- 1 day ago
馃惡La Luna del Alfa Roto- Completo
Category
馃帴
Short filmTranscript
00:03I threw my body into the woods, no funeral, no grave, just crows, and that was the second
00:08time I died for him.
00:09In my world, being blind is a defect.
00:12Without a wolf, I'm a mother.
00:13I am in a mother, the very bottom of the pack I'm a lucky.
00:16No strength, no shifting, no healing.
00:19A normal wolf will tell.
00:22Heals a new person.
00:23Give me a paper cut, and I'll bleed for days, but I have something no one needs to do.
00:28I don't see faces, I see souls of jealousy, toxic green, peaked, de-oily black.
00:34In my last life, I used it to build a king, Lucian, a forgotten fifth son.
00:39I picked him, I made him, I put him on the throne.
00:42In the day my sister Celeste died, he grabbed my jaw so hard I heard it crack, forced a wolf's
00:49vein tincture down my throat.
00:51You blind freak, you knew I never wanted you.
00:54Celeste should have been mine from the start.
00:56And because of you, she ended up with Marcus.
00:59They tortured her to death.
01:01It was your fault.
01:04I died in agony.
01:06He gave Celeste's corpse a royal burial.
01:09He gave me the woods.
01:11It was a hurt, deceit.
01:13It was so consuming it dragged me right back from his neck.
01:16It opened my eyes, seventeen again.
01:20Night, he made him out.
01:21Lucian walked straight past me and took Celeste's hand, like he was afraid someone might stop
01:26him.
01:27The bastard came back too, and he remembered everything.
01:30He is terrified I'll choose him again.
01:32Honestly, I couldn't care less.
01:33I swept my blind gaze across the back of the room.
01:36In a sea of dark, rotten salt, a soul so pure, it glowed like liquid gold.
01:42The man in the wheelchair, the true alpha.
01:45I choose Celeste as my mate.
01:48Lucian's voice cracked through the hall like a whip.
01:50She is my one and only Luna.
01:52He walked toward my sister with eyes full of a tenderness I knew was performance.
01:56The room went silent.
01:57Then the whispers hit me like a wall.
01:59No air in their right mind would want her.
02:01A blind Omega who couldn't even shift?
02:04What a joke.
02:05Why is she even here?
02:07Trash like her should be in the kitchen, not at a mating ball.
02:12I am an alpha's daughter born blind.
02:14When I came up there, I'm going to have a world full of my teeth.
02:18That is not just weakness.
02:20That is a death sentence.
02:22Being wolf-less, that makes you a joke.
02:24So, my sister Celeste is the golden child, born with a siren song, a voice that can calm
02:31even the most violent alpha in the world.
02:34The family treats her like a goddess.
02:36They treat me like a mistake they can't take back.
02:39Lucian dropped to one knee in front of her.
02:42Accept my mark, Celeste.
02:44I will make you the most powerful woman alive.
02:47And as he spoke, he threw one look back at me.
02:50Not an apology, a warning.
02:52He thinks he can take the throne without me this time.
02:55He thinks I was what held him back.
02:57He has no idea what he just threw away.
03:00I didn't awaken before I was in the age.
03:02I got something much more dangerous, a soul ride.
03:08Jealousy is toxic green.
03:10Hate is a bottomless black.
03:12Love is pink.
03:13And the deeper the feeling, the darker it burns.
03:17In my last life, I kept him alive with this.
03:20I spotted assassins before they moved.
03:22I told him who to trust, who to kill him.
03:24This time, I am going to let him have exactly what he wanted.
03:28And watch him realize too late that he got me.
03:31He is nothing.
03:32And I really hope, for his sake,
03:35he doesn't end up crawling back to me,
03:37begging for a mercy on the one I have.
03:39The moment Lucian's announcement landed,
03:42every eye in the room found me.
03:44I'm just a blind girl.
03:45I'm not worthy of a man like Lucian.
03:48Salelsta is the perfect match for him.
03:50At least you know your place.
03:52He stepped closer.
03:53An Omega with no wolf?
03:55I wouldn't choose you if you were the last woman breathing.
03:58Not even if you crawled to me on your knees.
04:01My mother Marilyn made a sound beside me.
04:04A sharpened hair,
04:05like she was about to say something she shouldn't.
04:07I squeezed her hand.
04:08She went quiet.
04:09I swept the room with my soul on her.
04:12Marcus, murky charcoal,
04:13cruel underneath the surface.
04:15The other airs,
04:16muddy swirls of greed and want.
04:18In my last life,
04:19I chose Lucian because his soul looked cleaner
04:21than anyone else's in the room.
04:23It was a mask.
04:24I didn't see what was underneath
04:26until the day he killed me.
04:27The rotten,
04:28the pink purple brown.
04:29He didn't just hate what it was.
04:31He hated me.
04:32I was blind in my last life
04:34in more ways than one.
04:35Never again,
04:36Celeste glided toward me.
04:37Face arranged into the perfect picture
04:39of a loving older sister.
04:41Don't be sad.
04:42Go ahead.
04:43I'll let you have whoever you want.
04:46Her soul was turning,
04:47toxic green,
04:48edge to edge.
04:49Pure jealousy,
04:50barely holding its shape.
04:52Since no one's going to claim you anyway,
04:54you can always beg me for work.
04:56Celeste will need a personal maid
04:58with CSF's smitchy floors,
05:00scrubbing floors
05:01all a wolfless Omega is good for.
05:02I didn't go.
05:03I didn't even bother.
05:05None of them were worth the energy.
05:06And then,
05:07the sound of wheels.
05:09The chatter died.
05:10Then the room shifted.
05:12Kyle Ravenscroft had arrived.
05:15Uninvited,
05:16unannounced,
05:17and completely unmoved by the spectacle.
05:19He sat in that wheelchair
05:21like a predator at rest.
05:22And then I saw.
05:23My breath caught.
05:25His soul was gold,
05:26pure,
05:27shimmering,
05:28blinding gold.
05:29The mark of the moon goddess herself.
05:31The mark of a true king.
05:33I clenched my fists so hard
05:35my nails broke the skin.
05:37Last life,
05:38I picked the wrong man.
05:40I defied the moon goddess,
05:41put a monster on the throne,
05:43and everyone paid for it.
05:45Not this time.
05:47I stood up.
05:48I walked past Lucian without a glance,
05:50past every arrogant alpha-era in the room.
05:52I stopped in front of Kyle's wheelchair.
05:55I choose him.
05:56The hall went dead silent.
05:58Then it exploded.
06:00Lifejoth,
06:00from every direction,
06:02all it needs.
06:03The blind girl and the cripple.
06:05Neither of you has a wolf.
06:08You really are a perfect match.
06:12Zaya,
06:14you can't see.
06:15You don't understand.
06:17He's in a wheelchair.
06:19She glanced at the crowd,
06:21milking every second of it.
06:23I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
06:26Choose again.
06:27And if you truly can't find an alpha
06:29willing to have you,
06:31you're welcome to follow our caravan.
06:34Serve Lucian and me.
06:36At least you won't go hungry.
06:38I'm not anyone's servant.
06:40And I'm not a stray you take in out of pity.
06:42Kyle hadn't said a word through any of it.
06:45He just put his chair forward
06:46until he was right in front of me.
06:48He took my hand.
06:49His palm was large and rough,
06:51thick with calluses.
06:53The kind you only get from here is a hard use.
06:59He took my hand and guided it to his knee.
07:02No flinching.
07:03No excuses.
07:05If he was lying.
07:06He didn't want pity for it.
07:07I left my hand there.
07:09I could feel the heat of him
07:10through the fabric and tents, alive.
07:13Then a jolt.
07:14It shot through my fingertips,
07:16raced up my arm,
07:17and hit my chest like a beast.
07:19This wasn't the solo.
07:20It was for something else entirely.
07:22My blood was screaming.
07:24I don't have a wolf.
07:26I was never supposed to feel a mate-bought.
07:28But there it was.
07:32Kyle's whole body locked up.
07:34I looked into his soul,
07:36warm pink threading through shimmering gold.
07:38I leaned in close and smiled.
07:40I can't fix you next.
07:42Lucian's face went ugly.
07:43The mating ball isn't over.
07:46And you're out here making promises you can't keep?
07:49If you fail to heal him,
07:50the Alpha Council will have your head.
07:52Can you actually do it?
07:54I didn't answer right away.
07:55I let my fingers trail slowly along his taste five.
07:59I can.
08:00But it'll require a very specific kind of contact.
08:04He understood immediately.
08:05The tips of his ears went red.
08:07He turned his head away.
08:09Couldn't quite bring himself to look at me.
08:11In my peripheral vision,
08:13Lucian's soul ignited.
08:15A roaring wall of green fire.
08:17Jealousy.
08:18A cold laugh rose in my chest.
08:20Jealous of what?
08:21Exactly, Lucian.
08:22You're the one who poured poison down my throat.
08:25The moment I stepped outside the hall,
08:27the world tilted.
08:28White hot painting detonated behind my eyes.
08:33Like something was being driven through my skull from the inside.
08:36That is the past.
08:37Every time I used a full eye on that many people at once,
08:41I pressed my freezing fingers to my temples.
08:44The cold always came after.
08:46After the ball, Lucian got to work.
08:48He pulled up everything from our past life.
08:50Her favorite flowers.
08:52Her secret hiding spots.
08:53Every word she'd been waiting her whole life to hear.
08:57He played her like he'd been practicing for years.
09:00That same day,
09:01a mating contract arrived at my door on heavy old parchment.
09:06I accept you as my mate.
09:08I will hold and protect you in this life and the next.
09:11Not even death will part us.
09:13The handwriting was deep and certain.
09:15No hesitation in a single stroke.
09:17It felt exactly like him.
09:19Both weddings were set for the same morning.
09:21The night before, Celeste walked into my room like she owned it.
09:25She didn't knock.
09:26Her maid tossed something at my feet.
09:28A tattered gray shawl.
09:29A kind worn by the lowest ranking of omegas.
09:32A mark of total submission.
09:35You're a blind freak, Zara.
09:40No real alpha will ever claim you.
09:43She leaned in.
09:45Voice honeyed and vicious at the same time.
09:48Lucian and I are being generous.
09:50We're keeping you on as a servant.
09:52But on the day of the ceremony,
09:55no carriage for you.
09:57You'll wear that and walk behind the caravan.
10:00Servant's lentils.
10:01Don't embarrass us.
10:02The morning came.
10:03I left the shawl on the floor where it landed.
10:06I put on the dress Kyle had sent instead.
10:09White silk,
10:10thousands of diamonds sewn into the fabric.
10:12Small enough to look like starlight.
10:15At the estate gate,
10:16two carriages waited.
10:18One was extraordinary.
10:20Draped in thumb-sized pearls.
