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The Alpha She Chose -FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB 2026
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00:00on my first birthday. Alpha Brune set out all kinds of things for me to pick from as birthday
00:04gifts. Instead, I crawled straight towards six-year-old Alpha Air Cohen and grabbed his
00:10crotch. The hall erupted. The 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
00:19bitter enemies. At 16, Alpha Brune told me it was time to choose a mate. Before I could speak,
00:25Cohen sneered in front of the whole hall. I'd rather be torn apart by rogues than mate with
00:29her. At the time, I actually thought he was joking. It wasn't until our mating day that I realized how
00:34horribly wrong I was. On our mating night, he abandoned me. He never came to my bed. By
00:40morning, I was the Silverhone pack's laughingstock. After 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. He refused. He snatched up a
01:03crystal glass and hurled it straight at my face. It smashed against my forehead, blood pouring down
01:09into my eyes. Consumed by grief and illness, I died alone in the freezing, forgotten dungeons beneath
01:16the packhouse. Then, I opened my eyes. The chandeliers were bright again. The 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. So you're mating with my responsibility. Speak his name, and I'll see it
01:39done. I parted my lips to speak, but a sudden wave of grief choked me. My eyes began to burn.
01:45Even
01:45facing this a second time, the memory still cut straight through me. Bloodfang had wanted Silverhorn land
01:51for years. Last winter, they came for it. My 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.
02:00My brothers were loud as ever. Shoving, laughing, yelling over one another. At the time, I only
02:06thought they were being annoying. The next time I saw them, they were dead. Wrapped in torn cloth,
02:11laid out on stretchers. Still.
02:14My mother drowned in grief soon after. A few months later, she followed them into the grave.
02:19That whole house was wiped clean. Everyone in that house was gone. A wolf beside me laughed under
02:24her breath. Oh, come on, Alpha. Why even ask? Everyone in Silverhane knows Alara's been obsessed
02:30with Cowan for years. Girl probably whimpered his name into her pillow. My eyes burned, but no tears
02:36came. In my last life, I went to him hollowed out. Begged him to break the mating bond. He answered
02:41by
02:41hurling a crystal glass at my face. It split my forehead open. He still refused to let me go,
02:47even while I was dying. Alpha Brune was about to speak again. I inhaled hard and cut him off.
02:52Alpha. Cohen and I grew up together. I have never loved him. The chamber went dead quiet. Even Cohen
03:00off to one side looked caught off guard. Is that true? Alpha Brune narrowed his eyes. I knew the trap.
03:05If I didn't name a wolf, he would name one for me. So I lowered my head and gave him
03:10one.
03:10Yes, Alpha. There is someone I want. Varric. Alpha Varric of the Nightclaw pack. He is the
03:15only one I want. Varric was Alpha Brune's younger brother. The war hero who helped crush Bloodfath
03:23and stabilize the northern packs. Half the north respected him like a living legend. Then,
03:29one year ago, he collapsed on the road back from the border. He never woke up. The pack healers said
03:34he
03:34might spend the rest of his life in that bed. But I knew better. In my last life, he woke
03:39in the
03:39third year of my marriage. And when I was at the very end, he was the only one who ever
03:45tried to
03:46help me.
03:47Ilara. That's too hard a road. Varric may still be Alpha of Nightclaw in name, but he lies unconscious.
03:54His territory is unstable. You would be walking into a nest of vipers. Choose someone here instead.
04:00One of my own men. Alpha. I already swore before the altar. On my family's honor. In this life,
04:07I will mate no one but Alpha Varric. Please, grant me this.
04:13I bent into a full formal bow. The room held its breath. Alpha Brune fell silent. Then Elder Edmund
04:20spoke from the corner shadow. If the girl is this devoted to Varric, let her have him.
04:26Edmund wasn't just an old man with opinions. He represented the High Northern Council. Once he
04:31spoke, even Alpha Brune couldn't press much farther. At last, Brund exhaled.
04:35Very well, Ilara. Varric is my brother. As both his Alpha and his brother, it falls to me to arrange
04:41his mating. If you are willing, this will be a blessing for him. And for both our packs.
04:45Your parents are gone. Luma Sigrid will oversee the preparations.
04:51Thank you, Alpha. Last time, I chose the wrong man.
