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Alpha Heir’s Broken Promise New 20 Eps
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00:00The day I mentioned the mate bond to my fiancé, Lyndon, for the 99th time, I overheard him talking with
00:07his friends.
00:09Lyndon, you're something else. Alice is willing to wait for you.
00:13Lyndon swirled his glass.
00:16If it weren't for her, Nora wouldn't have mated with someone else out of spite.
00:22She won't let me have my way, so she should experience the same thing.
00:26Drag it out. The more she tries to mate with me, the less I'll agree.
00:38Anyway, she'll wait for me.
00:46Next year, raise the unbonded tax by 30.
00:56Alice will have to sell herself to make up the tax.
01:00Lyndon is the alpha heir. That poor girl wants to climb up.
01:04Selling herself once won't cut it. Sell as many times as needed.
01:08Tears ran down my face.
01:14The pack rules say, if a wolf turns 18 without a mate bond, they must pay the unbonded tax.
01:21Otherwise, the pack council will force us on right.
01:24Every time I pushed him to finish the bond, he said.
01:29Next year.
01:30I waited three years.
01:32I barely held on.
01:34The tax grew heavier every year.
01:36So, this year, I won't pay.
01:41Before Lyndon left, one of his servants came over to ask me.
01:46Alice.
01:47Did you scrape together this year's tax?
01:51If not, we can help you.
01:53Next year.
01:55Alpha hair promised.
01:58Next year, he'll finish the bond ceremony with you.
02:03I patted the half-empty money pouch at my waist.
02:06It had money, but it was far from enough to pay this year's unbonded tax.
02:11I'd been hearing this for three years.
02:14My family used to be a respected bloodline.
02:18Three years ago, my father got dragged into pack politics.
02:23Lyndon, the alpha heir, was my fiancé.
02:28Then, overnight, we had nothing.
02:30My father died that winter.
02:32We became an orphan.
02:40I had no choice but to go to Lyndon for shelter.
02:43The first time I saw him, the young she-wolf at his side looked pale and ran off crying.
02:48A few days later, she had mated with someone else.
02:52If you like her, we can call off the engagement.
02:55No need.
02:57You're my fiancé.
02:58I must keep my promise.
03:01When will we finish the bonding ceremony?
03:03Next year.
03:06Your father just died.
03:08Aren't you afraid of being cursed if we mate now?
03:12I struggled through that year and paid the tax with the last of my money.
03:17The next year, I asked him again and again.
03:19He finally lost patience.
03:22Do you ever stop?
03:23All you said is the mate bond.
03:25Do you only think about men?
03:28Shameless.
03:28I wouldn't show weakness.
03:31I wouldn't show weakness.
03:31Crying?
03:32I'm joking.
03:33A witch says my wolf is unstable this year.
03:36Not a good year to mate.
03:38Next year.
03:39I'll mate with you next year.
03:41I stood there awkwardly.
03:43I wanted to tell him I was almost out of money.
03:47If I couldn't pay, the packet council would force assign a stranger as my mate.
03:53But I swallowed the words.
03:55I'll wait, I told myself.
03:57But life was getting harder.
03:59That year, the tax jumped by 50%.
04:02You keep dragging this out year after year.
04:07As you get older, the fee goes up.
04:10So he'd raise the price on purpose.
04:15I struggled through that year and paid the tax with the last of my money.
04:20The next year, I asked him again and again.
04:22He finally lost patience.
04:25Do you ever stop?
04:26All you said is the mate bond.
04:27Do you only think about men?
04:30Shameless.
04:31I wouldn't show weakness.
04:34Crying?
04:34I'm joking.
04:36A witch says my wolf is unstable this year.
04:39Not a good year to mate.
04:41Next year.
04:42I'll mate with you next year.
04:44I stood there awkwardly.
04:46I wanted to tell him I was almost out of money.
04:50If I couldn't pay, the packet council would force assign a stranger as my mate.
04:56But I swallowed the words.
04:58I'll wait, I told myself.
05:00But life was getting harder.
05:02That year, the tax jumped by 50%.