10:22Built like a throne that happened to have wheels.
10:25The other was the final standard one.
10:27Nothing alive.
10:31Celestine hesitated for a second.
10:33She walked straight to the pearl carriage
10:35and stepped inside.
10:37The head guard turned.
10:39His expression didn't waver.
10:42You're in the wrong carriage.
10:44This was commissioned by Alpha Kyle
10:46for his Luna and no one else.
10:48He didn't get her time to argue.
10:50The guards took her right at the arms
10:52and her turn.
10:53She caught her heel on her skirt
10:55and ran hard for her face into the dirt.
10:59Lucian arrived just in time to see it.
11:03Celeste scrambled up
11:04and threw herself at him,
11:05already crying.
11:09It's Zara!
11:10She planned this!
11:13She can't stand
11:14that I'm the one becoming a Luna!
11:16She turned to the crowd gathering around
11:18her eyes blisting.
11:20Please,
11:21don't hate her.
11:22She's struggling.
11:24I know we're in love, Lucian,
11:26but I begged you to keep her safe.
11:29I pleaded for months
11:30just so she could be our servant
11:31and I not starve on the street.
11:35She's a blind, Omega.
11:37She should be grateful
11:37anyone even bothered to take her in.
11:40To pull a strunt like this
11:41on her sister's wedding day?
11:43It's thetic!
11:44The crowd was vicious.
11:45They always are
11:46when they smell wetness.
11:48Omega!
11:48Lucian's soul was drowning in black,
11:50thick and suffocating,
11:52ink dark.
11:53He pulled Celeste
11:54against his chest
11:54and turned on me.
11:56Tch!
11:56You're an Omega, Zara.
11:59You have no right
12:00to wear white.
12:02Take that dress off
12:03right now
12:03or I'll shred it
12:04off your back myself!
12:07Celeste buried her face
12:09in his chest,
12:09but I could see her soul.
12:11She was smirking.
12:13Lucian,
12:14you don't have me
12:15watching her back this time.
12:17What's coming for you
12:19tonight isn't a wedding.
12:21It's a funeral.
12:25Celeste be foiled
12:26like I'd struck you.
12:27How can you curse him
12:28like that?
12:29Just because
12:29he didn't choose you?
12:31You dare curse
12:33an Alpha heir!
12:35Guards!
12:36Seize her!
12:38The soldiers
12:38started moving in.
12:40Think carefully.
12:42You're laying a hand
12:43on Alpha Kyle's mate.
12:45Make sure that's
12:46a consequence
12:46you're ready to live with.
12:48Lucian laughed.
12:49Jagged.
12:49Ugly.
12:50Kyle?
12:51The cripple
12:52isn't even here.
12:53Probably hiding
12:54in his chambers,
12:55too embarrassed
12:55to show his face.
12:56He's using you
12:57for sport, Zara.
12:58Nothing more.
12:59He stepped forward,
13:00close enough
13:00that his shadow
13:01fell over me.
13:02Neil,
13:03beg Celeste's forgiveness.
13:06And maybe,
13:07maybe,
13:08I'll still find
13:08a use for you.
13:09Then a voice
13:09cut through everything.
13:11Who is threatening
13:11my mate?
13:12The crowd screamed.
13:13Kyle moved through them
13:14like they weren't there.
13:15Sharp black suit.
13:17Not a single piece
13:18of his voice.
13:18Even seated.
13:19His presence
13:20was suffering.
13:21The moment he appeared,
13:22the street went silent.
13:23Beside him,
13:24Lucian,
13:25suddenly looked
13:26like a boy
13:26wearing his nose.
13:29Kyle came straight
13:30to me.
13:30He took my hand
13:31and folded it
13:32inside his
13:32large,
13:34warm,
13:34unhurried.
13:36Then he looked
13:37up.
13:38His eyes fixed
13:39on Lucian
13:40like a blade
13:41finding its mark.
13:42Let's try that again.
13:43Who was it
13:44that told my mate
13:45to do it?
13:45The temperature
13:46in the street
13:47seemed to drop.
13:48No one walked.
13:49No one breathed.
13:51He didn't shout.
13:51Didn't signal his men.
13:53He just watched Lucian
13:55the way a predator
13:55watches something
13:56it has already
13:57decided to deal
13:58with later.
13:58I'll remember that.
14:00I'm an alpha heir,
14:01same as you.
14:02Who the hell
14:03do you think you are?
14:04Who the hell
14:04do you think you are?
14:06A forgotten
14:06fifth son
14:07trying to give orders
14:09to my mate.
14:10You're not a rival,
14:11Lucian.
14:12You're a fit note.
14:14The color drained
14:15from Lucian's face.
14:16This isn't over.
14:17Low and mean.
14:18You'll both regret tonight.
14:21I gave you a chance, Zara.
14:24When you come crawling back,
14:25and you will,
14:27don't expect mercy.
14:28I looked at his soul,
14:30muddy green.
14:31Murky and small.
14:32He genuinely believes
14:33he is the chosen one.
14:34He thinks the throne
14:35is already his
14:36and that I was just
14:37dead weight
14:37holding him back.
14:38He has no idea
14:39what is waiting for him.
14:41Without me clearing his path,
14:43he won't last the season.
14:44He'll be lucky
14:45to still be breathing
14:46by the time the leaves turn.
14:48Oh, her first night
14:48as mates was quiet.
14:49Just the two of us
14:51and the fire crackling
14:53low between us.
14:54We shared whiskey,
14:56amber,
14:57and slow burning
14:57on the way down.
14:59I could feel his eyes,
15:01heavy and silver warm
15:03against my skin.
15:04My pulse wouldn't settle.
15:05Even sitting across from me
15:07in that chair,
15:08his presence filled
15:09the entire room.
15:10You said you could
15:11fix my legs.
15:14How?
15:16Help me with something first.
15:19I've never seen this room.
15:22Describe it to me.
15:24Then he started talking.
15:26The fires glow.
15:27The oil paintings.
15:29He told me their textures,
15:30not just their subjects.
15:32The velvet curtains,
15:33deep and heavy.
15:34On the shelf
15:35above the nightstand,
15:38there's an old book.
15:40The cover is faded.
15:42My hand stilled
15:43around the glass.
15:44That shelf was high
15:45and nearly at the ceiling.
15:47From a wheelchair,
15:48the top of that book
15:49was completely out of sight.
15:51There was no way
15:52he could know
15:52the cover was faded.
15:53I didn't say a word.
15:55I just took another sip
15:56and filed that detail
15:57away somewhere.
15:58I wouldn't forget it.
16:00I stood up
16:01with my glass in hand,
16:02then let it slip.
16:04It hit the carpet
16:05with a dull thud
16:06and rolled toward the sofa.
16:08Kyle's body moved
16:10the second.
16:10He was about to stand.
16:12Then he caught himself
16:13and settled back
16:13into the leather
16:14as if nothing had happened.
16:16But I felt it.
16:17That reflex
16:18was all the confirmation
16:19I needed.
16:20I didn't say anything.
16:22Not yet.
16:23Here's one more way
16:24to be sure.
16:27I stepped in close.
16:29And I struck.
16:30My heart was slamming.
16:31I ignored it.
16:34I raised my hand
16:35and let my fingertips
16:36trace from his jaw
16:37down to his chest.
16:39Hard as stone
16:40beneath the shirt.
16:41Not the body of a man
16:42who hadn't used his legs
16:43in seven years.
16:44I looked into his soul.
16:46A storm,
16:47deep crimson,
16:48soft pink.
16:49Something more tender
16:50than he'd admit
16:51and threading through both.
16:52A sharp streak
16:53of dark green panic.
16:55He knew I was getting close.
16:57I leaned down.
17:03My lips barely grazed
17:05the corner of his mouth.
17:06Not a kiss,
17:07a question.
17:08His breathing came apart
17:10and then I took his hand
17:11and pressed his palm
17:12flat against my chest.
17:14The silk between us
17:15was nothing.
17:16My face was burning
17:17because in that moment
17:19his body gave me
17:20the most honest answer
17:21he had.
17:22His body reacted
17:23before his mind
17:24could stop it.
17:25I felt the shift
17:26in his balance.
17:28The sudden brace
17:29through his thighs.
17:30The instinctive drive upward.
17:32A man who hadn't
17:33moved his legs
17:33in seven years
17:34wouldn't move like that.
17:36I pulled back
17:36just enough.
17:37Let the smile
17:38come slowly.
17:39Your legs are fine.
17:41That much,
17:41I know.
17:42Kyle closed his eyes.
17:44His throat moved
17:45as he swallowed.
17:46Then he stood up.
17:47One hand
17:48stayed at my waist.
17:49The other still
17:50pressed against my chest.
17:52He lifted me
17:53and I felt just
17:53how much of him there was.
17:55Nearly six foot long.
17:57All of it muscled.
17:58My whole world
17:59was suddenly just him.
18:00How did you know?
18:02I just smiled
18:03and gave him
18:04something vague enough
18:05to pass.
18:05He set me down
18:06gently on the edge
18:07of the bed.
18:08Then stepped back.
18:09The hand that
18:10touched my chest
18:11was shaking.
18:12I'm sorry,
18:12I shouldn't have...
18:13Don't.
18:14I'm the one
18:15who put your hand there.
18:16He looked at me
18:17for a long moment.
18:18He laughed.
18:19A real laugh.
18:21Warm and unguarded.
18:22Like seven years
18:23of tension
18:23finally giving way.
18:25Seven years.
18:26Seven years
18:27fooling everyone.
18:28The whole damn world.
18:31And my blind mate
18:32catches me
18:32on the very first night.
18:34We didn't go
18:34any further that night.
18:35We ended up
18:36on the rug
18:37in front of the fire.
18:38The bottle of whiskey
18:39between us
18:39and we just...
18:41talked.
18:41He told me
18:42virilely.
18:43It was the only way
18:44to stay alive.
18:45I told him about
18:46Lucian.
18:47All of it.
18:48What he was underneath.
18:50I didn't choose you
18:51because I had no
18:52other options.
18:53I chose you
18:54because you were
18:55the only one
18:55worth choosing.
18:57I watched his soul
18:59begin to shift.
19:00The gold bleeding
19:01slowly
19:02into a deep
19:02and glowing lake.
19:04Late into the night,
19:06he came back.
19:06The splitting pain
19:07behind my temples
19:08like an axe
19:10working its way
19:10through the bone.
19:11I tried to keep
19:12my hands still.
19:13They were shaking anyway.
19:15Kyle stopped
19:16mid-sentence.
19:17Your head.
19:18Before I could deflect,
19:19his thumbs were already
19:20at my temples.
19:22The pressure.
19:23Exact,
19:23like he'd mapped the pain
19:24before he touched it.
19:26My mother used to get them.
19:27I've known what to do
19:28since I was a boy.
