- 7 hours ago
Tasting Me, My Mates
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:13you're wet
00:14a deep masculine voice right next to my ear
00:17low
00:18dangerous
00:19it made my stomach clinch
00:21my head was fuzzy
00:23three scents wrapped around me
00:25familiar and not
00:27one cold against my lips
00:29one burning at my waist
00:30one rough between my thighs
00:32their hands, their mouths
00:35I couldn't stop trembling
00:37three golden bonds coiled tight
00:39around our wrists so hot they burned
00:41three wolf shadows tangled
00:43on the wall above us
00:44I jolted awake, gasping
00:49cold sweat ran down my temple
00:51my back was soaked through
00:55my name is Freya Ashwood
00:57orphan, omega, nobody
01:00I don't remember my parents
01:03don't remember where I came from
01:05omegas like me were fair game in the pack
01:07the ones everyone mocked
01:09nobody noticed
01:11but I had Kylan
01:13my mate
01:14the new alpha of the pack
01:21strong, loyal
01:22everything I'd ever hoped for
01:24tomorrow at his coronation
01:25he was going to propose to me
01:27in front of the whole pack
01:28and name me his Luna
01:38my heart was racing
01:39just thinking about it
01:41I picked up the laced Reya box
01:43I'd spent weeks preparing
01:45today
01:45I would finally become his Luna
01:50at the ceremony
01:51I tucked the box against my side
01:53and kept my eyes locked on Kylan
02:00he stood on the stage in full ceremonial dress
02:03my alpha
02:04my future
02:05his father announced him
02:07as the new alpha
02:15Kieran took the microphone
02:18my heart kicked
02:19my foot was already moving forward
02:22but his eyes slid past me
02:24straight to my adoptive sister Mia
02:26Mia Ashwood
02:27my sister
02:28I understood everything
02:29in a single second
02:30this was a setup
02:32it had always been a setup
02:33the whole hall burst into laughter
02:35every alpha
02:37every beta
02:37every Omega
02:38who'd ever looked down on me
02:39now feasting on my humiliation
02:41something inside me snapped
02:43I ran up the steps
02:45and grabbed Keevan by the collar
02:46screaming at me
02:48he shoved me off like garbage
02:52then he looked me dead in the eye
02:54and said the words
02:55that would end him
02:56the golden bond between us
02:58snapped with a sickening crack
02:59in the chaos
03:00my lingerie box fell
03:02the lace spilled across the floor
03:04my handwritten love note
03:06fluttered out
03:06and the pack
03:07my pack
03:08picked them up
03:09passing them around
03:10laughing
03:11I begged for them back
03:12all I got was more laughter
03:14I grabbed a shard of broken glass
03:16off the floor
03:16climbed to my feet
03:17and dragged it across Kieran's face
03:19he struck me down with one swing
03:21my head hit the marble
03:22and then
03:22in front of the entire pack
03:24he publicly sentenced me
03:25to the werewolf
03:25information school
03:28congratulations little sister
03:29there are three alphas
03:30at that place
03:31Alex is the worst of them
03:35a monster
03:36an absolute devil
03:49when I opened my eyes again
03:51I was standing at the gates
03:52of the Lycan Reform Academy
03:54a roar of voices
03:55a crowd surging
03:57toward the training grounds
03:58screams everywhere
04:00I was swept along with them
04:01shoved all the way to the front
04:03before I could fight it
04:08in the center of the arena
04:09a man was tied to a wooden board
04:11lined with small blades
04:13blood everywhere
04:14still breathing
04:15three massive werewolves
04:18stride slowly forward
04:19their fur glistens brightly
04:20exuding an overpowering
04:22commanding aura
04:24in an instant
04:25a burst of harsh light
04:27flares up
04:28and they shift
04:29from beast to human
04:30all at once
04:31revealing stunning
04:32almost impossibly
04:33perfect physiques
04:39leading them is Alex
04:40broad shouldered
04:42and narrow waisted
04:43his sharp
04:43cold features
04:44carry a menacing edge
04:45an eye patch
04:46covers his eyes
04:47and a violent
04:48dangerous awarma
04:49clings to him
04:50warning everyone
04:50to stay away
04:51right beside him
04:52is Griffin
04:53his rich burgundy shirt
04:54hangs open wide
04:55putting his defined
04:57six pad on full display
04:58bold and devilishly charming
05:00he always wears
05:01a teasing
05:02playful smirk
05:03on his lips
05:03on the far side
05:04stands Jasper
05:05holding a crisp
05:06white shirt in his hand
05:07he has a gentle
05:07pure aura
05:08with soft
05:09relaxed features
05:09like a quiet
05:10elegant gentleman
05:11bathed in moonlight
05:12he is the only one
05:13of the three
05:13who seems entirely
05:14harmless
05:14wait
05:15the demons
05:16Mia warned me about
05:17the three men
05:18from my dreams
05:19Alex pulled a knife
05:21from his belt
05:22and flicked it
05:23it whistled past
05:24the bound man's ear
05:25and buried itself
05:26in the wood
05:27the crowd erupted
05:28in cheer
05:29something inside me
05:30broke open
05:31every moment
05:32of the ceremony
05:33came rushing back
05:34Kieran's face
05:35Mia's whisper
05:37the laughter
05:38I stopped thinking
05:40I ran out
05:41into the center
05:41of the ring
05:42and planted myself
05:43in front of the bound man
05:44screaming up at Alex
05:50a blade
05:51whistled past my ear
05:52so close
05:53it grazed my lobe
05:54and buried itself
05:55in the board
05:56right between
05:56the bound man's legs
05:57one inch higher
05:58and it would have
05:59ended him
06:00Alex was already
06:01walking toward me
06:02slow
06:04predatory
06:04the crowd
06:06stared at me
06:06like I was insane
06:07I forced myself
06:09to meet his eyes
06:10through the blindfold
06:11tried to keep
06:12my breathing steady
06:13it only made him
06:14angrier
06:15he closed the distance
06:16I thought I was dead
06:18then Jaster
06:19caught his arm
06:19I stepped back
06:20on instinct
06:21and hit something warm
06:23a chest
06:25Griffins
06:26he tipped my Chima up
06:28with one finger
06:29and smirked down at me
06:30all three of them
06:31all three men
06:32from my dreams
06:34who the hell are you
06:36my name is Freya Ashwith
06:47what the fuck are you
06:53Alex's fingers
06:53tightened around my neck
06:54his eyes burned
06:55before I could answer
06:56he turned away
06:57and spit a mouthful
06:58of blood onto the ground
06:59his face was white as death
07:00I stumbled back
07:01lungs heaving
07:02one word in my head
07:03run
07:03I didn't stop
07:04until my back
07:05hit a cold stone wall
07:06only then did I
07:07let myself breathe
07:08that dream
07:08the faces
07:10the bonds
07:11all three of them
07:12the same three men
07:13from my bed at night
07:14how could any of it
07:16be real
07:17mates
07:18three mates
07:19a wolf
07:20couldn't have
07:21three mates
07:21it wasn't possible
07:23I was losing
07:24my mind
07:24I forced my feet
07:25to move
07:26toward the dormitory
07:27the only place
07:28that was mine
07:29I pushed the door
07:30open
07:30and a hand
07:31sped out of the dark
07:32and yanked me inside
07:33my back slammed
07:34against the wood
07:34I looked up
07:35into Alex's
07:36blood red eyes
07:37his breath was scorching
07:38he didn't give me
07:40a second to speak
07:40his mouth crashed
07:42down on mine
07:43hard
07:43devouring
07:44like he was trying
07:45to break me open
07:46and crawl inside
07:47I shoved him off
07:48with everything I had
07:49and he let me
07:50he just stood there
07:51chest heaving
07:52his eyes were still red
07:53but underneath the violence
07:54I saw something else
07:55pain
07:56he was fighting
07:57something I couldn't see
07:58I looked down
07:59the three golden bonds
08:00on my wrist
08:01were wriggling
08:02burning gold
08:03a horrible thought
08:05crossed my mind
