- 9 hours ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:08you're wet
00:09a deep masculine voice right next to my ear
00:12low, dangerous
00:14it made my stomach clench
00:16my head was fuzzy
00:18three scents wrapped around me
00:20familiar and not
00:22one cold against my lips
00:24one burning at my waist
00:25one rough between my thighs
00:27their hands, their masks
00:30I couldn't stop trembling
00:32three golden bonds coiled tight
00:34around our wrists so hot they burned
00:36three wolf shadows tangled
00:38on the wall above us
00:39I jolted awake, gasping
00:44cold sweat ran down my temple
00:46my back was soaked through
00:50my name is Freya Ashwood
00:52orphan, omega, nobody
00:55I don't remember my parents
00:57don't remember where I came from
01:00omegas like me were fair game in the pack
01:02the ones everyone mocked
01:04nobody noticed
01:05but I had Kylan
01:08my mate
01:09the new alpha of the pack
01:16strong, loyal, everything I'd ever hoped for
01:19tomorrow at his coronation
01:20he was going to propose to me
01:22in front of the whole pack
01:23and name me his Luna
01:33my heart was racing just thinking about it
01:36I picked up the laced Reya box
01:38I'd spent weeks preparing
01:40today
01:40I would finally become his Luna
01:45at the ceremony
01:46I tucked the box against my side
01:48and kept my eyes locked on Kylan
01:55he stood on the stage
01:57in full ceremonial dress
01:58my alpha
01:59my future
02:00his father announced him
02:02as the new alpha
02:10Kieran took the microphone
02:13my heart kicked
02:14my foot was already moving forward
02:17but his eyes slid past me
02:19straight to my adoptive sister Mia
02:21Mia Ashwood
02:22my sister
02:23I understood everything
02:24in a single second
02:25this was a setup
02:27it had always been a setup
02:28the whole hall
02:29burst into laughter
02:30every alpha
02:31every beta
02:32every omega
02:33who'd ever looked down on me
02:34now feasting on my humiliation
02:36something inside me snapped
02:38I ran up the steps
02:40and grabbed Kieran by the collar
02:41screaming
02:43he shoved me off
02:45like garbage
02:47then he looked me dead in the eye
02:49and said the words
02:50that would end him
02:51the golden bond between us
02:53snapped with a sickening crack
02:54in the chaos
02:55my lingerie box fell
02:57the lace spilled across the floor
02:59my handwritten love note fluttered out
03:01and the pack
03:02my pack
03:03picked them up
03:04passing them around
03:05laughing
03:06I begged for them back
03:07all I got was more laughter
03:09I grabbed a shard of broken glass
03:11off the floor
03:11climbed to my feet
03:12and dragged it across Kieran's face
03:14he struck me down with one swing
03:15my head hit the marble
03:17and then
03:17in front of the entire pack
03:18he publicly sentenced me
03:20to the werewolf
03:20information school
03:22congratulations little sister
03:24there are three alphas
03:25at that place
03:26Alex is the worst of them
03:30a monster
03:31an absolute devil
03:44when I opened my eyes again
03:45I was standing at the gates
03:47of the Lycan Reform Academy
03:48a roar of voices
03:49a crowd surging
03:51toward the training grounds
03:53screams everywhere
03:54I was swept along with them
03:56shoved all the way
03:57to the front
03:57before I could fight it
04:02in the center of the arena
04:04a man was tied to a wooden board
04:06lined with small blades
04:07blood everywhere
04:09still breathing
04:10three massive werewolves
04:12stride slowly forward
04:13their fur glistens brightly
04:15exuding an overpowering
04:16commanding aura
04:18in an instant
04:19a burst of harsh light
04:21flares up
04:22and they shift from beast
04:24to human all at once
04:25revealing stunning
04:26almost impossibly perfect physiques
04:33leading them is Alex
04:35broad shouldered
04:36and narrow waisted
04:37his sharp cold features
04:39carry a menacing edge
04:40an eye patch covers his eyes
04:41and a violent dangerous awarma
04:43clings to him
04:44warning everyone to stay away
04:46right beside him is Griffin
04:47his rich burgundy shirt
04:49hangs open wide
04:50putting his defined six pad
04:52on full display
04:53bold and devilishly charming
04:55he always wears a teasing
04:56playful smirk on his lips
04:58on the far side
04:59stands Jasper
04:59holding a crisp white shirt
05:01in his hand
05:01he has a gentle pure aura
05:02with soft relaxed features
05:04like a quiet elegant gentleman
05:05bathed in moonlight
05:06he is the only one of the three
05:07who seems entirely harmless
05:09wait
05:09the demons Mia warned me about
05:12the three men from my dreams
05:14Alex pulled a knife
05:15from his belt
05:16and flicked it
05:17it whistled past
05:18the bound man's ear
05:20and buried itself
05:21in the wood
05:21the crowd erupted in cheer
05:23something inside me
05:25broke open
05:25every moment of the ceremony
05:27came rushing back
05:28Kieran's face
05:30Mia's whisper
05:31the laughter
05:32I stopped thinking
05:34I ran out into the center
05:36of the ring
05:36and planted myself
05:37in front of the bound man
05:39screaming up at Alex
05:44a blade whistled past my ear
05:47so close it grazed my lobe
05:48and buried itself in the board
05:50right between the bound man's legs
05:52one inch higher
05:53and it would have ended him
05:54Alex was already walking toward me
05:56slow
05:58predatory
05:59the crowd stared at me
06:01like I was insane
06:02I forced myself to meet his eyes
06:05through the blindfold
06:05tried to keep my breathing steady
06:08it only made him angrier
06:09he closed the distance
06:11I thought I was dead
06:12then Jaster caught his arm
06:14I stepped back on instinct
06:16and hit something warm
06:17a chest
06:20Griffins
06:21he tipped my Chima up
06:22with one finger
06:23and smirked down at me
06:24all three of them
06:25all three men
06:27from my dreams
06:29who the hell are you?
06:30my name is Freya Ashwith
06:46Alex's fingers tightened around my neck
06:48his eyes burned
06:49before I could answer
06:50he turned away
06:50and spit a mouthful of blood
06:51onto the ground
06:52his face was white as death
06:53I stumbled back
06:54lungs heaving
06:55one word in my head
06:56run
06:57I didn't stop until my back
06:58hit a cold stone wall
06:59only then did I let myself breathe
07:01that dream
07:02the faces
07:03the bonds
07:04all three of them
07:05the same three men
07:06from my bed at night
07:07how could any of it be real?
07:10mates?
07:11three mates?
07:13a wolf couldn't have three mates
07:14it wasn't possible
07:16I was losing my mind
07:17I forced my feet to move
07:19toward the dormitory
07:21the only place that was mine
07:22I pushed the door open
07:23and a hand sped out of the dark
07:25and yanked me inside
07:26my back slammed against the wood
07:28I looked up into Alex's blood red eyes
07:30his breath was scorching
07:32he didn't give me a second to speak
07:34his mouth crashed down on mine
07:36hard
07:37devouring
07:37like he was trying to break me open
07:39and crawl inside
07:40I shoved him off with everything I had
07:43and he let me
07:44he just stood there
07:44chest heaving
07:45his eyes were still red
07:47but underneath the violence
07:48I saw something else
07:49pain
07:49he was fighting something I couldn't see
07:51I looked down
07:52the three golden bonds on my wrist
07:54were wriggling
07:55burning gold
07:57a horrible thought crossed my mind
08:01you're
08:01in rut
08:02aren't you?