04:56I would not make that mistake again. And Varric. In my last life, Nightclaw tore itself apart
05:02while he lay unconscious. By the time he woke and clawed his way back to power, his legs were
05:08ruined for good. He once showed me kindness when no one else would. This time, I would be
05:14there when he needed someone most. If the Moon Goddess gave me one more chance, I wouldn't
05:18just help Varric stand. This time, neither of us would kneel.
05:24A few days later, Luna Sigrid's maid, Mara, summoned me to finalize the mating ceremony.
05:29We had barely reached Luna's residence when Mara stopped short and bowed her head.
05:33Alpha Air. I looked up. And there he was. Cohen. He just stared at me with that familiar cutting
05:38look. Brows drawn, eyes full of suspicion. I lowered my head and dipped into a polite
05:44Kurti. Alpha Air. He frowned immediately. Of course he did. He was used to a different
05:49version of me. In my last life, I always found out when he'd be visiting Luna. I'd bake butter
05:54cakes myself. Time everything perfectly. Pretend our meetings were accidents, all for the chance
06:00to place those sweets in his hands. He never ate them. He either threw them away or tossed
06:05them to the servants. Then he finally spoke, and the disgust was exactly where I remembered
06:10it. Alara, enough. You're marrying my uncle, so stop embarrassing yourself and stop chasing
06:15me. This is pathetic. And honestly, you make me sick. For a second, I almost laughed. Last
06:21time, I kept trying to explain. It only made him despise me more. You're mistaken, Alpha
06:25Hair. I made myself clear in the council hall. I have no feelings for you. Really?
06:30So what now? You just happened to wander in here? And I'm supposed to believe that?
06:35Luna asked for me. We're discussing the ceremony. If you doubt it, ask Mara. Cohen glanced at
06:40her. Mara nodded. Varric's half dead. Marry him, and you'll waste your whole life beside
06:48a body that can't even claim you. You needn't worry. I chose Alpha Varric long
06:52ago. If I can stay by his side, that's enough for me. Awake or asleep, I'd still choose him
06:59over you. Luna Sigrid smiled the second she saw me. A warm smile, a polished voice, but
07:06there was calculation under both. The moment I sat down, her eyes flicked past me. That's
07:11it? You came alone? Ashbrook house is empty. There's no one left to come with me. Very
07:17well. Let's settle the ceremony. She spread two parchment sheets across the table. Two dates.
07:23June 3rd, October 19th. The second I saw October 19th, my stomach clenched. That had been the date
07:29of my last wedding. The day I was mated to Cohen. The elders had called it blessed. The sky answered
07:35with a storm. Rain tore the ceremony apart. After that, the pack began whispering that I was cursed,
07:40that I carried ruin in with me. The council seems to prefer October 19th. It's an auspurious date.
07:46Why don't we settle on that? Luna, I appreciate the care. Still, I would like the ceremony set for
07:53June 3rd. It's already May. That's very soon. Wouldn't that be rushed? I want to reach Alpha
07:59Varric as soon as possible. If the preparations are hurried, I accept that gladly. That was the
08:04exact moment Conan walked in. He heard every word. His steps slowed, only for an instant, but I caught it,
08:10and I saw the way his jaw tightened. Cohen. Perfect timing. Alara wants the ceremony moved up to
08:16June 3rd. I think it's awfully rushed. Maybe you can talk some sense into her. She always listened
08:21to you when you were children. She's that desperate to marry my uncle? Why stop her? If we drag this
08:29out
08:30until October, we'll only look cruel. He meant that to sting. He wanted me to feel small. Instead,
08:36I lowered into a graceful curtie. Thank you for understanding, Alpha Hare.
08:42You'll come to the mating ceremony on June 3rd, won't you?
08:47He went rutted. His face flushed with anger so fast it almost made me smile. For one second,
08:53he looked like he wanted to say something vicious. Instead, he muttered some excuse and left. I rose
08:58to take my leave. Oh, one more thing, Alara. I turned back. Since you have no family left,
09:04someone close to you should escort you to Nightclaw territory on the day of the ceremony.
