forgot himself for a beak.
12:30He just stood there staring,
12:32like he'd never seen me before.
12:34He snapped out of it a second later,
12:35ears turning red.
12:40Alara.
12:42Word slipped out of the healing ward two days ago.
12:45Cohen collapsed.
12:46He's still unconscious.
12:49Alpha Brunn buried the news.
12:50Doesn't want it spreading.
12:52That's why Cohen didn't come.
12:53It has to be...
12:55Rayna.
12:57I don't care about him anymore.
13:00I know you mean well,
13:01but some things are over.
13:03And once they're over,
13:04you leave them buried.
13:08Today is my wedding day.
13:10Try looking happy.
13:12And next time you see me,
13:13don't forget to call me Lady of Nightclaw.
13:17By the time we reached Nightclaw territory,
13:20dusk had fallen.
13:21The entrance was packed.
13:23Torches blazed.
13:24Voices rolled through the air.
13:25The whole place was grander than I'd expected.
13:28In the Moonshadow Grove,
13:29the High Priest stood atop the Moonstone Altar.
13:31Elders lined both sides in perfect silence.
13:34I wore white satin.
13:35A silver veil covered my hair.
13:37And under every eye in that sacred forest,
13:39I walked alone toward the statue of the Moon Goddess.
13:42There was no groom waiting for me.
13:43Only Varuk's wolf fang pendant.
13:45My steps never faltered.
13:46And my heart stayed steady.
13:48When I reached the altar,
13:49the High Priest raised his voice.
13:50Ilara Ashberg.
13:52Do you swear, in health or sickness,
13:55in waking or in sleep,
13:57to guard, honor, and stand beside
14:00Alpha Varuk of the Nightclaw Pack
14:03as his mate for the rest of your life?
14:05I do.
14:07Then I bit my fingertip.
14:08Let the blood fall onto the wolf fang.
14:11The pendant flashed silver-white.
14:13The wolf spirit had accepted the bond.
14:15The contract was sealed.
14:17Nightclaw erupted.
14:18The cheer that tore from the crowd
14:19shook the trees themselves,
14:21as though the whole Nightclaw Pack
14:23had been waiting for this day for years.
14:25When the cheers finally eased,
14:27a young man stepped out from the crowd
14:29and dropped to one knee before me.
14:33But his eyes were clear, respectful.
14:35My lady, this way, please.
14:37He rose and guided me through the territory,
14:39pointing things out as we walked.
14:41He spoke with easy energy,
14:42like he was proud to show me all of it.
14:44At last, he brought me to the Alpha's quarters.
14:48The Alpha is resting inside.
14:50The room was simple.
14:51Varuk lay there asleep.
14:52His face was pale,
14:53leaner than it should have been,
14:54but his chest still rose and fell
14:56in a slow, steady rhythm.
14:58Alpha Varuk has been unconscious
14:59for more than half a year.
15:01He's lost weight,
15:03but otherwise he's held up well.
15:04He gets medicine once a day.
15:06In hot weather, we wash him every other day.
15:09I handle all of that.
15:11You don't need to trouble yourself, my lady.
15:14I've had a separate room prepared for you
15:15just across the hall.
15:17That won't be necessary.
15:18Varuk and I are mated now.
15:20Why would we sleep apart?
15:22Starting tonight, I sleep here.
15:25It's late, my lady.
15:26You should rest.
15:27Then he slipped out
15:28and closed the door softly behind him.
15:30Later, after I wash,
15:31and changed into my night ground,
15:33I climbed carefully into bed beside Varut.
15:36The candlelight trembled over his face.
15:38He was handsome in a dangerous way,
15:40only too pale.
15:41From this close,
15:42I could smell the faint herbal scent
15:44of his medicine.
15:45I looked at Varun's sleeping face
15:46for a long moment.
15:47I'm sorry I married you
15:49while you couldn't choose for yourself,
15:51but I swear I'll care for you
15:54and I'll be a good Luna to your pack.
15:56Then I tucked myself against him.
15:58The medicinal scent
15:59should have felt cold and sterile.