08:08you're in rut
08:09aren't you
08:11the words lit him up
08:13like a match
08:13he slammed my wrists
08:14above my head
08:15his other hand
08:15locking around my waist
08:16his palm burned
08:17through my dress
08:18his lips grazed
08:19down my throat
08:19biting
08:20tasting
08:20possessive
08:21and every touch
08:22turned my knees
08:22to water
08:22I mustered the last
08:23of my strength
08:24and slapped him
08:24across the face
08:25he froze
08:26stared at me
08:27the red in his eyes
08:28flickered
08:28and under it
08:29I saw raw desire
08:30and raw self-hatred
08:31but his alpha scent
08:32kept rolling off him
08:33thick overwhelming
08:34pulling me under
08:35I knew if I stayed
08:36one more second
08:37I was going down with him
08:38I tore out of that room
08:39on shaking legs
08:40and fled into the hall
08:41Griffin and Jasper
08:42were standing there
08:43frozen
08:44their eyes locked on mine
08:46pure shock
08:47on both their faces
08:52deep in the night
08:53I lay there
08:54staring at the ceiling
09:05I threw off my jacket
09:06stripped down to my tank top
09:07and padded out to the kitchen
09:08for ice water
09:09Jasper's voice comes from behind
09:10I jumped
09:11my foot slipped on something soft
09:13his towel
09:13and I stumbled back
09:14bare skin against bare skin
09:16his chest was right behind me
09:17warm
09:17solid
09:18damp
09:19my face went scarret
09:20he caught me gently
09:21retied his towel
09:22and rested a calming hand
09:23on my shoulder
09:24and that's when my wrist lit up
09:25the golden bond
09:26between me and Jasper
09:27shimmered softly into view
09:29the air changed
09:30a soft smile on his face
09:31he said something
09:32had gotten in my eye
09:33lifting my wrist
09:33and bringing his face
09:34close to mine
09:36the living room door
09:37the living room door
09:37slammed open
09:38Griffin walked in
09:39saw us
09:40froze mid-step
09:41the playful smirk
09:43dropped off his face
09:44why do you always run
09:45the second you see me
09:46sweetheart
09:46playing hard to get
09:57deep in the night
09:58I lay there
09:59staring at the ceiling
10:00Alex's kiss
10:01Jasper's warmth
10:03Griffin's hand on my skin
10:04my whole body was wired
10:06my heart would not slow down
10:08I reached for the vibrator
10:10in my drawer
10:10a soft moan slipped out of me
10:12and then I froze
10:14all three of them were on my bed
10:16Alex
10:17Jasper
10:18Griffin
10:18watching me
10:20looks like someone needs it too
10:26but
10:26I can't take all three of you at once
10:35and my body
10:37traitor that it was
10:38screamed yes
10:43I was on fire
10:45their scents filled
10:46every inch of the room
10:47until I couldn't tell
10:48one from another
10:49Jasper
10:50gentle
10:51gentle Jasper
10:52was the first to move
10:53his lips traced up
10:54the inside of my thigh
10:55cool and precise
10:56every kiss
10:57sent a fresh shiver
10:58through me
10:59Griffin wasn't gentle at all
11:00his mouth went straight
11:01to my chest
11:01teeth
11:02tongue
11:02hot breath fanning
11:03across my skin
11:04he wanted me trapped
11:05in his heat
11:06and Alex leaned over me
11:07and swallowed every sound
11:08I tried to make
11:09his kiss was punishment
11:10ownership
11:11mine
11:11his mouth told me
11:12mine
11:13mine
11:13mine
11:16three different heats
11:18three different kinds
11:20of hunger
11:20I stopped fighting
11:22my eyes went glassy
11:24my body gave up
11:25all its weight
11:26to them
11:26the three golden bonds
11:28flared on my wrist
11:29braided together now
11:30white hot
11:31binding the four of us
11:33like fate itself
11:33had reached down
11:34and tied the knot
11:35I bolted up
11:37right in bed
11:37soaped in cold sweat
11:39alone
11:40the golden bonds
11:41on my wrist
11:42still pulsed softly
11:43with echoes
11:44of what wasn't real
11:46heat curled low
11:47in my belly
11:48unease
11:49right next to it
11:50I needed a shower
11:51I needed to wash
11:52them off me
11:53I needed to think
11:54the second I stepped
11:56in the bathroom
11:56a cough tore through me
11:58I tasted copper
11:59blood hit the white
12:00porcelain sink
12:01bright
12:01shockling
12:02wrong
12:03and then a voice
12:04soft
12:04powerful
12:05full of light
12:06spoke behind me
12:07I looked up
12:07into the mirror
12:08a woman in white
12:09stood behind me
12:10glowing faintly
12:11her face full of
12:11quiet sorrow
12:12the moon goddess
12:13my child
12:14you must sever
12:15two of the bonds
12:16and complete the mating
12:17with your true
12:18fated mate
12:18otherwise
12:19you will die
12:23damn
12:23which one am I
12:25supposed to pick
12:26Alex
12:26you want me that bad
12:28I went rigid
12:29blood hammered up
12:30into my face
12:31slowly slowly
12:32I turned around
12:33Alex
12:34fresh out of the shower
12:35bare chest
12:36water tracking down
12:38every ridge of muscle
12:39black boxer briefs
12:40nothing else
12:41the scent of alpha
12:42poured off him in waves
12:43he walked toward me
12:44one step
12:45another
12:46caged me against the wall
12:48I could feel his breath
12:49on my mouth
12:50I squeezed my eyes shut
12:51and he laughed
12:52a short remarking breath
12:53the humiliation hit like a fist
12:55without thinking
12:56I snapped at him
12:57every cruel thing I could think of
12:58his head dropped
12:59and for half a second
13:00I saw something in his eyes
13:01I wasn't expecting
13:02pain
13:03raw and real
13:04he warned me to stay away from him
13:09the training hall stank of sweat
13:11and testosterone
13:11wolves everywhere
13:13sparring
13:13shouting
13:14showing off
13:14and then the instructor called my name
13:16paired with Alex
13:17every head in the room
13:19turned to stare
13:20curious
13:20mocking
13:21I bawled my hands into fists
13:23ignored all of them
13:24and walked straight up
13:26to the coldest man in the room
13:27I knew he'd turn me down
13:28but I never expected him
13:30to grab my wrist harshly
13:31slam me hard onto the mat
13:33then walk away
13:35without a single shred of mercy
13:36I lay there on the mat
13:38my chest full of a bitter
13:39ugly ache
13:39this was my fated mate
13:41this man
13:41a shadow fell over me
13:43warm
13:44gentle
13:44I looked up into Jasper's soft eyes
13:46his hand was outstretched
13:48he saw the way my ankle
13:49was already starting to swell
13:50something passed across his face
13:52worried he couldn't quite hide
13:54before I could speak
13:55he bent down
13:56slid one arm under my knees
13:57the other behind my back
13:59and lifted me clean off the floor
14:00I noticed the girl
14:01who's always hanging around Jasper
14:03glaring at me with pure malice
14:05as Jasper carried me
14:06toward the infirmary
14:07something made me glance back
14:08Alex was in the far corner
14:10half hidden in shadow
14:12his eyes were blood red
14:13he was looking at me
14:14like he wanted to tear me apart
14:16wanted to take a bite
14:17and keep it
14:18I shrunk against Jasper's chest
14:19but even through the crowd
14:21I could feel Alex's gaze
14:22cold and unblinking
14:23still pinned on me
14:25what a strange
14:26terrifying man
14:27I had to stay away from him
14:28Jasper set me down
14:29carefully on the bed
14:30knelt on one knee
14:32and started cleaning the swelling
14:3418 years of life
14:36and this was the first time
14:37anyone had ever been
14:38that gentle with me
14:39his breathing got heavier
14:41his eyes lingered on my ankle
14:43longer than they should have
14:44then
14:44just lightly
14:45he squeezed
14:46a tingling heat
14:48spread through my whole body
14:50under your skin
14:52shit
14:54I can actually feel you
14:56don't be scared
14:59that girl who's always watching you
15:03are you two together?