19:29The pain didn't ease.
19:31It vanished.
19:32We shared the same bed.
19:33His arm lay heavy
19:34and warm
19:35across my waist.
19:36My head settled
19:37against his chest.
19:38I listened to his heartbeat
19:40through my soul-eye.
19:41I watched his soul settle.
19:43The gold softening
19:44deepening
19:44into a rich
19:45and quiet pink.
19:46For the first time
19:47in two lifetimes,
19:48I felt safe.
19:49The ocean's wedding
19:49drink was gone
19:50in the heart.
19:51In my last life,
19:52a maid tried to spike
19:53his wine with wolf's bane.
19:55I caught her
19:56before she could get close.
19:57I read the murder
19:58in her soul,
19:59swapped the glasses,
20:00had her detained
20:01before he'd taken
20:02a single sleep.
20:03This time,
20:04I did nothing.
20:05Celeste wouldn't notice.
20:06She wouldn't know a threat
20:08if it sat down
20:08beside her
20:09and introduced itself.
20:10The next morning,
20:11Kyle and I arrived
20:12at the Alpha King's estate.
20:14No sign of Lucian.
20:16No sign of Celeste.
20:17The corridors were alive
20:18with hushed,
20:19urgent voices.
20:20The air was poisoned
20:21in his own chambers.
20:23He hasn't wakened.
20:24The heat...
20:24...land to stop it.
20:26The carriage had barely
20:27rolled to a stop
20:28when Celeste appeared
20:29at the gates.
20:30She looked like
20:30she hadn't slept
20:31in the days.
20:32Zara!
20:33You poisoned him!
20:36Give me the antidote
20:37right now!
20:39I felt the temperature
20:40inside the carriage shift.
20:41Kyle went very still
20:43beside me.
20:43I placed a hand
20:44on his arm.
20:45I've got this.
20:47I leaned in
20:48and pressed a quick kiss
20:49to his cheek.
20:50Then I stepped out
20:51into the morning air.
20:53Antidote?
20:54I don't have one.
20:56Whatever happened
20:57to Lucian
20:58has nothing to do
20:59with me.
21:00Liar!
21:02Then how did you know
21:03he'd be dying
21:04on his wedding night?
21:05I tilted my head.
21:08That's a serious accusation.
21:10Where's your proof?
21:12Did you catch the killer?
21:14Did you find the poison?
21:15I already knew
21:16she hadn't.
21:17The spy Marcus sent
21:18was a professional.
21:19Without my soul eye
21:20she was a ghost.
21:22By now she was likely
21:23across the border
21:24untouchable.
21:25Celeste stood there
21:26mouth open
21:27nothing coming out.
21:29If you keep causing
21:29a scene on my land
21:31my warriors
21:32will remove you.
21:35Her eyes dropped
21:36to my neck.
21:37She saw the red mark
21:37Kyle had left there.
21:39You actually slept
21:41with him?
21:41A blind girl
21:43and a broken man?
21:44I suppose trash
21:45finds its own level.
21:46I suppose trash
21:47finds its own level.
21:48I thought about
21:49last night
21:49the fire
21:50the whiskey
21:50the long silence
21:51after he finally
21:52stood up
21:53and I felt
21:53the full weight
21:54of him
21:54for the first time.
21:55Kyle wasn't broken
21:56he was ten thousand
21:57times the man
21:58Lucian would ever be.
21:59I laughed.
22:02What is so funny?
22:04I stopped
22:04looked at her
22:05we're close enough
22:06to it.
22:06I'm laughing
22:07at how blind
22:07you are.
22:09Lucian is going
22:09to die
22:11and when he
22:12goes down
22:12he'll take
22:13you with him.
22:14If you want
22:15to survive
22:15what's coming
22:16sever the bond
22:17now
22:18while you still
22:19can.
22:19That was it
22:20for her.
22:20She swung
22:21at my face
22:22wide
22:22furious
22:23telegraphed
22:24from a mile
22:24away.
22:25I shifted
22:25my weight
22:26and stepped
22:26aside.
22:27She hit
22:27nothing but air.
22:28The momentum
22:29carried her
22:29forward
22:29and she went
22:30down hard
22:31palms and knees
22:32in the dirt.
22:32I looked
22:32down at her.
22:33Remember this
22:35because the
22:35next time
22:36you raise
22:36a hand
22:37to me
22:37I won't
22:37step aside.
22:38She stared
22:39up at me
22:39from the
22:39ground
22:40trembling.
22:41For the
22:41first time
22:41in her
22:41life she
22:42was actually
22:43afraid of
22:43me.
22:43The blind
22:44girl she
22:44used to
22:45torment
22:45wasn't
22:45there
22:46anymore.
22:47Someone
22:47else
22:47had
22:48taken
22:48her
22:48place.
22:49Kyle
22:49was
22:50waiting
22:50when I
22:50stepped
22:51back
22:51into
22:51the
22:51carriage.
22:52He
22:52just
22:52watched
22:52me
22:53with
22:53those
22:53grey
22:53eyes
22:54and
22:54in
22:54them
22:54not
22:55worry
22:55not
22:55pity
22:56admiration
22:56he
22:57trusted
22:57me
22:57to
22:57handle
22:58my
22:58own
22:58affairs.
22:59That
22:59respect
22:59landed
23:00heavier
23:00than
23:00any
23:00shield
23:01he
23:01could
23:01have
23:01raised.
23:02He
23:02turned
23:02to
23:02his
23:03lead
23:03guide
23:03and
23:03spoke
23:04well.
23:04No one
23:05from
23:05Lucian's
23:06pack
23:06crosses
23:06onto
23:06my
23:07land
23:07again
23:08for
23:08any
23:09reason
23:10ever.
23:13After
23:13Celeste
23:14was
23:14escorted
23:14out
23:15he
23:15turned
23:15to
23:15the
23:16business
23:16of
23:16leaving.
23:17We
23:17were
23:17heading
23:17for
23:17Thornharbor.
23:18The
23:18courtyard
23:19filled
23:19with
23:19people
23:20and
23:20supplies
23:20controlled
23:21chaos.
23:22And
23:22through
23:22all
23:22of it
23:22my
23:23soul
23:23I
23:23found
23:24a
23:24single
23:24target.
23:25A
23:25guard
23:25named
23:25Vaughn.
23:26His
23:27soul
23:27was
23:27a
23:27muddy
23:27treacherous
23:28gray.
23:28I
23:29leaned
23:29close
23:29to
23:30Kyle's
23:30ear.
23:30Who
23:31is
23:31that
23:31man?
23:33Vaughn.
23:34He's
23:35been
23:35with me
23:35since
23:35I
23:35was
23:3615.
23:36Saved
23:37my
23:37life
23:37twice.
23:38I
23:38pulled
23:38back
23:38and
23:39looked
23:39Kyle
23:39do
23:40you
23:40trust
23:40me?
23:41His
23:41soul
23:41flushed
23:42deep
23:42dark
23:42pink
23:43all
23:43at
23:43once.
23:44You're
23:44my
23:44mate.
23:45Of
23:45course
23:45I
23:46do.
23:46He's
23:46a
23:47traitor.
23:48We
23:48change
23:48the
23:49route
23:49to
23:49Thorn
23:49Harbor
23:50and
23:51we
23:51tell
23:51no
23:51one.
23:52In
23:52my
23:52last
23:53time
23:53this
23:54was
23:54where
23:54it
23:54ended
23:54with
23:54Kyle.
23:55Ambushed
23:56on the
23:56road
23:56to
23:56the
23:56harbor.
23:57Wounds
23:57that
23:58never
23:58healed.
23:58He
23:59died
23:59defending
24:00the
24:00city
24:00walls.
24:01I
24:01finished
24:01speaking.
24:02Let
24:03my
24:03lips
24:03brush
24:03his
24:04cheek.
24:04Kyle's
24:05arm
24:05came
24:05around
24:06my
24:06waist
24:06immediately.
24:07Pulling
24:08me
24:08in.
24:08Across
24:09the yard
24:09I
24:09felt
24:10Vaughn
24:10watching
24:10us.
24:11He
24:11clocked
24:17is
24:17warm
24:17against
24:18my
24:18skin.
24:18Are
24:19you
24:19trying
24:19to
24:19fix
24:19my
24:19legs
24:20again?
24:20Because
24:21I'm
24:21happy
24:21to
24:22wait
24:22until
24:22tonight
24:23or
24:24we
24:24could
24:24start
24:24now.
24:25The
24:26next
24:26morning
24:26Vaughn
24:27was
24:27gone.
24:27Kyle
24:27sat
24:28beside
24:28me
24:28at
24:28breakfast
24:29cutting
24:29my
24:30steak
24:30into
24:30careful
24:31pieces
24:31without
24:31being
24:32asked.
24:33You
24:33were
24:33right.
24:34Vaughn
24:35was
24:35Marcus's
24:35man.
24:36Buried
24:37so
24:37deep
24:37I
24:37never
24:38suspected
24:38him
24:38once
24:39in
24:39seven
24:39years.
24:40It
24:41took
24:41some
24:43persuasion
24:44to
24:44get
24:44him
24:44to
24:45talk.
24:46He
24:46looked
24:46at
24:46me.
24:47How
24:47did
24:48you
24:48know
24:48Zara?
24:49I
24:49looked
24:49into
24:49his
24:50soul
24:50golden
24:50pink.
24:51Wound
24:51together.
24:52No
24:52suspicion.
24:53No
24:53fear.
24:54Lucky
24:55guess.
24:55The
24:55words
24:56were
24:56barely
24:56out
24:56when
24:57the
24:57pain
24:57hit.
24:58White.
24:58Hot
24:59behind
24:59both
24:59temples
25:00at
25:00once.
25:00My
25:01hand
25:01went
25:01to
25:01my
25:01head
25:02before
25:02I
25:02could
25:02stop
25:02it.
25:03Kyle
25:03didn't
25:03say
25:03a
25:04word.
25:04He
25:04just
25:04moved
25:05his
25:05chair
25:05flesh
25:05against
25:06mine.
25:06Un
25:06in
25:06hand
25:07kept
25:07cutting
25:07my
25:07food.
25:08The
25:08other
25:08reached
25:08up
25:09and
25:09wrapped
25:09around
25:09the
25:09back
25:10of
25:10my
25:10neck.
25:10The
25:10pain
25:10dissolved.
25:11He
25:12has
25:12stopped
25:12asking
25:12why
25:13it
25:13happens.
25:14He
25:14just
25:14makes
25:14sure
25:14he
25:15is
25:15there
25:15when
25:15it
25:15does.
25:16Thorn
25:16Harbor.
25:17Kyle's
25:17territory.
25:18The
25:18land
25:19was
25:19rough.
25:20Resources
25:20thin.