16:00Instead, somehow,
16:02it made me feel safe,
16:03and I never saw it.
16:04Varun's fingers moved.
16:07Meanwhile,
16:08in the Silverhorn Healing Ward's
16:10private recovery room,
16:11Cohen lay flat on his back,
16:13dead to the world.
16:14His eyes stayed shut.
16:16In the dream,
16:17he was standing before the High Priest.
16:19I stood beside him,
16:21not his aunt's chosen bride,
16:22not Varuk's mate,
16:24his Luna.
16:25Rain crashed outside.
16:27His clothes were soaked through.
16:28Everything was cold.
16:30Then he stepped into the bridal chamber
16:31and saw me.
16:33Cohen just stared.
16:34The storm disappeared.
16:36The cold disappeared.
16:37All he could hear
16:38was his own heartbeat.
16:40Louder.
16:41Then he jerked awake.
16:42White curtains,
16:44sweat-sticked sheets,
16:45his whole body sticky and overheated.
16:47For a few long seconds,
16:49he could barely breathe.
16:51Alpha here.
16:52You're awake.
16:54What time is it?
16:55Ninth bell.
16:56Around nine.
16:57Alpha and Luna should be back
16:58from Nightclaw by now.
16:59What day is it?
17:01June 3rd, sir.
17:02The day Alpha Varney of Nightclaw
17:04took Alara Ashwar as his mate.
17:06Cohen went silent so fast
17:07he looked carved from stone.
17:09All he saw was me in white,
17:11looking up,
17:12smiling at someone else.
17:14Something tore inside his chest,
17:16just a slow, jagged ache
17:18spreading under his ribs.
17:21I woke before dawn.
17:22The sky outside was still dark.
17:25Liv came in to brush my hair
17:26and stop the second
17:27she saw my face.
17:29My lady,
17:29did you sleep at all last night?
17:31A full-grown man
17:32lying beside me the whole night.
17:34I hadn't slept much.
17:35Help me get ready, Liv.
17:37Is the new Luna awake?
17:43Lady Helga sent me.
17:45She expects the new mate
17:46to present herself this morning.
17:48I'd already heard enough
17:49about Nightclaw
17:50to know exactly who that meant.
17:52Years ago,
17:53Varuk's uncle died
17:53protecting him
17:54during a rogue attack.
17:56Varuk repaid that debt
17:57by taking the man's widow
17:58and children
17:59into his territory.
18:00He gave them power
18:01and standing.
18:02So much that now,
18:03Helga ran half this pack
18:04like it belonged to her.
18:06I had also heard
18:07she once wanted
18:07her youngest daughter
18:08mated to Varric.
18:09Varric refused.
18:11And now I was the one
18:12in his room.
18:12My lady just woke up.
18:14Why the rush?
18:16Well, of course.
18:18The new mate
18:18is Silver Homeborn.
18:19Hand picked by
18:20Alpha Brun himself,
18:21I can see why she thinks
18:23Lady Helga can wait.
18:24I lifted one hand
18:25and stopped her.
18:26Then I smiled at the woman.
18:29What's your name?
18:30Inga.
18:31Lady Helga's personal maid.
18:33Inga,
18:33you can go back
18:34and tell Lady Helga this.
18:35After I've washed,
18:36dressed,
18:36and had breakfast,
18:37I will go pay my respects.
18:38She is an elder
18:39in this territory.
18:40Respect is due.
18:41But when I go,
18:42that will be my decision.
18:43Not hers.
18:44And one more thing.
18:46You're a servant.
18:47You entered without knocking,
18:49spoke out of line,
18:50and forgot your place
18:51in my room.
18:52If Lady Helga
18:53can't train her own taff,
18:55I don't mind
18:55doing it for her.
18:58The color flooded
18:59Inga's face.
19:00In the end,
19:01she gave the barest excuse
19:02for a kurtzel
19:02and backed out.
19:03Are we really going
19:04to see that woman?
19:06Of course we are.
19:08But we go
19:09when I say we go.
19:10That mattered.
19:11If you let people
19:12shove you around
19:13on day one,
19:14they never stopped.
