- 11 hours ago
The Covenant Of Betrayal
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00:00She stood at the Covenant altar wearing the exact same gown, moon silk, silver white, lily, she's just a friend,
00:06Jack always said, the vixen, her three red tails swaying behind her, each tip blushing pink, the sign of a
00:11fox in heat, or in triumph, she stood beside Jack, greeting guests together, my hand traced my moon silk gown,
00:16traditional bridal robe of the Lycan people, for the man I had loved eight years, ready, nervous, a scent drifted
00:23from the great hall, something sweet, clowing, and wrong, fox, I knew that scent, a female, young,
00:30her paramount's too strong for a guest, she shouldn't be here, I'm going to look, Rose, Rose, everyone is here,
00:37the five kingdoms, you can't, I know, I'm just looking, I pushed through the curtain, and saw her, Lily, Jack
00:43wore his half form too, golden lion's mane shining under the crystal lights, a hybrid, always ashamed of it, but
00:49today he looked like a prince, they looked good together, behind me, my mother sucked in a breath, the hall
00:54went quiet, ears turned towards me, tails stopped swaying, all eyes on me, I breathed in, wolves don't
00:59show fear, my father's first lesson, I walk into the hall, my moon silk gown, dragging across the stone floor,
01:06my ears straight, Jack saw me, his face changed, muscles tightening under his mane, he opened his mouth, Lily got
01:13there first,
01:15Rose, what a beautiful gown, oh, what a coincidence, ours matched, she looped her arm through Jack's, leaned her head
01:23on his shoulder, Jack didn't push her away,
01:25I looked at him, he looked at me, amber eyes, guilty, flustered, but not surprised, he knew she would come,
01:33he knew she would wear this, maybe he planned it, I smiled, you do look perfect together, loud enough for
01:39every beast in the hall to hear, a fine pair, Lily's smile froze, her tail stopped, three tips trembling, the
01:48tell of a fox caught in a lie, then her eyes welled up,
01:52Rose, how could you, Jack and I are just, just, she ran, gown tangling under her feet, Jack's face burned
02:00red, his mane flared, tiger stripes rising under his skin,
02:04Rose, how could you say that, Lily came to wish us well, his voice boomed,
02:09Jack, today is our vow ceremony, he stopped, five kingdoms are watching, your father, mine, do you really want to
02:17fight me here, over a friend, his mane flattened, he looked at me, then at the silent guests, his throat
02:23bobbed,
02:24But he didn't apologize, he turned and ran after Lily, left me standing at the altar in my moon silk
02:29gown, alone, one by one, the crystal lights went dark, guests rose and left, some gave me pitying looks, some
02:35smirked, I stood still,
02:37My mother came to me, said nothing, just draped a blanket over my shoulders, it smelled like her, cedar, frost,
02:44and a trace of old blood, war wounds,
02:46Rose, mother, I want to be alone, I stared at the altar, she left, the hall was empty, I looked
02:53up at the soul bond contract hanging above the altar, our names carved into a crystal,
02:57After the vow ceremony, the crystal would split in two, each of us would hold half, now it just hung
03:02there, a joke, I reached up and took it down,
03:05The crystal was cold against my palm, I remembered eight years ago, the lake, Moonlight Lake, Jack's first confession, he
03:13was a hybrid, I was the duke's daughter,
03:15Our union could have healed old wounds between lions and wolves, I thought it was fate, now I knew better,
03:21it was just me, I got the news on the way home,
03:24Jack took Lily to Moonlight Lake after the reception, Moonlight Lake, our sacred ground, where the wolf moon goddess bathed,
03:32they said, where the waters healed all wounds,
03:34I was supposed to go there with Jack, for our mating moon, he went with another woman, griffin driven carriage
03:40clattering over Golden City's stone streets,
03:43I set down my communication crystal, didn't reply, told the driver to turn, to the temple of life, head to
03:49the temple of life,
03:51The temple sat in the eastern quarter, run by deer druids, incense always burning, an old doe received me, her
03:59antlers grey, but her eyes clear,
04:02Your certain child?
04:04Yes, she sighed, took a purple vial from the shelf, a runestone, root severant runen, drink the potion, press the
04:13stone to your belly, three days, and the child's scent will fade,
04:16I took the vial, cold, my hand didn't shake, how long?