08:05the words lit him up like a match
08:06he slammed my wrists above my head
08:08his other hand locking around my waist
08:10his palm burned through my dress
08:11his lips grazed down my throat
08:13biting
08:13tasting
08:14possessive
08:14and every touch turned my knees to water
08:16I mustered the last of my strength
08:17and slapped him across the face
08:18he froze
08:19stared at me
08:20the red in his eyes flickered
08:21and under it I saw raw desire
08:23and rarer self-hatred
08:24but his alpha scent kept rolling off him
08:26thick
08:27overwhelming
08:27pulling me under
08:28I knew if I stayed one more second
08:30I was going down with him
08:31I tore out of that room on shaking legs
08:33and fled into the hall
08:34Griffin and Jasper were standing there
08:36frozen
08:37their eyes locked on mine
08:39pure shock on both their faces
08:45deep in the night I lay there staring at the ceiling
08:57I threw off my jacket
08:59stripped down to my tank top
09:00and padded out to the kitchen for ice water
09:02Jasper's voice comes from behind
09:03I jumped
09:04my foot flipped on something soft
09:06his towel
09:06and I stumbled back
09:07bare skin against bare skin
09:08his chest was right behind me
09:10warm
09:10solid
09:11damp
09:11my face went scarred
09:13he caught me gently
09:14retied his towel
09:15and rested a calming hand on my shoulder
09:16and that's when my wrist lit up
09:18the golden bond between me and Jasper
09:20shimmered softly into view
09:21the air changed
09:22a soft smile on his face
09:24he said something had gotten in my eye
09:25lifting my wrist
09:26and bringing his face close to mine
09:28the living room door slammed open
09:30Griffin walked in
09:32saw us
09:33froze mid-step
09:34the playful smirk dropped off his face
09:37why do you always run the second you see me sweetheart
09:39playing hard to get
09:50deep in the night
09:51I lay there staring at the ceiling
09:53Alex's kiss
09:54Jasper's warmth
09:56Griffin's hand on my skin
09:57my whole body was wired
09:59my heart would not slow down
10:01I reached for the vibrator in my drawer
10:03a soft moan slipped out of me
10:05and then I froze
10:07all three of them were on my bed
10:09Alex, Jasper, Griffin
10:11watching me
10:12looks like someone needs it too
10:18but I can't take all three of you at once
10:28and my body
10:29traitor that it was
10:31screamed yes
10:36I was on fire
10:37their scents filled every inch of the room
10:39until I couldn't tell one from another
10:42Jasper
10:42gentle
10:43gentle Jasper
10:44was the first to move
10:45his lips traced up the inside of my thigh
10:47cool and precise
10:48every kiss sent a fresh shiver through me
10:51Griffin wasn't gentle at all
10:52his mouth went straight to my chest
10:54teeth
10:54tongue
10:55hot breath fanning across my skin
10:56he wanted me trapped in his heat
10:58and Alex leaned over me
10:59and swallowed every sound I tried to make
11:01his kiss was punishment
11:02ownership
11:03mine
11:04his mouth told me
11:05mine, mine, mine
11:08three different heats
11:10three different kinds of hunger
11:12I stopped fighting
11:14my eyes went glassy
11:16my body gave up all its weight to them
11:19the three golden bonds flared on my wrist
11:21braided together now
11:22white hot
11:23binding the four of us like fate itself
11:26had reached down and tied the knot
11:27I bolted up right in bed
11:29soaped in cold sweat
11:31alone
11:32the golden bonds on my wrist
11:34still pulsed softly
11:35with echoes of what wasn't real
11:38heat curled low in my belly
11:40unease right next to it
11:42I needed a shower
11:43I needed to wash them off me
11:45I needed to think
11:47the second I stepped in the bathroom
11:48a cough tore through me
11:50I tasted copper
11:51blood hit the white porcelain sink
11:53bright
11:53shockling
11:54wrong
11:55and then a voice
11:56soft, powerful, full of light
11:58spoke behind me
11:59I looked up into the mirror
12:00a woman in white stood behind me
12:02glowing faintly
12:03her face full of quiet sorrow
12:04the moon goddess
12:05my child
12:06you must sever two of the bonds
12:08and complete the mating
12:09with your true fated mate
12:11otherwise
12:11you will die
12:15damn
12:16which one am I supposed to pick?
12:18Alex?
12:19you want me that bad?
12:20I went rigid
12:21blood hammered up into my face
12:23slowly, slowly
12:24I turned around
12:25Alex
12:26fresh out of the shower
12:27bare chest
12:29water tracking down
12:30every ridge of muscle
12:31black boxer briefs
12:32nothing else
12:33the scent of alpha
12:34poured off him in waves
12:35he walked toward me
12:36one step
12:37another
12:38caged me against the wall
12:40I could feel his breath
12:41on my mouth
12:42I squeezed my eyes shut
12:43and he laughed
12:44a short remarking breath
12:45the humiliation hit like a fist
12:47without thinking
12:48I snapped at him
12:49every cruel thing
12:50I could think of
12:50his head dropped
12:51and for half a second
12:52I saw something in his eyes
12:53I wasn't expecting
12:54pain
12:55raw and real
12:56he warned me to stay away from him
13:00the training hall stank of sweat
13:02and testosterone
13:03wolves everywhere
13:04sparring
13:05shouting
13:05showing off
13:06and then the instructor called my name
13:08paired with Alex
13:09every head in the room turned to stare
13:11curious
13:12mocking
13:13I balled my hands into fists
13:15ignored all of them
13:16and walked straight up
13:17to the coldest man in the room
13:19I knew he'd turn me down
13:20but I never expected him
13:22to grab my wrist harshly
13:23slam me hard onto the mat
13:25then walk away
13:26without a single shred of mercy
13:28I lay there on the mat
13:29my chest full of a bitter
13:30ugly ache
13:31this was my fated mate
13:32this man
13:33a shadow fell over me
13:35warm
13:35gentle
13:36I looked up into Jasper's soft eyes
13:38his hand was outstretched
13:39he saw the way my ankle
13:41was already starting to swell
13:42something passed across his face
13:44worried he couldn't quite hide
13:45before I could speak
13:47he bent down
13:47slid one arm under my knees
13:49the other behind my back
13:50and lifted me clean off the floor
13:52I noticed the girl
13:53who's always hanging around Jasper
13:54glaring at me with pure malice
13:56as Jasper carried me
13:57toward the infirmary
13:58something made me glance back
14:00Alex was in the far corner
14:02half hidden in shadow
14:03his eyes were blood red
14:05he was looking at me
14:06like he wanted to tear me apart
14:07wanted to take a bite
14:09and keep it
14:09I shrunk against Jasper's chest
14:11but even through the crowd
14:12I could feel Alex's gaze
14:14cold and unblinking
14:15still pinned on me
14:16what a strange
14:17terrifying man
14:18I had to stay away from him
14:20Jasper set me down
14:21carefully on the bed
14:22knelt on one knee
14:23and started cleaning the swelling
14:2618 years of life
14:27and this was the first time
14:29anyone had ever been
14:30that gentle with me
14:31his breathing got heavier
14:32his eyes lingered on my ankle
14:34longer than they should have
14:35then
14:36just lightly
14:37he squeezed
14:38a tingling heat spread
14:39through my whole body
14:44shit
14:46I can actually feel you
14:47don't be scared
14:50that
14:51girl
14:51who's always watching you
14:54are you two together
14:55Thea
14:56no
14:57my wolf only wants
14:59one thing
15:00my fated mate
15:02a reckless
15:03dangerous thought
15:03blossomed in my chest
15:05what if Jasper
15:06is my fated mate
15:09I drifted out of the infirmary
15:10in a fog
15:11Jasper's words kept
15:12cycling in my head
15:13my wolf only wants
15:14my fated mate
15:15an engine roared
15:17behind me
15:17I turned
15:18a black sports car
15:19was barreling
15:20straight at me
15:21I couldn't move in time
15:22the bumper clipped me
15:24and I went down hard
15:25textbook scattering
15:26across the pavement
15:27Thea climbed out of the car
15:28with two of her pack friends
15:30she didn't waste time
15:31a bucket of ice water
15:32hit me square in the face
15:33the cold tore through my skin
15:35the whistles and laughter
15:37from the crowd
15:38cut deeper than the cold
15:39I scrambled up and ran
15:40didn't look where I was going
15:42just ran
15:43I slammed through a door
15:44and stumbled inside
15:45I was three steps in
15:47before I registered
15:48the urinals against the wall
15:49men's locker room
15:50I turned my back to the door
15:52shaking
15:52peeled off my soaked shirt
15:54and stood there
15:55in just my bra
15:56trying to stop shivering
15:57a low whistle behind me
15:59I whirled around
16:00Griffin was leaning
16:01against the doorway
16:02arms crossed
16:03cocky grin
16:04eyes all over me
16:05get out you pervert
16:07pervert?