09:08What about Conan? No, that won't be necessary. Elder Stonehill's son,
09:14Rainan, is loyal and dependable. He can escort me. Hmm. Very well. On the walk home, old memories
09:23followed me like ghosts. My grandfather trained Silverhand's young warriors. Cohen and I grew up
09:29under the same roofs, on the same training grounds. As children, we used to slip away into the woods
09:33during drills. Once, deep in the forest, we crossed paths with a crazed bear. It charged. I shoved
09:40Cohen aside without thinking. The bear's paw caught me instead. It broke nearly half the bones in my
09:45body. I spent 15 days in the healing ward. Cohen cried so hard he could barely breathe. He clutched
09:51my hand and swore he'd spend his life making it up to me. Back then, I believed him. In my
09:55last life,
09:56all he gave me were tears. The old injuries still arced when the weather turned cold. My eyesight had
10:00worsened too. Shadows blurred. This life. I was done bleeding for the same wound. I wasn't his promise
10:07anymore. I was going to Nightclaw. The wedding day kept creeping closer. All across Silverhorn, people
10:15talked about nothing else. The alliance. The ceremony. Alara leaving for Nightclaw. Even in the private
10:22wing of the stronghold, Cohen couldn't outrun it. Every servant. Same cursed name. It had been scraping at
10:28his nerves for days. He was just about to step out for air when Rainer, Elder Stonehell's son,
10:34walked in. Cohen flicked him a glance. What? Alara's heading to Nightclaw soon, right? Since
10:39she doesn't have any family left, Luna wants somebody to lead the escort to Varak's territory.
10:43Cohen's brow tightened at once. His first thought hit fast. Of course, Alara must have asked for him.
10:50All that talk about wanting Varak. Wanting the mating. A last little trick to get his attention.
10:54He lifted his glass, swirled the drink once, and took a slow sip.
11:01Then send someone. I don't have time for it. And I don't care.
11:07Well, well what? Luna did suggest you first. But Alara said she didn't want to trouble you.
11:21So, she picked you. I mean, maybe she just figured you were busy.
11:29I'm not. I've got nothing to do all day anyway.
11:33Right. I've got something to do. I'll go.
11:41Cohen. About what happened back then. Alara was innocent. You know she was. You've been
11:47taking that out on her for years, and it's not right. And now it's gotten this bad. You're
11:53not happy. And she-
11:55Rayla. Aren't you late for something? Your Majesty.
12:04Cohen rose and walked to the window. From there, he could just make out the distant silhouette of
12:09the old Ashberg house. His gaze darkened. At some point, the crystal in his hand had cracked under
12:15the force of his grip. Alara.
12:20Mating day came fast. Rainer and the others arrived early, waiting in the great hall before sunrise.
12:26When I walked down the staircase in my gown, Rainer forgot himself for a beak. He just stood there
12:31staring, like he'd never seen me before. He snapped out of it a second later, ears turning red.
12:41Alara.
12:43Word slipped out of the healing ward two days ago. Cohen collapsed. He's still unconscious.
12:49Alpha Brun buried the news. Doesn't want it spreading. That's why Cohen didn't come. It has to be-
12:57Rainer, I don't care about him anymore. I know you mean well, but some things are over.
13:03And once they're over, you leave them buried.
13:09Today is my wedding day. Try looking happy.
13:12And next time you see me, don't forget to call me Lady of Nightclaw.
13:18By the time we reached Nightclaw territory, dusk had fallen. The entrance was packed. Torches blazed.
13:24Voices rolled through the air. The whole place was grander than I'd expected.
13:28In the Moonshadow Grove, the High Priest stood atop the Moonstone Altar.
13:32Elders lined both sides in perfect silence. I wore white satin. A silver veil covered my hair.
13:37And under every eye in that sacred forest, I walked alone toward the statue of the Moon Goddess.
13:42There was no groom waiting for me. Only Varuk's wolf fang pendant. My steps never faltered, and my heart stayed
13:48steady.
13:48When I reached the altar, the High Priest raised his voice.
13:51Elara Ashberg. Do you swear, in health or sickness, in waking or in sleep, to guard, honor, and stand beside
14:00Alpha Varuk of the Nightclaw Pack, as his mate, for the rest of your life?
14:06I do. Then I bit my fingertip. Let the blood fall onto the wolf fang. The pendant flashed silver white.
14:13The wolf spirit had accepted the bond. The contract was sealed. Nightclaw erupted. The cheer that tore from the crowd
14:20shook the trees themselves, as though the whole Nightclaw Pack had been waiting for this day for years.
14:25When the cheers finally eased, a young man stepped out from the crowd and dropped to one knee before me.
14:33But his eyes were clear, respectful.