04:20The rune works fast, but recovery takes time, you'll need someone to tend you, the doe's voice was soft,
04:26I drank, bitter, then I opened my gown, and pressed the stone to my skin, cold spread from my belly
04:33through my whole body, like something being ripped out by the roots,
04:37Three days later, the cub's scent was gone, Jack would notice, his kind didn't have lichen noses, but a father
04:43knows when his own blood goes missing,
04:46But what did it matter? He didn't care anymore, neither would I, pale moonlight bled through the fur curtains, frost
04:54wolf decorations from the ceremony still hung on the walls,
04:57They look like bad omens now, I dragged myself to the bed, collapsed onto the fur mattress,
05:02Lily's phantom image was the first thing I saw,
05:05Lucky to have you, meant to be,
05:07The image showed Jack holding her close at Moonlight Lake, moonlight silver on the water, their lips about to meet,
05:14matching rings on their fingers,
05:16Once, I would have stormed over to demand answers, now I just turned off the crystal and rolled over, no
05:23tears, just tired,
05:25The next days brought no word from Jack, but Lily's phantom images showed me everything, kisses, selfies, market walks around
05:32Moonlight Lake,
05:32Every image had a location marker, everyone had a sweet caption, I didn't react, I contacted a mage, started preparing
05:39to sever the soulbond,
05:41His name was Greyclaw, Avis, my classmate from the academy, his beast form was a grey feathered eagle, in human
05:46form, he still had those sharp raptor eyes, he asked when he flew to my house,
05:53You're sure?
05:55Yes, he didn't argue, just pulled a roll of cured hide from his satchel,
06:04Soulbond severation contract, he said, spreading it on the table,
06:08Under the Codex of Beasts, severing a bond requires both parties to tear the contract before the Council of Elders,
06:14The guilty party pays cub feed, all costs from the pregnancy and recovery,
06:18What else?
06:19If a third party interfered in the marriage, the innocent party can reclaim all property the guilty party spent on
06:24the third during the marriage,
06:26Greyclaw's eagle eyes fixed on me,
06:29Jack bought Lily an emerald bracelet worth a million crystals, did you know?
06:32I blinked, then laughed,
06:35I do now write it in,
06:37Two weeks later, I was reviewing Greyclaw's draft at home,
06:41When the front door opened, Jack walked in, Lily on his arm,
06:44He'd gotten tan, his mane had grown, golden hair bright in the sun, Lily's three red tails wagging behind her,
06:50Our eyes met, Jack dropped her hand, uncomfortable, his mane flared, then flattened, tiger stripes flickering, his nervous tell,
06:57Dry-throated,
06:58Lily had never seen the snowfields, I took her to see them,
07:02I said nothing,
07:03You're carrying our cub, the mage said you should rest,
07:06His voice trailed off, I looked back down at my papers, nodded,
07:10Good, you,
07:11He stopped, watched me not looking at him,
07:14His mane flared again,
07:17You,
07:20What's your problem?
07:21I told you, Lily just wanted to see the snow,
07:24We can take our mating moon anytime,
07:26Why are you making a scene?
07:28And I've told you a hundred times,
07:30Lily and I are just-
07:31Just siblings, I know,
07:32My face was blank,
07:33Wolf eyes flat,
07:34His face went stiff,
07:36Mane flattening,
07:37Stripes fading,
07:38He opened his mouth,
07:39Nothing came out,
07:40Lily stepped forward,
07:41Grabbed Jack's wrist,
07:43Her tails low,
07:44Ears pinned back,
07:45Rose, please don't be angry,
07:47Please don't fight with Jack because of me,
07:50Lily's voice soft as cotton,
07:52He didn't take you this time,
07:54But he brought you a present,
07:57Jack,
07:57Give your wife her present,
07:59She smiled at Jack,
08:00Jack fumbled in his pocket,
08:02Pulled out a small box,
08:04Pushed it at me,
08:05I got this just for you,
08:06Open it,
08:08I glanced inside,
08:11Simple earrings,
08:12Flower shaped,
08:13Tiny crystals around the edges,
08:15Pretty enough,
08:17But compared to the emerald bracelet on Lily's wrist,
08:20Worth a million crystals,
08:22It looked like market stall trash,
08:24I pushed the box back,
08:26No need,
08:27I don't accept scraps,
08:30The air turned cold,
08:31Jack's face went dark,
08:34Mane exploding,
08:35Stripes,
08:36Rising,
08:38Rose,
08:39What does that mean?
08:41I looked at the bracelet on Lily's wrist,
08:43Moonlight lake yade,
08:45Green as new leaves,
08:47Worth a fortune,
08:48Then,
08:49I met Jack's eyes,
08:51What I said,
08:52You give her emeralds,
08:53You give me scraps,
08:55You think that's all I'm worth?