25:21The
25:22kind
25:22of
25:22place
25:22the
25:22alpha
25:23council
25:23never
25:23bothered
25:24to
25:24look
25:24at
25:24twice.
25:25The
25:26wolves
25:26here
25:26were
25:27loyal
25:27to
25:27Kyle.
25:28The
25:28way
25:28wolves
25:29are
25:29loyal
25:29to
25:29someone
25:30they
25:30have
25:30chosen.
25:30Out of
25:31true
25:31devotion.
25:32When I
25:32went to
25:33the
25:33market
25:33they
25:33called
25:34me
25:34Luna
25:34and
25:34refused
25:35my
25:35coin.
25:35Every
25:36stall
25:36every
25:37vendor.
25:37I
25:38had
25:38to
25:38set
25:38the
25:38money
25:38down
25:39and
25:39walk
25:39away
25:39before
25:40they
25:40touch
25:40it.
25:41I
25:41came
25:42back
25:42to
25:42the
25:42estate
25:42breathless
25:43and
25:43my
25:44maid
25:44watched
25:44me
25:44come
25:45through
25:45the
25:45door.
25:47The
25:47Luna
25:47is
25:48blind
25:48but
25:49she
25:49moves
25:49faster
25:49than
25:49any
25:50soldier
25:50I
25:50trained
25:50with.
25:53Kyle
25:53heard
25:54her.
25:54That
25:55night
25:55his
25:55fingers
25:55found
25:56the
25:56edges
25:56of
25:56my
25:56eyes.
25:58Zara
26:00is
26:00it
26:00really
26:01just
26:02nothing?
26:03I
26:04nodded.
26:04He
26:05pulled
26:05me in
26:05against
26:05his
26:06chest
26:06and
26:06held
26:06me
26:07there.
26:08It
26:08doesn't
26:08matter
26:09I'll
26:09be
26:09your
26:09eyes.
26:10Every
26:11sunrise
26:11every
26:12star
26:13whatever
26:14you
26:14want
26:14to
26:14see
26:14I'll
26:15find
26:15the
26:15words
26:15for
26:15it.
26:16I
26:16watched
26:17his
26:17soul
26:17through
26:17all
26:17of
26:18it.
26:18The
26:18gold
26:18was
26:19shifting
26:20something
26:20warmer
26:20deeper.
26:21The
26:21more
26:21time
26:21we
26:22spent
26:22together
26:22the
26:23deeper
26:23the
26:23gold
26:23grew.
26:24Every
26:24shared
26:25meal
26:25every
26:25quiet
26:26evening
26:26beside
26:27him.
26:27It
26:27only
26:27became
26:28richer.
26:28But
26:29then
26:29something
26:29strange
26:30started
26:30happening.
26:31When
26:31I
26:31was
26:31away
26:31from
26:31him
26:32even
26:32briefly
26:32I
26:32got
26:33restless
26:33not
26:33just
26:34missing
26:34him.
26:34It
26:34was
26:34physical
26:35a
26:35deep
26:35pulling
26:36ache
26:36I
26:36couldn't
26:36reason
26:37away.
26:37The
26:37further
26:37I
26:38walked
26:38the
26:38worse
26:39it
26:39pulled
26:39until
26:39it
26:40hurt.
26:40I
26:40told
26:50something
26:50I'd
26:50never
26:50seen
26:51before.
26:51A
26:52pink
26:52so
26:52saturated
26:53and
26:53alive.
26:53It
26:54looked
26:54like
26:54the
26:54first
26:54day
26:55of
26:55spring
26:55breaking
26:55open
26:56all
26:56at
26:56once.
26:57The
26:57most
26:57beautiful
26:57thing
26:58I
26:58had
26:58ever
26:58seen.
26:59It
26:59didn't
26:59last.
27:00The
27:00next
27:00morning
27:00a
27:01piece
27:01of
27:01encrypted
27:02intelligence
27:02arrived.
27:03Lucian
27:03is
27:04awake
27:04but the
27:04damage
27:05is
27:05permanent.
27:06Intermittent
27:06mania.
27:07He
27:07has
27:07lost
27:07control
27:08of
27:08his
27:08wolf.
27:08A
27:08slow
27:09smile
27:09touched
27:09my
27:10lips.
27:10This
27:10was
27:10just
27:11the
27:11beginning
27:11of
27:11what
27:11was
27:11coming
27:12for
27:12him.
27:12But
27:12then
27:13the
27:13catch
27:13the
27:14alpha
27:14council
27:14had
27:14issued
27:15a
27:15mandatory
27:15summons.
27:16Marcus
27:16was
27:17hosting
27:17a
27:17banquet.
27:18Every
27:18heir
27:18was
27:18required
27:19to
27:19attend.
27:19No
27:19exceptions.
27:20Kyle
27:21had
27:21no
27:21choice.
27:22We
27:22were
27:22going
27:22back.
27:23Marcus's
27:23estate
27:23reeked
27:24of
27:24bad
27:24intentions
27:25before
27:25we
27:25even
27:26stepped
27:26inside.
27:26I
27:27swept
27:27the
27:27ballroom
27:27with
27:28my
27:28sole
27:28eye
27:28the
27:28moment
27:29across
27:29the
27:29threshold.
27:30Oily
27:30green
27:31for
27:40table
27:41and
27:41held
27:41it.
27:41In
27:43my
27:43last
27:44life
27:44this
27:44banquet
27:45ended
27:45in
27:45blood.
27:46Their
27:46souls
27:46were
27:46a
27:47flat
27:47professional
27:47gray.
27:48The
27:48color
27:48of
27:49people
27:49who
27:49had
27:49killed
27:49before
27:50and
27:50slept
27:51just
27:51fine
27:51after.
27:52Last
27:52time
27:52when
27:53the
27:53blades
27:53came
27:53out
27:54I
27:54didn't
27:54think.
27:54I
27:55just
27:55threw
27:55myself
27:55in
27:56front
27:56of
27:56Lucian
27:56and
27:57took
27:57a
27:57poison
27:57silver
27:58dagger
27:58to
27:58the
27:58works.
27:59Carried
27:59that
27:59scar
28:00for
28:00years.
28:00When
28:01Lucian
28:01was
28:01already
28:02king
28:02I
28:02mentioned
28:03it.
28:03He
28:03looked
28:03at
28:03me
28:04with
28:04something
28:04close
28:04to
28:04boredom.
28:06Protecting
28:06your
28:07mate
28:07is
28:07your
28:07duty
28:07Zara.
28:08You're
28:09already
28:09Luna.
28:09What
28:10more
28:10do
28:10you
28:10want?
28:11I
28:11don't
28:11make
28:11the
28:11same
28:11mistakes
28:12twice.
28:12It
28:13happened
28:13fast.
28:13The
28:14three
28:14dancers
28:14reached
28:15into
28:15their
28:15silks.
28:16Short
28:16blades,
28:17jagged,
28:17silver,
28:18and
28:18they
28:19lunged.
28:20Kyle
28:20moved
28:20before
28:21I
28:21could
28:21blink.
28:21He
28:22didn't
28:22care
28:22about
28:23the
28:23secret
28:23anymore.
28:24He
28:24came
28:24half
28:25out
28:25of
28:25his
28:25chair,
28:26one
28:26arm
28:26sweeping
28:27me
28:27behind
28:27him,
28:28and
28:28his
28:28guards
28:28materialized
28:29from the
28:29dark like
28:30they'd been
28:30part of
28:31the shadows
28:31all along.
28:32A wall
28:32of bodies
28:33between
28:33us and
28:34everything.
28:34We
28:35were
28:35safe.
28:35I
28:35looked
28:36past
28:36them
28:36toward
28:37Lucian.
28:37No
28:38one
28:38moved
28:38to
28:38cover
28:38him.
28:39The
28:39moment
28:39the
28:40first
28:40blade
28:40flashed
28:41Celeste
28:41screamed
28:42in
28:42round.
28:43Straight
28:43for
28:43the
28:43exit
28:44and
28:44didn't
28:44move
28:44backwards.
28:45Lucian
28:46was
28:46surrounded.
28:47The
28:47silver
28:47dagger
28:48soaked
28:48in
28:49concentrated
28:49wolfsbane
28:50buried
28:51itself
28:51into
28:51his
28:51thigh.
28:52Dark
28:52blood
28:53hit
28:53the
28:53floor.
28:54He
28:54went
28:54down
28:54hard
28:55gasping.
28:56Through
28:56the
28:56screaming,
28:57the
28:57overturned
28:58chairs,
28:58the
28:59crush
28:59of
28:59bodies
28:59trying
29:00to
29:00flee.
29:01His
29:01eyes
29:01found
29:02mine.
29:02He
29:03was
29:03begging.
29:04His
29:04soul
29:04was
29:04a
29:05wreck.
29:05Terror
29:06and
29:06pain
29:06and
29:07underneath
29:07it
29:07all.
29:08A
29:08dark
29:09green
29:09tide
29:09of
29:10regret.
29:10I
29:11held
29:11his
29:11face.
29:12Kept
29:12my
29:12face
29:12completely
29:13still.
29:14Didn't
29:14move
29:14a
29:14single
29:15muscle.
29:15I
29:16am
29:16blind
29:16after
29:16all.
29:17I
29:17can't
29:17see
29:18a
29:18thing.
29:18I
29:18didn't
29:18make
29:19it
29:19two
29:19steps
29:19into
29:20the
29:20carriage.
29:21The
29:21spike
29:21hit
29:21the
29:21moment
29:22the
29:22door
29:22closed,
29:23red
29:23hot,
29:23straight
29:24through
29:24the
29:24center
29:24of
29:24my
29:25skull.
29:25It
29:25was
29:25the
29:26worst
29:26backlash
29:26I'd
29:27ever
29:27suffered.
29:28I
29:28scanned
29:28the
29:28entire
29:29ballroom,
29:29every
29:30soul,
29:30every
29:31shadow,
29:31every
29:32blade
29:32before
29:32they
29:32struck.
29:33It
29:33cost
29:34me
29:34everything.
29:35The
29:43world
29:44Zara.
29:45I'd
29:45never
29:46heard
29:46that
29:46in
29:46his
29:46voice
29:47before.
29:47Fear.
29:48My
29:48head.
29:48It
29:49was all
29:49I could
29:49get
29:49out.
29:50He
29:50didn't
29:50wait.
29:50He
29:51pulled
29:51me
29:51in
29:51against
29:52him
29:52and
29:52pressed
29:52both
29:53palms
29:53to
29:53my
29:53temples.
29:54And
29:54something
29:54happened
29:55that I
29:55still
29:55can't
29:56explain.
29:56It
29:57wasn't
29:57just
29:57pressure.
29:58It
29:58wasn't
29:58just
29:58warmth.