05:05You keep dragging this out year after year.
05:09As you get older, the fee goes up.
05:13So he'd raise the price on purpose.
05:19Alice.
05:21Even the alpha hare has to pay.
05:24Even the alpha hare has to pay.
05:24He has to be waiting for you.
05:25He's just young and playful.
05:28Wait a little longer.
05:32I know.
05:33Lyndon was the alpha hare.
05:35How would he know how hard it was for me to save?
05:38I lived in the alpha house, but I have no money.
05:41No money meant I had to find a way.
05:43I painted for other noble she-wolves and took the money.
05:47With his casual words, I had to burn countless knights to draw.
05:51I put up with it for three years.
05:54This year, I wasn't going to anymore.
05:56I clutched my last money and went to the pack council.
06:00You again?
06:01The unbonded tax went up.
06:03Are you paying?
06:05No.
06:06Fine.
06:07He opened the pairing book and casually ticked a name.
06:11Him.
06:11Done.
06:12Go.
06:12I didn't even know my future mate's name.
06:15My life was decided like that.
06:17Back at alpha house, Lyndon leaned against the doorway.
06:21Paid the tax?
06:22I looked down and lied.
06:24Yes.
06:27My blanket, wine glasses, bring them.
06:32Be careful.
06:34Don't break anything.
06:36You can't pay for it if it's ruined.
06:38He came over and reached to pat my head.
06:41I flinched.
06:42Want anything?
06:43I'll bring it back for you.
06:44He always did that.
06:46Just when my heart felt frozen,
06:48he'd hand me a sweet and steady me again.
06:50I'm pathetic.
06:51I always tell myself to call off the engagement.
06:55Don't wait.
06:56But when he smiles, I think,
06:58what if he really means next year?
07:01And I'm fooled every time.
07:04The money pouch.
07:05Why not get something nicer?
07:06I have plenty of money.
07:09No need.
07:12All right.
07:15I turned and left.
07:18My room was in the far corner of alpha house.
07:21Few people came by.
07:22There was one good thing.
07:24It was near the side door.
07:26If the pack council came for me,
07:28no one would notice.
07:29I packed my things and left.
07:33My blanket, wine glasses, bring them.
07:38Be careful.
07:39Don't break anything.
07:41You can't pay for it if it's ruined.
07:44He came over and reached to pat my head.
07:46I flinched.
07:48Want anything?
07:49I'll bring it back for you.
07:50He always did that.
07:51Just when my heart felt frozen,
07:53he'd hand me a sweet and steady me again.
07:55I'm pathetic.
07:57I always tell myself to call off the engagement.
08:01Don't wait.
08:02But when he smiles, I think,
08:04what if he really means next year?
08:06And I'm fooled every time.
08:09The money pouch.
08:10Why not get something nicer?
08:12I have plenty of money.
08:15No need.
08:18Alright.
08:21Hey!
08:22I turned and left.
08:23My room was in the far corner of Alpha House.
08:27Few people came by.
08:28There was one good thing.
08:30It was near the side door.
08:31If the pack council came for me,
08:33no one would notice.
08:34I packed my things and left.
08:38Only Mrs. Ward waited at the door.
08:41It's a big day for you.
08:44Aren't you wearing something new?
08:46Before my father died,
08:48he'd prepared clothes and jewelry for my ceremony.
08:51He didn't want me looking shabby.
08:54But the first year,
08:55Lyndon wouldn't bond with me.
08:57And the tax kept pressing.
08:59I had to sell the dress.
09:02The tax kept rising every year.
09:04I sold all my jewelry too.
09:07Still no ceremony.
09:10It's fine.
09:11Live for yourself,
09:13not for show.
09:15Let's go.
09:16The sooner it's done,
09:17the better for both of us.
09:18We passed the Alpha House gate,
09:21and Lyndon's carriage was there.
09:23He lounged on the cushions.
09:25He looked every bit the handsome air.
09:27I walked north.
09:29He rode south.
09:30We passed each other without a second place.
09:33A little way down the road,
09:35Mrs. Ward frowned at the pairing book.