14:35My lady, this way, please.
14:37He rose and guided me through the territory, pointing things out as we walked. He spoke with easy energy, like
14:43he was proud to show me all of it. At last, he brought me to the Alpha's quarters.
14:48The Alpha is resting inside.
14:50The room was simple. Varuk lay there asleep. His face was pale, leaner than it should have been, but his
14:55chest still rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm.
14:58Alpha Varuk has been unconscious for more than half a year. He's lost weight, but otherwise he's held up well.
15:04He gets medicine once a day. In hot weather, we wash him every other day.
15:10I handle all of that. You don't need to trouble yourself, my lady. I've had a separate room prepared for
15:15you, just across the hall.
15:17That won't be necessary. Varuk and I are mated now. Why would we sleep apart? Starting tonight, I sleep here.
15:25It's late, my lady. You should rest.
15:27Then he slipped out and closed the door softly behind him.
15:30Later, after I washed and changed into my nightground, I climbed carefully into bed beside Varit. The candlelight trembled over
15:37his face.
15:38He was handsome in a dangerous way, only too pale. From this close, I could smell the faint herbal scent
15:44of his medicine.
15:45I looked at Varin's sleeping face for a long moment.
15:48I'm sorry I married you while you couldn't choose for yourself, but I swear I'll care for you, and I'll
15:55be a good Luna to your pack.
15:56Then I tucked myself against him. The medicinal scent should have felt cold and sterile.
16:01Instead, somehow, it made me feel safe, and I never saw it. Varin's fingers moved.
16:08Meanwhile, in the Silverhorn Healing Ward's private recovery room, Cohen lay flat on his back, dead to the world.
16:15His eyes stayed shut. In the dream, he was standing before the High Priest.
16:19I stood beside him, not his aunt's chosen bride. Not Varik's mate. His Luna.
16:25Rain crashed outside. His clothes were soaked through. Everything was cold.
16:30Then he stepped into the bridal chamber and saw me. Cohen just stared. The storm disappeared. The cold disappeared.
16:38All he could hear was his own heartbeat. Louder. Then he jerked awake.
16:42White curtains. Sweat-sticked sheets. His whole body sticky and overheated.
16:48For a few long seconds, he could barely breathe.
16:51Alpha here. You're awake. What time is it?
16:55Ninth bell. Around nine. Alpha and Luna should be back from Nightclaw by now.
16:59What day is it?
17:01June 3rd, sir. The day Alpha Varney of Nightclaw took Alara Ashwar as his mate.
17:06Cohen went silent so fast he looked carved from stone.
17:10All he saw was me in white, looking up, smiling at someone else.
17:14Something tore inside his chest. Just a slow, jagged ache spreading under his ribs.
17:21I woke before dawn. The sky outside was still dark.
17:25Liv came in to brush my hair and stop the second she saw my face.
17:29My lady, did you sleep at all last night?
17:32A full-grown man lying beside me the whole night. I hadn't slept much.
17:35Help me get ready, Liv.
17:38Is the new Luna awake?
17:43Lady Helga sent me.
17:45She expects the new mate to present herself this morning.
17:48I'd already heard enough about Nightclaw to know exactly who that meant.
17:52Years ago, Varuk's uncle died protecting him during a rogue attack.
17:56Varuk repaid that debt by taking the man's widow and children into his territory.
18:00He gave them power and standing.
18:02So much that now, Helga ran half this pack like it belonged to her.
18:06I had also heard she once wanted her youngest daughter mated to Varuk.
18:10Varuk refused.
18:11And now I was the one in his room.
18:13My lady just woke up. Why the rush?
18:17Well, of course.
18:18The new mate is Silver Homeborn.
18:20Hand picked by Alpha Brun himself.
18:22I can see why she thinks Lady Helga can wait.
18:24I lifted one hand and stopped her.
18:26Then I smiled at the woman.
18:29What's your name?
18:31Inga.
18:31Lady Helga's personal maid.
18:33Inga.
18:34You can go back and tell Lady Helga this.
18:35After I've washed, dressed, and had breakfast, I will go pay my respects.
18:39She is an elder in this territory.
18:40Respect is due.
18:41But when I go, that will be my decision.
18:44Not hers.
18:45And one more thing.
18:46You're a servant.
18:48You entered without knocking, spoke out of line, and forgot your place in my room.