19:15By the time I was dressed,
19:17I had brought Liv
19:18and Astrid with me
19:19and headed outside.
19:21I'm not drunk!
19:22I can still drink
19:23three more barrels!
19:25Do you idiots
19:26know who I am?
19:28Varric's my cousin!
19:30Until he wakes up,
19:31this whole damn territory
19:32answers to me!
19:36That's Varric's cousin.
19:39Viggo Frostfield.
19:40He's infamous,
19:41my lady.
19:42Drinks too much,
19:43beds anything that moves.
19:46He missed your
19:47mating ceremony yesterday.
19:48Passed out in a brothel.
19:49I stared at the mess
19:50in front of me.
19:51Varid?
19:52What exactly had they
19:53left festering
19:54in your house?
19:55I gave no reaction.
19:57I just climbed
19:57into my carriage.
19:59What I didn't notice
20:00was Viggo watching me
20:01through a gap in the hedges.
20:02The second my face
20:03came into view,
20:04the drunken fog
20:05lifted right out of him.
20:07He rubbed his face hard
20:08and grabbed
20:09one of the tavern workers.
20:13Who the hell was that?
20:14Couldn't see her clearly,
20:15but that carriage
20:16belongs to the Alpha's house.
20:18Oh!
20:18That must be
20:19the new lady of Nightclaw,
20:20the one who came in yesterday.
20:22Varric's new mate,
20:23but Varric's still asleep.
20:25So she's alone.
20:27The thought thrilled him.
20:29A wicked grin
20:30stretched from ear to ear.
20:34I timed it carefully.
20:35If I went to greet Luna
20:36in Silverhorn late enough,
20:37the visit would end
20:38right around the time
20:39Alpha Brun finished
20:39his council session.
20:41What I hadn't expected
20:42was Cohen at the door.
20:43The second he saw me,
20:44he stopped short.
20:45Today my hair was braided
20:46in a married-she-wolf style.
20:48I looked nothing like the girl
20:49he used to brush past
20:50without seeing.
20:51Something in his expression shifted.
20:53Maybe he was seeing
20:54the dream still clinging to me.
20:55The bride in white.
20:59So you're proud of yourself now?
21:01Mating Varric
21:02really made your day, huh?
21:04That's not what you got wrong.
21:06You should address me properly.
21:09You call me Lady Alama now.
21:11Or Aunt,
21:12if you want to get technical.
21:15You don't get to use
21:16my name anymore.
21:17It's rude.
21:18Didn't anyone teach you
21:19Manners Alpha hair?
21:22You're enjoying this.
21:26This is the match I asked for.
21:28I got what I wanted.
21:30So yes,
21:31I'm very pleased.
21:32That really should have been obvious.
21:38You're still sick.
21:40Try medicine.
21:41Try rest.
21:42Try staying out of
21:43other people's business.
21:45Luna asked for me.
21:46I'll leave you to your coughing.
21:53By the time Alpha Brune
21:55joined us later,
21:56his mood was excellent.
21:57Apparently the council session
21:58had gone unusually well.
22:00The elders were praising
22:01the alliance.
22:02Even rival faction heads
22:03had agreed for once.
22:04No wonder he was smiling.
22:06Luna asked me to stay for a meal.
22:08I accepted.
22:10By the time I returned
22:11to Nightcloth territory,
22:13Gale was heading toward
22:14the Alpha's chambers
22:14with two male servants
22:16when I spotted him
22:17in the corridor.
22:18What are you doing?
22:22He stopped at once.
22:24It's time for
22:25Alpha Varric's medicine,
22:26my lady.
22:26My gaze dropped
22:27to the wooden tray
22:28in his hands.
22:28A clay medicine jar
22:30sat on it,
22:30giving off the same
22:31bitter herbal smelt
22:32I had noticed
22:33on Varden the night before.
22:36If you'll wait outside,
22:37we'll handle it
22:38and come right back.
22:40It may take a while.
22:41Feeding him isn't easy
22:42in this condition.
22:44I'll come with you.
22:45With us?
22:47I'm his mate now.
22:49Learning how to care for him
22:50is part of that.