16:09princess
16:09this is the men's locker room
16:12who's the pervert here?
16:17go back to the dorm
16:19change
16:20now
16:30in the hallway
16:31I buttoned Alex's shirt
16:32over my wet clothes
16:33it was enormous
16:34the sleeves swallowed my hands
16:35it smelled like him
16:37cold
16:37clean
16:38like mountain air
16:39a poster on the wall
16:40caught my eye
16:41couples
16:42spinning
16:42laughing
16:43dressed in silk
16:43my chest twisted
16:45someone like me
16:46rejected
16:47humiliated
16:48an omega nobody wanted
16:49how could I ever belong
16:51on a dance floor like that?
16:52two girls walked past
16:53whispering loudly enough
16:55for me to catch every word
16:56each word hit like a punch
16:57my eyes stung
16:58I ducked my head
16:59pulled Alex's shirt
17:00tighter around me
17:01and ran
17:01away from the poster
17:03away from their voices
17:04away from everyone
17:05a stray dog
17:06that's what I was
17:07with nowhere to go
17:12when I got back to the dorm
17:13Jasper was waiting in the living room
17:15a bouquet in his hand
17:16a tailored suit
17:17a smile like crushed spring light
17:20he held the flowers out to me
17:21I took them with both hands
17:23the scent rose up and made my breath catch
17:25my heart was doing something stupid
17:27it would be my honor if you'd be my partner at the dance next Friday
17:33I've loved you for a very long time, Freya
17:36since we were children
17:38so
17:39will you be my partner?
17:46don't be in such a rush, princess
17:48you've got more than one mate, remember?
18:01what are you doing here?
18:02you're in my way
18:03he turned around and went back up the stairs
18:05closed his door
18:06like he didn't care at all
18:08Griffin shoved his invitation into my hand
18:10and grabbed my arm
18:12Jasper stepped between us immediately
18:13shielding me from him
18:14I took a long breath and looked at both of them
18:17but I already knew
18:18only one of them had ever been gentle with me
18:21only one of them had ever saved me without asking for anything
18:24only one of them had given me an actual memory of being loved
18:27I hold out Griffin's invitation and hand it back
18:30then accept Jasper's offer instead
18:32Griffin growls in pure fury and storms out, slamming the door
18:35I stood in the empty living room
18:37my chest ached in a slow, dull way
18:39was it the bonds?
18:41or did I actually feel something for the others too?
18:43the thought took hold like a weed
18:45the invitation Alex had in his hand that he never gave me
18:48the way Griffin had stormed out
18:50guilt pressed down on me from both sides
18:52but then I looked at Jasper's clear, open face
18:54and I reminded myself
18:56Freya, you swore you'd never pick another Chiron
18:58Jasper is the opposite of Chiron
19:00this is the right choice
19:01right?
19:04the night of the dance
19:06I stood in front of the mirror a long time
19:08my best gown
19:09a little makeup
19:10a deep breath
19:12then into the glittering ballroom
19:14I scanned the crowd until I found him
19:16tall, broad-shouldered
19:18that gentle energy
19:20it had to be him
19:21I gathered every ounce of courage in my body
19:24walked over
19:25and tapped his shoulder
19:27then I ducked my head
19:29cheeks burning
19:30and said it before I could chicken out
19:32I waited
19:33head down
19:34heart going a hundred miles an hour
19:35a familiar shocked voice spoke
19:37from behind me
19:38I whipped around
19:39Jasper was standing there
19:41behind me
19:42then
19:43who had I just confessed to?