29:59It
29:59felt
29:59like a
29:59hand
30:00reaching
30:00through
30:00the
30:00pain
30:01and
30:01pulling
30:01it
30:01out
30:02by
30:02the
30:02root.
30:02Gone
30:03completely.
30:03In
30:03seconds I
30:05lay
30:05against
30:05his
30:05chest
30:06dazed
30:06listening
30:07to
30:07his
30:07heart
30:08pound.
30:08Why
30:09does
30:09his
30:09touch
30:09do
30:09that?
30:10This
30:10isn't
30:10comfort.
30:11This
30:11is
30:11something
30:12older.
30:12Something
30:13that runs
30:13deeper than
30:14either of
30:14us
30:14understands.
30:15And
30:16it
30:16is
30:16starting
30:16to
30:16frighten
30:17me.
30:17While
30:17I
30:18recovered
30:18in
30:18Kyle's
30:19arms.
30:19The
30:19wolf's
30:20vein
30:22on those
30:23daggers
30:23was
30:24pure.
30:24It
30:24doesn't
30:25just
30:25wound.
30:25It
30:25destroys
30:26whatever
30:26the
30:26body
30:27would
30:27normally
30:27feel.
30:28It
30:28shredded
30:28his
30:29body's
30:29ability
30:29to
30:30heal
30:30from
30:30the
30:30inside
30:30out.
30:31In
30:31my
30:31last
30:32life
30:32I
30:32took
30:32that
30:33blade
30:33from
30:33him.
30:33I
30:33felt
30:34the
30:34silver
30:34eat
30:34into
30:35my
30:35flesh.
30:35I
30:35felt
30:36the
30:36poison
30:36dissolve
30:36everything
30:37I
30:37had.
30:38I
30:38survived
30:38it
30:38barely.
30:39And
30:39he
30:39never
30:40once
30:40mentioned
30:40it
30:40again.
30:41He
30:41treated
30:41my
30:42body
30:42like
30:42a
30:42shield
30:43he
30:43was
30:43entitled
30:43to
30:44stand
30:44behind.
30:44This
30:45time
30:45he
30:45got
30:45to
30:46find
30:46out
30:46what
30:46it
30:46actually
30:47costs.
30:47The
30:48healers
30:48couldn't
30:48do
30:48a
30:48thing.
30:49The
30:49damage
30:49was
30:50permanent.
30:50Lucian
30:50would
30:51never
30:51walk
30:51again.
30:52The
30:52man
30:52who
30:52spent
30:52his
30:53whole
30:53life
30:53looking
30:53down
30:54at
30:54everyone
30:54from
30:54a
30:55great
30:55height
30:55is
30:55never
30:56going
30:56to
30:56stand
30:56again.
30:57The
30:57intelligence
30:57reports
30:58kept
30:58arriving
30:59one
31:00after
31:00another
31:00like
31:01a
31:01slow
31:01collapse.
31:02Lucian
31:03confirmed
31:03permanently
31:04disabled.
31:05Celeste
31:05began her
31:06exit strategy
31:07the moment
31:07he
31:07lost
31:08his
31:08strife.
31:09She
31:09spent
31:10months
31:10petitioning
31:11the
31:11alpha
31:11council
31:11to
31:11dissolve
31:12their
31:12bond.
31:13Six
31:13months
31:14later
31:14the
31:14alpha
31:15king
31:15had
31:15seen
31:15enough.
31:16He
31:16stripped
31:16Lucian
31:17of his
31:17inheritance.
31:18No
31:18title.
31:19No
31:19claim.
31:20No
31:20future.
31:21In
31:21the
31:21werewolf
31:21world,
31:22no one
31:23pledges
31:23their
31:23sword
31:24to
31:24a
31:24man
31:24who
31:24can't
31:25lead
31:25from
31:25a
31:25front.
31:26In
31:26our
31:26last
31:27life,
31:28Lucian
31:28thought
31:28seizing
31:28the
31:29throne
31:29was
31:29simply
31:29a
31:30matter
31:30of
31:30wanting
31:30it
31:30badly
31:31enough.
31:31He
31:32had
31:32no
31:32idea
31:33what
31:33was
31:33actually
31:33he
31:35thought
31:35those
31:35allies
31:36followed
31:42never
31:42had
31:43the
31:43chance
31:43to
31:43strike.
31:44I
31:44silenced
31:45them
31:45first,
31:46and the
31:46commanders
31:47he
31:47trusted
31:47with
31:48his
31:48army
31:48were
31:48placed
31:48there
31:49by
31:49my
31:49hand,
31:50one
31:50by
31:50one
31:50paid
31:51for
31:51in
31:51blood.
31:52Without
31:52me,
31:53he
31:53couldn't
31:54have
31:54held
31:54a
31:54border
31:54crossing,
31:55let
31:56alone
31:56flow.
31:57Celeste
31:58didn't
31:58mind.
31:59She
31:59stripped
31:59his
32:00estate
32:00clean,
32:01jewelry,
32:02gold,
32:02every
32:03coin she
32:03could
32:03find.
32:04Then
32:04she
32:05was
32:05gone.
32:05She
32:05went
32:06back
32:06to
32:06Marcus,
32:07but
32:07the
32:07terms
32:07had
32:08changed.
32:08He
32:09didn't
32:09want
32:09a
32:09Luna
32:09this
32:10time.
32:10He
32:10took
32:11her
32:11as
32:11a
32:11mistress.
32:12I
32:12ran
32:12into
32:13her
32:13yesterday,
32:13a
32:14high-end
32:14perfume
32:15shop
32:15near
32:15the
32:15harbor.
32:16I
32:16was
32:16holding
32:17a
32:17bottle,
32:17a
32:18rare
32:18blend,
32:18when
32:18she
32:19reached
32:19over
32:19and
32:19plucked
32:20it
32:20straight
32:20out
32:20of
32:20my
32:20hand.
32:21I'll
32:22take
32:22all
32:22of
32:22these,
32:23she
32:23told
32:23the
32:23clerk.
32:24She
32:24was
32:24draped
32:25in
32:25diamonds.
32:26Her
32:26soul
32:26was
32:26the
32:26same
32:27toxic
32:27green
32:27had
32:28always
32:28been.
32:28She
32:29looked
32:29me
32:29over.
32:30Oh
32:30Zara,
32:31she
32:31said.
32:32Perfume
32:32seems a
32:33bit
32:33pointless
32:33for
32:33you,
32:34doesn't
32:34it?
32:34She
32:34leaned
32:35in.
32:36Expensive
32:36wine
32:37on her
32:37breath.
32:37It's
32:38not
32:38as
32:38if
32:38your
32:38man
32:38can
32:39stand
32:39up
32:39to
32:39get
32:39close
32:40enough
32:40to
32:40smell
32:40it.
32:41A
32:41little
32:41gasp.
32:42A
32:42hand
32:43over
32:43her
32:43mouth,
32:44eyes
32:44wide
32:44with
32:44performed
32:45regret.
32:46That
32:46was
32:46awful
32:47of
32:47me.
32:48You
32:48don't
32:48mind,
32:49do
32:49you?
32:49I
32:49smiled.
32:50Not
32:50at
32:50all.
32:51I
32:51said,
32:52take
32:52them
32:52all.
32:53The
32:53clerk
32:54looked
32:54baffled.
32:55I
32:55didn't
32:55explain.
32:56There
32:57is
32:57no
32:57point
32:57arguing
32:58with
32:58a
32:58woman
32:58who
32:58is
32:59already
32:59walking
32:59toward
33:00her
33:00own
33:00end.
33:01She
33:01just
33:02doesn't
33:02know
33:02the
33:02road
33:02she
33:03is
33:03on
33:03yet.
33:04Thorn
33:05Harbor
33:05was
33:05in
33:05a
33:05hard
33:06rain.
33:06My
33:07head
33:07guard
33:07appeared
33:08in
33:08the
33:08doorway.
33:09His
33:09face
33:09tight.
33:10Lupien
33:11is
33:11at
33:11the
33:11front
33:11gate
33:11he
33:12has
33:12been
33:12dragging
33:13himself
33:13through
33:14the
33:14mud
33:14for
33:14the
33:14better
33:15part
33:15of
33:15an
33:15hour.
33:16He
33:16won't
33:16leave.
33:17I
33:18walked
33:18out
33:18to
33:18the
33:18entrance
33:19and
33:19looked
33:19through
33:20the
33:20iron
33:20bars.
33:21He
33:21was
33:21there
33:22soaked
33:22to
33:22him.
33:23Shaking
33:23coated
33:24in
33:24the
33:24throat
33:24and
33:24groan.
33:25When
33:26he
33:26saw
33:26me,
33:27something
33:27desperate
33:27ignited
33:28in
33:28his
33:28eyes.
33:29He
33:30urged
33:30forward
33:30and
33:31the
33:31guards
33:31stole
33:32from
33:32back.
33:32He
33:32went
33:33down
33:33into
33:33the
33:33mud.
33:34Why?
33:38Zara,
33:39tell
33:39me.
33:40In
33:40the
33:40last
33:40life,
33:41you
33:41always
33:42knew
33:42what
33:42was
33:42coming.
33:43I
33:43thought
33:43if
33:43a
33:43blind
33:44girl
33:44could
33:44build
33:44a
33:45kingdom
33:45for
33:45me,
33:45then
33:45all
33:46I
33:46had
33:46to
33:46do
33:46was
33:47take
33:47the
33:47credit.
33:48So
33:48why
33:48did
33:48I
33:48lose
33:49everything?
33:49He
33:49started
33:50screaming,
33:51slamming
33:51his
33:51fists
33:51against
33:52his
33:52own
33:52useless
33:53legs.
33:53The
33:54sound
33:54of
33:54it
33:54got
33:54swallowed
33:55up
33:55by
33:55the
33:55thunder.
33:56When
33:56he
33:56finally
33:57ran
33:57out
33:57of
33:57breath,
33:58he
33:58looked
33:59up
33:59at
33:59me.
33:59He
34:00looked
34:00small.
34:01The
34:01arrogance
34:01was
34:02gone.
34:02What
34:02was
34:03left
34:03underneath
34:03wasn't
34:04much.
34:04Zara,
34:05his voice
34:08doing
34:08something
34:08approximating
34:09humility.
34:11I
34:11made
34:11a
34:11mistake.
34:12Come
34:13back.
34:14Come
34:15back.
34:17The
34:17Luna
34:17title,
34:18it's
34:18yours.
34:19Truly
34:19this
34:20time,
34:20we
34:20can
34:21rebuild
34:21together
34:22like
34:23before.
34:24We
34:24can
34:25take
34:25it
34:25all
34:25back.
34:26I
34:26looked
34:26at
34:26his
34:27soul
34:27thick
34:27oily
34:28green,
34:29bottomless
34:29with
34:29it.