09:37Where does Simon's live again?
09:39I took the book.
09:40His address was near the pack academy.
09:43Lyndon used to study there.
09:47Ivy crawled over the small courtyard.
09:50The wooden fence was thin and scattered.
09:52Under an old oak stood a stone table.
09:55A book lay open on it,
09:57the wind turning the corners of the pages.
10:00Silas!
10:02Master Silas!
10:04Master, please not some gray-bearded old man.
10:07A young man holding a book stepped out.
10:09We stared at each other and froze.
10:11What's going on?
10:13Why is it her?
10:15This can't be right.
10:16She's my student's fiancée.
10:18Is there some mistake?
10:19Mrs. Ward didn't care to argue.
10:22The pack council named the mate.
10:25How can it be wrong?
10:28Congratulations.
10:31Mr. Silas.
10:32This really isn't proper.
10:35I'll go to the council tomorrow and explain.
10:38He clearly looked down on me.
10:41If he sent me back to the council,
10:44I didn't know who I'd be assigned next.
10:50I don't have the money to pay the tax.
10:55I'm a little shameless.
10:57Mr. Silas is soft-hearted.
10:59Three years ago,
11:01Lyndon went off to the academy.
11:03I wanted to make a good impression.
11:05So, on a snowy day,
11:06I cooked a pot of hot soup
11:08and took it to the academy.
11:10I was shaking outside.
11:12Silas saw me and,
11:14breaking the rules,
11:15let me inside to warm up.
11:17When Lyndon saw me,
11:19his face went cold.
11:20Who told you to come?
11:22It's the alpha heir's fiancée.
11:24She looks so poor.
11:26I had embarrassed him.
11:28By the time the soup cooled,
11:30he wouldn't even drink a drop.
11:32I was about to pour it out.
11:35Silas put three silver coins on the step.
11:40Don't waste food.
11:46Consider it bought.
11:53Lyndon hated studying
11:54and kept getting punished
11:56to copy the pack laws.
11:58He passed the work to me.
12:00I copied so much
12:01that even Silas couldn't stand it.
12:04He looked at my handwriting.
12:06Neat writing.
12:07You helped him copy, right?
12:10If he won't learn
12:12and has others do his work,
12:14what's the point?
12:15Fine.
12:17No more punishments.
12:20You can stay there for now.
12:21My held breath
12:22finally fell away.
12:24I couldn't help
12:24letting out a small,
12:25grateful,
12:26Thank you, Mr. Silas.
12:30I admit
12:31I was a little shameless.
12:33Mr. Silas
12:35is soft-hearted.
12:36Three years ago,
12:37Lyndon went off
12:38to the academy.
12:39I wanted to make
12:40a good impression.
12:41So,
12:42on a snowy day,
12:43I cooked a pot
12:44of hot soup
12:44and took it
12:45to the academy.
12:46I was shaking
12:47outside.
12:48Silas saw me
12:49and,
12:50breaking the rules,
12:52let me inside
12:53to warm up.
12:54When Lyndon saw me,
12:55his face went cold.
12:57Who told you to come?
12:59It's the alpha heir's
13:00fiance.
13:01She looks so poor.
13:03I had embarrassed him.
13:05By the time
13:05the soup cooled,
13:06he wouldn't even
13:07drink a drop.
13:08I was about
13:09to pour it out.
13:12Silas put
13:13three silver coins
13:14on the step.
13:16Don't waste food.
13:23Consider it bought.
13:29Lyndon hated studying
13:31and kept getting punished
13:32to copy the PAC laws.
13:34He passed the work
13:35to me.
13:36I copied so much
13:38that even Silas
13:39couldn't stand it.
13:40He looked at
13:41my handwriting.
13:42Neat writing.
13:43You helped him
13:45copy, right?
13:47If he won't learn
13:48and has others
13:49do his work,
13:50what's the point?
13:52Fine.
13:53No more punishments.
13:56You can stay there
13:57for now.
13:58My held breath
13:59finally fell away.
14:00I couldn't help
14:01letting out a small,
14:02grateful...