15:04Thea?
15:05no
15:06my wolf only wants
15:08one thing
15:09my fated mate
15:10a reckless
15:11dangerous thought
15:12blossomed in my chest
15:13what if Jasper
15:14is my fated mate?
15:18I drifted out of the infirmary
15:19in a fog
15:20Jasper's words
15:21kept cycling in my head
15:22my wolf only wants
15:23my fated mate
15:24an engine roared
15:26behind me
15:26I turned
15:27a black sports car
15:28was barreling
15:29straight at me
15:30I couldn't move in time
15:31the bumper clipped me
15:33and I went down hard
15:34textbooks scattering
15:35across the pavement
15:36Thea climbed out of the car
15:37with two of her pack friends
15:39she didn't waste time
15:40a bucket of ice water
15:41hit me square in the face
15:42the cold tore through my skin
15:44the whistles and laughter
15:46from the crowd
15:47cut deeper than the cold
15:48I scrambled up and ran
15:49didn't look where I was going
15:51just ran
15:52I slammed through a door
15:53and stumbled inside
15:54I was three steps in
15:56before I registered
15:56the urinals against the wall
15:58men's locker room
15:59I turned my back to the door
16:01shaking
16:01peeled off my soaked shirt
16:03and stood there
16:04in just my bra
16:05trying to stop shivering
16:06a low whistle behind me
16:08I whirled around
16:09Griffin was leaning
16:10against the doorway
16:11arms crossed
16:12cocky grin
16:13eyes all over me
16:14get out you pervert
16:17pervert?
16:18princess
16:18this is the men's locker room
16:21who's the pervert here?
16:26go back to the dorm
16:28change
16:29now
16:38in the hallway
16:40I buttoned Alex's shirt
16:41over my wet clothes
16:42it was enormous
16:43the sleeves swallowed my hands
16:44it smelled like him
16:46cold
16:46clean
16:47like mountain air
16:48a poster on the wall
16:49caught my eye
16:50couples
16:51spinning
16:51laughing
16:52dressed in silk
16:52my chest twisted
16:54someone like me
16:55rejected
16:56humiliated
16:57an omega nobody wanted
16:58how could I ever belong
17:00on a dance floor like that?
17:01two girls walked past
17:02whispering loudly enough
17:04for me to catch every word
17:05each word hit like a punch
17:06my eyes stung
17:07I ducked my head
17:08pulled Alex's shirt tighter
17:10around me and ran
17:10away from the poster
17:12away from their voices
17:13away from everyone
17:14a stray dog
17:15that's what I was
17:16with nowhere to go
17:21when I got back to the dorm
17:22Jasper was waiting in the living room
17:24a bouquet in his hand
17:26a tailored suit
17:27a smile like crushed spring light
17:29he held the flowers out to me
17:30I took them with both hands
17:32the scent rose up
17:33and made my breath catch
17:34my heart was doing something stupid
17:36it would be my honor
17:38if you'd be my partner
17:39at the dance next Friday
17:42I've loved you for a very long time
17:44Freya
17:45since we were children
17:47so
17:48will you be my partner?
17:55don't be in such a rush
17:56princess
17:57you've got more than one mate
17:58remember?
18:10what are you doing here
18:11if you're in my way?
18:13he turned around
18:14and went back up the stairs
18:15closed his door
18:16like he didn't care at all
18:18Griffin shoved his invitation
18:19into my hand
18:20and grabbed my arm
18:21Jasper stepped between us
18:22immediately
18:23shielding me from him
18:24I took a long breath
18:25and looked at both of them
18:27but I already knew
18:28only one of them
18:29had ever been gentle with me
18:30only one of them
18:31had ever saved me
18:32without asking for anything
18:33only one of them
18:34had given me
18:35an actual memory
18:36of being loved
18:37I hold out Griffin's invitation
18:38and hand it back
18:39then accept Jasper's offer instead
18:41Griffin growls in pure fury
18:43and storms out
18:44slamming the door
18:44I stood in the empty living room
18:47my chest ached
18:48in a slow, dull way
18:49was it the bonds?
18:50or did I actually feel something
18:52for the others too?
18:53the thought took hold
18:54like a weed
18:54the invitation Alex had
18:56in his hand
18:56that he never gave me
18:57the way Griffin had stormed out
18:59guilt pressed down on me
19:00from both sides
19:01but then I looked at Jasper's
19:03clear, open face
19:04and I reminded myself
19:05Freya
19:06you swore you'd never
19:07pick another Chiron
19:08Jasper is the opposite
19:09of Kiron
19:09this is the right choice
19:11right?
19:14the night of the dance
19:16I stood in front of the mirror
19:17a long time
19:18my best gown
19:19a little makeup
19:20a deep breath
19:22then into the glittering ballroom
19:24I scanned the crowd
19:25until I found him
19:26tall
19:27broad-shouldered
19:28that gentle energy
19:30it had to be him
19:31I gathered every ounce of courage
19:33in my body
19:34walked over
19:35and tapped his shoulder
19:38then I ducked my head
19:39cheeks burning
19:40and said it before
19:41I could chicken out
19:42I waited
19:43head down
19:44heart going
19:44a hundred miles an hour
19:45a familiar
19:46shocked voice
19:47spoke
19:47from behind me
19:49I whipped around
19:50Jasper was standing there
19:51behind me
19:53then
19:53who had I just confessed to?