08:59Jack's mane frozen,
09:01His eyes flickered,
09:03Lily jumped in,
09:04Voice breaking,
09:06Don't be angry,
09:07Jack only gave me the bracelet because I loved it so much,
09:10If it bothers you,
09:11I can give it back,
09:13She said this,
09:14Made no move to take off the bracelet,
09:16Jack pulled Lily close,
09:18Glared at me,
09:21Lily,
09:21Don't listen to her,
09:23The bracelet is yours,
09:24She's always been like this,
09:26Small hearted,
09:28Jealous,
09:28I looked at them,
09:30Said nothing,
09:31Turned back to my crystal,
09:33Greyclaw had sent a message,
09:35First draft ready,
09:36Also,
09:37Compiled list of Jack's gifts to Lily during the marriage,
09:40Total,
09:403.72 million crystals,
09:43I replied,
09:43Good,
09:45Jack saw me ignoring him,
09:47Got angrier,
09:49He stormed out with Lily,
09:51Slamming the door so hard he cracked two rooms,
09:57I knew what he was waiting for,
09:59He wanted me to run after him,
10:02Apologize,
10:02Like I always did,
10:04This time,
10:06I didn't even look up,
10:09On the eighth day,
10:11Greyclaw flew to Golden City himself,
10:13Put the final soul bond severation contract in my hands,
10:16Sign,
10:17He said,
10:18I'll handle the rest,
10:19I picked up the quill,
10:21Dipped it in ink,
10:22I signed my name,
10:23Rose Frostclaw,
10:24Daughter of the Lycan Duke,
10:2672nd generation of Snowfield Wolves,
10:28Then pressed my paw print beside it,
10:30Silver grey,
10:31The print glowed faintly on the hide,
10:33Scent rising,
10:34Cedar,
10:34Frost,
10:35And something bitter,
10:36My mark,
10:36From this day,
10:37Jack had no part of me,
10:38But the day before my follow up exam,
10:40Jack sat in my living room,
10:42Nervous,
10:42His mane flaring and flattening,
10:45Jack tomorrow,
10:46You'll come with me?
10:48Of course,
10:50I smiled,
10:52Then I sent Lily a message,
10:56Maybe you're not as important to Jack as you think,
10:59He promised to take me to the temple tomorrow,
11:02He says everything between you is just pretend,
11:05Lily was quiet for a long time,
11:07Finally,
11:08Just wait,
11:10I set down the crystal,
11:13Smiled,
11:13Fox pride is more fragile than their tails,
11:17I knew she wouldn't let me down,
11:20The next morning,
11:22Jack was gone,
11:24His pillow was still warm when I woke,
11:26He'd left recently,
11:29The sheets smelled like scorch,
11:32His lying smell,
11:35My crystal lit up,
11:38Lily's phantom image,
11:40Jack and her kissing,
11:42The caption,
11:45True love doesn't check the calendar,
11:48I set down the crystal,
11:49Picked up the soul bond severment contract,
11:52Walked out,
11:53Greyclaw waited outside Covenant Hall,
11:55He came?
11:56No,
11:57But the council is inside,
11:59Then let's begin,
12:01The fifteen elders sat in their places,
12:03Three from each kingdom,
12:05Their eyes followed me,
12:06My grandmother sat among the wolf elders,
12:08She nodded once,
12:10I nodded back,
12:11Rose Frostclaw,
12:12Wolf,
12:13The high elder spoke,
12:14You petitioned to sever the soul bond,
12:16With Jack Golden Mane,
12:18Is this true?
12:19Yes,
12:20Evidence?
12:20Greyclaw stepped forward,
12:22Laid out the rolls,
12:23Phantom images,
12:24Crystal messages,
12:25Gift records,
12:27The elders read,
12:28The defendant,
12:29Defendant not present,
12:30Wait,
12:30Jack burst through the doors,
12:32Mane a mess,
12:33Shirt untucked,
12:34He stopped in the center of the hall,
12:36Breathing hard,
12:37Amber eyes locked on me,
12:39Rose,
12:39You,
12:40His voice shook,
12:41You planned this,
12:42I said nothing,
12:43Yesterday,
12:44You asked me to come with you,
12:45You knew I'd go to Lily,
12:47You set me up,
12:48Defendant,
12:49Do you admit,
12:51To improper relations,
12:52With Lily the fox,
12:54Jack opened his mouth,
12:56Closed it,
12:57She's just a friend,
12:59He finally said,
13:01Murmurs,
13:02A friend?
13:03Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,
13:05The bear elder laughed,
13:06You kiss your friend?
13:08Jack's mane flattened,
13:10I made a mistake,
13:12Enough!