14:03Thank you,
14:03Mr. Silas.
14:06I was so tired
14:08that I collapsed
14:08into bed
14:09and was out
14:09like a light.
14:10When I woke
14:11the next morning,
14:11Silas was already
14:12gone.
14:13I went out
14:13to look for him.
14:14The neighbor,
14:15Mrs. Finch,
14:16greeted me.
14:17Isn't he your cousin?
14:18He couldn't live with you.
14:19He moved into
14:20the academy.
14:22I walked back home.
14:23He really was
14:24old-fashioned.
14:25It made me look like
14:26the one squatting
14:27in his room.
14:27If he really
14:28didn't want to be
14:29my mate,
14:29I could write articles
14:30to earn some money,
14:32save the tax,
14:33move out once
14:33I had enough.
14:34Since I was staying
14:35in his place,
14:36I should at least
14:37tidy up.
14:38While cleaning,
14:38I found a trunk.
14:39It was neatly
14:40stacked with books.
14:41On top was a copy
14:42of Strange Tales.
14:43The pages were yellow
14:44and the corners curled.
14:46It had clearly
14:46been read a lot.
14:47I opened it
14:48and couldn't stop.
14:49I lost track of time.
14:51Ghosts coming back
14:52to life.
14:52A silver wolf
14:53repaying a debt?
14:55These books
14:55were completely unlike
14:56what a rigid one
14:57like him should be reading.
14:59Maybe I had read
15:00so many strange tales
15:02that day.
15:03That night
15:04I dreamed
15:04of a silver wolf.
15:06It walked in
15:07on moonlight,
15:08bowed its head
15:09to me like a salute.
15:10Then it howled
15:11at the sky.
15:12Where the moonlight
15:13fell,
15:14the house turned
15:15spotless
15:16and the corners
15:17filled with deer meat.
15:19I woke up
15:20laughing to myself.
15:21I felt oddly lighter.
15:24Good dream.
15:26I got up
15:27to fetch water
15:28and froze.
15:29The wooden bucket
15:30was full.
15:30I clearly remembered
15:32using half of it
15:33that afternoon.
15:34Had I misremembered?
15:35Then the odd things
15:36kept happening.
15:37Every morning
15:38the bucket was full.
15:39The flour that was
15:40almost gone yesterday
15:41was piled up today.
15:42I ate a few pieces
15:43of venison
15:44and the basket
15:45had fresh meat
15:46the next morning.
15:47Could there really
15:47be a silver wolf?
15:48That night
15:49I barely slept.
15:50I crept out
15:51but I was too late.
15:52I mustered my nerve
15:53and called out,
15:54Who's there?
15:55Show yourself.
15:56The next night
15:58I forced myself
15:58to stay awake.
16:00Around midnight
16:00I heard a rustle.
16:02I jumped out of bed
16:03and tiptoed to the kitchen.
16:05Silas was there.
16:06He was bent over
16:07pouring flour
16:08and quietly placing
16:10venison into the basket.
16:12It was Cypriz.
16:13I felt everything at once.
16:15I'd been here a month
16:17and never once
16:18gone hungry or thirsty.
16:20I checked the wardrobe
16:21where I'd hidden
16:22a few silver coins.
16:23I counted them again
16:25and they had actually grown.
16:28In three years
16:29at the Alpha house
16:30Lyndon never asked
16:32if I was cold or hungry.
16:34Silas cared in small
16:35careful ways.
16:37He wasn't as different.
16:38The next morning
16:39I made some flatbreads
16:40and rushed to the academy.
16:42I stood under the tree
16:43outside the classroom
16:45and peered through
16:46the half open window.
16:47How had I never noticed before?
16:50Silas was handsome.
16:51He looked up without meaning to.
16:54His eyes crossed the sill
16:56and met mine.
16:57After class
16:58he hurried out.
16:59Why are you here?
17:02For you.
17:04You don't need to do this.
17:05The academy has a kitchen.
17:07I can make my own.
17:10Thanks for the food.
17:11I can't eat it all by myself.