19:46slowly
19:46slowly
19:46I turned back
19:48Alex
19:48not Jasper
19:50Alex
19:52he let out a low, dark chuckle
19:54and stepped closer
19:55his eyes pinned me in place
19:56I wanted the floor to open
19:58and swallow me
19:59my face was on fire
20:00Alex grabs a glass of champagne
20:03nods briefly at Jasper
20:05then turns and leaves
20:08Jasper hurried over
20:09and his hand came up
20:11to smooth my hair
20:12that one small gesture
20:14cut through the humiliation
20:15tonight I told myself
20:17tonight I would find out for sure
20:20I took his hand
20:21and squeezed it
20:22hard
20:22I leaned up on my toes
20:25closed my eyes
20:26tilted my face up
20:28waited for the kiss
20:30and right as his lips
20:32brushed mine
20:33a frantic call rings out
20:35right behind him
20:36he pulled back
20:37torn
20:40apologetic
20:41whispered he'd be right back
20:43and was gone
20:44but the next second
20:46Thea swarms over
20:47with her crew
20:48warning me to stay away
20:49from Jasper
20:49I didn't get two seconds
20:51to recover
20:52before Thea and her pack
20:53descended on me
20:54some half-hearted threat
20:55about staying away
20:56from Jasper
20:57I'd had enough of her games
20:58I turned to walk away
21:01that was when she lost it
21:03her two friends
21:04grabbed my arms
21:05she pulled a lit cigarette
21:07from behind her back
21:08and brought it slowly
21:09towards my face
21:10I flinched back
21:12the cherry of the cigarette
21:13was a centimeter
21:14from my eye
21:15a silver cuff click
21:16whipped past my ear
21:17slammed into the cigarette
21:19and went straight on
21:20to graze Thea's cheek
21:24I spun around
21:25Alex was standing
21:27in the far corner
21:27of the ballroom
21:28he clapped his hands
21:30once
21:31lazily
21:32like he was applauding
21:33his own throw
21:34and walked away
21:35without a backward glance
21:38Thea was shrieking
21:39looking for whoever
21:40had thrown it
21:41she couldn't find him
21:42so she took her rage
21:44out on me
21:45she lunged
21:46I stepped out
21:48of the way
21:48she kept going
21:49straight into
21:50a three-tiered cake
21:51face first
21:52the ballroom
21:54exploded in laughter
22:05Freya is my mate
22:07no one touches her
22:11thea covered her face
22:12and fled the ballroom
22:13frosting still dripping
22:14off her hair
22:14I let out a shaky breath
22:16looked up at Jasper
22:17full of gratitude
22:18the music swelled
22:19I put my hand in his
22:20and we moved
22:21I could have stayed
22:22in that spin forever
22:23it was warm
22:23it was safe
22:24it was everything
22:25I'd wanted my whole life
22:26then mid-turn
22:27another hand caught my wrist
22:28and pulled me off balance
22:29it fell into a different chest
22:31hotter
22:31more aggressive
22:33Griffin
22:33he locked an arm
22:35around my waist
22:35his smile was sharp
22:37a little wounded
22:37it twisted in his grip
22:39furious
22:39tried to stomp on his foot
22:41he dodged with a grin
22:42and pulled me closer
22:43his mouth grew near mine
22:44he was going to kiss me
22:45right there
22:46in front of everyone
22:47I shoved him off
22:48and stumbled backward
22:49my heel slipped
22:50on the polished floor
22:51strong arms caught me
22:52before I hit the ground
22:53a cold, clean scent
22:54I knew it before
22:55I looked it up
22:55Alex
23:00looking down at me
23:01with the strangest expression
23:02something complicated
23:04something almost amused
23:05the blood in my face
23:07I tried to pull away
23:08he pulled me back
23:09into a chest
23:10and held me there
23:11his eyes locking with mine
23:12I put my hands
23:13against his chest
23:14push
23:14I was going to push
23:15but I didn't
23:16he caught one of my hands
23:19brought my fingertips
23:20to his mouth
23:21pressed a slow kiss to it
23:23then ran his tongue
23:24across it
23:25just once
23:27this was Alex
23:28this was Alex
23:29doing this
23:30my brain went white
23:32I closed my eyes
23:33I leaned in
23:35he turned his head
23:36away and smiled
23:37shame deconated
23:38in my chest
23:39I shoved him off
23:41and ran out of the ballroom
23:42cursing him the whole way
23:43bastard
23:44fucking bastard
23:45I stormed down the corridor
23:47with my head full of fire
23:48and walked straight
23:49into a solid body
23:50I looked up
23:52and my blood
23:53turned to ice
23:55Kyron
23:56well well
23:57the little omega
23:59I kicked out of my pack
24:01nice dress
24:02were you trying to seduce tonight
24:06Kyron stepped toward me
24:07closer
24:08closer
24:09his alpha pressure
24:10made my whole body shake
24:12my back hit the cold wall
24:13nowhere left to go
24:14rage and terror
24:15exploded in me
24:16at the same time
24:17I shoved him
24:18with everything I had
24:19he threw me to the ground
24:20like I weighed nothing
24:21my forehead
24:22cracked against a stone pillar
24:24blood ran down into my eyebrow
24:26he loomed over me
24:27reached down
24:28ripped the slit of my ground
24:30wide open
24:31before his hand could touch my skin
24:33blue light flared in my eyes
24:36something took over my body
24:37my fist moved without me
24:39it slammed into his face
24:41hard enough to break bone
24:42all the strength drained out of me
24:44in an instant
24:45black spots
24:46and then nothing
24:47when I woke up
24:48I was in my room
24:49the air smelled like antiseptic
24:51Alex was sitting on the edge of the bed
24:53with a cotton ball
24:54carefully dabbing at the cut
24:56on my forehead
24:56his touch was unbelievably gentle
24:59nothing like the man
25:01who had pushed me off
25:01on the training mat
25:02I ask softly
25:03if he's the one who saved me
25:05he immediately snaps back
25:06with sharp harsh words
25:07to lecture me
25:08I shoved him
25:09and turned my face to the wall
25:10the air went dangerous
25:11I could feel the pressure drop
25:13in the room
25:13but he didn't come after me
25:15he just sat back down
25:16his eyes dropped to my leg
25:18and then his hand
25:19closed around my ankle
25:20the heat of his fingertips
25:21made me jump
25:22the whole room went quiet
25:23just our breathing
25:24his thumb moved slowly
25:25across my skin
25:26so gentle
25:27it was almost worse
25:28my hands fisted
25:29in the sheets
25:30he brought out
25:31a tube of salive
25:32lifted my leg
25:33with both hands
25:33and applied it
25:34around the bruise
25:35careful not to press down
25:36he was barely breathing
25:38this place is dangerous
25:40Freya
25:40every year
25:41wolves die here
25:42omgas disappear
25:45I don't want it
25:45to happen to you
25:46so you came here
25:47for me?
25:48alpha's saliva
25:49heals faster than medicine
25:50close your eyes
25:51I closed them
25:52his hands lifted my calf
25:54his lips pressed gently
25:56against the cut
25:57his tongue
25:58traced the sore
25:59swollen skin around it
26:01and a shock of heat
26:02ran all the way up my body
26:04I stopped breathing
26:21you're not actually that bad
26:23you know
26:26I stared into his eyes
26:28something swirled in them
26:29I couldn't name
26:30my throat closed
26:32I couldn't speak
26:33he leaned in
26:34his breath fared
26:35across my lips