13:12The high elder struck his staff,
13:14This council finds in favor of the petitioner,
13:16The soul bond is severed,
13:17Jack golden mane shall pay cub feed and damages,
13:19Totaling 5.3 million crystals,
13:21Rose Frostclaw,
13:23Do you accept?
13:24Yes,
13:24Jack golden mane,
13:25Do you accept?
13:26Jack stood in the center of the hall,
13:28Shaking,
13:29His eyes were red,
13:31Mane flat,
13:32Stripes gone,
13:32I-I-I don't accept,
13:34Louder now,
13:35Rose,
13:37You're carrying my cub,
13:38How could you?
13:39Gone,
13:40He froze,
13:43What?
13:44The cub,
13:45I looked at him,
13:46Calm,
13:48Two weeks ago,
13:49At the temple of life,
13:51I did the root severment,
13:53The whole gasp,
13:55Jack's face lost all color,
13:57Turning deathly pale like ash,
13:59His lips trembled,
14:00You what?
14:01His voice came from somewhere hollow and deep,
14:04The cub is gone,
14:06The day you took Lily to Moonlight Lake,
14:10Jack's legs gave out,
14:12He fell to his knees,
14:15How could you?
14:18How could you?
14:20Mundling now,
14:22A cub,
14:23You knew it was our cub,
14:26I looked into his eyes,
14:28Spoke each word clearly,
14:32Then why did you take another woman to Moonlight Lake while I carried it?
14:36He had no answer,
14:38Just knelt there,
14:39Shaking,
14:40Completely broken and defeated,
14:42The elders exchanged looks,
14:44Judgment stands,
14:45The soul bond is severed,
14:47This council is dismissed,
14:49One by one the elders rose,
14:51The wolf elders each touched my shoulder as they passed,
14:55My grandmother said nothing,
14:57Just pressed a warm crystal into my palm,
14:59The blessing of wolves,
15:01I closed my fingers around it,
15:04Walked out of the hall,
15:05Behind me,
15:06Jack still knelt on the floor,
15:08Not moving,
15:09I didn't look back,
15:11After the bond was severed,
15:13I went home to the snow fields,
15:16Wolf territory sits between frozen mountains,
15:19Winter all year,
15:20I liked the cold,
15:22Cold that went to the bone,
15:24Kept you awake,
15:25My mother made me recovery food every day,
15:28Bone broth,
15:29Fish stew,
15:31Wild greens,
15:32Different every time,
15:34My father didn't talk,
15:36Just left fresh kills at the door and walked away,
15:39It took me a long time to heal,
15:40Root severment is hard on the body,
15:42The deer druid said three months at least,
15:44I didn't follow Jack's news,
15:46But Greyclaw told me anyway,
15:48Jack's not well,
15:49He sat across from me in the longhouse,
15:51His sharp eyes watching intently,
15:55He's been in the taverns every night,
15:57Drinking until he can't stand,
15:59A few times he shouted your name in public,
16:02The lion council warned him,
16:04Lily?
16:04She tries to see him,
16:06But Golden Mane,
16:08Jack's father,
16:08Forbade it,
16:10Said if she comes near Jack again,
16:11He'll have her whole family run out of Golden City,
16:14She won't give up?
16:15No,
16:15Greyclaw shook his head,
16:16She's been talking to me,
16:17You're a new patron,
16:18One more thing,
16:18I nodded,
16:19Greyclaw pulled a scroll from his satchel,
16:21The Frostwolf Trading House,
16:23All of Jack's shares have been transferred to you,
16:25He signed,
16:25Didn't fight,
16:26Didn't fight?
16:27No,
16:28Greyclaw paused,
16:30He was drunk,
16:32After he signed,
16:32He cried,
16:34Said he wanted to see you,
16:36I was quiet for a moment,
16:38No,
16:38I said,
16:40Greyclaw put away the scroll,
16:42Stood,
16:42I'll be going then,
16:44Send word if you need me,
16:45He spread his grey wings,
16:47Shot out of the longhouse,
16:49Into the sky,
16:49I watched him disappear into the clouds,
16:52Then looked down at the roll in my hands,
16:55Frostwolf Trading House,
16:56Jack and I started it together after we left the academy,
17:00A market stall at first,
17:02Selling snowfield goods,
17:03Hides,
17:04Herbs,
17:04Crystals,
17:05Then it grew,
17:06Became one of the biggest trading houses in the five kingdoms,
17:10Bards used to sing about us,
17:12The hybrid son and the duke's daughter,
17:14Against all odds,
17:16Building an empire together,
17:20Pretty story,
17:20Pretty story,
17:21Pretty story,
17:21Pretty story,
17:21Pretty story,
17:21Pretty story,
17:21Pretty story,
17:22You
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