17:14You should leave soon.
17:16If someone sees
17:17it won't look good for you.
17:19He really didn't want
17:21to be my mate.
17:22I know.
17:23He dodged me at every turn
17:25afraid to be tied to me.
17:27Back home
17:28I stared at my fuzzy reflection
17:30in the basin
17:30and forced a smile.
17:32Lyndon had said
17:33my looks were tempting
17:34and that I only thought
17:36about mating all day.
17:38Someone as proper as Silas
17:40would probably only like
17:42girls like Nora.
17:45I counted my few coins
17:46over and over.
17:48I still didn't have enough
17:49for the year's tax.
17:50Writing and painting
17:51to earn money
17:52was too slow.
17:53I was worrying
17:54when I suddenly remembered
17:56Silas's strange tales.
17:58An idea hit me.
17:59Maybe I could write
18:00the weird stories
18:01pack members liked
18:02and sell them
18:03to the bookshop.
18:04I shut my door
18:05and wrote for three days.
18:07I put down a few chapters
18:08about a silver wolf
18:09returning the favor.
18:11The shopkeeper was
18:12uninterested at first.
18:14He read it anyway.
18:15When he finished
18:16he slapped 50 silver coins
18:18on the counter
18:19and said
18:19Miss
18:20go write more.
18:21I'll sell this half now.
18:23If it sells
18:24we can do the rest.
18:27The first thing I did
18:29with the money
18:29was go to the market.
18:31Now how Silas
18:32keeps sneaking food in
18:34at night
18:34but Silas still came
18:36at midnight.
18:37If there was nowhere
18:38to put the food
18:39he swept the yard.
18:41Sometimes he cut the meat.
18:43He was always busy.
18:44One morning
18:45I opened the door
18:46and heard a small clink
18:47at my feet.
18:48A little mirror
18:49lay on the ground.
18:50I bent to pick it up.
18:51I couldn't say
18:52how I felt.
18:53He didn't talk much to me
18:54but he was quietly kind.
18:57The stories sold
18:58better than I expected.
19:01In less than a month
19:02I had saved enough
19:03for the tax.
19:06Harvest Moon
19:07Harvest Moon
19:07was the pack's
19:08biggest holiday.
19:10I had the food
19:11ready early.
19:12Today is Harvest Moon.
19:15After the festival
19:16say goodbye to Simus.
19:18I waited from dawn
19:19to dusk.
19:20He never came back.
19:22Alice
19:23look how hated you are.
19:25You scared him away.
19:27Holidays alone
19:28are dull.
19:29I hoisted my pack
19:30and went to the pack council.
19:33Only one wolf
19:34was on duty.
19:35I hesitated
19:36then asked
19:37If someone pays
19:38the tax late
19:39can the assigned mate
19:41be cancelled?
19:42He flipped through
19:43the roster.
19:44Name?
19:45Alice
19:45and Silas.
19:47They seem well matched.
19:48Why would you ask?
19:49Mr. Silas heard
19:51that
19:51a she-wolf
19:52couldn't pay
19:53the unbonded tax.
19:55He came
19:56gave money
19:56begged the elders.
19:58He asked them
19:58to mark his name
19:59with hers
20:00if she couldn't pay.
20:01Ostas
20:02they always
20:03have schemes.
20:05If the mate
20:06bond hasn't
20:07been signed yet
20:08and she pays
20:09the tax late
20:10there's a 30%
20:12subsurgeon.
20:13Tell your friend
20:14to think it over.
20:15It wasn't random.
20:16It wasn't a mistake.
20:18It wasn't just kindness.
20:21He'd planned it
20:22all along.
20:24Harvest Moon
20:25was the pack's
20:26biggest holiday.
20:27I had the food
20:29ready early.
20:29Today is Harvest Moon.
20:32After the festival
20:34say goodbye to Simus.
20:36I waited from dawn
20:37to dusk.
20:38He never came back.
20:40Alice
20:41look how hated
20:42you are.
20:43You scared him away.
20:45Holidays alone
20:46are dull.