19:56slowly
19:56slowly
19:57I turned back
19:58Alex
19:59not Jasper
20:00Alex
20:02he let out a low
20:03dark chuckle
20:04and stepped closer
20:05his eyes pinned me in place
20:07I wanted the floor to open
20:08and swallow me
20:09my face was on fire
20:10Alex grabs a glass of champagne
20:13nods briefly at Jasper
20:15then turns and leaves
20:18Jasper hurried over
20:19and his hand came up
20:21to smooth my hair
20:22that one small gesture
20:24cut through the humiliation
20:25tonight I told myself
20:27tonight I would find out for sure
20:30I took his hand
20:31and squeezed it
20:32hard
20:33I leaned up on my toes
20:35closed my eyes
20:36tilted my face up
20:38waited for the kiss
20:41and right as his lips
20:42brushed mine
20:43a frantic call rings out
20:45right behind him
20:46he pulled back
20:48torn
20:50apologetic
20:51whispered he'd be right back
20:53and was gone
20:54but the next second
20:56Thea swarms over
20:57with her crew
20:58warning me to stay away
20:59from Jasper
21:00I didn't get two seconds
21:01to recover
21:02before Thea and her pack
21:03descended on me
21:04some half-hearted threat
21:05about staying away
21:06from Jasper
21:07I'd had enough of her games
21:09I turned to walk away
21:11that was when she lost it
21:13her two friends
21:14grabbed my arms
21:15she pulled a lit cigarette
21:17from behind her back
21:18and brought it slowly
21:19towards my face
21:20I flinched back
21:22the cherry of the cigarette
21:23was a centimeter
21:24from my eye
21:25a silver cuff click
21:27whipped past my ear
21:28slammed into the cigarette
21:29and went straight on
21:30to graze Thea's cheek
21:34I spun around
21:35Alex was standing
21:37in the far corner
21:38of the ballroom
21:38he clapped his hands
21:40once
21:41lazily
21:42like he was applauding
21:43his own throw
21:44and walked away
21:45without a backward glance
21:48Thea was shrieking
21:50looking for whoever
21:51had thrown it
21:51she couldn't find him
21:53so she took her rage
21:54out on me
21:55she lunged
21:57I stepped out
21:58of the way
21:58she kept going
22:00straight into
22:00a three-tiered cake
22:01face first
22:03the ballroom
22:04exploded in laughter
22:16Freya is my mate
22:17no one touches her
22:21Thea covered her face
22:22and fled the ballroom
22:23frosting still dripping
22:24off her hair
22:25I let out a shaky breath
22:26looked up at Jasper
22:27full of gratitude
22:29the music swelled
22:30I put my hand in his
22:31and we moved
22:31I could have stayed
22:32in that spin forever
22:33it was warm
22:34it was safe
22:35it was everything
22:35I'd wanted my whole life
22:36then mid-turn
22:37another hand caught my wrist
22:39and pulled me off balance
22:40it fell into a different chest
22:41hotter
22:42more aggressive
22:43Griffin
22:44he locked an arm
22:45around my waist
22:46his smile was sharp
22:47a little wounded
22:48it twisted in his grip
22:49furious
22:50tried to stome on his foot
22:51he dodged with a grin
22:52and pulled me closer
22:53his mouth grew near mine
22:55he was going to kiss me
22:56right there
22:57in front of everyone
22:58I shoved him off
22:58and stumbled backward
22:59my heel slipped
23:00on the polished floor
23:01strong arms caught me
23:02before I hit the ground
23:03a cold, clean scent
23:04I knew it before
23:05I looked it up
23:06Alex
23:11looking down at me
23:12with the strangest expression
23:13something complicated
23:14something almost amused
23:16the blood in my face
23:17I tried to pull away
23:19he pulled me back
23:20into his chest
23:20and held me there
23:21his eyes locking with mine
23:22I put my hands
23:23against his chest
23:24push
23:25I was going to push
23:26but I didn't
23:27he caught one of my hands
23:29brought my fingertips
23:31to his mouth
23:31pressed a slow kiss to it
23:33then ran his tongue
23:35across it
23:36just once
23:37this was Alex
23:38this was Alex
23:40doing this
23:41my brain went white
23:42I closed my eyes
23:44I leaned in
23:46he turned his head away
23:47and smiled
23:48shame deconated
23:49in my chest
23:50I shoved him off
23:51and ran out of the ballroom
23:52cursing him the whole way
23:54bastard
23:54fucking bastard
23:56I stormed down the corridor
23:57with my head full of fire
23:59and walked straight
24:00into a solid body
24:01I looked up
24:02and my blood
24:04turned to ice
24:05Kyron
24:07well well
24:08the little omega
24:09I kicked out of my pack
24:11nice dress
24:12who are you trying
24:13to seduce tonight
24:17Kyron stepped toward me
24:18closer
24:19closer
24:20his alpha pressure
24:21made my whole body shake
24:23my back hit the cold wall
24:24nowhere left to go
24:25rage and terror
24:26exploded in me
24:27at the same time
24:28I shoved him
24:29with everything I had
24:30he threw me to the ground
24:31like I weighed nothing
24:32my forehead cracked
24:34against a stone pillar
24:35blood ran down
24:36into my eyebrow
24:37he loomed over me
24:38reached down
24:39ripped the slit
24:41of my ground
24:41wide open
24:42before his hand
24:43could touch my skin
24:44blue light flared
24:45in my eyes
24:47something took over
24:48my body
24:48my fist moved
24:50without me
24:50it slammed into his face
24:52hard enough
24:52to break bone
24:53all the strength
24:54drained out of me
24:55in an instant
24:56black spots
24:57and then nothing
24:58when I woke up
24:59I was in my room
25:00the air smelled
25:01like antiseptic
25:02Alex was sitting
25:04on the edge of the bed
25:04with a cotton ball
25:05carefully dabbing
25:06at the cut
25:07on my forehead
25:07his touch
25:08was unbelievably
25:09gentle
25:10nothing like the man
25:12who had pushed me off
25:12on the training mat
25:13I asked softly
25:14if he's the one
25:15who saved me
25:16he immediately snaps back
25:17with sharp harsh words
25:18to lecture me
25:19I shoved him
25:20and turned my face
25:21to the wall
25:21the air went dangerous
25:22I could feel the pressure
25:24drop in the room
25:24but he didn't come after me
25:26he just sat back down
25:27his eyes dropped
25:28to my leg
25:28and then his hand
25:29closed around my ankle
25:30the heat of his fingertips
25:32made me jump
25:32the whole room
25:33went quiet
25:34just our breathing
25:35his thumb moved slowly
25:36across my skin
25:37so gentle
25:38it was almost worse
25:39my hands fisted
25:40in the sheets
25:41he brought out
25:42a tube of salad
25:43lifted my leg
25:44with both hands
25:44and applied it
25:45around the bruise
25:46careful not to press down
25:47he was barely breathing
25:49this place is dangerous
25:51Freya
25:51every year wolves die here
25:53Ongas disappear
25:56I don't want it to happen to you
25:57so you came here for me?