18:52If Lady Helga can't train her own taff, I don't mind doing it for her.
18:59The color flooded Inga's face.
19:00In the end, she gave the barest excuse for a kurtzel and backed out.
19:04Are we really going to see that woman?
19:06Of course we are.
19:08But we go when I say we go.
19:10That mattered.
19:11If you let people shove you around on day one, they never stopped.
19:16By the time I was dressed, I had brought Liv and Astrid with me and headed outside.
19:21I'm not drunk!
19:23I can still drink three more barrels!
19:26Do you idiots know who I am?
19:28Varric's my cousin!
19:30Until he wakes up, this whole damn territory answers to me!
19:36That's Varric's cousin?
19:39Viggo Frostfield.
19:41He's infamous, my lady.
19:43Drinks too much.
19:44Beds anything that moves.
19:46He missed your mating ceremony yesterday.
19:48Passed out in a brothel.
19:50I stared at the mess in front of me.
19:52Varric?
19:53What exactly had they left festering in your house?
19:56I gave no reaction.
19:57I just climbed into my carriage.
19:59What I didn't notice was Viggo watching me through a gap in the hedges.
20:03The second my face came into view, the drunken fog lifted right out of him.
20:07He rubbed his face hard and grabbed one of the tavern workers.
20:13Who the hell was that?
20:15Couldn't see her clearly, but that carriage belongs to the Alpha's house.
20:18Oh, that must be the new lady of Nightclaw.
20:21The one who came in yesterday.
20:22Varric's new mate?
20:23But Varric's still asleep.
20:26So she's alone.
20:27The thought thrilled him.
20:29A wicked grin stretched from ear to ear.
20:34I timed it carefully.
20:36If I went to greet Luna in Silverhorn late enough, the visit would end right around the time Alpha Brun
20:40finished his council session.
20:41What I hadn't expected was Cohen at the door.
20:44The second he saw me, he stopped short.
20:46Today my hair was braided in a married she-wolf style.
20:48I looked nothing like the girl he used to brush past without seeing.
20:51Something in his expression shifted.
20:53Maybe he was seeing the dream still clinging to me.
20:56The bride in white.
21:00So you're proud of yourself now?
21:02Mating Varric really 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.
21:11Or Aunt if you want to get technical.
21:15You don't get to use my name anymore.
21:17It's rude.
21:19Didn't anyone teach you manners, Alpha Hare?
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.
21:32That really should have been obvious.
21:39You're still sick.
21:40Try medicine.
21:41Try rest.
21:42Try staying out of other people's business.
21:46Luna asked for me.
21:47I'll leave you to your coughing.
21:54By the time Alpha Brune joined us later, his mood was excellent.
21:58Apparently the council session had gone unusually well.
22:00The elders were praising the alliance.
22:02Even rival faction heads had 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 to Nightcloth territory,
22:13Gale was heading toward the Alpha's chambers with two male servants.
22:16When I spotted him in the corridor.
22:19What are you doing?
22:23He stopped at once.
22:24It's time for Alpha Variks medicine, my lady.
22:27My gaze dropped to the wooden tray in his hands.
22:29A clay medicine jar sat on it,
22:31giving off the same bitter herbal smelt I had noticed on Varden the night before.
22:36If you'll wait outside, we'll handle it and come right back.
22:40It may take a while.
22:42Feeding him isn't easy in this condition.
22:45I'll come with you.
22:46With us?
22:48I'm his mate now.
22:50Learning how to care for him is part of that.
22:53Let me watch tonight.
22:54From now on, I'll do it.
22:56That hit him harder than I expected.
22:57He couldn't exactly refuse me, so he led me in.
23:00As we walked, he tried to prepare me.
23:02My lady, he can't swallow on his own.
23:06We have to force it down.
23:08Sometimes it goes in, sometimes it comes right back up.
23:11It's not pleasant.
23:13I listened calmly.
23:14He let out the smallest sigh under his breath,
23:16probably hoping I wouldn't get disgusted and bolt.
23:19Inside, the two servants lifted Varaby into a half-sitting cessation.
23:23Gale poured some of the dark medicine into a smaller bowl,
23:26sat at the bedside, and scooped up half a spoonful.
23:28He tipped it toward Variken's lips.
23:30Variken's mouth stayed closed.
23:32One of the servants had to grip his jaw and force it open.