20:47I hoisted my pack
20:48and went to
20:49the pack council.
20:50Only one wolf
20:52was on duty.
20:53I hesitated
20:54then asked
20:55if someone pays
20:56the tax late
20:57can the assigned
20:58mate be cancelled?
21:00He flipped
21:00through the roster.
21:02Name?
21:03Alice
21:03and Silas.
21:05They seem well matched.
21:06Why would you ask?
21:07Mr. Silas
21:08heard that
21:09a she-wolf
21:10couldn't pay
21:11the unbonded tax.
21:13He came
21:13gave money
21:14begged the elders.
21:16He asked them
21:16to mark his name
21:17with hers
21:18if she couldn't pay.
21:19Ostas
21:20they always
21:21have schemes.
21:23If the mate bond
21:24hasn't been signed yet
21:26and she pays
21:27the tax late
21:28there's a 30%
21:30subsurgeon.
21:31Tell your friend
21:32to think it over.
21:33It wasn't random.
21:34It wasn't a mistake.
21:36It wasn't just kindness.
21:39He'd planned it
21:40all along.
21:42I ran home
21:43heart pounding.
21:50Silas stood
21:51in the yard.
21:52He held
21:53a moon-shaped lantern
21:54and gave a bitter
21:55smile into
21:55the empty space.
21:57Mr. Silas.
22:03You.
22:05I thought
22:06you left.
22:08I have known
22:10everything about
22:11our mate bond.
22:16This I didn't
22:17think it through.
22:17Don't get me wrong.
22:18I have no other
22:20intentions.
22:21It's just
22:21just
22:25I pressed him
22:26and he finally
22:27told me things
22:28I hadn't known.
22:29He was a lone wolf.
22:31My father had
22:32taken him in.
22:33My father gave him
22:34food and helped
22:35him go to the
22:36academy.
22:37The first time
22:38I went to the
22:38academy to look
22:39for Lyndon
22:40he recognized
22:41me.
22:42He wanted to
22:43help but I had
22:44a fiance.
22:45He couldn't
22:46interfere.
22:47You were only
22:48six back then.
22:50Your father
22:50trained students
22:51at the academy
22:52every day.
22:54You sat by the
22:55side.
22:55Do you remember?
22:56I thought...
22:58Your father
22:58saved my life.
23:00He was such a good
23:00man I wanted
23:01to repay him.
23:03If he knew you
23:03were forced into
23:04a mating chest
23:05and living in
23:06misery his heart
23:07would break.
23:08Stay here for now.
23:10If you meet
23:11someone you love
23:12in the future
23:12I will
23:13as a brother
23:14arrange the mating
23:15ceremony for you.
23:18So the silver
23:19wolf from the
23:19stories really
23:20had come to
23:21return a favor.
23:22But I thought
23:23about all the
23:24little things
23:25from these past
23:25days.
23:27Is that it?
23:28In the stories
23:29the silver wolf
23:30repays by offering
23:32itself.
23:33Not entirely.
23:35At first it was
23:36to repay you.
23:38Now I have my
23:39own feelings.
23:40He was too shy
23:41to say more.
23:42Still I saw
23:44that hidden
23:45affection in his
23:46eyes.
23:46I hurried to
23:47change the subject.
23:49What is this?
23:51A gift for you.
23:55I remember you
23:56liked moon-shaped
23:57lanterns when you
23:58were little.
23:59I don't know if
24:00you still do.
24:00I stepped forward
24:01without thinking.
24:02When I took the
24:03lantern I gently
24:05held his hand.
24:06Silas' fingers
24:07jumped.
24:09Next year
24:11can we spend
24:12Harvest Moon
24:13together again?
24:14Of course.
24:16Linden had
24:17barely come home
24:18before he and his
24:19friends clustered
24:20around a table.
24:21Linden
24:22I heard Alice
24:23paid another
24:24year's unbonded
24:25tax.
24:26She really
24:27loves you.
24:28Lucky you.
24:32Aren't you
24:32worried she might
24:33stop paying and
24:34mate with someone
24:35else?