25:59Nalpha's saliva heals
26:00faster than medicine
26:01close your eyes
26:02I closed them
26:03his hands lifted my calf
26:05his lips pressed gently
26:07against the cut
26:08his tongue traced the sore
26:10swollen skin around it
26:12and a shock of heat
26:13ran all the way up my body
26:15I stopped breathing
26:32you're not actually that bad
26:34you know
26:37I stared into his eyes
26:39something swirled in them
26:41I couldn't name
26:41my throat closed
26:43I couldn't speak
26:44he leaned in
26:45his breath fared
26:47across my lips
26:48we were close enough
26:49to feel each other trembling
26:50the air between us
26:52was going to burn
26:53bang
26:53the door flew open
26:55Griffin
26:56two ice cream cones
26:57in his hands
26:58a big stupid grin
27:00on his face
27:00the grin froze
27:02the second he saw us
27:03I panicked
27:04shoved Alex away
27:06snatched the salve tube
27:07out of his hand
27:08I bolted into the bathroom
27:09and slammed the door
27:10leaned back against it
27:12my heart was trying
27:13to punch through my chest
27:15inside
27:15I sat down on the tile
27:17shaking
27:18and tried to put
27:19Sam on my own leg
27:20my mind kept replaying it
27:22his mouth
27:23his eyes
27:24the tremor in his fingers
27:26the fact that I wanted
27:27him to keep going
27:28I decided on Jasper
27:30I was going to sever
27:32the other two bonds
27:33so why had my body
27:34lit up at Alex's touch
27:35why was I suddenly
27:37doubting everything
27:37was I
27:38falling for him
27:40no
27:40absolutely not
27:42I knew what Kieran
27:43had looked like
27:44before he destroyed me
27:45cold
27:46distant
27:47impossible to reach
27:48Alex was the same type
27:49my type
27:50the type I was going
27:51to die reaching for
27:52no
27:53I wanted a real
27:54relationship this time
27:55respect
27:56honesty
27:57not being played with
27:58until I broke
27:59another cough
28:00racked my chest
28:01copper in my mouth
28:02blood in the sink
28:03I looked up at the mirror
28:04pale
28:05bloody lip
28:07hollow eyes
28:08I couldn't let Alex
28:09confuse me anymore
28:11I had to complete
28:12the bond with Jasper
28:14soon
28:15before I died
28:19in the training hall
28:20I kept glancing
28:21toward the door
28:22waiting for Jasper
28:24to come back
28:24so I could tell him
28:25what I decided
28:26Thea appeared
28:27in front of me
28:28instead
28:28holding a training ball
28:30her eyes narrow
28:33she threw it at me
28:35I took it on the shoulder
28:37she threw another
28:38I took it on the ribs
28:40on the third one
28:42something in me snapped
28:44I grabbed the ball
28:45and hurled it back
28:46it hit her in the forehead
28:47and put her flat on her back
28:49blood bloomed from her hairline
28:51the whole hall went dead silent
28:52every teacher
28:53every student
28:54staring at me
28:54the instructor told Jasper
28:56to take Thea to the infirmary
28:57then he told me to stay after class
28:58and clean the entire training hall
29:00my punishment
29:00and Freya
29:01you can stay behind
29:03and clean this entire jam
29:05I swallowed the injustice
29:07the way I'd swallowed
29:08every other injustice
29:09nobody cared about
29:11One Omega's side of the story
29:13after class
29:14it was just me
29:15in the echoing
29:16empty hall
29:17dragging a mope
29:18across the floor
29:18cold condensation
29:20pressed against my cheek
29:21I looked up
29:22Alex
29:25he says he'll train me
29:27personally
29:27and teach me
29:28how to control
29:29my inner power
29:30I stare at him
29:31half believe
29:32and half doubtful
29:33we squared off
29:35with wooden stahls
29:38old school
29:39bare bones combat
29:40he was an alpha
29:42and a top one
29:43his speed and strength
29:44were a different species
29:45from mine
29:46I could only fall back
29:48block
29:48stumble
29:50keep breathing
29:52but I didn't notice it
29:54at first
29:54last time we'd trained
29:56I couldn't block
29:57a single one of his strikes
29:59tonight I was holding
30:00my own for rounds
30:01at a time
30:02watching Alex's figure
30:03walking toward me
30:04from afar
30:05I realized for the first time
30:07that he might not be
30:07as brutal and bloodthirsty
30:09as everyone claims
30:10he hands me a bottle
30:11of water thoughtfully
30:12and asks why I keep
30:13putting up with
30:14unfair treatment
30:15when I possess
30:15such great power
30:16truth is
30:17I never even knew
30:18I had that much strength
30:20inside me
30:20I tightened my grip
30:22on the water bottle
30:24and for the first time
30:25I told someone
30:27no father
30:28no mother
30:30from the moment
30:31I had memory
30:32I was just the adopted
30:33girl in the ashwood house
30:36the ashwoods were
30:37old ridge pack
30:38nobility
30:39they didn't mistreat me
30:40they just
30:41didn't see me
30:43I existed
30:44to make Mia
30:45look better
30:45even when the moon
30:46goddess picked
30:47Kieran for me
30:48even when I had
30:49a mate
30:49nothing changed
30:51Mia only got worse
30:53and then I got
30:54discarded
30:55and ended up here
30:57Alex listened
30:58the whole time
31:00not once did his face
31:02flicker with pity
31:03or contempt
31:03just a quiet
31:04aching softness
31:05he wasn't used
31:06to comforting anyone
31:07his ears went pink
31:09when I looked at him
31:10with tears in my eyes
31:11he looked away
31:12flustered
31:15I couldn't help it
31:16I started laughing
31:18time for the next train
31:19he came at me
31:22I took a breath
31:23and swung at him hard
31:24he slipped to the side
31:26I over committed
31:27I was going to fall
31:29he spun and caught me
31:31his arm around my waist
31:32his chest against my back
31:34his breath at my neck
31:35our heart beats
31:36in the same too fast rhythm
31:38out of the corner of my eye
31:39a flash of color
31:40Griffin had come in
31:42with a broom
31:42he'd stopped dead
31:44his face twisted
31:45he threw the broom down
31:47so hard it bounced
31:48turned around
31:50and stormed out of the hall
31:51that night
31:53I bought a milkshake
31:54his favorite flavor
31:55and stood outside
31:56Alex's door
31:57working up the courage
31:59to knock
32:02Asper
32:03do you have Mia's number
32:04Freya's sister
32:05I want to take her out
32:07for coffee
32:07the milkshake almost
32:08slipped out of my hand
32:10all of it
32:11the training
32:12the listening
32:13the gentleness
32:14all of it was a lie
32:15he'd been getting close to me
32:17so he could get to my sister
32:19I bit down on my lip
32:20and forced the tears back
32:21through the milkshake
32:23in the nearest trash cans
32:25I was there
32:26maybe two minutes
32:27before there was a knock
32:28I yanked the door open
32:31Griffin was leaning
32:32against the frame
32:34hands in his pockets
32:35that cocky grin
32:37that always drove me insane
32:39I shoved him
32:40but he was built like a wall
32:42and I couldn't move him an inch
32:43the tears finally spilled over
32:45and I couldn't stop them
32:47don't hate
32:48don't do that
32:49come on
32:51tell me what you want
32:52and I'll get it for you
32:53anything
32:54I want someone honest
32:56someone who respects me
32:58someone who won't lie to me
33:00not someone who says
33:01pretty things he doesn't mean
33:22this obvious enough
33:23I'm flirting with you Freya
33:26I want to be your mate
33:28for real
33:35bang
33:35the door flew open
33:37cold air rushed in
33:39I panicked
33:40shoved Griffin back
33:41and fumbled to straighten my clothes
33:43I looked up
33:44Alec
33:44his face was like carved stone
33:46his eyes were burning
33:49everything I'd been holding back all night
33:51the hurt the betrayal
33:52the mortication
33:53came out as a sneer
33:54what are you even doing here
33:55aren't you supposed to be on your date with my sister
33:57his eyes swept over Griffin's bare chest
33:59the wolf inside him rumbered
34:01a sound I could feel in my ribs
34:03Griffin had it by the collar
34:05Alec wrenched Griffin's hand off
