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The Alpha She Chose New
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00:00On my first birthday, Alpha Brune set out all kinds of things for me to pick from as birthday gifts.
00:05Instead, I crawled straight towards six-year-old Alpha Air Cohen and grabbed his crotch.
00:11The hall erupted.
00:12The high priest said we were chosen by the moon goddess as mates.
00:15Everyone believed it, including me, but no one could have guessed that we would grow up to be bitter enemies.
00:20At 16, Alpha Brune told me it was time to choose a mate.
00:24Before I could speak, Cohen sneered in front of the whole hall.
00:27I'd rather be torn apart by rogues than mate with her.
00:30At the time, I actually thought he was joking.
00:32It wasn't until our mating day that I realized how horribly wrong I was.
00:36On our mating night, he abandoned me.
00:38He never came to my bed.
00:40By morning, I was the Silverhone pack's laughingstock.
00:43After that, he brought others home every night.
00:51He let his lovers boss me around, treating me like the lowest, dirtiest slave.
00:57Numb and broken, I went to him, begging him to break the mating bond.
01:01He refused.
01:02He snatched up a crystal glass and hurled it straight at my face.
01:06It smashed against my forehead, blood pouring down into my eyes.
01:10Consumed by grief and illness, I died alone in the freezing, forgotten dungeons beneath the packhouse.
01:17Then, I opened my eyes.
01:19The chandeliers were bright again.
01:21The hall was loud again.
01:22I was back on the exact day the Alpha was meant to decide my fate.
01:28Alara, your parents and your brothers died defending our borders against the blood-leg pack.
01:33You're alone now.
01:35So you're mating with my responsibility.
01:38Speak his name, and I'll see it done.
01:40I parted my lips to speak, but a sudden wave of grief choked me.
01:43My eyes began to burn.
01:45Even facing this a second time, the memory still cut straight through me.
01:49Blood Fang had wanted Silverhorn Land for years.
01:52Last winter, they came for it.
01:54My father and brothers rode north with the pack's best.
01:57Before he left, my father told me to chill the moon wine for their victory feast.
02:01My brothers were loud as ever.
02:03Shoving, laughing, yelling over one another.
02:05At the time, I only thought they were being annoying.
02:08The next time I saw them, they were dead.
02:10Wrapped in torn cloth, laid out on stretchers.
02:12Still.
02:14My mother drowned in grief soon after.
02:16A few months later, she followed them into the grave.
02:19That whole house was wiped clean.
02:21Everyone in that house was gone.
02:22A wolf beside me laughed under her breath.
02:25Oh, come on, Alpha.
02:26Why even ask?
02:28Everyone in Silverhane knows Alera's been obsessed with Cowan for years.
02:31Girl probably whimpered his name into her pillow.
02:34My eyes burned.
02:35But no tears came.
02:36In my last life, I went to him hollowed out.
02:39Begged him to break the mating bond.
02:41He answered by hurling a crystal glass at my face.
02:44It split my forehead open.
02:45He still refused to let me go, even while I was dying.
02:49Alpha Brun was about to speak again.
02:51I inhaled hard and cut him off.
02:53Alpha.
02:54Cohen and I grew up together.
02:56I have never loved him.
02:57The chamber went dead quiet.
02:59Even Cohen off to one side looked caught off guard.
03:02Is that true?
03:03Alpha Brun narrowed his eyes.
03:05I knew the trap.
03:06If I didn't name a wolf, he would name one for me.
03:08So I lowered my head and gave him one.
03:11Yes, Alpha.
03:11There is someone I want.
03:13Varric.
03:13Alpha Varric of the Nightclaw pack.
03:15He is the only one I want.
03:19Varric was Alpha Brun's younger brother.
03:21The war hero who helped crush Bloodfath and stabilize the northern packs.
03:26Half the north respected him like a living legend.
03:28Then, one year ago, he collapsed on the road back from the border.
03:32He never woke up.
03:33The pack healer said he might spend the rest of his life in that bed, but I knew better.
03:38In my last life, he woke in the third year of my marriage.
03:41And when I was at the very end, he was the only one who ever tried to help me.
03:47Ilarra, that's too hard a road.
03:50Varric may still be Alpha of Nightclaw in name, but he lies unconscious.
03:54His territory is unstable.
03:56You would be walking into a nest of vipers.
03:59Choose someone here instead.
04:00One of my own men.
04:01Alpha.
04:02I already swore before the altar.
04:04On my family's honor.
04:06In this life, I will mate no one but Alpha Varric.
04:09Please, grant me this.
04:13I bent into a full formal bow.
04:16The room held its breath.
04:17Alpha Brun fell silent.
04:19Then Elder Edmund spoke from the corner shadow.
04:21If the girl is this devoted to Varric, let her have him.
04:26Edmund wasn't just an old man with opinions.