24:36Would she?
24:36A daughter of a
24:38fallen family who
24:40can't even afford
24:41decent clothes.
24:42Who would want
24:43her as a mate?
24:47I am the only
24:48one who doesn't
24:49despise her.
24:50You're the alpha
24:51heir.
24:51Why not just pay
24:53the tax for Alice
24:53directly?
24:54What do you know?
24:56If she never
24:57learns to save,
24:58how will she
24:59appreciate silver?
25:00If she truly
25:01becomes my mate
25:02and lives a good
25:03life, she'll get
25:04cocky.
25:06don't be moved
25:07by her little
25:08sacrifices.
25:09She's trying to
25:10trade a small
25:11favor for a big
25:12prize.
25:14Such scheming
25:16can't hide from
25:17me.
25:18Linden, did you
25:19hear?
25:19Mr. Silas has a
25:21mate now.
25:22Should we send a
25:23gift?
25:24Mr. Silas?
25:26Oh, him.
25:27A lone wolf
25:28playing mister?
25:30Don't make me
25:31laugh.
25:31I heard it's a
25:33mate assigned by
25:33the council.
25:34Neither of them
25:35could afford the
25:36unmade tax.
25:39Family who can't
25:40even pay the
25:40unbonded tax.
25:42What good
25:43daughters do they
25:43raise?
25:44A lone wolf and a
25:45lowborn girl, truly a
25:47match.
25:47Made in fate.
25:50Somehow he
25:51suddenly thought of
25:52me.
25:53How many years has
25:54Alice paid the
25:55unbonded tax?
25:56Four years,
25:57including this
25:58one.
26:01Fine.
26:02Next year she
26:04won't have to
26:04pay.
26:05I'll reluctantly
26:07make her my
26:08mate.
26:09Go buy her a
26:10money, pals.
26:13Get the best
26:14one.
26:15You're so good
26:16to Alice.
26:17She'll be
26:18thrilled.
26:22The first thing
26:24Linden did at
26:25home was head
26:25to my room.
26:26But when he
26:27pushed the door
26:28open, he
26:29froze.
26:30Dust lay
26:30thick inside.
26:32It looked like
26:33no one had
26:33lived there for
26:34a long time.
26:35He stormed
26:36back to his
26:37room, furious.
26:41Where's
26:42Alice?
26:42The butler
26:43met him at
26:43once, smiling
26:44in that
26:45practiced way.
26:46We were just
26:46about to tell
26:47you the good
26:47news.
26:48Alice couldn't
26:49pay the tax
26:50a few days
26:50ago.
26:51The PAC
26:52council assigned
26:53her a mate.
26:54She won't
26:55have a chance
26:55to bother you
26:56anymore.
26:58What did
26:59you say?
27:02Who gave
27:02you the right
27:03to act on
27:03your own?
27:06She was
27:07short of
27:07money.
27:08Didn't you
27:09give her
27:09any?
27:10You just
27:10stood there
27:11and let the
27:11PAC council
27:12drag her
27:13off?
27:14Haven't you
27:14always disliked
27:16Alice?
27:16You've been
27:17stalling to
27:18make her give
27:18up, haven't
27:19you?
27:20You also
27:21told us she
27:21couldn't touch
27:22the Alpha
27:22family's money
27:23until the
27:24bond was
27:24completed,
27:25didn't you?
27:26Wasn't that
27:27true?
27:29When did
27:29I...
27:31He looked
27:32around at the
27:32servants.
27:33It seemed
27:34they didn't
27:34understand why
27:35he was angry.
27:36They'd all
27:37seen how he
27:37treated me.
27:38He kept
27:39postponing the
27:40bond year
27:41after year.
27:42They were
27:43sure he was
27:43teasing me.
27:45Only I had
27:46been foolish
27:46enough to
27:47believe him.
27:48He collapsed
27:49to the
27:49floor.
27:50I've
27:51wanted to
27:51bond with
27:52her for a
27:53long time.
27:54I was only
27:55joking.
27:58After that
27:59day, Silas
28:00moved back
28:00home.