34:06and walked out into the living room
34:07straight into Jasper
34:08Jasper smiled at him
34:10and held out an invitation
34:11Alec exploded
34:12the door slammed hard enough
34:13to rattle the frames on the walls
34:15Jasper stood there blinking
34:16me and Griffin stared at the floor
34:18Jasper's birthday party was bright and loud
34:20full of laughing wolves and formal clothes
34:21I found a corner and started drinking
34:23Alec's betrayal
34:25Griffin's confession
34:27Jasper's steady kindness
34:28the moon goddess's warning
34:30all of it tangled together in my head
34:32like a net pulling tight
34:34the more I drank
34:34the fuzzier things got
34:36Griffin rushed over
34:37and tried to take my glass
34:38I slapped his hand away
34:40a harsh cough tore through me
34:41I tasted copper
34:43blood dripped onto my dress
34:44bright red against the pale silk
34:46I pushed through the crowd
34:47and locked myself in the bathroom
34:49leaned on the sink
34:51the woman in the mirror was pale
34:52I know I can't hold on any longer
34:54I have to pick one to bond with tonight
34:56or I'm really gonna die
34:57pounding on the door
35:00Griffin's worried voice
35:01I shouted back at him to leave me alone
35:03I stared at myself in the mirror
35:04the decision clicked into place
35:06I wasn't going to die
35:07not like this
35:08I straightened my dress
35:09pulled that thing out of my clutch
35:10and gripped it hard enough
35:10that was outside this door
35:11that was who I was choosing
35:12and it was final
35:16I pulled the bathroom door open
35:17Alex
35:18he was carrying the cold in with him
35:19his face was dark
35:20his eyes were scorching
35:21I stepped back without meaning to
35:23the thing slipped out of my hand
35:24and hit the floor between us
35:25he saw it
35:26he walked me backward
35:27until I was pinned
35:28between the vanity and his body
35:31lifted me onto the counter
35:32like I weighed nothing
35:35his thumb brushed the corner of my mouth
35:37he forced my face up to his
35:38his voice was low
35:39and thick with rage
35:40barely held back
35:41then he kissed me
35:41it was a punishing kiss
35:43teeth and tongue
35:43and discipline and desperation
35:45all at once
35:45he left a mark on my neck
35:46his arms caged me against the mirror
35:48through the door
35:49Jasper called my name
35:50a wave of cold water down my spine
35:52and then a wave of something hotter
35:54right behind it
35:54I hooked my arm around Alex's neck
35:56pulled him into the nearest dot
35:57and slammed the door
35:58through the lock
35:59pressed him against the partition
36:00and kissed him with everything I had
36:02my hand went straight for his belt
36:03the knocking got closer
36:04it stopped right outside the stall
36:06Jasper's voice
36:06gentle and anxious
36:07came through the metal
36:08Alex went roger
36:09the heat drained out of his eyes
36:10and was replaced with something worse
36:12betrayal
36:12he slammed his fist into the stall door
36:14the whole cubicle shook
36:16the knocking outside went silent
36:17a long pause
36:18then Jasper's quiet awkward apology
36:20footsteps receding
36:22are you out of your fucking mind?
36:24Freya would you spread your legs
36:25for anyone with a cock?
36:27are you that cheap?
36:28like you're any different
36:28you trained with me
36:30you listened to me
36:31and then you turned around
36:32and called my sister
36:33you're no better than
36:34every other person
36:35who's ever looked down on me
36:36and used me
36:37were you jealous?
36:38did you actually care?
36:39why would I be jealous of you?
36:41you're a self-absorbed asshole
36:43you mean nothing to me
36:44nothing
36:45absolutely nothing
36:51in class the next morning
36:53the fight kept replaying in my head
36:55Nora's voice kept pushing through
36:56weaker
36:57the dull ache in my chest
36:58was a clock ticking down
36:59a folded note slid onto my desk
37:02Jasper's handwriting
37:03something gentle and careful
37:05my eyes burned
37:07I looked up and found him watching me
37:09his eyes full of quiet worry
37:11Thea saw it
37:13her face contorted
37:14a paper ball thumbed against my back
37:16I opened it
37:17seven words
37:18rooftop
37:19eight tonight
37:19come alone
37:22the wind was cold on the rooftop
37:24my skirt snapped around my legs
37:25I gripped the note
37:26and walked to the center
37:27my heart full of hope
37:28Jasper was finally going to let me tell him everything
37:29a sneer cut through the wind
37:30Thea was at the stairway door
37:31flanked by her two friends
37:33blocking the only exit
37:34their faces were pure malice
37:35they closed in on me
37:36her friends grabbed my arms
37:37and slammed me onto the concrete
37:38the cold of the rooftop
37:39cut through my dress
37:40I kicked
37:41I twisted
37:42they pinned my shoulder
37:43Thea crouched over me
37:44caught my chin in her hand
37:45pulled a small bottle
37:46out of her pocket
37:47dark liquid
37:48sharp chemical smell
37:49her friends forced my jaw open
37:50she poured it down my throat
37:52it tasted like rot and acid
37:53heat tore through my body instantly
37:56my vision warped
37:57my muscles went slack
37:58I couldn't fight anymore
38:00I tried to scream
38:01the wind swallowed it
38:03and just as I was about to go under
38:04the rooftop door exploded inward
38:06Alex
38:06his eyes blood red
38:07a killing aura coming off him in waves
38:09he didn't say a word
38:10he knocked Thea and her friends flat
38:12grabbed him like he was the last solid thing in the world
38:14I threw myself at him
38:15babbling
38:16begging
38:16he stiffened
38:17I could see him trying to be responsible
38:19trying to push me off
38:20so he could find the antidote
38:22but my flushed face
38:23my desperate eyes
38:24my tears
38:25the wall inside him cracked
38:27he whispered against my ear
38:28gragged and rough
38:29the heat in my body
38:30and the pan of my chest
38:31round tied around each other
38:31he kept holding me
38:32kissing me
38:33kissing me
38:33he was hiding to darkness
38:35safe
38:35when I woke up
38:36I was in my own bed
38:37his coat was draped over me
38:38I could smell him on it
38:39that cool mountain scent
38:40cut through with a thin thread of blood
38:41a knock
38:41Jasper
38:42he came in with a glass of warm water
38:43his eyes full of water
38:44the door suddenly bursts over
38:45Griffin storms in
38:46clearly furious
38:46and urgently asks where Alex is
38:48saying he's gone missing
38:48what Alex had brought me back
38:49it's the full moon
38:50what?
38:51Alex could lose control at any time
38:53if we don't find him
38:53Enzo his wolf
38:54will swallow him whole
38:55he'll die
38:56we have to find him before sunrise
38:57so Alex has been fighting the wolf
38:59this whole time?
39:00that was why he kept shoving me away?
39:09in the dream
39:11I was in a wasted forest
39:12moonlight
39:13Alex slumped against a tree
39:16shirt soaked with blood
39:17cuts everywhere
39:19I grabbed his hand
39:20and sobbed that I wasn't angry anymore
39:22that every misunderstanding was gone
39:24pain ripped through my head
39:27and I snapped awake
39:28cold sweat on my forehead
39:29the full moon still hung outside the window
39:32one thought in my whole body
39:34find him
39:38I threw on a coat and ran
39:40straight for the forbidden forest
39:41I knew where he was
39:42he was in the most dangerous place there was
39:44and the place he needed me most
39:45the night was like ink
39:46the branches twisted overhead like claws
39:48the wind howled through dead leaves
39:50cutting at my face
39:50I stumbled forward
39:51my dress tore on every other branch
39:53my bare feet bled on the rocks
39:54none of it mattered
39:55under an old tree
39:56I found him
39:57collapsed
39:57soaked in blood
39:58new wounds still bleeding
40:00mud and dead leaves clung to him
40:01his breathing was so shallow
40:02I could barely see it
40:03Alex!