26:36we were close enough
26:38to feel each other trembling
26:39the air between us
26:40was going to burn
26:41bang
26:42the door flew open
26:44Griffin
26:44two ice cream cones
26:46in his hands
26:47a big stupid grin
26:48on his face
26:49the grin froze
26:50the second he saw us
26:52I panicked
26:53shoved Alex away
26:54snatched the salve tube
26:55out of his hand
26:56I bolted into the bathroom
26:58and slammed the door
26:59leaned back against it
27:00my heart was trying
27:01to punch through my chest
27:03inside
27:04I sat down on the tile
27:05shaking
27:06and tried to put Sam
27:08on my own leg
27:09my mind kept replaying it
27:11his mouth
27:12his eyes
27:13the tremor in his fingers
27:15the fact that I wanted him
27:16to keep going
27:17I decided on Jasper
27:19I was going to sever
27:20the other two bonds
27:21so why had my body lit up
27:23at Alex's touch
27:24why was I suddenly
27:25doubting everything
27:26was I falling for him
27:28no
27:29absolutely not
27:30I knew what Kieran
27:32had looked like
27:32before he destroyed me
27:33cold
27:34distant
27:35impossible to reach
27:37Alex was the same type
27:38my type
27:39the type I was going
27:40to die reaching for
27:41no
27:42I wanted a real
27:43relationship this time
27:44respect
27:45honesty
27:46not being played with
27:47until I broke
27:48another cough
27:49racked my chest
27:50copper in my mouth
27:51blood in the sink
27:52I looked up at the mirror
27:53pale
27:54bloody lip
27:55hollow eyes
27:57I couldn't let Alex
27:58confuse me anymore
28:00I had to complete the bond
28:02with Jasper
28:02soon
28:03before I died
28:07in the training hall
28:08I kept glancing toward the door
28:10waiting for Jasper to come back
28:12so I could tell him what I decided
28:15Thea appeared in front of me instead
28:17holding a training ball
28:18her eyes narrow
28:21she threw it at me
28:23I took it on the shoulder
28:25she threw another
28:27I took it on the ribs
28:29on the third one
28:30something in me snapped
28:32I grabbed the ball
28:34and hurled it back
28:34it hit her in the forehead
28:36and put her flat on her back
28:37blood bloomed from her hairline
28:39the whole hall went dead silent
28:40every teacher
28:41every student
28:42staring at me
28:43the instructor told Jasper
28:44to take Thea to the infirmary
28:45then he told me to stay after class
28:47and clean the entire training hall
28:48my punishment
28:49and Freya
28:49you can stay behind
28:51and clean this entire jam
28:53I swallowed the injustice
28:55the way I'd swallowed
28:56every other injustice
28:57nobody cared about
28:59One Omega's side of the story
29:02after class
29:03it was just me
29:03in the echoing
29:04empty hall
29:05dragging a mope
29:06across the floor
29:07cold condensation
29:08pressed against my cheek
29:09I looked up
29:11Alex
29:14he says he'll train me personally
29:16and teach me
29:16how to control my inner power
29:19I stare at him
29:20half believe
29:21and half doubtful
29:22we squared off
29:23with wooden stahls
29:26old school
29:27bare bones combat
29:29he was an alpha
29:30and a top one
29:31his speed and strength
29:32were a different species
29:34from mine
29:35I could only fall back
29:36block
29:37stumble
29:38keep breathing
29:41but I didn't notice it at first
29:43last time we'd trained
29:44I couldn't block
29:45a single one of his strikes
29:47tonight I was holding my own
29:49for rounds at a time
29:50watching Alex's figure
29:52walking toward me from afar
29:53I realized for the first time
29:55that he might not be as brutal
29:56and bloodthirsty
29:57as everyone claims
29:58he hands me a bottle of water
30:00thoughtfully
30:01and asks why I keep putting up
30:02with unfair treatment
30:03when I possess
30:04such great power
30:05truth is
30:06who even knew
30:07I had that much strength
30:08inside me
30:09I tighten my grip
30:10on the water bottle
30:12and for the first time
30:13I told somebody
30:15no father
30:16no mother
30:19from the moment I had memory
30:20I was just the adopted girl
30:22in the Ashwood house
30:24the Ashwoods were old
30:26Ridge Pack nobility
30:27they didn't mistreat me
30:29they just didn't see me
30:32I existed to make Mia look better
30:34even when the moon goddess
30:35picked Kirin for me
30:36even when I had a mate
30:37nothing changed
30:39Mia only got worse
30:41and then I got discarded
30:43and ended up here
30:46Alex listened
30:47the whole time
30:48not once did his face flicker
30:50with pity or contempt
30:51just a quiet
30:53aching softness
30:54he wasn't used to
30:55comforting anyone
30:55his ears went pink
30:57when I looked at him
30:58with tears in my eyes
30:59he looked away
31:00flustered
31:03I couldn't help it
31:04I started laughing
31:06time for the next train
31:07he came at me
31:10I took a breath
31:11and swung at him hard
31:12he slipped to the side
31:14I over committed
31:15I was going to fall
31:16he spun and caught me
31:18his arm around my waist
31:20his chest against my back
31:22his breath at my neck
31:23our heart beats
31:24in the same too fast rhythm
31:26out of the corner of my eye
31:27a flash of color
31:28Griffin had come in
31:30with a broom
31:30he'd stopped dead
31:31his face twisted
31:33he threw the broom
31:35down so hard
31:36it bounced
31:36turned around
31:38and stormed
31:39out of the hall
31:39that night
31:40I bought a milkshake
31:42his favorite flavor
31:43and stood outside
31:44Alex's door
31:45working up the courage
31:47to knock
31:51do you have Mia's number
31:52Freya's sister
31:53I want to take her out
31:54for coffee
31:55the milkshake almost
31:56slipped out of my hand
31:57all of it
31:58the training
32:00the listening
32:01the gentleness
32:02all of it was a lie
32:03he'd been getting close
32:04to me so he could
32:05get to my sister
32:06I bit down on my lip
32:08and forced the tears back
32:09threw the milkshake
32:11in the nearest trash cans
32:13I was there
32:14maybe two minutes
32:15before there was a knock
32:16I yanked the door open
32:19Griffin was leaning
32:20against the frame
32:22hands in his pockets
32:23that cocky grin
32:25that always drove me insane
32:27I shoved him
32:28but he was built
32:29like a wall
32:29and I couldn't move him
32:31an inch
32:31the tears finally spilled over
32:33and I couldn't stop them
32:35don't hate
32:36don't do that
32:37come on
32:39tell me what you want
32:40and I'll get it for you
32:41anything
32:41I want someone honest
32:43someone who respects me
32:45someone who won't lie to me
32:47not someone who says
32:49pretty things he doesn't mean
33:09is this obvious enough?
33:11I'm flirting with you Freya
33:13I want to be your mate
33:16for real
33:22bang
33:22the door flew open
33:24cold air rushed in
33:26I panicked
33:27shoved Griffin back
33:28and fumbled to straighten
33:29my clothes
33:30I looked up
33:31Alec
33:32his face was like
33:33carved stone
33:34his eyes were burning
33:36everything I'd been
33:37holding back all night
33:38the hurt
33:38the betrayal
33:39the mortication
33:40came out as a sneer
33:41what are you even doing here?
33:42aren't you supposed to be on your date with my sister?