34:30He
34:30wasn't
34:30performing.
34:31He
34:31was
34:31genuinely
34:32drowning
34:32in
34:32regret.
34:33That
34:33almost
34:34made
34:34it
34:34worse.
34:35Lucian,
34:35you
34:36still
34:36don't
34:36understand
34:37what
34:37you
34:37had.
34:38I
34:38was
34:38never
34:38your
34:38Luna
34:39because
34:39you
34:39became
34:40king.
34:41You
34:41were
34:41only
34:42ever
34:42king
34:42because
34:42I
34:43chose
34:43to
34:43stand
34:44beside
34:44you.
34:44I
34:45turned
34:45my
34:45back
34:46on
34:46him.
34:46Locked
34:47toward
34:47the
34:47warm
34:48lights
34:48of
34:48the
34:48estate.
34:49Lock
34:49the
34:49gates.
34:50If
34:51he
34:51sets
34:51put on
34:52this
34:52land
34:52again,
34:53you
34:53have
34:53my
34:53permission
34:53to
34:54treat
34:55him
34:55accordingly.
34:56The
34:56iron
34:56gates
34:57slammed
34:57shut.
34:57The
34:58sound
34:58cut
34:59through
34:59the
34:59rain
34:59like
34:59a
35:00verdict.
35:00He
35:01was
35:01still
35:01screaming
35:01my
35:02name
35:02when
35:02I
35:02walked
35:03through
35:03the
35:03front
35:03door.
35:04I
35:04didn't
35:04hear
35:05that
35:05door
35:06was
35:06never
35:07opening
35:07again.
35:08Celeste
35:08The
35:09report
35:10arrived
35:10this
35:10morning.
35:11History
35:11repeated
35:12itself
35:12down
35:12to
35:13the
35:13last
35:13time.
35:14Marcus
35:14both
35:15turned
35:15to
35:15there
35:15was
35:15nothing
35:16to
35:16door
35:16and
35:17they
35:17carried
35:17her
35:18body
35:18out
35:18of
35:18his
35:18estate.
35:19Someone
35:19noticed
35:20his
35:20scent
35:20still
35:20on
35:21me.
35:21Her
35:22came
35:22she
35:22snatched
35:22from
35:23my
35:23hands
35:23in
35:23that
35:23shot.
35:24She
35:25was
35:25wearing
35:25it
35:25when
35:25she
35:26died.
35:27Lucian
35:27heard
35:27the
35:27news
35:28run
35:28scream.
35:28He
35:29didn't
35:29grieve.
35:29He
35:30didn't
35:30rage.
35:31Good.
35:31She
35:32watched
35:32me
35:32fall
35:32and
35:32ran
35:33straight
35:33to
35:33another
35:33man's
35:33bed.
35:34I
35:35gave
35:35up
35:35everything
35:36in
35:36this
35:36life
35:36for
35:36her.
35:38And
35:38that's
35:38how
35:38she
35:39repays
35:39it?
35:39He
35:40beat
35:40his
35:40fists
35:40against
35:41the
35:41wheels
35:41of
35:41his
35:42chair
35:42until
35:42his
35:43knuckles
35:43bled.
35:44I
35:44never
35:44should
35:44have
35:44poisoned
35:45Zara.
35:45I
35:45never
35:46should
35:46have
35:46chosen
35:46Celeste
35:47over
35:47Zara.
35:47I
35:48was
35:48still
35:48holding
35:49the
35:49report
35:49when
35:49I
35:49heard
35:50the
35:50bedroom
35:50door.
35:51I
35:51crumpled
35:51the
35:52paper
35:52in my
35:52fist.
35:53Kyle
35:53walked
35:54in.
35:54I
35:55turned
35:55toward
35:55the
35:55window.
35:56The
35:56sun
35:56had
35:57gone
35:57down.
35:57I
35:58was
35:58just...
35:59before
35:59I
35:59could
36:00finish
36:00he
36:00reached
36:01out
36:01and
36:01took
36:01the
36:02crumpled
36:02note
36:02from
36:02my
36:03hand.
36:03He
36:03smoothed
36:04it
36:04flat
36:04then
36:05lifted
36:05it
36:05to
36:05the
36:06light.
36:06Then
36:07he
36:07lowered
36:07it
36:07and
36:07looked
36:08straight
36:08at
36:08me.
36:09You're
36:09not
36:09blind
36:10in the
36:10way
36:10you
36:10let
36:10everyone
36:11believe,
36:11are
36:11you?
36:13My
36:14throat
36:14closed.
36:15I
36:15couldn't
36:15find
36:15a
36:16single
36:16word.
36:17I
36:17looked
36:17into
36:17his
36:18soul.
36:18It
36:19was
36:19burning.
36:20A
36:20sharp
36:20piece
36:20on
36:21orange
36:21and
36:23don't
36:23I
36:23deserve
36:23the
36:24truth?
36:25I
36:26marked
36:26you.
36:26I
36:27made
36:27you
36:27my
36:27mate.
36:28I
36:28would
36:29have
36:29protected
36:29you
36:29regardless.
36:30Blind,
36:31wolfless,
36:31it
36:31didn't
36:32matter.
36:32But
36:33for
36:33a
36:33year
36:33you
36:34let
36:34me
36:34believe
36:34I
36:34understood
36:35you.
36:36And
36:37I
36:37didn't.
36:38The
36:38blind
36:38girl
36:39and
36:39cripple.
36:40Two
36:40people
36:41who
36:41had
36:41made
36:41an
36:41art
36:41form
36:42of
36:42being
36:42something
36:42they
36:43weren't.
36:43Standing
36:44in
36:44this
36:44room
36:44in
36:45the
36:45dark.
36:45Every
36:45mask
36:46we'd
36:46ever
36:46worn
36:47was
36:47gone.
36:47He
36:48turned
36:48for
36:48the
36:48door
36:49and
36:49I
36:49felt
36:50something
36:50I
36:50hadn't
36:50felt
36:51in
36:51two
36:51lifetimes.
36:52Genuine
36:53terror.
36:53I
36:54threw
36:54myself
36:54off
36:54the
36:55bed
36:55and
36:55wrapped
36:55my
36:55arms
36:56around
36:56him
36:56for
36:56a
36:57half.
36:57Held
36:58on.
36:58I
36:58could
36:59feel
36:59the
36:59anger
36:59in
37:00him.
37:00But
37:01underneath
37:01it,
37:02his
37:02soul
37:02was
37:02already
37:03shifting.
37:04The
37:04orange
37:04cool
37:05leading
37:05towards
37:06something
37:06else.
37:07The
37:07harder
37:07I
37:08held
37:08on,
37:08the
37:09faster
37:09it
37:09faded.
37:10My
37:10voice
37:10came
37:11out
37:11small.
37:12I
37:12pressed
37:12my
37:13face
37:13against
37:13his
37:13back
37:14and
37:14just
37:14held
37:14on.
37:15His
37:15soul
37:16turned
37:16pink.
37:17His
37:17pride
37:17hadn't
37:18moved.
37:18He
37:19was
37:19still
37:19standing
37:19there,
37:20every
37:20muscle
37:21locked
37:21against
37:21him.
37:22But
37:22his
37:23heart
37:23had
37:23already
37:23answered.
37:24I
37:25came
37:25around
37:25to
37:25face
37:26him,
37:26pressed
37:27my
37:27cheek
37:27against
37:27his
37:28chest
37:28and
37:28listened.
37:29His
37:30heartbeat
37:30was
37:30fast,
37:31uneven.
37:32His
37:32soul
37:33was
37:33so
37:33pink
37:33it
37:34was
37:34almost
37:34blinding.
37:35Kyle.
37:40wasn't
37:40the
37:40only
37:40thing
37:40I
37:40lied
37:41about.
37:41This
37:41was
37:42the
37:42secret
37:42I'd
37:42carried
37:42through
37:43two
37:43lives
37:43without
37:43telling
37:44a
37:44single
37:44person.
37:45I
37:45see
37:45souls.
37:46I
37:47can
37:47read
37:47the
37:47truth
37:48inside
37:48people.
37:49He
37:49went
37:49completely
37:49still.
37:50And
37:50I
37:50know
37:51what's
37:51coming.
37:52The
37:53werewolf
37:53world
37:53is
37:53about
37:54to
37:54burn.
37:55Thorn
37:56harbor
37:56will
37:56be
37:56under
37:57siege.
37:58I
37:58looked
37:58up
37:59at
37:59him.
37:59In
38:00my
38:00last
38:00life,
38:01you
38:01died
38:01when
38:01the
38:01city
38:01walls
38:02fell.
38:02His
38:02breathing
38:03changed.
38:04I
38:04searched
38:04his
38:05soul
38:05one
38:05last
38:05time.
38:06Not
38:06a
38:07flicker
38:07of
38:07doubt.
38:08Not
38:08a
38:08trace
38:08of
38:09fear.
38:09Only
38:10gold
38:10fear.
38:11Shimmering
38:12gold.
38:13Do
38:13you
38:13believe
38:13me?
38:14I
38:14asked.
38:15He
38:15didn't
38:15answer
38:16with
38:16words.
38:16He
38:17pulled
38:17me
38:17into
38:18his
38:18chest,
38:18both
38:19arms
38:19no
38:20space
38:20between
38:20us,
38:21and
38:21buried
38:21his
38:22face
38:22against
38:22my
38:22neck.
38:23I
38:24believe
38:24in
38:24you.
38:27That's
38:27the
38:27only
38:27thing
38:28in
38:28this
38:28world
38:28I'm
38:28sure
38:29of.
38:29Five
38:29hours,
38:30that is
38:30what it
38:31took to
38:31dismay
38:31to
38:31my
38:32head.
38:33Kyle gave
38:33me the
38:34Alpha War
38:34seal and
38:35put every
38:35warrior in
38:36the pack
38:36under my
38:36command.
38:37We
38:37didn't
38:37just
38:38hold
38:38Thorn
38:38Harbor.
38:39We
38:39took
38:39the
38:39fight
38:39to
38:40the
38:40Alpha
38:40Wars
38:40forces.
38:41Then
38:41came
38:42the
38:42first
38:42night,
38:43the
38:43Great
38:43siege.
38:43The
38:58every
38:58soul
38:59in
38:59that
38:59life.
39:00He
39:00shrugged
39:00off
39:01the
39:01heavy
39:01coat
39:01he'd
39:01hidden
39:02behind
39:02for
39:02seven
39:03years
39:03and
39:03let
39:03it
39:03drop.
39:04His
39:04bones
39:04began
39:05to
39:05crack
39:05their
39:05shift
39:06into
39:06the
39:06moon
39:06world.
39:07He
39:07transformed.
39:08A
39:08massive
39:08silver
39:09wolf.