40:07Alex stay with me
40:12gun!
40:17I wasn't contentacting Mia for a date
40:20I believe you
40:22there's someone inside the academy
40:23they're working with the hunters
40:25they want me dead
40:26protecting you
40:27the man he'd tied up at the start of term
40:28it had to be
40:29they'd been after Alex from the beginning
40:30I'm sorry
40:31I'm so sorry for every time I misunderstood you
40:33from now on
40:34I'm gonna be the one protecting you
40:36the kitchen was warm and full of steam
40:38in the morning light
40:39milk bubbling on the stove
40:41eggs crisping gold at the edges
40:43a bowl of healing broth
40:45I'd spent an hour on
40:46waiting to bring him
40:47I adjusted the flame for the fifth time
40:49all I could think about was him
40:51the whole night
40:52I'd dreamed of him
40:53the way he'd leaned against me
40:55that fragile
40:57unberservable vulnerability
40:58how every breath had pained him
41:00I just wanted him to wake up
41:01to something warm
41:03something to make him heal faster
41:04every guilt
41:06every mischance
41:08every ounce of doubt
41:10of fint I'd carried
41:11I was going to pack it into this one meal
41:13and give it to him
41:15a gentle voice came from the doorway
41:17Jasper
41:18in loose clothes
41:19hair still damp
41:20I saw him reaching for the tray
41:22and stopped him at once
41:23telling him it was special
41:24nutritious meal prepared for Alex
41:26but he told me Alex had already left
41:28the spoon fell out of my hand
41:30and hit the plate with a sharp ring
41:32where was he?
41:34who was going to take care of him?
41:36what if someone found him again?
41:38I got two steps before Jasper was in front of me
41:41his body warm against the cold wall behind me
41:43his breath on my forehead
41:45he was close enough to kiss
41:47if I tilted up one inch I could
41:49I'm not gonna let you go
41:51come back to my territory with me
41:54if you choose me
41:55I'll announce you as my Luna
41:56in front of my whole pack
41:59I'll protect you for the rest of my life
42:02no more misunderstandings
42:04no more hurt
42:05I looked into his sunlit face
42:07at the warmth in his eyes
42:08at the sincerity of everything he was
42:10and my mind kept dragging up another face
42:12another man
42:13a Alex
42:14Alex against my chest in the forest
42:16vulnerable and bleeding
42:17Alex biting back his wolf so he wouldn't hurt me
42:20Alex
42:21broken
42:22aching
42:22terrified
42:23still somehow trying to keep me safe
42:26it hit me in waves
42:27every moment of him
42:29it drowned out the gentle warmth
42:31standing right in front of me
42:32wait
42:36the silence cracked everything
42:38Jasper froze
42:40the hope in his eyes faded slowly
42:42replaced by something softer
42:43understanding
42:45he stepped back
42:46he ran his hand over my hair once
42:48gently
42:49and smiled
42:49no blame
42:50only release
42:52he helped me get to Alex's packed territory
42:54at the border
42:55he solemnly severed our bond
42:58the pain was shattering
42:59like something tearing out of my ribs
43:02I looked up into Jasper's tired
43:04quiet eyes
43:05the guilt was a knife
43:07but I had no other choice
43:08the cards over there
43:10the bond backlash
43:11slammed into me
43:12I doubled over
43:13and coughed up blood onto the gravel
43:15I used the last of my strength
43:16to stagger into Alex's wing of the estate
43:18he was sitting on the edge of the bed
43:20drinking coffee
43:21sunlight on his face
43:22he looked up
43:24saw me
43:24bloody
43:25dirty
43:26barely standing
43:27and his face went white
43:28I didn't hesitate it
43:30I launched across the wing of the moth
43:32into the flame
43:33I shoved him down onto the bed
43:35and straddled him
43:36my hands pinned his shoulders
43:38my knuckles white
43:40my whole body shaking
43:42from the backlash and the hunger
43:46this cold cool looking man was what I wanted
43:49I fumbled with the buttons on his shirt
43:52the more I hurried
43:53the clumsier I got
43:54all I could feel
43:56horror was him getting harder against me
43:58burning through two layers of fabric
44:00the howls of both our wolves
44:02the ones we've been suppressing for so long
44:04are you sure?
44:08I'm not what I want
44:11clean
44:12twisted around each other
44:14the faded mcron locked into place
44:16wrapping around our bones
44:18deep and unbreakable
44:19it drove out every shadow
44:21every fear
44:22every old wound
44:29I woke up the next morning
44:31and in his bed
44:33sunlight everywhere
44:36I kissed his cheek while he slept
44:38and padded into the bathroom
44:46thank you moon goddess
44:47I'm so relieved
44:49the bond was completed in time
44:50and I finally survived
44:57I grabbed his arm
44:58and tried to explain
44:59he pulled away from me
45:00hard
45:01his wolf was coming back up
45:02I could see the panic
45:03and the shame on his face
45:05as plain as I saw my own guilt
45:06and I could see him
45:07making a decision
45:08he turned
45:09and walked out
45:10without one look back
45:13I watched him go
45:14every step he took
45:15crushed something inside me
45:17dull pain
45:18silent tears
45:19I knew this was a misunderstanding
45:20I knew he was leaving
45:22because he was afraid
45:22of what his wolf would do to me
45:23I went to his office
45:25he had his back to me
45:26the whole time
45:26a wall of cold shoulder
45:27that wouldn't turn around
45:29the beta told me
45:30helplessly
45:31that Alex was only afraid
45:32of hurting me
45:33not intentionally
45:34pushing me away
45:36I knew
45:37I'd known the whole time
45:40but what was I supposed
45:41to do as his mate
45:42if he wouldn't even look at me
45:44close me up
45:45like he did
45:46his coldness is scaring me
45:49maybe I should just give up
45:53no
45:54I'm never giving up
45:56I love him
45:57that's enough
45:57I walked to his office door
45:59and raised my fist
46:00every knock
46:01was the sound of me
46:02burning my last bridge
46:03no answer
46:05I shoved the door open
46:06the room was empty
46:08only the beta
46:09standing by the desk
46:13his face was cold
46:14his voice was colder
46:15he told me Alex was gone
46:17and even if he weren't
46:19he would refuse to see me
46:20he said we were never
46:21meant to be
46:22and we ought to stop
46:23torturing each other
46:24every ounce of strength
46:26drained out of me
46:27I tasted copper
46:28from where I'd bitten my lip
46:29I turned and walked out
46:30with my back straight
46:31tears blurring my vision
46:33every step heavy
46:34but the thought in my head
46:36was getting clearer
46:37I'm not leaving Alex
46:39no matter how you hide
46:41no matter how hard you push
46:43I'm never giving up on you
46:48the room was dark
46:50only moonlight
46:52I was on the floor again
46:53my back against the wall
46:55a half-finished glass
46:56of something next to me
47:00I dreamed
47:01I was back in the forest
47:03darkness so thick
47:04I couldn't see my own hand
47:05wind cutting through me
47:07despair pressing in
47:08on all sides
47:09Alex was on the ground
47:11pale
47:12bloody
47:12his breath almost gone
47:14I ran
47:17dropped to my knees
47:18reached for him
47:19his eyes have stoked me
47:20the gentleness was gone
47:22what looked back at me
47:23was pure
47:24hungry violence