33:44his eyes swept over Griffin's bare chest
33:47the wolf inside him rumbered
33:48a sound I could feel in my ribs
33:51Griffin had it by the collar
33:52Alec wrenched Griffin's hand off
33:53and walked out into the living room
33:55straight into Jasper
33:56Jasper smiled at him
33:57and held out an invitation
33:58Alex exploded
33:59the door slammed hard enough
34:00to rattle the frames on the walls
34:02Jasper stood there blinking
34:03me and Griffin stared at the floor
34:05Jasper's birthday party
34:06was bright and loud
34:07full of laughing wolves
34:08and formal clothes
34:08I found a corner
34:09and started drinking
34:10Alex's betrayal
34:12Griffin's confession
34:14Jasper's steady kindness
34:15the moon goddess's warning
34:17all of it tangled together
34:19in my head
34:20like a net pulling tight
34:21the more I drank
34:22the fuzzier things got
34:23Griffin rushed over
34:24and tried to take my glass
34:25I slapped his hand away
34:27a harsh cough tore through me
34:28I tasted copper
34:30blood dripped onto my dress
34:31bright red against the pale silk
34:33I pushed through the crowd
34:35and locked myself in the bathroom
34:36leaned on the sink
34:38the woman in the mirror was pale
34:39I know I can't hold on any longer
34:41I have to pick one to bond with tonight
34:43or I'm really gonna die
34:44pounding on the door
34:47Griffin's worried voice
34:48I shouted back at him to leave me alone
34:50I stared at myself in the mirror
34:52the decision clicked into place
34:53I wasn't going to die
34:54not like this
34:55I straightened my dress
34:56pulled that thing out of my clutch
34:57and gripped it hard enough
34:58than was outside this door
34:59that was who I was choosing
35:00and it was final
35:03I pulled the bathroom door open
35:04Alex
35:05he was carrying the cold in with him
35:06his face was dark
35:07his eyes were scorching
35:08I stepped back without meaning to
35:10the thing slipped out of my hand
35:11and hit the floor between us
35:12he saw it
35:13he walked me backward
35:14until I was pinned
35:15between the vanity and his body
35:18lifted me onto the counter
35:19like I weighed nothing
35:22his thumb brushed the corner of my mouth
35:24he forced my face up to his
35:25his voice was low and thick with rage
35:27barely held back
35:28then he kissed me
35:28it was a punishing kiss
35:29teeth and tongue
35:30and discipline and desperation
35:31all at once
35:32he left a mark on my neck
35:33his arms caged me against the mirror
35:35through the door
35:36Jasper called my name
35:37a wave of cold water down my spine
35:39and then a wave of something hotter
35:40right behind it
35:41I hooked my arm around Alex's neck
35:43pulled him into the nearest dot
35:44and slammed the door
35:45through the lock
35:46pressed him against the partition
35:47and kissed him with everything I had
35:49my hand went straight for his belt
35:50the knocking got closer
35:51it stopped right outside the stall
35:52Jasper's voice
35:53gentle and anxious
35:54came through the metal
35:55Alex went roger
35:56the heat drained out of his eyes
35:57and was replaced with something worse
35:58betrayal
35:59he slammed his fist
36:00into the stall door
36:01the whole cubicle shook
36:03the knocking outside
36:04went silent
36:04a long pause
36:05then Jasper's quiet
36:06awkward apology
36:07footsteps receding
36:08are you out of your fucking mind
36:11Freya would you spread your legs
36:12for anyone with a cock
36:13are you that cheap
36:14like you're any different
36:15you trained with me
36:16you listened to me
36:18and then you turned around
36:19and called my sister
36:20you're no better than
36:21every other person
36:22who's ever looked down on me
36:23and used me
36:23were you jealous
36:24did you actually care
36:26why would I be jealous of you
36:28you're a self-absorbed asshole
36:29you mean nothing to me
36:31nothing
36:31absolutely nothing
36:38in class the next morning
36:40the fight kept replaying in my head
36:41Nora's voice kept pushing through
36:43weaker
36:43the dull ache in my chest
36:45was a clock ticking down
36:46a folded note slid onto my desk
36:49Jasper's handwriting
36:50something gentle and careful
36:52my eyes burned
36:54I looked up and found him watching me
36:56his eyes full of quiet worry
36:58Thea saw it
37:00her face contorted
37:01a paper ball thumbed against my back
37:03I opened it
37:04seven words
37:05rooftop
37:05eight tonight
37:06come alone
37:09the wind was cold on the rooftop
37:11my skirt snapped around my legs
37:12I gripped the note and walked to the center
37:13my heart full of hope
37:14Jasper was finally going to let me tell him everything
37:16a sneer cut through the wind
37:17Thea was at the stairway door
37:18flanked by her two friends
37:19blocking the only exit
37:20their faces were pure malice
37:22they closed in on me
37:22her friends grabbed my arms
37:24and slammed me onto the concrete
37:25the cold of the rooftop
37:26cut through my dress
37:27I kicked
37:28I twisted
37:28they pinned my shoulder
37:29Thea crouched over me
37:30caught my chin in her hand
37:32pulled a small bottle
37:33out of her pocket
37:33dark liquid
37:34sharp chemical smell
37:35her friends forced my jaw open
37:37she poured it down my throat
37:38it tasted like rot and acid
37:40heat tore through my body instantly
37:42my vision warped
37:44my muscles went slack
37:45I couldn't fight anymore
37:47I tried to scream
37:48the wind swallowed it
37:49and just as I was about to go under
37:51the rooftop door exploded inward
37:53Alex
37:53his eyes blood red
37:54a killing aura coming off him in waves
37:56he didn't say a word
37:57he knocked Thea and her friends flat
37:59grabbed him like he was the last solid thing in the world
38:01I threw myself at him
38:02babbling
38:03begging
38:03he stiffened
38:04I could see him trying to be responsible
38:06trying to push me off
38:07so he could find the antidote
38:08but my flushed face
38:10my desperate eyes
38:11my tears
38:12the wall inside him cracked
38:14he whispered against my ear
38:15gragged and rough
38:16the heat in my body
38:17and the pan of my chest
38:17sprung tight around each other
38:18he kept holding me
38:19kissing me
38:19kissing me
38:20he was hiding to darkness
38:21safe
38:22when I woke up
38:23I was in my own bed
38:23his coat was draped over me
38:24I could smell him on it
38:25that cool mountain scent
38:26cut through with a thin thread of blood
38:27a knock
38:28Jasper
38:28he came in with a glass of warm water
38:29his eyes full of water
38:30the door suddenly bursts open
38:31Griffin storms in
38:32clearly furious
38:33and urgently asks
38:34where Alex is
38:34saying he's gone missing
38:35what Alex had brought me back
38:36it's the full moon
38:37what?
38:38Alex could lose control
38:39at any time
38:39if we don't find him
38:40Enzo his wolf
38:41will swallow him whole
38:42he'll die
38:42we have to find him
38:43before sunrise
38:44so Alex has been fighting
38:45the wolf this whole time
38:46that was why he kept
38:47shoving me away
38:56in the dream
38:57I was in a wasted forest
38:59moonlight
39:01Alex slumped against a tree
39:02shirt soaked with blood
39:04cuts everywhere
39:05I grabbed his hand
39:07and sobbed
39:07that I wasn't angry anymore
39:09that every misunderstanding
39:10was gone
39:11pain ripped through my head
39:13and I snapped awake
39:14cold sweat on my forehead
39:16the full moon still hung
39:17outside the window
39:18one thought in my whole body
39:20find him
39:25I threw on a coat and ran
39:26straight for the forbidden forest
39:28I knew where he was
39:29he was in the most dangerous place
39:30there was
39:30and the place he needed me most
39:32the night was like ink
39:32the branches twisted overhead
39:34like claws
39:35the wind howled through dead leaves
39:36cutting at my face
39:37I stumbled forward
39:38my dress tore on every other branch
39:39my bare feet bled on the rocks
39:41none of it mattered
39:41under an old tree
39:42I found him
39:43collapsed
39:44soaked in blood
39:45new wounds still bleeding
39:46mud and dead leaves
39:47clung to him
39:48his breathing was so shallow
39:49I could barely see it
39:50Alex!