22:52Let me watch tonight.
22:54From now on,
22:54I'll do it.
22:55That hit him harder
22:56than I expected.
22:57He couldn't exactly refuse me,
22:58so he led me in.
23:00As we walked,
23:01he tried to prepare me.
23:02My lady,
23:03he can't swallow on his own.
23:05We have to force it down.
23:07Sometimes it goes in,
23:09sometimes it comes
23:10right back up.
23:10It's not pleasant.
23:12I listened calmly.
23:14He let out the smallest sigh
23:15under his breath,
23:16probably hoping I wouldn't
23:17get disgusted and bolt.
23:18Inside,
23:19the two servants
23:20lifted Varaby
23:21into a half-sitting cessation.
23:22Gale poured some
23:23of the dark medicine
23:24into a smaller bowl,
23:25sat at the bedside,
23:26and scooped up
23:27half a spoonful.
23:28He tipped it
23:28toward Varrican's lips.
23:30Varrican's mouth
23:31stayed closed.
23:32One of the servants
23:33had to grip his jaw
23:34and force it open.
23:35Only then could Gale
23:36get the liquid in.
23:37And even then,
23:38most of it slid
23:39right back out.
23:40The dark froth ran
23:41from the corner
23:41of Varric's mouth
23:42and soaked into his nightshirt,
23:44leaving a wide,
23:45ugly stain.
23:46Gale tried again.
23:47Same result.
23:48Half swallowed.
23:50Half wasted.
23:51I watched for a while,
23:52then finally turned
23:53my head away.
23:54Out of the corner
23:55of his eye,
23:56Gale saw that
23:56and immediately misunderstood.
23:58He probably thought
23:59I was horrified
24:00or disgusted
24:01or regretting
24:02everything already.
24:03I had no idea
24:04what nonsense
24:05was running
24:05through his head.
24:06I turned away first,
24:08then faced him again.
24:09Gale,
24:09you're wasting
24:10half the bowl.
24:11Give it to me.
24:16Hand me the medicine.
24:17He rose automatically,
24:19still looking shell-shocked.
24:21Then,
24:21while I sat down
24:22at the bedside,
24:23he glanced at the servants
24:24and cleared his bin's throat.
24:26My lady,
24:27should we step outside?
24:29Why?
24:30Aren't you going
24:30to feed the alpha?
24:31He lowered his voice,
24:33serious as a priest.
24:35If we stay,
24:36you might feel embarrassed.
24:38It wouldn't be proper.
24:41Embarrassed about what exactly?
24:42Gale scratched
24:43the back of his neck.
24:44Then,
24:45with complete sincerity,
24:47Weren't you planning
24:47to do it mouth to mouth?
24:51I just stared at him.
24:53Mouth to mouth?
24:54Heat rushed
24:55straight into my face.
24:56Who told you
24:58that's how you feed medicine
24:59to an unconscious man?
25:01Books.
25:02That's how they do it
25:02in all the romance stories.
25:05Those are stories.
25:07Stories are stories.
25:08Medicine is medicine.
25:10Go find me
25:10a thin wooden slab.
25:12About this long
25:13and this wide.
25:15Smooth it down.
25:16Wash it clean.
25:17Gale clearly had no clue
25:18where this was going,
25:19but he went.
25:21A few minutes later,
25:22he came back
25:23with the wood.
25:24I had the servants
25:24prop another pillow
25:25behind Verevan's head.
25:27Then I placed
25:28one end of the smooth slat
25:29inside his mouth.
25:30After that,
25:31I spooned the medicine
25:32slowly onto the wood.
25:33The liquid ran down the slat
25:35and straight into his throat.
25:37Gale's jaw dropped.
25:38That's it?
25:39It's that easy?
25:44Read fewer novels.
25:46My lady,
25:47how did you know that?
25:49My grandfather was a healer,
25:52pouring another careful spoonful.
25:54This is only a makeshift fix.
25:56There's a proper healer's funnel
25:57for patients like this.
25:59Much better than a piece of wood.
26:01Gale looked utterly astonished.