47:25his pupils blazed red
47:27a roar tore out of his throat
47:28echoing through the trees
47:31you're just using me
47:33no
47:34I truly love you
47:40tears running down my face
47:42I screamed it at him
47:44over and over
47:44the red in his eyes
47:46diffened
47:47his hand closed around
47:48my throat
47:49I couldn't breathe
47:50death crept in at the edges
47:52of my vision
47:56and then
47:57just as I was about to lose everything
47:59the red in his eyes
48:00did
48:01his hand flew off my neck
48:03a single tear dropped onto my face
48:05I stared up at him
48:06the violent version of him
48:08the one that had almost killed me
48:10he was crying
48:11a jolt awake
48:13tears still wet on my face
48:15my chest heaving
48:16cold sweat soaking my hair
48:18and just as the cold
48:20and the hopelessness
48:21were about to swallow me whole
48:23a soft
48:24holy voice
48:25spoke into my ear
48:26the chill vanished
48:27in the moonlight
48:28the moon goddess appeared
48:29her face full of sorrow
48:31and love
48:32I wiped my face
48:33and stumbled toward her
48:34my voice shaking
48:35I had to know
48:36how did I save him
48:37I couldn't stand
48:38watching him be torn apart
48:40from the inside
48:40while I could do nothing
48:46how did I save him
48:49how did I save him
48:52I couldn't stand
48:53watching him be torn apart
48:54from the inside
48:55while I could do nothing
48:56peace child
48:58I've come to tell you this
49:00you are the answer
49:04Freda
49:07you are the one
49:08who can save him
49:09and yourself
49:14the moon goddess's words
49:15hit me like a bolt
49:16of lightning
49:18I froze
49:20my whole body shook
49:22my lips trembled so hard
49:24I couldn't make a sound
49:26I clenched the necklace
49:28at my throat
49:29my father had been
49:30a feared and powerful alpha
49:31my mother had been
49:32a white witch
49:33born with pure healing power
49:35condemned by every pack
49:36as a heretic
49:37they had fallen in love
49:38across a line
49:39that wasn't supposed
49:39to be crossed
49:40and they had been
49:41slaughtered for it
49:42murdered on a stone altar
49:43every unexplained moment
49:45fell into place at once
49:46every strange pull
49:47I'd felt towards Alex
49:48every time his eyes
49:49had languered on mine
49:50every coincidence
49:51that hadn't been a coincidence
49:52all the confusion
49:53all the fear
49:54all the self-doubt
49:55I'd been carrying
49:55it shattered
49:56I can save him
49:57I can save him
49:58I can save him
49:58I really can save him
49:59before I could fully
50:00take it in
50:00the door crashed open
50:03Jasper and Griffin
50:04pale frantic
50:06forbidden forest
50:07from my dream
50:07flashed through my head
50:08I know how to save him
50:10he must be in the forbidden forest
50:19you're the white witch's daughter
50:23Griffin grew gentle and relieved
50:24he raised his hand toward the cold moonlight
50:26his voice was low and solemn
50:28he swore to release me as his mate
50:30from this night on
50:31he would guard me only as a friend
50:33for the rest of his life
50:34a soft white light flared
50:36the bond between us broke without pain
50:38no regret
50:39only release
50:41and deep
50:42deep gratitude
50:44I was almost at the edge
50:46of the forbidden forest
50:47when a dark shape
50:48dropped out of the shadows
50:49behind me
50:51before I could react
50:53something slammed
50:54into the back of my skull
50:55white hot pain
50:57rolled over me
50:57like a wave
51:01the dull throb
51:02at the back of my head
51:03a sharp cramp
51:05in my stomach
51:05I forced my eyes open
51:07in the dim light
51:07of a warehouse
51:08Kian and Mia
51:09standing over me
51:10smiling like snakes
51:12I tried to pull on the power inside me
51:14nothing
51:15my body wouldn't respond
51:17Nora didn't answer
51:18panic
51:19Mia stepped forward
51:20and slapped me across the face
51:22then drove her fist
51:23into my stomach
51:24pain flooded everything
51:25blood in my mouth
51:27I forced myself
51:28to glare up at them
51:29told them Alex
51:30would never let them
51:31get away with this
51:32Kieran scoffed
51:33unconvinced
51:33I snarled at him
51:34called him a traitor
51:35a coward
51:36Mia lost it completely
51:38she slapped me again
51:39and screamed that she was going to destroy me
51:42she turned to the fire pit
51:43in the middle of the warehouse
51:44and pulled a glowing red poker
51:46out of the coals
51:47the heat rolled off it
51:48she stepped toward me
51:49she was going to burn out my eyes
51:51the heat got closer
51:52I shut my eyes
51:55all I could see was him
51:56all I could think was that
51:58I couldn't die like this
51:59I hadn't saved him yet
52:00I hadn't told him the truth
52:02let her go
52:05how the hell are you here
52:06you were supposed to be trapped
52:08by the hunters
52:08you're just a monster
52:10who can't control his wolf
52:11you're going to end up
52:12killing the people who love you
52:20wait
52:29that's right
52:29just like this
52:32next
52:32you'll strangle the girl
52:34you love with your own hands
52:44I leaned back against the wall
52:46I didn't flinch
52:47I didn't step back
52:48I called his name
52:49through my tears
52:50his body shook
52:51his right hand
52:52was holding a dagger
52:53lifting it toward me
52:54his left hand
52:55was clamped around
52:55his own right wrist
52:56nails digging into skin
52:58trying to hold
52:58the right hand back
52:59then he twisted the blade
53:01turned it away from me
53:02toward himself
53:03I screamed and threw myself at him
53:05grabbed the blade in both hands
53:07the edge cut deep into my palms
53:09blood ran down the steel
53:10I didn't feel it
53:12the power sleeping inside me
53:13for 18 years woke up
53:15warmth flooded every cell in my body
53:17my chestnut hair shimmered
53:18and shifted
53:19down the length of it
53:20strand by strand
53:21turning pure silver white
53:22a soft powerful white light
53:24burst out of it
53:25it filled every corner of the warehouse
53:27every shadow retreated from it
53:28every trace of violence dissolved
53:30my palm was still bleeding
53:31but the white light
53:32flowing through me
53:33grew warmer and warmer
53:34the ancient born-in power
53:36of a white witch
53:36wrapped around me
53:37wrapped around me
53:38strange and familiar
53:39all at once
53:40by the lead my guide
53:42by the blood as my bond
53:43I banish the darkness
53:45I restore the true heart
53:47by the moon's power
53:49may the shadow lift
53:51by my blood
53:52may the one I love
53:53be saved
54:07Kieran and Mia were screaming for mercy
54:09somewhere behind us
54:10I didn't have any attention left for them
54:12I could hear Griffin and Jasper
54:13bittering near the door
54:15and even that felt warm
54:16like surviving
54:17like coming home
54:18I started to smile
54:20Alex's arm tightened around my waist
54:22he lowered his head and kissed me
54:24deep
54:24urgent
54:25full of everything we'd almost lost
54:27everything we'd finally found
54:28when the kiss ended
54:30he pressed his forehead to mine
54:31the tenderness in his eyes
54:33almost undid me
54:33and I understood
54:34completely
54:35that we had finally walked out
54:37of the dark together
54:37evening
54:38so
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