39:53Alex stay with me
40:03I wasn't contentacting
40:05Mia for a date
40:06I believe you
40:08there's someone inside
40:09the academy
40:10they're working with
40:11the hunters
40:11they want me dead
40:13protecting you
40:13the man he tied up
40:14at the start of term
40:15it had to be
40:16they'd been after Alex
40:16from the beginning
40:17I'm sorry
40:17I'm so sorry for every time
40:19I misunderstood you
40:19from now on
40:20I'm gonna be the one
40:21protecting you
40:22the kitchen was warm
40:24and full of steam
40:24in the morning light
40:25milk bubbling on the stove
40:27eggs crisping gold
40:29at the edges
40:29a bowl of healing broth
40:31I'd spent an hour on
40:32waiting to bring him
40:33I adjusted the flame
40:34for the fifth time
40:35all I could think about
40:36was him
40:37the whole night
40:38I'd dreamed of him
40:39the way he'd leaned
40:40against me
40:41that fragile
40:43unberservable vulnerability
40:44how every breath
40:45had pained him
40:46I just wanted him
40:47to wake up
40:47to something warm
40:48something to make him
40:50heal faster
40:51every guilt
40:52every missed chance
40:54every ounce of doubt
40:56of fint
40:56I'd carried
40:57I was going to pack it
40:59into this one meal
41:00and give it to him
41:01a gentle voice
41:02came from the doorway
41:03Jasper
41:04in loose clothes
41:05hair still damp
41:06I saw him reaching
41:07for the tray
41:08and stopped him
41:09at once
41:09telling him it was
41:10special nutritious meal
41:11prepared for Alex
41:12but he told me
41:13Alex had already left
41:15the spoon fell out
41:16of my hand
41:16and hit the plate
41:17with a sharp ring
41:18where was he
41:20who was going
41:21to take care
41:21of him
41:22what if someone
41:23found him again
41:24I got two steps
41:25before Jasper
41:26was in front of me
41:27his body warm
41:28against the cold
41:29wall behind me
41:30his breath
41:31on my forehead
41:31he was close
41:32enough to kiss
41:33if I tilted up
41:34one inch
41:35I could
41:35I'm not gonna
41:36let you go
41:37come back
41:38to my territory
41:38with me
41:40if you choose me
41:41I'll announce you
41:42as my Luna
41:42in front of my
41:43whole pack
41:45I'll protect you
41:46for the rest
41:46of my life
41:48no more
41:49misunderstandings
41:50no more hurt
41:51I looked into
41:52his sunlit face
41:53at the warmth
41:53in his eyes
41:54at the sincerity
41:55of everything
41:55he was
41:56and my mind
41:57kept dragging up
41:58another face
41:58another man
41:59a Alex
42:00Alex against
42:01my chest
42:01in the forest
42:02vulnerable
42:03and bleeding
42:03Alex biting
42:04back his wolf
42:05so he wouldn't
42:06hurt me
42:06Alex
42:07broken
42:08aching
42:08terrified
42:10still somehow
42:10trying to keep
42:11me safe
42:12it hit me
42:13in waves
42:13every moment
42:14of him
42:15it drowned out
42:16the gentle warmth
42:17standing right
42:18in front of me
42:18wait
42:22the silence
42:23cracked everything
42:24Jasper froze
42:26the hope in his eyes
42:27faded slowly
42:28replaced by something
42:29softer
42:30understanding
42:30he stepped back
42:32he ran his hand
42:33over my hair once
42:34gently
42:34and smiled
42:35no blame
42:36only release
42:37he helped me
42:38get to Alex's
42:39packed territory
42:40at the border
42:41he solemnly
42:42severed our bond
42:44the pain
42:45was shattering
42:45like something
42:46tearing out
42:47of my ribs
42:48I looked up
42:49into Jasper's
42:50tired
42:50quiet eyes
42:51the guilt
42:52was a knife
42:52but I had
42:53no other choice
42:54the car drove away
42:56the bond
42:57backlash
42:57turned into
42:58I doubled over
42:59and coughed up
43:00blood onto the gravel
43:01I used the last
43:02of my strength
43:02to stagger into
43:03Alex's wing
43:04of the estate
43:04he was sitting
43:05on the edge
43:06of the bed
43:06drinking coffee
43:07sunlight on his face
43:08he looked up
43:10saw me
43:10bloody
43:11dirty
43:12barely standing
43:13and his face
43:14went white
43:14I didn't hesitate
43:15it
43:16I launched
43:17across the room
43:17of the moth
43:18into a flame
43:18I shoved him
43:20down onto the bed
43:21and straddled him
43:22my hands
43:23cleaned his shoulders
43:24my knuckles
43:25white
43:26my whole body
43:27shaking
43:27from the backlash
43:28and the hunger
43:31this cold
43:32cool looking man
43:34was what I wanted
43:35I fumbled
43:36with the buttons
43:37on his shirt
43:37the more I hurried
43:39the clumsier
43:40I got
43:40all I could feel
43:42horror was him
43:43getting harder
43:44against him
43:44burning through
43:45two layers of fabric
43:46the howls of both
43:47our wolves
43:48the ones we've been
43:49suppressing for so long
43:50are you sure
43:53I'm not with anyone
43:57clean
43:58twisted around each other
44:00the faded macron
44:01locked into place
44:02wrapping around our bones
44:04deep and unbreakable
44:05it drove out
44:06every shadow
44:07every fear
44:08every old wound
44:15I woke up the next morning
44:17and in his bed
44:19sunlight everywhere
44:22I kissed his cheek
44:23while he slept
44:24and padded
44:25into the bathroom
44:31thank you moon goddess
44:33I'm so relieved
44:35the bond was completed
44:36in time
44:36and I finally survived
44:42I grabbed his arm
44:44and tried to explain
44:45he pulled away from me
44:46hard
44:46his wolf was coming back up
44:48I could see the panic
44:49and the shame on his face
44:50as plain as I saw my own guilt
44:52and I could see him
44:53making a decision
44:54he turned
44:55and walked out
44:56without one look back
44:59I watched him go
45:00every step he took
45:01crushed something inside me
45:02dull pain
45:03silent tears
45:04I knew this was
45:05a misunderstanding
45:06I knew he was leaving
45:07because he was afraid
45:08of what his wolf
45:09would do to me
45:09I went to his office
45:10he had his back to me
45:11the whole time
45:12a wall of cold shoulder
45:13that wouldn't turn around
45:15the beta told me
45:16helplessly
45:17that Alex was only afraid
45:18of hurting me
45:19not intentionally
45:20pushing me away
45:21I knew
45:23I'd known the whole time
45:25but what was I supposed
45:27to do as his mate
45:28if he wouldn't even
45:29look at me
45:32his coldness is scaring me
45:35maybe I should just give up
45:39no
45:40I'm never giving up
45:41I love him
45:42that's enough
45:43I walked to his office door
45:45and raised my fist
45:46every knock
45:47was the sound of me
45:48burning my last bridge
45:49no answer
45:50I shoved the door open
45:52the room was empty
45:53only the beta
45:55standing by the desk
45:58his face was cold
46:00his voice was colder
46:01he told me Alex was gone
46:03and even if he weren't
46:04he would refuse to see me
46:06he said we were never
46:07meant to be
46:08and we ought to stop
46:09torturing each other
46:10every ounce of strength
46:11drained out of me
46:12I tasted copper
46:14from where I'd bitten my lip
46:15I turned and walked out
46:16with my back straight
46:17tears blurring my vision
46:19every step heavy
46:20but the thought in my head
46:22was getting clearer
46:22I'm not leaving Alex
46:24no matter how you hide
46:26no matter how hard you push
46:28I'm never giving up on you
46:34the room was dark
46:35only moonlight
46:37I was on the floor again
46:38my back against the wall
46:40a half-finished glass of something next to me
46:45I dreamed
46:46I was back in the forest
46:48darkness so thick
46:49I couldn't see my own hand
46:50wind cutting through me
46:52despair pressing in on all sides
46:54Alex was on the ground
46:56pale
46:57bloody
46:57his breath almost gone
46:59I ran
47:02dropped to my knees
47:03reached for him