28:01He took
28:02one room,
28:03I took
28:03another.
28:04We didn't
28:05bother each
28:05other.
28:06I watched
28:06his back as
28:07he left each
28:08morning and
28:09worried.
28:10Aren't we
28:11mates now?
28:11Why is he
28:13more proper
28:13than a young
28:14lady?
28:15Does he
28:16expect me to
28:16make the
28:17first move?
28:18Well,
28:18I can do
28:19that.
28:20I made two
28:21flatbreads and
28:22went to the
28:23academy at
28:23noon.
28:26Master,
28:27who's that?
28:28Master,
28:29you're
28:29blushing.
28:30If someone's
28:30bringing food to
28:31the master,
28:32she's definitely
28:32his mate.
28:33Shut up!
28:34One more
28:34word and
28:35you're copying
28:35the pack laws.
28:36Now go
28:37home.
28:37The students
28:38laughed and
28:39scattered,
28:40then bumped
28:40straight into
28:41Linden.
28:42He stood
28:43there like
28:43thunder.
28:44Alpha here,
28:45here for
28:45class?
28:47Sorry,
28:47you've
28:48already
28:48graduated.
28:51Simus,
28:51how can
28:52you mate
28:52with a
28:52student's
28:53fiance?
28:53Do you
28:53even know
28:54shame?
28:56Alice,
28:56come with
28:57me.
28:57Come home,
28:58save your
28:58reputation
28:59from being
28:59ruined by
29:00him.
29:00Linden,
29:02our engagement
29:03is already
29:03void.
29:04You won't
29:05mate with
29:05me,
29:06and the
29:06pack council
29:07assigned me
29:08a mate.
29:08That's
29:09reasonable.
29:10I don't
29:11accept this!
29:12You're
29:12clearly my
29:13fiance!
29:13I couldn't
29:14understand
29:15it.
29:16He was
29:16the one
29:17who kept
29:17delaying,
29:18and now
29:19he came
29:19to accuse
29:20me of
29:20mating
29:20with
29:21someone
29:21else.
29:22What did
29:23he actually
29:23want?
29:24Was I
29:25meant to
29:25exist only
29:26to satisfy
29:27his selfish
29:28possessiveness?
29:29Was I
29:30supposed to
29:30wait forever?
29:32Humbly,
29:32while he
29:33belittled
29:33me,
29:34he looked
29:35like he
29:35might choke
29:36on the
29:36words.
29:37I'll
29:37say some
29:38words to him.
29:39Silas smiled
29:39gently and
29:40tilted his
29:40head.
29:41Go on.
29:43Silas,
29:44how can
29:44you mate
29:44with a
29:45student's
29:45fiance?
29:46Do you
29:46even know
29:46shame?
29:48Alice,
29:49come with
29:49me.
29:50Come home.
29:51Save your
29:51reputation
29:51from being
29:52ruined by
29:52him.
29:53Lyndon,
29:54our
29:55engagement
29:55is already
29:56void.
29:57You won't
29:57mate with
29:58me,
29:58and the
29:59PAC Council
30:00assigned me
30:00a mate.
30:01That's
30:01reasonable.
30:02I don't
30:03accept this!
30:04You're
30:05clearly my
30:05fiance!
30:06I
30:06couldn't
30:07understand
30:07it.
30:08He was
30:09the one
30:09who kept
30:10delaying,
30:10and now
30:11he came
30:12to accuse
30:12me of
30:13mating
30:13with
30:13someone
30:14else.
30:14What
30:15did he
30:15actually
30:16want?
30:17Was I
30:17meant to
30:18exist only
30:19to satisfy
30:20his selfish
30:21possessiveness?
30:22Was I
30:22supposed to
30:23wait forever,
30:24humbly,
30:25while he
30:26belittled
30:26me?
30:27He looked
30:27like he
30:28might choke
30:28on the
30:29words.
30:30I'll
30:30say some
30:31words to him.
30:31Silas smiled
30:32gently and
30:33tilted his
30:33head.
30:33Go on.
30:34Go on.
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