26:02By the time we finished the bowl,
26:05Gale turned to refill it.
26:06I looked at Varget's pale face
26:08and something cold
26:10tightened in my chest.
26:11Even a pack alpha
26:12could have enemies,
26:13couldn't he?
26:14My grandfather knew better.
26:15Any trained healer
26:16should have known too.
26:17So why had no one
26:18used one here?
26:19Why had half his medicine
26:20been wasted every day?
26:21This wasn't carelessness.
26:23Someone wanted Varric weak.
26:27Gale?
26:28Yes, my lady?
26:29I want to ask you something.
26:31Is this territory split in two?
26:34Varric on one side,
26:35Helga and her children on the other?
26:37That caught him off guard.
26:39Yes.
26:40The divide started
26:40when Alpha Varric
26:41brought Lady Helga
26:42into Nightcloth.
26:43Internal matters,
26:44resource assignments,
26:46staffing,
26:46household operations,
26:47all of that ended up
26:48in her hands.
26:49External dealings,
26:51trade,
26:51contracts,
26:52territory accounts,
26:53those stayed under the Alpha.
26:54But after he fell unconscious,
26:56I took over what I could.
26:57Poorly,
26:58if I'm being honest.
27:00It's been a mess.
27:01Lady Helga has asked
27:03more than once
27:03to take control of everything.
27:05I refused.
27:06Thank the moon
27:07you're here now.
27:08I nodded slowly.
27:10Before I entered Nightclaw,
27:11I had no idea
27:12the pack was built like this.
27:13But maybe that was a blessing.
27:15If the territory
27:16was already split,
27:17then no one held
27:18absolute control
27:19over me either.
27:20That meant I had room
27:21to move.
27:22Room to decide
27:23things for myself.
27:25So I told Gale
27:26to summon the department heads.
27:28All of them.
27:29Soon enough,
27:30they stood before me.
27:31Around a dozen in total.
27:35I had them state
27:36their duties one by one.
27:37By the end,
27:38I understood
27:39the shape of Nightclaw.
27:40Gale stood right
27:41behind my chair,
27:42his massive frame
27:43looming like a stone wall.
27:45Split power,
27:46hidden loyalties.
27:47Too many guarded voices
27:48in one room.
27:49This system had been built
27:50for some future lady
27:51of Nightclin,
27:52not me.
27:53Fine.
27:54Fate had given me
27:55the seat anyway.
27:57I cleared my throat
27:58and looked at all of them.
27:59I was raised
28:00in silver-haired.
28:01I won't pretend
28:02I know every corner
28:03of how Nightclin runs.
28:04But I do know one rule.
28:06Do the job well
28:07and you'll be rewarded.
28:09It's hot today.
28:10You've all been standing
28:11in this heat long enough.
28:13After this,
28:14go to the dining hall.
28:15Each of you gets a glass
28:17of iced honey mint water.
28:18That stunned them
28:19into silence.
28:21A few swallowed on reflex.
28:23Their foreheads
28:24were already damp
28:25from the heat.
28:26And starting today,
28:27you'll get it every afternoon
28:28until summer ends.
28:29If your teams need
28:30something reasonable,
28:31tell Liv.
28:31I'll review it.
28:34This time,
28:35the thanks came fast.
28:37Louder.
28:38Warmer.
28:38More sincere.
28:39I let them have the moment
28:40because I knew exactly
28:42what I was doing.
28:43Set the rules first,
28:44then offer sweetness.
28:45That was how you got
28:46people to work
28:47for you willingly.
28:48And once they were
28:49on your side,
28:50they'd stand by you.
28:51After dealing with the staff,
28:53I moved to the
28:53territory ledgers.
28:55Gale wasn't lying.
28:56He didn't have a clue
28:57what he was doing.
28:59The numbers were a disaster.
29:00The handwriting
29:01looked like crawling spiders.
29:03I forced myself
29:04to sit there,
29:05tracing lines,
29:06sorting figures,
29:07until the sun
29:08finally went down.
29:10Across the estate,
29:12in the east wing,
29:13Lady Helga slashed her hand
29:14onto a heavy
29:15harmogony table.