04:28He represented the High Northern Council.
04:30Once he spoke, even Alpha Brun couldn't press much farther.
04:34At last, Brund exhaled.
04:35Very well, Ilarra.
04:37Varric is my brother.
04:38As both his Alpha and his brother,
04:40it falls to me to arrange his mating.
04:42If you are willing, this will be a blessing for him.
04:44And for both our packs.
04:45Your parents are gone.
04:47Luma Sigrid will oversee the preparations.
04:51Thank you, Alpha.
04:53Last time, I chose the wrong man.
04:55I would not make that mistake again.
04:58And Varric.
04:59In my last life, Nightclaw tore itself apart
05:02while he lay unconscious.
05:04By the time he woke and clawed his way back to power,
05:07his legs were ruined for good.
05:09He once showed me kindness when no one else would.
05:13This time, I would be there when he needed someone most.
05:16If the Moon Goddess gave me one more chance,
05:18I wouldn't just help Varric stand.
05:20This time, neither of us would kneel.
05:24A few days later, Luna Sigrid's maid, Mara,
05:27summoned me to finalize the mating ceremony.
05:30We had barely reached Luna's residence
05:31when Mara stopped short and bowed her head.
05:33Alpha hair.
05:34I looked up, and there he was.
05:36Cohen.
05:37He just stared at me with that familiar, cutting look.
05:40Brows drawn, eyes full of suspicion.
05:42I lowered my head and dipped into a polite curdie.
05:45Alpha air.
05:45He frowned immediately.
05:47Of course he did.
05:48He was used to a different version of me.
05:50In my last life, I always found out when he'd be visiting Luna.
05:54I'd bake buttercakes myself.
05:56Time everything perfectly.
05:58Pretend our meetings were accidents,
05:59all for the chance to place those sweets in his hands.
06:02He never ate them.
06:04He either threw them away or tossed them to the servants.
06:07Then he finally spoke,
06:08and the disgust was exactly where I remembered it.
06:10Alara, enough.
06:11You're marrying my uncle,
06:13so stop embarrassing yourself and stop chasing me.
06:15This is pathetic.
06:17And honestly, you make me sick.
06:19For a second, I almost laughed.
06:20Last time, I kept trying to explain.
06:22It only made him despise me more.
06:24You're mistaken, Alpha hair.
06:25I made myself clear in the council hall.
06:27I have no feelings for you.
06:29Really?
06:30So what now?
06:31You just happened to wander in here?
06:33And I'm supposed to believe that?
06:35Luna asked for me.
06:36We're discussing the ceremony.
06:38If you doubt it, ask Mara.
06:40Cohen glanced at her.
06:41Mara nodded.
06:44Varric's half dead.
06:45Marry him,
06:46and you'll waste your whole life beside a body that can't even claim you.
06:50You needn't worry.
06:51I chose Alpha Varric long ago.
06:53If I can stay by his side,
06:55that's enough for me.
06:56Awake or asleep,
06:58I'd still choose him over you.
07:01Luna Sigrid smiled the second she saw me.
07:04A warm smile,
07:05a polished voice,
07:06but there was calculation under both.
07:08The moment I sat down,
07:09her eyes flicked past me.
07:11That's it?
07:12You came alone?
07:13Ashbrook house is empty.
07:15There's no one left to come with me.
07:17Very well.
07:18Let's settle the ceremony.
07:19She spread two parchment sheets across the table.
07:22Two dates.
07:23June 3rd,
07:24October 19th.
07:25The second I saw October 19th,
07:27my stomach clenched.
07:28That had been the date of my last wedding.
07:30The day I was mated to Cohen.
07:32The elders had called it blessed.
07:34The sky answered with a storm.
07:36Rain tore the ceremony apart.
07:37After that,
07:39the pack began whispering that I was cursed.
07:41That I carried ruin in with me.
07:43The council seems to prefer October 19th.
07:45It's an auspurious date.
07:46Why don't we settle on that?
07:48Luna,
07:49I appreciate the care.
07:50Still,
07:51I would like the ceremony set for June 3rd.
07:54It's already May.
07:55That's very soon.
07:56Wouldn't that be rushed?
07:57I want to reach Alpha Varric as soon as possible.
08:00If the preparations are hurried,
08:02I accept that gladly.
08:03That was the exact moment Conan walked in.
08:06He heard every word.
08:07His steps slowed,
08:08only for an instant,
08:09but I caught it,
08:10and I saw the way his jaw tightened.
08:12Cohen,
08:13perfect timing.
08:14Alara wants the ceremony moved up to June 3rd.
08:17I think it's awfully rushed.
08:19Maybe you can talk some sense into her.
08:21She always listened to you when you were children.
08:25She's that desperate to marry my uncle?
08:28Why stop her?