39:09He
39:09was
39:10huge
39:10larger
39:10than
39:11any
39:11Alpha
39:11in
39:11history.
39:12His
39:12fur shimmered
39:13like
39:13liquid
39:13metal
39:14in
39:14the
39:14dark.
39:14He
39:14stood
39:15on the
39:15edge
39:15of
39:15the
39:15water's
39:16wall
39:16and
39:16he
39:16let
39:17out
39:17a
39:17howl
39:28playing
39:28the
39:28broken
39:29man
39:29while
39:29the
39:29world
39:30underestimated
39:31him.
39:31He
39:31snapped
39:31his
39:32head
39:32around
39:32before
39:32the
39:33echo
39:33had
39:33died.
39:34That
39:34silver
39:34gaze
39:35cut
39:35straight
39:35through
39:35the
39:35smoke,
39:36through
39:36the
39:36fire,
39:37through
39:37everything
39:37between
39:38us
39:38and
39:38found
39:39me.
39:39I
39:39felt
39:40at
39:40the
39:40moment
39:40it
39:40landed,
39:41not
39:41just
39:41a
39:42look,
39:42something
39:43that
39:43went
39:43all
39:43the
39:44way
39:44down
39:44to
39:44the
39:44bone,
39:45like
39:45a
39:45string
39:45he
39:46taught
39:46over
39:46two
39:47lifetimes
39:47had
39:47finally
39:48been
39:48raised.
39:58held
39:58back
39:59in
39:59for
39:59at
39:59once.
40:00He
40:00shifted
40:01back,
40:01dropped
40:02one knee
40:02on the
40:03stone,
40:03chest
40:03heeling,
40:04hands
40:04braced
40:05against
40:05the
40:05ground,
40:06trembling.
40:07When
40:07he
40:07looked
40:08up
40:08at
40:08me,
40:08it
40:09was
40:09like
40:09the
40:09first
40:09time,
40:10like
40:10he
40:10was
40:10seeing
40:11something
40:11he'd
40:11been
40:11reaching
40:12toward
40:12without
40:12knowing
40:13it.
40:13It's
40:14you.
40:14His
40:15voice
40:15was
40:15red.
40:16It
40:16was
40:16always
40:17you.
40:19The
40:20moon
40:20goddess
40:20didn't
40:21give you
40:21to me
40:21for
40:21your
40:22gift.
40:24She
40:24gave
40:24you
40:25to
40:25me
40:25because
40:25you're
40:25mine.
40:26I
40:27felt
40:27the
40:27truth
40:27within
40:28my
40:28own
40:28family,
40:29every
40:29piece
40:29of it
40:30kicking
40:30into
40:30place
40:31all
40:31at
40:31once.
40:31The
40:32jolt
40:32when
40:32our
40:32fingers
40:33first
40:33touched
40:33at
40:34the
40:34maiden
40:34ball,
40:34the
40:35way
40:35his
40:35hands
40:35could
40:36pull
40:36the
40:36pain
40:36out
40:37of
40:37my
40:37skull,
40:37the
40:38suffocating
40:38dread
40:39every
40:39time
40:39he
40:39left
40:40the
40:40ring.
40:40I
40:41don't
40:41have
40:41a
40:41wolf.
40:42So
40:42the
40:42bond
40:43had
40:43come
40:43through
40:43quietly,
40:44a
40:45whisper
40:45where
40:45it
40:45should
40:45have
40:46been
40:46there,
40:46but
40:46it
40:47had
40:47always
40:47been
40:47there.
40:48From
40:48the
40:48very
40:49first
40:49moment
40:49he
40:50reached
40:50out
40:50and
40:50touched
40:51his
40:51knee,
40:52our
40:52blood
40:52had
40:52already
40:53made
40:53his
40:53face.
40:54Take
40:55your
40:55place
40:56as
40:56Alpha
40:57King.
40:57The
40:58Grand
40:58Hall
40:58was
40:58in
40:59ruins
40:59around
40:59him,
41:00dust
41:00still
41:00settling
41:01from
41:01the
41:01siege.
41:02And
41:02Zara
41:03shall
41:03be
41:04your
41:04Luna.
41:05Kyle
41:05didn't
41:05hesitate.
41:06No.
41:07One
41:07word.
41:08It
41:08landed
41:09in
41:09that
41:09hall
41:09that
41:09stone
41:10dropped
41:10into
41:10stone.
41:11I'm
41:12issuing
41:12two
41:12commands.
41:13First,
41:15we are
41:16establishing
41:16a dual
41:17kingship.
41:19Zara
41:19and I
41:20rule
41:20together
41:21as
41:22equals.
41:23The
41:23silence
41:23cracked.
41:24Impossible!
41:25There
41:26has
41:26never
41:26been
41:27a
41:27woman
41:27on
41:27that
41:28throne!
41:29Kyle
41:29stepped
41:29up
41:29onto
41:30the
41:30platform.
41:31He
41:31looked
41:31out
41:31across
41:32the
41:32council.
41:32Every
41:33face,
41:33every
41:34objection,
41:34with
41:35the
41:35kind
41:35of
41:35calm
41:35that
41:36has
41:36nothing
41:36left
41:36to
41:37prove.
41:37When
41:38Thorn Harbor
41:38was
41:38under
41:38siege,
41:39Zara
41:40stood
41:40on
41:40the
41:40front
41:41lines
41:41beside
41:41me.
41:43Every
41:43wound
41:43I
41:44took,
41:44she
41:45felt.
41:46Every
41:46sacrifice
41:47I
41:47made,
41:48she
41:48had
41:48already
41:49paid
41:49a
41:49higher
41:49price
41:50for.
41:50He
41:50brought
41:51his
41:51hand
41:51down
41:51flat
41:52on
41:52the
41:52stone
41:52table.
41:53Crack of
41:54it
41:54echoed.
41:54Without
41:55her,
41:55I'd be
41:56in an
41:56unmarked
41:56grave
41:57on the
41:57battlefield.
41:58You
41:59don't
41:59get
41:59to
41:59erase
41:59what
41:59she
42:00built
42:00just
42:00because
42:00she
42:01isn't
42:01what
42:01you
42:01expected.
42:05I
42:05am
42:05the
42:05Alpha
42:06King
42:07and so
42:07is
42:07she.
42:08Alpha
42:09King
42:09He
42:10leaned
42:10forward,
42:11voice
42:11dropping.
42:12If
42:12anyone
42:12here
42:12has
42:13a
42:13problem
42:13with
42:13that,
42:14step
42:14forward
42:15now.
42:15No
42:15one
42:16moved.
42:16I
42:16have
42:17spent
42:17seven
42:17years
42:17being
42:17underestimated.
42:18I
42:19have
42:19no
42:19patience
42:19left
42:20for
42:20it.
42:20Not
42:20for
42:20myself
42:21and
42:22not
42:22for
42:22her.
42:22The
42:22bond
42:23had
42:23been
42:23a
42:23river
42:23with
42:24no
42:24outlet
42:24for
42:24years.
42:25The
42:25night
42:25the
42:25war
42:26ended
42:26the
42:26dam
42:26broke.
42:27He
42:27marked
42:27me.
42:28The
42:28moment
42:28his
42:28teeth
42:29found
42:29the
42:29back
42:29of
42:29my
42:30neck
42:30something
42:30detonated
42:31beneath
42:31my
42:31skin.
42:32Not
42:32pain
42:33or
42:33not
42:33only
42:33pain
42:34something
42:34that
42:35felt
42:35like
42:35being
42:35struck
42:36by
42:36lightning
42:36from
42:36the
42:37inside.
42:37My
42:37bones
42:38began
42:38to
42:38shift.
42:39I
42:39screamed.
42:40Kyle
42:40didn't
42:40let
42:40go.
42:41He
42:41pulled
42:41me
42:41harder
42:42against
42:42his
42:42chest
42:43and
42:43held
42:43on.
42:43His
42:44soul
42:44blazing
42:44gold
42:45in
42:45my
42:45sight.
42:46Steady
42:46as
42:46a
42:46fixed
42:46star
42:47an
42:47anchor
42:47in
42:48the
42:48middle
42:48of
42:48everything
42:48from
42:49the
42:49heart.
42:49Something
42:50that
42:50had
42:50been
42:50waiting
42:50under
42:51my
42:51skin
42:51for
42:5117
42:52years
42:52was
42:52finally
42:53waking
42:53up.
42:53It
42:54was
42:54never
42:54missing.
42:54It
42:55was
42:55just
42:55too
42:55powerful
42:56to
42:56serve
42:56my
42:56time.
42:57It
42:57needed
42:57something
42:58equally
42:58matched
42:59to
42:59call
42:59it
42:59out.
42:59I
43:00shifted
43:00white.
43:01Pure.
43:01Absolute
43:01white.
43:02A
43:02wolf
43:02larger
43:03than
43:03any
43:03female
43:04in
43:04reported
43:04history.
43:05Her
43:05coat
43:05caught
43:05the
43:06moonlight
43:06the
43:06way
43:06fresh
43:07snow
43:07catches
43:07it
43:07from
43:08within.
43:09Kyle
43:09silver
43:09wolf
43:10circled
43:10me
43:10once
43:11twice
43:11three
43:12times.
43:13Then
43:13he
43:13stopped
43:14pressed
43:14his
43:15massive
43:15head
43:15against
43:16my
43:16neck
43:16and
43:17let
43:17out
43:17a
43:17sound
43:17so
43:18low
43:18and
43:18so
43:18full
43:19it
43:19barely
43:19qualified
43:20as
43:20a
43:20sound
43:20at
43:21all.
43:21The
43:22elders
43:22hadn't
43:22moved
43:23in
43:23the
43:23old
43:23legends.
43:24The
43:24white
43:25wolf
43:25is
43:25the
43:25living
43:25avatar
43:26of
43:26the
43:26moon
43:26goddess.
43:27She
43:28hadn't
43:28walked
43:28the
43:28earth
43:28in
43:29500
43:29years.
43:30I
43:30had
43:30never
43:31been
43:31broken.
43:32My
43:32wolf
43:32had
43:39pulled
43:39me
43:39into
43:40his
43:40lap
43:40and
43:40held
43:40me
43:41there,
43:41both
43:42of
43:42us
43:42still
43:42catching
43:42our
43:43breath.
43:44The
43:44soul.
43:44As I
43:45looked
43:45at it,
43:46I
43:46had
43:46no
43:46words.
43:47Gold
43:47and
43:48pink,
43:48woven
43:48together
43:49so
43:49completely,
43:50they'd
43:51become
43:51a
43:51single
43:51color
43:52that
43:52didn't
43:53exist
43:53anywhere
43:53else.
43:54I
43:55knew
43:56from
43:56the
43:57moment
43:57you
43:57chose
43:57me
43:58at
43:58the
43:58ball.