23:35Only then could Gale get the liquid in.
23:37And even then, most of it slid right back out.
23:40The dark broth ran from the corner of Varik's mouth
23:43and soaked into his nightshirt, leaving a wide, ugly stain.
23:46Gale tried again.
23:47Same result.
23:49Half swallowed.
23:50Half wasted.
23:51I watched for a while, then finally turned my head away.
23:55Out of the corner of his eye, Gale saw that and immediately misunderstood.
23:59He probably thought I was horrified.
24:01Or disgusted.
24:02Or regretting everything already.
24:04I had no idea what nonsense was running through his head.
24:07I turned away first, then faced him again.
24:09Gale, you're wasting half the bowl.
24:12Give it to me.
24:16Hand me the medicine.
24:18He rose automatically, still looking shell-shocked.
24:21Then, while I sat down at the bedside,
24:24he glanced at the servants and cleared his bin's throat.
24:26My lady, should we step outside?
24:30Why?
24:30Aren't you going to feed the alpha?
24:32He lowered his voice, serious as a priest.
24:35If we stay, you might feel embarrassed.
24:39It wouldn't be proper.
24:41Embarrassed about what exactly?
24:43Gale scratched the back of his neck.
24:45Then, with complete sincerity...
24:47Weren't you planning to do it mouth-to-mouth?
24:52I just stared at him.
24:54Mouth-to-mouth, heat rushed straight into my face.
24:57Who told you that's how you feed medicine to an unconscious man?
25:02Books.
25:02That's how they do it in all the romance stories.
25:05Those are stories.
25:07Stories are stories.
25:09Medicine is medicine.
25:10Go find me a thin wooden slab.
25:12About this long...
25:13And this wide.
25:15Smooth it down.
25:16Wash it clean.
25:18Gale clearly had no clue where this was going.
25:20But he went.
25:21A few minutes later, he came back with the wood.
25:24I had the servants prop another pillow behind Verevan's head.
25:27Then I placed one end of the smooth slat inside his mouth.
25:31After that, I spooned the medicine slowly onto the wood.
25:34The liquid ran down the slat and straight into his throat.
25:37Gale's jaw dropped.
25:38That's it?
25:39It's that easy?
25:44Read fewer novels.
25:47My lady, how did you know that?
25:50My grandfather was a healer.
25:53Pouring another careful spoonful.
25:54This is only a makeshift fix.
25:56There's a proper healer's funnel for patients like this.
25:59Much 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 tightened in my chest.
26:12Even a pack alpha could have enemies, couldn't he?
26:14My grandfather knew better.
26:16Any trained healer should have known too.
26:18So why had no one used one here?
26:19Why had half his medicine been wasted every day?
26:22This wasn't carelessness.
26:24Someone wanted Varric weak.
26:28Gale?
26:28Yes, my lady?
26:30I want to ask you something.
26:32Is this territory split in two?
26:34Varric on one side, Helga and her children on the other?
26:38That caught him off guard.
26:39Yes.
26:40The divide started when Alpha Varric brought Lady Helga into Nightclo.
26:43Internal matters, resource assignments, staffing, household operations,
26:48all of that ended up in her hands.
26:50External dealings, trade, contracts, territory accounts, those stayed under the Alpha.
26:55But after he fell unconscious, I took over what I could.
26:58Poorly, if I'm being honest.
27:00It's been a mess.
27:02Lady Helga has asked more than once to take control of everything.
27:05I refused.
27:07Thank the moon you're here now.
27:08I nodded slowly.
27:10Before I entered Nightclaw, I had no idea the pack was built like this.
27:14But maybe that was a blessing.
27:16If the territory was already split, then no one held absolute control over me either.
27:21That meant I had room to move.
27:23Room to decide things for myself.
27:25So I told Gale to summon the department heads.
27:28All of them.
27:29Soon enough, they stood before me.
27:32Or around a dozen in total.
27:35I had them state their duties one by one.
27:38By the end, I understood the shape of Nightclaw.
27:41Gale stood right behind my chair, his massive frame looming like a stone wall.
27:45Split power.
27:46Hidden loyalties.
27:47Too many guarded voices in one room.
27:50This system had been built for some future lady of Nightcline, not me.
27:54Fine.
27:55Fate had given me the seat anyway.
27:58I cleared my throat and looked at all of them.