08:29If we drag this out until October,
08:31we'll only look cruel.
08:32He meant that to Sting.
08:33He wanted me to feel small.
08:36Instead,
08:36I lowered into a graceful curt tea.
08:38Thank you for understanding,
08:39Alpha Hare.
08:42You'll come to the mating ceremony on June 3rd,
08:45won't you?
08:47He went rutted.
08:49His face flushed with anger so fast,
08:51it almost made me smile.
08:52For one second,
08:53he looked like he wanted to say something vicious.
08:55Instead,
08:56he muttered some excuse and left.
08:57I rose to take my leave.
08:59Oh,
08:59one more thing,
09:00Alara.
09:00I turned back.
09:02Since you have no family left,
09:04someone close to you should escort you to Nightclaw territory on the day of the ceremony.
09:09What about Conan?
09:10No,
09:11that won't be necessary.
09:13Elder Stonehill's son,
09:14Reynon,
09:15is loyal and dependable.
09:16He can escort me.
09:19Hmm.
09:21Very well.
09:22On the walk home,
09:23old memories followed me like ghosts.
09:25My grandfather trained Silverhand's young warriors.
09:28Cohen and I grew up under the same roofs,
09:30on the same training grounds.
09:31As children,
09:32we used to slip away into the woods during drills.
09:34Once,
09:35deep in the forest,
09:36we crossed paths with a crazed bear.
09:38It charged.
09:39I shoved Cohen aside without thinking.
09:42The bear's paw caught me instead.
09:44It broke nearly half the bones in my body.
09:46I spent 15 days in the healing ward.
09:48Cohen cried so hard he could barely breathe.
09:50He clutched my hand and swore he'd spend his life making it up to me.
09:54Back then,
09:54I believed him.
09:55In my last life,
09:56all he gave me were tears.
09:58The old injuries still arced when the weather turned cold.
10:00My eyesight had worsened too.
10:01Shadows blurred.
10:02This life,
10:03I was done bleeding for the same wound.
10:06I wasn't his promise anymore.
10:08I was going to Nightclaw.
10:11The wedding day kept creeping closer.
10:14All across Silverhorn,
10:15people talked about nothing else.
10:17The Alliance.
10:18The ceremony.
10:19Alara leaving for Nightclaw.
10:21Even in the private wing of the stronghold,
10:24Cohen couldn't outrun it.
10:25Every servant.
10:26Same cursed name.
10:27It had been scraping at his nerves for days.
10:30He was just about to step out for air
10:32when Rainer,
10:33Elder Stonehell's son,
10:34walked in.
10:35Cohen flicked him a glance.
10:36What?
10:37Alara's heading to Nightclaw soon, right?
10:39Since she doesn't have any family left,
10:41Luna wants somebody to lead the escort to Varric's territory.
10:44Cohen's brow tightened at once.
10:45His first thought hit fast.
10:47Of course,
10:48Alara must have asked for him.
10:50All that talk about wanting Varric,
10:52wanting the mating,
10:53a last little trick to get his attention.
10:55He lifted his glass,
10:56swirled the drink once,
10:58and took a slow sip.
11:01Then send someone.
11:03I don't have time for it.
11:05And I don't care.
11:07Well...
11:08Well what?
11:09Luna did suggest you first.
11:12But Alara said she didn't want to trouble you.
11:21So...
11:22So...
11:22She picked you.
11:23I mean...
11:25Maybe she just figured you were busy.
11:29I'm not.
11:30I've got nothing to do all day anyway.
11:33Right.
11:34I've got something to do.
11:35I'll go.
11:40Cohen.
11:42About what happened back then.
11:44Alara was innocent.
11:45You know she was.
11:46You've been taking that out on her for years,
11:48and it's not right.
11:50And now it's gotten this bad.
11:53You're not happy.
11:54And she...
11:55Rayla.
11:57Aren't you late for something?
11:59Your Majesty.
12:04Cohen rose and walked to the window.
12:06From there,
12:07he could just make out the distant silhouette
12:09of the old Ashberg house.
12:11His gaze darkened.
12:12At some point,
12:13the crystal in his hand had cracked
12:15under the force of his grip.
12:18Alara.
12:21Mating day came fast.
12:22Raynor and the others arrived early,
12:24waiting in the great hall before sunrise.
12:26When I walked down the staircase in my gown,
12:29Raynor forgot himself for a beak.
12:31He just stood there staring,
12:32like he'd never seen me before.
12:34He snapped out of it a second later,
12:36ears turning red.
12:41Alara.
12:43Word slipped out of the healing ward two days ago.
12:46Cohen collapsed.
12:47He's still unconscious.
12:49Alpha Brunn buried the news.
12:51Doesn't want it spreading.
12:52That's why Cohen didn't come.
12:53It has to be...
12:56Rayna.
12:58I don't care about him anymore.