29:16That little bitch!
29:17She didn't even bother
29:18showing up!
29:19Relax, mother.
29:20I'll go check on her tonight.
29:22Teach her a little respect.
29:23What are you didn't answer?
29:25Vigor didn't answer.
29:26Because his head
29:27was already full of
29:28the woman he'd seen
29:29from the carriage.
29:30The pale skin.
29:31The sharp eyes.
29:32The itch in his blood
29:33was too strong.
29:34He wasn't going to
29:35let that slip away.
29:37You wanted her to come
29:37groveling, didn't you?
29:40Don't worry.
29:41I guarantee she'll be
29:42at your door
29:42bright and early tomorrow.
29:46Later that night,
29:47I washed up
29:48and got ready for bed.
29:50Liv finished
29:50turning down the sheets.
29:51But the second
29:52she opened the door
29:53to leave,
29:54a man laughed
29:55from the hallway.
29:56Easy.
29:56It's just me,
29:57Viggo Frostbark.
29:58I'm not here to bite.
29:59I frowned immediately.
30:01What the hell
30:02was he doing here
30:03this late?
30:03What do you want?
30:05Got some urgent business
30:06to discuss
30:07with my lovely
30:07new sister-in-law.
30:08My lady's asleep.
30:10Come back in daylight.
30:11It's an emergency.
30:12Go wake her up.
30:13She sleeps heavy.
30:14She won't wake.
30:15Leave.
30:16Fine.
30:16Tomorrow morning then.
30:18Liv let out
30:18a long sigh.
30:22Inside the room,
30:23I let out
30:23a breath of my own.
30:25I turned back
30:25toward the bed.
30:26Then I heard it.
30:27I whipped around
30:28just as the heavy
30:29glass swang open.
30:30A shadow dropped
30:31silently into the room
30:32dot my chest heightened.
30:34You lied to me,
30:35Alara.
30:36Before I could
30:36even scream,
30:37he lunged.
30:38His hand clamped
30:39hard over my mouth.
30:41Don't make a sound.
30:42If someone catches
30:43us like this,
30:44they'll think
30:44we're sneaking around.
30:45Alpha's mate or not,
30:46that'll be the end of you.
30:48And besides,
30:49you really want
30:50to waste yourself
30:51on a half-dead corpse?
30:52I had learned
30:53enough combat
30:53for my father
30:54and brothers
30:54to know how to fight.
30:56But against
30:56a fully grown male wolf,
30:58I couldn't break
30:59his grip.
30:59Viggo's breathing
31:00grew rougher
31:01as I struggled.
31:02He pressed closer.
31:04Alara,
31:06you've never been
31:07with a real man,
31:08have you?
31:08Let me show you once.
31:11After that,
31:12you'll come begging.
31:15Look at him.
31:16He's half a corpse.
31:17You think he knows
31:18what room he's in?
31:22He's half dead.
31:24I drove the heel
31:25of my foot down
31:25as hard as I could.
31:27Viggo brunted in pain,
31:28so I bolted
31:29for the far wall,
31:30toward the weapons rack.
31:31I was born
31:32of the Ashbrook bloodline.
31:33I was not going
31:34to let some drunken rat
31:36touch me.
31:37You think you can
31:38lift that,
31:38Alara?
31:39You're shaking.
31:40Just be a good girl.
31:42Come back to the bed.
31:44We can do it
31:45right next to him.
31:46He'll never know.
31:47I grabbed the hulp
31:48with both hands
31:49and heaved.
31:50My arms trembled
31:51under the strain,
31:52but I gripped it tight,
31:53pointed it straight
31:54at Vigrid's chest.
31:56Take one step,
31:57and I'll take your hand off.
31:59Viggo was still smiling.
32:00Then, suddenly,
32:02his eyes flicked
32:03past my shoulder.
32:04His smile vanished.
32:05He stared behind me,
32:07backing away
32:08in pure,
32:08undisguised terror.
32:09Never.
32:11Don't fly.
32:11If you'dοΏ½οΏ½,γΏ
32:11bandwagon ever.
32:12And my
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