47:04his eyes have stoked me
47:05the gentleness was gone
47:07what looked back at me
47:08was pure
47:09hungry violence
47:10his pupils blazed red
47:12a roar tore out of his throat
47:14echoing through the trees
47:16you're just using me
47:17no
47:19I truly love you
47:25tears running down my face
47:27I screamed it at him
47:29over and over
47:29the red in his eyes
47:31dippened
47:32his hand closed
47:33around my throat
47:34I couldn't breathe
47:35death crept in
47:36at the edges of my vision
47:41and then
47:42just as I was about
47:43to lose everything
47:44the red in his eyes
47:45dippened
47:46his hand flew off
47:47my neck
47:48a single tear dropped
47:49onto my face
47:50I stared up at him
47:51the violent version of him
47:53the one that had almost killed me
47:55he was crying
47:56I jolt awake
47:57tears still wet on my face
48:00my chest heaving
48:01cold sweat soaking my hair
48:03and just as the cold
48:05and the hopelessness
48:06were about to swallow me whole
48:08a soft holy voice
48:10spoken to my ear
48:11the chill vanished
48:12in the moonlight
48:13the moon goddess appeared
48:14her face full of sorrow
48:16and love
48:16I wiped my face
48:18and stumbled toward her
48:19my voice shaking
48:20I had to know
48:21how did I save him
48:22I couldn't stand
48:23watching him be torn apart
48:25from the inside
48:25while I could do nothing
48:31how did I save him
48:34how did I save him
48:37I couldn't stand
48:38watching him be torn apart
48:39from the inside
48:40while I could do nothing
48:41peace child
48:43I've come to tell you this
48:45you are the answer
48:49Freda
48:52you are the one
48:53who can save him
48:54and yourself
48:58the moon goddess's words
49:00hit me like a bolt of lightning
49:03I froze
49:04my whole body shook
49:07my lips trembled so hard
49:09I couldn't make a sound
49:11I clenched the necklace
49:12at my throat
49:13my father had been
49:14a feared and powerful alpha
49:16my mother had been
49:17a white witch
49:18born with pure healing power
49:19condemned by every pack
49:21as a heretic
49:21they had fallen in love
49:23across a line
49:23that wasn't supposed
49:24to be crossed
49:25and they had been
49:25slaughtered for it
49:26murdered on a stone altar
49:28every unexplained moment
49:30fell into place at once
49:31every strange pull
49:32I'd felt towards Alex
49:33every time his eyes
49:34had languered on mine
49:35every coincidence
49:36that hadn't been a coincidence
49:37all the confusion
49:38all the fear
49:39all the self-doubt
49:39I'd been carrying
49:40it shattered
49:41I can save him
49:42I really can save him
49:44before I could fully
49:45take it in
49:45the door crashed open
49:47Jasper and Griffin
49:49pale frantic
49:50forbidden forest
49:51from my dream
49:52flashed through my head
49:53I know how to save him
49:55he must be in the forbidden forest
50:04you're the white witch's daughter?
50:07Griffin grew gentle and relieved
50:09he raised his hand
50:10toward the cold moonlight
50:11his voice was low and solemn
50:13he swore to release me
50:14as his mate
50:15from this night on
50:16he would guard me
50:17only as a friend
50:17for the rest of his life
50:19a soft white light flared
50:21the bond between us
50:22broke without pain
50:23no regret
50:24only release
50:25and deep
50:26deep gratitude
50:29I was almost at the edge
50:30of the forbidden forest
50:31when a dark shape
50:32dropped out of the shadows
50:33behind me
50:36before I could react
50:37something slammed
50:38into the back of my skull
50:40white hot pain
50:41rolled over me
50:42like a wave
50:46the dull throb
50:47at the back of my head
50:48a sharp cramp
50:49in my stomach
50:49I forced my eyes open
50:51in the dim light
50:52of a warehouse
50:52Kian and Mia
50:53standing over me
50:55smiling like snakes
50:56I tried to pull on
50:57the power inside me
50:58nothing
50:59my body wouldn't respond
51:01Nora didn't answer
51:02panic
51:03Mia stepped forward
51:04and slapped me
51:05across the face
51:06then drove her fist
51:07into my stomach
51:08pain flooded everything
51:09blood in my mouth
51:11I forced myself
51:12to glare up at them
51:14told them Alex
51:14would never let them
51:15get away with this
51:16Kieran scoffed
51:17unconvinced
51:18I snarled at him
51:19called him a traitor
51:20a coward
51:21Mia lost it completely
51:22she slapped me again
51:24and screamed that
51:24she was going to
51:25destroy me
51:26she turned to the fire pit
51:27in the middle of the warehouse
51:29and pulled a glowing
51:29red poker out of the coals
51:31the heat rolled off her
51:32she stepped toward me
51:33she was going to
51:35burn out my eyes
51:35the heat got closer
51:37I shut my eyes
51:39all I could see
51:40was him
51:40all I could think
51:41was that I couldn't
51:42die like this
51:43I hadn't saved him yet
51:44I hadn't told him
51:46the truth
51:46let her go
51:49how the hell
51:50are you here
51:51you were supposed
51:51to be trapped
51:52by the hunters
51:52you're just a monster
51:54who can't control
51:55his wolf
51:56you're going to
51:56end up killing
51:57the people who love you
52:04wait
52:13that's right
52:14just like this
52:16next
52:17you'll strangle
52:18the girl you love
52:19with your own hands
52:28I leaned back
52:29against the wall
52:29I didn't flinch
52:30I didn't step back
52:31I called his name
52:32through my tears
52:33his body shook
52:34his right hand
52:35was holding a dagger
52:36lifting it toward me
52:37his left hand
52:38was clamped around
52:39his own right wrist
52:40nails digging into skin
52:41trying to hold
52:42the right hand back
52:43then he twisted the blade
52:44turned it away from me
52:45toward himself
52:46I screamed and threw
52:48myself at him
52:49grabbed the blade
52:50in both hands
52:50the edge cut deep
52:52into my palms
52:52blood ran down
52:54the steel
52:54I didn't feel it
52:55the power sleeping
52:56inside me for 18 years
52:58woke up
52:58warmth flooded
52:59every cell in my body
53:00my chestnut hair
53:01shimmers and shifted
53:02down the length of it
53:03strand by strand
53:04turning pure silver white
53:06a soft powerful
53:07white light burst out of it
53:08it filled every corner
53:09of the warehouse
53:10every shadow retreated
53:11from it
53:12every trace of violence
53:13dissolved
53:13my palm was still bleeding
53:15but the white light
53:15flowing through me
53:16grew warmer and warmer
53:17the ancient born-in power
53:19of a white witch
53:20wrapped around me
53:21wrapped up my walls
53:22strange and familiar
53:23all at once
53:24by the les my guide
53:25by the blood as my bond
53:27I banish the darkness
53:29I restore the true heart
53:31by the moon's power
53:32may the shadow lift
53:34by my blood
53:35may the one I love
53:36be saved
53:51Kieran and Mia were screaming
53:52for mercy somewhere behind us
53:54I didn't have any attention
53:55left for them
53:55I could hear Griffin and Jasper
53:57bittering near the door
53:58and even that felt warm
54:00like surviving
54:01like coming home
54:02I started to smile
54:04Alex's arm tightened
54:05around my waist
54:06he lowered his head
54:07and kissed me
54:07deep, urgent
54:08full of everything
54:09we'd almost lost
54:10everything we'd finally found
54:12when the kiss ended
54:13he pressed his forehead to mine
54:15the tenderness in his eyes
54:16almost undid me
54:17and I understood
54:18completely
54:19that we had finally
54:20walked out of the dark together
54:21I didn't have any attention
54:22I didn't have any attention
54:23I didn't have any attention
54:23I didn't have any attention
54:23I didn't have any attention
54:24I didn't have any attention