13:00I know you mean well,
13:02but some things are over.
13:03And once they're over,
13:05you leave them buried.
13:09Today is my wedding day.
13:11Try looking happy.
13:12And next time you see me,
13:14don't forget to call me Lady of Nightclaw.
13:18By the time we reached Nightclaw territory,
13:21dusk had fallen.
13:22The entrance was packed.
13:23Torches blazed.
13:24Voices rolled through the air.
13:26The whole place was grander than I'd expected.
13:28In the Moonshadow Grove,
13:30the High Priest stood atop the Moonstone Altar.
13:32Elders lined both sides in perfect silence.
13:34I wore white satin.
13:36A silver veil covered my hair.
13:37And under every eye in that sacred forest,
13:40I walked alone toward the statue of the Moon Goddess.
13:42There was no groom waiting for me.
13:44Only Varuk's wolf fang pendant.
13:46My steps never faltered,
13:47and my heart stayed steady.
13:48When I reached the altar,
13:50the High Priest raised his voice.
13:51Elara Ashberg.
13:53Do you swear,
13:54in health or sickness,
13:55in waking or in sleep,
13:57to guard,
13:59honor,
13:59and stand beside
14:01Alpha Varuk of the Nightclaw Pack
14:03as his mate
14:04for the rest of your life?
14:06I do.
14:07Then I bit my fingertip.
14:09Let the blood fall onto the wolf fang.
14:11The pendant flashed silver white.
14:13The wolf spirit had accepted the bond.
14:15The contract was sealed.
14:17Nightclaw erupted.
14:18The cheer that tore from the crowd
14:20shook the trees themselves,
14:21as though the whole Nightclaw Pack
14:23had been waiting for this day for years.
14:25When the cheers finally eased,
14:27a young man stepped out from the crowd
14:30and dropped to one knee before me.
14:33But his eyes were clear,
14:35respectful.
14:36My lady,
14:36this way, please.
14:37He rose and guided me through the territory,
14:40pointing things out as we walked.
14:41He spoke with easy energy,
14:43like he was proud to show me all of it.
14:45At last,
14:45he brought me to the Alpha's quarters.
14:48The Alpha is resting inside.
14:50The room was simple.
14:51Varuk lay there asleep.
14:53His face was pale,
14:54leaner than it should have been,
14:55but his chest still rose and fell
14:56in a slow, steady rhythm.
14:58Alpha Varuk has been unconscious
15:00for more than half a year.
15:02He's lost weight,
15:03but otherwise he's held up well.
15:05He gets medicine once a day.
15:07In hot weather,
15:07we wash him every other day.
15:10I handle all of that.
15:11You don't need to trouble yourself,
15:13my lady.
15:14I've had a separate room prepared for you
15:16just across the hall.
15:17That won't be necessary.
15:19Varuk and I are mated now.
15:20Why would we sleep apart?
15:22Starting tonight,
15:23I sleep here.
15:25It's late, my lady.
15:26You should rest.
15:27Then he slipped out
15:28and closed the door softly behind him.
15:30Later,
15:31after I washed
15:31and changed into my night ground,
15:33I climbed carefully into bed
15:35beside Varuk.
15:36The candlelight trembled over his face.
15:38He was handsome in a dangerous way,
15:40only too pale.
15:42From this close,
15:43I could smell the faint herbal scent
15:44of his medicine.
15:45I looked at Varen's sleeping face
15:47for a long moment.
15:48I'm sorry I married you
15:49while you couldn't choose for yourself,
15:51but I swear I'll care for you
15:54and I'll be a good Luna to your pack.
15:57Then I tucked myself against him.
15:58The medicinal scent
15:59should have felt cold and sterile.
16:01Instead, somehow,
16:02it made me feel safe
16:03and I never saw it.
16:05Varen's fingers moved.
16:08Meanwhile,
16:09in the Silverhorn Healing Ward's
16:10private recovery room,
16:12Cohen lay flat on his back,
16:14dead to the world.
16:15His eyes stayed shut.
16:17In the dream,
16:18he was standing before the High Priest.
16:20I stood beside him,
16:21not his aunt's chosen bride,
16:23not Varuk's mate,
16:24his Luna.
16:26Rain crashed outside,
16:27his clothes were soaked through.
16:29Everything was cold.
16:30Then he stepped into the bridal chamber,
16:32and saw me.
16:33Cohen just stared.
16:35The storm disappeared.
16:36The cold disappeared.
16:38All he could hear
16:39was his own heartbeat.
16:40Louder.
16:41Then he jerked awake.
16:43White curtains,
16:44sweat-sticked sheets,
16:46his whole body sticky and overheated.
16:48For a few long seconds,
16:50he could barely breathe.
16:52Alpha here.
16:53You're awake.
16:54What time is it?
16:56Ninth bell.