28:00I was raised in silver-haired.
28:02I won't pretend I know every corner of how Nightcline runs.
28:05But I do know one rule.
28:06Do the job well, and you'll be rewarded.
28:09It's hot today.
28:11You've all been standing in this heat long enough.
28:14After this, go to the dining hall.
28:16Each of you gets a glass of iced honey mint water.
28:19That stunned them into silence.
28:22A few swallowed on reflex.
28:24Their foreheads were already damp from the heat.
28:26And starting today, you'll get it every afternoon until summer ends.
28:30If your teams need something reasonable, tell Liv.
28:32I'll review it.
28:35This time, the thanks came fast.
28:38Louder.
28:38Warmer.
28:39More sincere.
28:40I let them have the moment.
28:41Because I knew exactly what I was doing.
28:43Set the rules first, then offer sweetness.
28:46That was how you got people to work for you willingly.
28:49And once they were on your side, they'd stand by you.
28:51After dealing with the staff, I moved to the territory ledgers.
28:56Gail wasn't lying.
28:57He didn't have a clue what he was doing.
28:59The numbers were a disaster.
29:01The handwriting looked like crawling spiders.
29:04I forced myself to sit there, tracing lines, sorting figures, until the sun finally went down.
29:11Across the estate, in the east wing, Lady Helga slashed her hand onto a heavy harmogony table.
29:17That little bitch!
29:18She didn't even bother showing 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.
29:26Because his head was already full of the woman he'd seen from the carriage.
29:30The pale skin.
29:31The sharp eyes.
29:33The itch in his blood was too strong.
29:35He wasn't going to let that slip away.
29:37You wanted her to come groveling, didn't you?
29:41Don't worry.
29:42I guarantee she'll be at your door bright and early tomorrow.
29:47Later that night, I washed up and got ready for bed.
29:51Liv finished turning down the sheets.
29:52But the second she opened the door to leave, a man laughed from the hallway.
29:57Easy.
29:57It's just me, Viggo Frostbark.
29:59I'm not here to bite.
30:00I frowned immediately.
30:02What the hell was he doing here this late?
30:04What do you want?
30:06Got some urgent business to discuss with my lovely new sister-in-law.
30:09My lady's asleep.
30:10Come back in daylight.
30:12It's an emergency.
30:13Go wake her up.
30:13She sleeps heavy.
30:14She won't wake.
30:16Leave.
30:16Fine.
30:17Tomorrow morning, then.
30:19Liv let out a long sigh.
30:23Inside the room, I let out a breath of my own.
30:25I turned back toward the bed.
30:27Then I heard it.
30:28I whipped around just as the heavy glass swang open.
30:31A shadow dropped silently into the room, dot my chest heightened.
30:35You lied to me, Alara.
30:36Before I could even scream, he lunged.
30:39His hand clamped hard over my mouth.
30:41Don't make a sound.
30:43If someone catches us like this, they'll think we're sneaking around.
30:46Alpha's mate or not, that'll be the end of you.
30:48And besides, you really want to waste yourself on a half-dead corpse?
30:53I had learned enough combat from my father and brothers to know how to fight.
30:56But against a fully grown male wolf, I couldn't break his grip.
31:00Viggo's breathing grew rougher as I struggled.
31:03He pressed closer.
31:06Allura, you've never been with a real man, have you?
31:09Let me show you once.
31:12After that, you'll come begging.
31:16Look at him.
31:17He's half a corpse.
31:18You think he knows what room he's in?
31:22He's half-dead.
31:24I drove the heel of my foot down as hard as I could.
31:28Viggo brunted in pain, so I bolted for the far wall, toward the weapons rack.
31:32I was born of the Ashbrook bloodline.
31:34I was not going to let some drunken rat touch me.
31:38You think you can lift that, Alara?
31:40You're shaking.
31:41Just be a good girl.
31:43Come back to the bed.
31:45We can do it right next to him.
31:47He'll never know.
31:48I grabbed the hulp with both hands and heaved.
31:51My arms trembled under the strain, but I gripped it tight, pointed it straight at Vigrid's chest.
31:56Take one step, and I'll take your hand off.
32:00Viggo was still smiling.
32:01Then, suddenly, his eyes flicked past my shoulder.
32:05His smile vanished.
32:06He stared behind me, backing away in pure, undisguised terror.
32:10Viggo was still smiling.
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