43:59I
44:00didn't
44:00know
44:00what
44:00you
44:01were.
44:02But
44:03I
44:03knew
44:03you
44:03were
44:03something
44:04the
44:04world
44:04hadn't
44:04seen
44:05before.
44:06You
44:07were
44:07just
44:07waiting
44:07for
44:08someone
44:08to
44:08finally
44:08find
44:09you.
44:09I
44:10never
44:10let
44:10myself
44:11dream
44:11this
44:11far
44:11in
44:12my
44:12last
44:12life.
44:12I
44:13was
44:13too
44:13busy
44:14holding
44:14someone
44:14else
44:14to
44:15ever
44:15look
44:15up
44:15for
44:15myself.
44:16Now
44:16I
44:17sat
44:17at
44:17the
44:17highest
44:17seat
44:18in
44:18the
44:18council
44:18hall.
44:19Kyle
44:19beside
44:20me.
44:20Every
44:21elephant
44:21in
44:21their heads.
44:23The
44:23intelligence
44:24network
44:24was mine.
44:25The
44:25land rights
44:26were mine
44:26to grant
44:27or revoke
44:27the power
44:28I had
44:29spent a
44:29lifetime
44:29building
44:35He
44:36dragged
44:36himself
44:36across
44:37the
44:37stone
44:37floor
44:37on his
44:38hands.
44:38He
44:38reached
44:39my
44:39boots
44:39and
44:40stretched
44:40out
44:40one
44:41trembling
44:41hand
44:41toward
44:42the
44:42hem
44:42of
44:42my
44:42robes.
44:43A
44:44guard
44:44stepped
44:44forward.
44:45His
44:45sword
44:46crashed.
44:46The
44:47blade
44:47stopped
44:47an
44:47inch
44:48from
44:48Lucian's
44:48fingers.
44:49Lucian
44:50didn't
44:50even
44:50register.
44:51He
44:51just
44:51started
44:52seeing
44:52you.
44:53This
44:53isn't
44:53right.
44:54That
44:55seat
44:55belongs
44:55to
44:56me.
44:56You
44:57were
44:57my
44:57instrument
44:58Zara.
44:59I
44:59promised
45:00to
45:00make
45:00you
45:00my
45:05that's
45:05where
45:05I'm
45:05supposed
45:06to
45:06be.
45:06I
45:06looked
45:07at
45:07him
45:07for
45:07a
45:07long
45:07moment.
45:08I
45:08remembered
45:09the
45:09last
45:09line.
45:10The
45:10rebel
45:10wolves
45:11had us
45:11surrounded.
45:12He
45:12didn't
45:12reach
45:13for
45:13me.
45:13He
45:13didn't
45:14hesitate.
45:15He
45:15turned
45:15and
45:15ran.
45:16And
45:16when
45:16they
45:17caught
45:17him
45:17anyway,
45:17he
45:18offered
45:18me
45:18up
45:18to
45:18buy
45:19himself
45:19another
45:19day.
45:20And
45:20at
45:20the
45:20very
45:20end,
45:21he
45:21was
45:22the
45:22one
45:22who
45:22forced
45:22the
45:23wolf's
45:23game
45:23down
45:23my
45:24throat.
45:24He
45:24was
45:25the
45:25one
45:25who
45:25gave
45:25Celeste
45:26my
45:26title
45:26and
45:27my
45:27burial.
45:27He
45:28threw
45:28my
45:28body
45:28to
45:29the
45:29crows.
45:29And
45:30now
45:30he
45:30was
45:30on
45:30the
45:31floor
45:31of
45:31my
45:31hall,
45:32demanding
45:32I
45:32come
45:33down
45:33and
45:33handed
45:33our
45:34back
45:34to
45:34him.
45:34I
45:35looked
45:35at
45:35his
45:35soul.
45:36There
45:36was
45:36nothing
45:36left
45:36in
45:37him.
45:38Hold
45:38him.
45:39The
45:39guards
45:39pinned
45:40him
45:40to
45:40the
45:40stone.
45:41He
45:41thrashed.
45:42He
45:42tried
45:42to
45:42bite.
45:43He
45:43screamed
45:43until
45:44his
45:44voice
45:44cracked.
45:45They
45:45forced
45:45his
45:46jaw
45:46open
45:46and
45:47I
45:47poured
45:47the
45:47wolf's
45:48bane
45:48myself.
45:49A
45:49quick
45:49death
45:49would
45:49have
45:50been
45:50mercy
45:50and
45:51I
45:51had
45:51none
45:51left
45:52to
45:52give
45:52him.
45:53This
45:53was
45:53something
45:54else.
45:54A
45:55slow
45:55total
45:55erasure.
45:56First
45:57the
45:57taste
45:58would
45:58go
45:58then
45:58the
45:59smell
45:59of
45:59air
45:59then
46:00the
46:00light
46:00fading
46:01at
46:01the
46:01edges
46:01dimming
46:02inward
46:02then
46:03sound
46:03then
46:04touch
46:04then
46:05nothing
46:05at
46:05all.
46:06A
46:06living
46:07body
46:07with
46:07no
46:07world
46:08left
46:08inside
46:08it
46:08trapped
46:09in
46:09the
46:09dark
46:09he
46:09had
46:10always
46:10carried
46:10with
46:11nothing
46:11for
46:11company
46:12but
46:12his
46:12own
46:12guilt.
46:13It
46:13took
46:13a
46:13week.
46:14The
46:14guard
46:14came
46:15to
46:15me
46:15on
46:15a
46:15quiet
46:15morning
46:16and
46:16delivered
46:16the
46:17news
46:17without
46:17ceremony.
46:19Lucian
46:19was
46:19dead.
46:20Died
46:20in
46:20total
46:21silence.
46:22Total
46:22darkness.
46:23Without
46:23a single
46:24sensation
46:24to mark
46:25the
46:25end.
46:26What
46:26should
46:26we
46:26do
46:27with
46:27the
46:27body?
46:27I
46:27didn't
46:27look
46:28up
46:28for
46:28my
46:28work.
46:28Take
46:29it
46:29outside
46:29the
46:29territory.
46:30No
46:31retts.
46:32No
46:32marker.
46:33Leave
46:33nothing.
46:34I
46:34gave
46:35his
46:35remains
46:35exactly
46:36what
46:36he
46:36gave
46:36mine.
46:37Down
46:38to
46:38the
46:38last
46:38detail.
46:39The
46:39account
46:40was
46:40closed.
46:41The
46:41fire
46:42had
46:42burned
46:42down
46:42to
46:43embers.
46:43The
46:44room
46:44was
46:44almost
46:44quiet.
46:47Kyle's
46:47arms
46:48came
46:48around
46:48my
46:48waist
46:49from
46:49behind.
46:50His
46:50breath
46:50was
46:51warm
46:51and
46:51even
46:51against
46:52my
46:52neck.
46:55You
46:56went
46:56to
46:56see
46:56him
46:57today?
46:57I
46:58did.
46:59I
47:00watched
47:00a
47:00monster
47:00reach
47:01the
47:01end
47:01he
47:01earned.
47:02I
47:02leaned
47:02back
47:03into
47:03him.
47:04Are
47:04you
47:04jealous
47:04of
47:04a
47:04dead
47:05man,
47:05Kyle?
47:06A
47:06low
47:07sound
47:07in
47:07his
47:07chest.
47:08Not
47:08quite
47:08a
47:08laugh.
47:09He
47:09reached
47:09up
47:09slowly
47:10and
47:10found
47:10the
47:10knot
47:11of
47:11the
47:11silk
47:11blindfold
47:12I
47:12still
47:12wore
47:12in
47:12public.
47:13Worked
47:14it
47:14loose.
47:14Let
47:14it
47:15fall.
47:16The
47:16moonlight
47:16came
47:17through
47:17the
47:17window.
47:18Neither
47:18of us
47:18spoke
47:19for a
47:19while.
47:19Then
47:20he
47:20took
47:20my
47:20hand
47:20and
47:21guided
47:21it
47:21to
47:21his
47:21chest.
47:22Pressed
47:22it
47:22flat
47:23right
47:23above
47:23his
47:23heart.
47:24Zara,
47:24tell
47:24me
47:24what
47:25color
47:25it
47:25is.
47:25I
47:26laughed,
47:26soft,
47:27surprised
47:27by it.
47:28I
47:28closed
47:28my
47:28eyes
47:29and
47:29turned
47:29everything
47:29I
47:30had
47:30for
47:30him.
47:30This
47:31man
47:31who
47:31gave
47:31me
47:32his
47:32trust
47:32before
47:32I
47:33deserved
47:33it.
47:33Who
47:33stood
47:34up
47:34in
47:34front
47:34of
47:34an
47:34army
47:35to
47:35unmake
47:35seven
47:36years
47:36of
47:36his
47:36own
47:37carefully
47:37constructed
47:38lie.
47:38Who
47:38fought
47:38his
47:39way
47:39to
47:39a
47:39throne
47:39he
47:40didn't
47:40want
47:40just
47:41so
47:41I
47:41could
47:41stand
47:42beside
47:42him
47:42on
47:42equal
47:43ground.
47:43His
47:43soul,
47:44I
47:44don't
47:44have
47:44the
47:45words
47:45for
47:45it.
47:46Even
47:46now,
47:46a
47:46pillar
47:46of
47:47gold,
47:47deep
47:47and
47:48unwavering,
47:48and running
47:49through the
47:49heart of
47:50it.
47:50A tide
47:50of
47:50pink
47:51so
47:51rich
47:51and
47:51so
47:52dark
47:52it
47:52looked
47:52like
47:52the
47:53last
47:53light
47:53of
47:53a
47:53sunset
47:54seen
47:54through
47:54clear
47:54water,
47:55the
47:55kind
47:55of
47:55color
47:56time
47:56can't
47:56bleach.
47:57The
47:57most
47:57beautiful
47:58thing
47:58I've
47:58ever
47:58seen
48:00and
48:00I've
48:00seen
48:01a
48:01lot
48:01of
48:01ugly
48:01things.
48:03His
48:03arms
48:03tightened
48:03around
48:04me.
48:05Describe
48:06it.
48:06I
48:06want
48:06to
48:06hear
48:07it.
48:07I
48:07turned
48:07in
48:07his
48:08arms,
48:09found
48:09his
48:09chest,
48:10pressed
48:10my
48:10lips
48:11to
48:11the
48:11place
48:11above
48:12his
48:12heart
48:12and
48:12held
48:13them
48:13there.
48:13I
48:13don't
48:13think
48:14any
48:14language
48:14has
48:15the
48:15right
48:15words.
48:15I
48:16looked
48:16up
48:16at
48:16him
48:16but
48:17I
48:17have
48:17the
48:17rest
48:17of
48:17my
48:18life
48:18journey.
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