16:57Around nine.
16:57Alpha and Luna should be back
16:58from Nightclaw by now.
17:00What day is it?
17:02June 3rd, sir.
17:03The day Alpha Varney of Nightclaw
17:05took Alara Ashwar as his mate.
17:07Cohen went silent so fast
17:08he looked carved from stone.
17:10All he saw was me in white,
17:12looking up,
17:13smiling at someone else.
17:14Something tore inside his chest,
17:16just a slow, jagged ache
17:18spreading under his ribs.
17:22I woke before dawn.
17:23The sky outside was still dark.
17:25Liv came in to brush my hair
17:27and stop the second
17:28she saw my face.
17:29My lady,
17:30did you sleep at all last night?
17:32A full-grown man
17:33lying beside me the whole night.
17:34I hadn't slept much.
17:36Help me get ready, Liv.
17:38Is the new Luna awake?
17:44Lady Helga sent me.
17:45She expects the new mate
17:47to present herself this morning.
17:49I'd already heard enough
17:50about Nightclaw
17:50to know exactly who that meant.
17:52Years ago,
17:53Varuk's uncle died
17:54protecting him
17:55during a rogue attack.
17:56Varuk repaid that debt
17:57by taking the man's widow
17:59and children into his territory.
18:00He gave them power
18:02and standing.
18:03So much that now,
18:04Helga ran half this pack
18:05like it belonged to her.
18:06I had also heard
18:07she once wanted
18:08her youngest daughter
18:09mated to Varuk.
18:10Varuk refused.
18:11And now I was
18:12the one in his room.
18:13My lady just woke up.
18:14Why the rush?
18:17Well, of course.
18:18The new mate
18:19is Silver Homeborn.
18:20Hand picked by
18:21Alpha Brun himself,
18:22I can see why she thinks
18:23Lady Helga can wait.
18:24I lifted one hand
18:25and stopped her.
18:26Then I smiled at the woman.
18:30What's your name?
18:31Inga.
18:32Lady Helga's personal maid.
18:33Inga,
18:34you can go back
18:35and tell Lady Helga this.
18:36After I've washed,
18:37dressed,
18:37and had breakfast,
18:38I will go pay my respects.
18:39She is an elder
18:40in this territory.
18:41Respect is due.
18:42But when I go,
18:43that will be my decision.
18:44Not hers.
18:45And one more thing.
18:46You're a servant.
18:48You entered without knocking,
18:50spoke out of line,
18:51and forgot your place
18:52in my room.
18:53If Lady Helga
18:54can't train her own taff,
18:55I don't mind
18:56doing it for her.
18:59Color flooded Inga's face.
19:00In the end,
19:01she gave the barest excuse
19:02for a kurtzel
19:03and backed out.
19:04Are we really going
19:05to see that woman?
19:06Of course we are.
19:08But we go
19:09when I say we go.
19:11That mattered.
19:11If you let people
19:13shove you around
19:13on day one,
19:14they never stopped.
19:16By the time
19:17I was dressed,
19:18I had brought Liv
19:19and Astrid with me
19:20and headed outside.
19:21I'm not drunk!
19:23I can still drink
19:24three more barrels!
19:26Do you idiots
19:27know who I am?
19:29Varric's my cousin.
19:31Until he wakes up,
19:32this whole damn territory
19:33answers to me!
19:36That's Varric's cousin.
19:39Viggo Frostfield.
19:41He's infamous,
19:42my lady.
19:43Drinks too much,
19:44beds anything that moves.
19:46He missed your mating
19:48ceremony yesterday.
19:49Passed out in a brothel.
19:50I stared at the mess
19:51in front of me.
19:52Varric?
19:53What exactly
19:54had they left
19:54festering in your house?
19:56I gave no reaction.
19:57I just climbed
19:58into my carriage.
19:59What I didn't notice
20:00was Viggo watching me
20:02through a gap
20:02in the hedges.
20:03The second my face
20:04came into view,
20:05the drunken fog
20:06lifted right out of him.
20:07He rubbed his face hard
20:09and grabbed
20:09one of the tavern workers.
20:14Who the hell was that?
20:15Couldn't see her clearly,
20:16but that carriage
20:17belongs to the Alpha's house.
20:18Oh!
20:19That must be
20:20the new lady of Nightclaw,
20:21the one who came in yesterday.
20:22Varric's new mate,
20:24but Varric's still asleep.
20:26So she's alone.
20:28The thought thrilled him.
20:29A wicked grin
20:30stretched from ear to ear.
20:34I timed it carefully.
20:36If I went to greet Luna
20:37in Silverhorn late enough,
20:38the visit would end
20:39right around the time
20:39Alpha Bruin
20:40finished his council session.
20:41What I hadn't expected
20:42was Cohen at the door.
20:44The second he saw me,
20:45he stopped short.
20:46Today my hair was braided
20:47in a married she-wolf style.
20:48I looked nothing like
20:49the girl he used to brush past
20:51without seeing.
20:52Something in his expression
20:53shifted.
20:54Maybe he was seeing
20:54the dream still clinging to me.
20:56The bride in white.
21:00So you're proud of yourself now?
21:02Mating Varric
21:03really made your day, huh?
21:04That's not what you got wrong.
21:07You should address me properly.
21:09You call me Lady Alama now.
21:12Or Aunt
21:12if you want to get technical.
21:15You don't get to use
21:16my name anymore.
21:17It's rude.
21:19Didn't anyone teach you
21:20manners, Alpha hair?
21:22You're enjoying this.
21:27This is the match I asked for.
21:29I got what I wanted.
21:30So yes.
21:31I'm very pleased.
21:33That really should have been obvious.
21:39You're still sick.
21:41Try medicine.
21:42Try rest.
21:43Try staying out of
21:44other people's business.
21:46Luna asked for me.
21:47I'll leave you to your coughing.
21:54By the time Alpha Brun joined us later,
21:56his mood was excellent.
21:58Apparently the council session
21:59had gone unusually well.
22:01The elders were praising the alliance.
22:03Even rival faction heads
22:04had agreed for once.
22:05No wonder he was smiling.
22:07Luna asked me to stay for a meal.
22:08I accepted.
22:10By the time I returned
22:12to Nightcloth territory,
22:13Gale was heading toward
22:14the Alpha's chambers
22:15with two male servants.
22:16When I spotted him
22:18in the corridor.
22:19What are you doing?
22:23He stopped at once.
22:25It's time for Alpha Varic's medicine,
22:27my lady.
22:27My gaze dropped
22:28to the wooden tray
22:28in his hands.
22:29A clay medicine jar
22:30sat on it,
22:31giving off the same
22:32bitter herbal smelt
22:33I had noticed on Varden
22:34the night before.
22:36If you'll wait outside,
22:38we'll handle it
22:39and come right back.
22:40It may take a while.
22:42Feeding him isn't easy
22:43in this condition.
22:45I'll come with you.
22:46With us?
22:48I'm his mate now.
22:50Learning how to care for him
22:51is part of that.
22:53Let me watch tonight.
22:54From now on,
22:55I'll do it.
22:56That hit him harder
22:57than I expected.
22:58He couldn't exactly refuse me,
22:59so he led me in.
23:01As we walked,
23:02he tried to prepare me.
23:03My lady,
23:04he can't swallow on his own.
23:06We have to force it down.
23:08Sometimes it goes in,
23:10sometimes it comes
23:10right back up.
23:11It's not pleasant.
23:13I listened calmly.
23:14He let out the smallest sigh
23:16under his breath,
23:17probably hoping I wouldn't
23:18get disgusted and bolt.
23:19Inside,
23:20the two servants
23:20lifted Varaby
23:21into a half-sitting cessation.
23:23Gale poured some
23:24of the dark medicine
23:25into a smaller bowl,
23:26sat at the bedside,
23:27and scooped up
23:28half a spoonful.
23:29He tipped it
23:29toward Varrican's lips.
23:31Varrican's mouth
23:31stayed closed.
23:32One of the servants
23:33had to grip his jaw
23:34and force it open.
23:35Only then could Gale
23:37get the liquid in.
23:38And even then,
23:38most of it slid
23:39right back out.
23:40The dark broth
23:41ran from the corner
23:42of Varric's mouth
23:43and soaked
23:43into his nightshirt,
23:44leaving a wide,
23:46ugly stain.
23:46Gale tried again.
23:48Same result.
23:49Half swallowed.
23:50Half wasted.
23:51I watched for a while,
23:53then finally turned
23:54my head away.
23:55Out of the corner
23:56of his eye,
23:56Gale saw that
23:57and immediately
23:58misunderstood.
23:59He probably thought
24:00I was horrified.
24:01Or disgusted.
24:02Or regretting
24:03everything already.
24:04I had no idea
24:05what nonsense
24:06was running
24:06through his head.
24:07I turned away first,
24:08then faced him again.
24:10Gale,
24:10you're wasting
24:11half the bowl.
24:12Give it to me.
24:17Hand me the medicine.
24:18He rose automatically,
24:20still looking shell-shocked.
24:22Then,
24:22while I sat down
24:23at the bedside,
24:24he glanced at the servants
24:25and cleared his bin's throat.
24:26My lady,
24:27should we step outside?
24:30Why?
24:31Aren't you going
24:31to feed the alpha?
24:32He lowered his voice,
24:34serious as a priest.
24:35If we stay,
24:37you might feel embarrassed.
24:39It wouldn't be proper.
24:41Embarrassed about what,
24:42exactly?
24:43Gale scratched
24:44the back of his neck.
24:45Then,
24:46with complete sincerity,
24:47Weren't you planning
24:48to do it mouth-to-mouth?
24:52I just stared at him.
24:54Mouth-to-mouth?
24:55Heat rushed
24:56straight into my face.
24:57Who told you
24:58that's how you feed medicine
25:00to an unconscious man?
25:02Books.
25:03That's how they do it
25:03in all the romance stories.
25:05Those are stories.
25:07Stories are stories.
25:09Medicine is medicine.
25:10Go find me
25:11a thin wooden slab.
25:12About this long
25:13and this wide.
25:16Smooth it down.
25:17Wash it clean.
25:18Gale clearly had no clue
25:19where this was going,
25:20but he went.
25:22A few minutes later,
25:23he came back
25:24with the wood.
25:24I had the servants
25:25prop another pillow
25:26behind Verovan's head.
25:28Then I placed
25:29one end of the smooth slat
25:30inside his mouth.
25:31After that,
25:32I spooned the medicine
25:33slowly onto the wood.
25:34The liquid ran down the slat
25:36and straight into his throat.
25:37Gale's jaw dropped.
25:39That's it?
25:40It's that easy?
25:44Read fewer novels.
25:47My lady,
25:48how did you know that?
25:50My grandfather was a healer,
25:53pouring another careful spoonful.
25:55This is only a makeshift fix.
25:57There's a proper healer's funnel
25:58for patients like this.
26:00Much better than a piece of wood.
26:01Gale looked utterly astonished.
26:03By the time we finished the bowl,
26:05Gale turned to refill it.
26:07I looked at Varget's pale face
26:09and something cold
26:10tightened in my chest.
26:12Even a pack alpha
26:13could have enemies,
26:14couldn't he?
26:15My grandfather knew better.
26:16Any trained healer
26:17should have known too.
26:18So why had no one
26:19used one here?
26:20Why had half his medicine
26:21been wasted every day?
26:22This wasn't carelessness.
26:24Someone wanted Varric weak.
26:28Gale?
26:29Yes, my lady?
26:30I want to ask you something.
26:32Is this territory split in two?
26:35Varric on one side,
26:36Helga and her children
26:37on the other?
26:38That caught him off guard.
26:39Yes, the divide started
26:41when Alpha Varric
26:42brought Lady Helga
26:43into Nightcloth.
26:44Internal matters,
26:45resource assignments,
26:46staffing,
26:47household operations,
26:48all of that ended up
26:49in her hands.
26:50External dealings,
26:51trade, contracts,
26:53territory accounts,
26:54those stayed under the Alpha.
26:55But after he fell unconscious,
26:57I took over what I could.
26:58Poorly, if I'm being honest.
27:01It's been a mess.
27:02Lady Helga has asked
27:04more than once
27:04to take control of everything.
27:06I refused.
27:07Thank the moon,
27:08and you're here now.
27:09I nodded slowly.
27:11Before I entered Nightclaw,
27:12I had no idea
27:13the pack was built like this.
27:14But maybe that was a blessing.
27:16If the territory
27:17was already split,
27:18then no one held
27:19absolute control
27:20over me either.
27:21That meant I had room to move.
27:23Room to decide things
27:24for myself.
27:26So I told Gale
27:27to summon the department heads.
27:28All of them.
27:30Soon enough,
27:31they stood before me.
27:32Or around a dozen in total.
27:35I had them state
27:37their duties one by one.
27:38By the end,
27:39I understood the shape
27:40of Nightclaw.
27:41Gale stood right behind my chair,
27:43his massive frame
27:44looming like a stone wall.
27:45Split power,
27:46hidden loyalties.
27:48Too many guarded voices
27:49in one room.
27:50This system had been built
27:51for some future lady
27:52of Nightclin,
27:53not me.
27:54Fine.
27:55Fate had given me
27:56the seat anyway.
27:58I cleared my throat
27:59and looked at all of them.
28:00I was raised
28:01and silver-haired.
28:02I won't pretend
28:03I know every corner
28:04of how Nightclin runs,
28:05but I do know one rule.
28:07Do the job well
28:08and you'll be rewarded.
28:09It's hot today.
28:11You've all been standing
28:12in this heat long enough.
28:14After this,
28:15go to the dining hall.
28:16Each of you gets a glass
28:17of iced honey mint water.
28:19That stunned them
28:20into silence.
28:22A few swallowed on reflex.
28:24Their foreheads
28:25were already damp
28:26from the heat.
28:26And starting today,
28:27you'll get it
28:28every afternoon
28:29until summer ends.
28:30If your teams
28:31need something reasonable,
28:32tell Liv.
28:32I'll review it.
28:35This time,
28:36the thanks came fast.
28:38Louder.
28:39Warmer.
28:39More sincere.
28:40I let them have the moment
28:41because I knew
28:42exactly what I was doing.
28:44Set the rules first,
28:45then offer sweetness.
28:46That was how you got
28:47P-people to work
28:48for you willingly.
28:49And once they were
28:50on your side,
28:51they'd stand by you.
28:52After dealing with the staff,
28:54I moved to the
28:54territory ledgers.
28:56Gale wasn't lying.
28:57He didn't have a clue
28:58what he was doing.
28:59The numbers were a disaster.
29:01The handwriting
29:02looked like crawling spiders.
29:04I forced myself
29:05to sit there,
29:06tracing lines,
29:07sorting figures,
29:08until the sun
29:09finally went down.
29:11Across the estate,
29:13in the east wing,
29:14Lady Helga slashed her hand
29:15onto a heavy
29:16harmogony table.
29:17That little bitch!
29:18She didn't even bother
29:19showing up!
29:20Relax, mother.
29:21I'll go check on her tonight.
29:23Teach her a little respect.
29:24What are you didn't answer?
29:25Vigor didn't answer.
29:27Because his head
29:28was already full of the woman
29:29he'd seen from the carriage.
29:31The pale skin,
29:32the sharp eyes,
29:33the itch in his blood
29:34was too strong.
29:35He wasn't going to let
29:36that slip away.
29:38You wanted her to come
29:38groveling, didn't you?
29:41Don't worry.
29:42I guarantee she'll be
29:43at your door bright
29:44and early tomorrow.
29:47Later that night,
29:48I washed up
29:49and got ready for bed.
29:51Liv finished
29:51turning down the sheets.
29:53But the second
29:53she opened the door
29:54to leave,
29:55a man laughed
29:56from the hallway.
29:57Easy.
29:57It's just me,
29:58Vigo Frostbark.
29:59I'm not here to bite.
30:00I frowned immediately.
30:02What the hell
30:03was he doing here
30:04this late?
30:05What do you want?
30:06Got some urgent business
30:07to discuss
30:08with my lovely
30:08new sister-in-law.
30:09My lady's asleep.
30:11Come back in daylight.
30:12It's an emergency.
30:13Go wake her up.
30:14She sleeps heavy.
30:15She won't wake.
30:16Leave.
30:17Fine.
30:17Tomorrow morning then.
30:19Liv let out
30:19a long sigh.
30:23Inside the room,
30:24I let out
30:25a breath of my own.
30:26I turned back
30:27toward the bed.
30:27Then I heard it.
30:28I whipped around
30:29just as the heavy glass
30:30swang open.
30:31A shadow dropped
30:32silently into the room
30:33dot my chest heightened.
30:35You lied to me,
30:36Alara.
30:37Before I could even
30:38scream,
30:38he lunged.
30:39His hand clamped
30:40hard over my mouth.
30:42Don't make a sound.
30:43If someone catches us
30:44like this,
30:45they'll think we're
30:45sneaking around.
30:46Alpha's mate or not,
30:47that'll be the end of you.
30:49And besides,
30:50you really want to
30:51waste yourself
30:52on a half-dead corpse?
30:53I had learned enough
30:54combat from my father
30:55and brothers
30:55to know how to fight.
30:57But against a fully
30:58grown male wolf,
30:59I couldn't break his grip.
31:00Viggo's breathing
31:01grew rougher
31:02as I struggled.
31:03He pressed closer.
31:05Alara,
31:07you've never been
31:08with a real man,
31:09have you?
31:09Let me show you once.
31:12After that,
31:13you'll come begging.
31:16Look at him.
31:17He's half a corpse.
31:18You think he knows
31:19what room he's in?
31:23He's half dead.
31:25I drove the heel
31:26of my foot down
31:26as hard as I could.
31:28Viggo grunted in pain,
31:29so I bolted
31:30for the far wall,
31:31toward the weapons rack.
31:32I was born
31:33of the Ashbrook bloodline.
31:35I was not going to let
31:36some drunken rat
31:37touch me.
31:38You think you can
31:39lift that, Alara?
31:40You're shaking.
31:41Just be a good girl.
31:43Come back to the bed.
31:45We can do it
31:46right next to him.
31:47He'll never know.
31:49I grabbed the hulp
31:49with both hands
31:50and heaved.
31:51My arms trembled
31:52under the strain,
31:53but I gripped it tight,
31:55pointed it straight
31:55at Vigrid's chest.
31:57Take one step,
31:58and I'll take your hand off.
32:00Viggo was still smiling.
32:02Then,
32:02suddenly,
32:03his eyes flicked
32:04past my shoulder.
32:05His smile vanished.
32:06He stared behind me,
32:08backing away
32:09in pure,
32:09undisguised terror.
32:12Viggo
32:12Viggo
32:13Viggo
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