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The Luna Doesn't Wait(2026) - FULL ENGSUB | Reelshort Hot HD
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00:00After the thorn pack fell into decline, my mother sent me to the Starstone pack to be fostered.
00:07That was how I ended up involved with the two alphas of Starstone for 20 years.
00:16Their pursuit of me, favoritism, once made every she-volve in the pack envy me.
00:23But when I told them I wanted a mating ceremony, I said I wanted a pup of my own, they
00:27both refused me.
00:29The Starstone pack comes first. I don't have the headspace for a mating ceremony right now.
00:35I'm still young. I don't want to be tied down this early.
00:41Besides, a little intimacy doesn't have to mean forever.
00:45Then, at my coming-of-age banquet, they stood before the whole pack and announced that Flora was the mate
00:50they had chosen together.
00:53The Starstone pack was one of the rare packs ruled by two alphas.
00:57By ancient pack law, the two alphas were allowed to acknowledge one luna together.
01:05Rowan placed the crown that should have belonged to the luna on Flora's head.
01:16Cedric slid the luna ring onto her finger.
01:22My wolf spirit had been dormant for years.
01:25My body could not process strong liquor the way other werewolves could, and my stomach had always been weak.
01:31But to make Flora happy, they still forced me to drink a glass of strong liquor.
01:37That drink did more than make my stomach bleed.
01:41It threw my sleeping wolf spirit into chaos once more.
01:51As I was being carried to the healing center.
01:57Rowan and Cedric covered Flora's eyes at the same time and laughed at me for being dramatic.
02:04That was the moment my heart finally died.
02:11On the day I was discharged, I called my mother, Leora.
02:16I'm willing to register a mate bond with Asher of the Oak Pack.
02:21I had just stepped out of the healing center when a full bottom hair cut through my coat.
02:33Daphne, where have you been hiding?
02:35Don't think you can escape your responsibilities just by running away.
02:40Get back to Starstone Manor right now and apologize to Flora.
02:44Before I could answer, Cedric's call came in too.
02:47It's your fake illness that upset Flora.
02:50Her wolf spirit just stabilized, and because of you, she hasn't been able to eat for days.
02:56I stood outside the glass doors and looked at my reflection.
02:59My face was pale as paper.
03:00My lips had no color.
03:03My shoulders looked too thin to hold up my coat.
03:06My wolf spirit had been dormant since childhood,
03:09and my body had always been weaker than other werewolves.
03:12Rowan and Cedric had not always been like this.
03:15One winter, when my stomach seized in pain in the middle of the night,
03:19Rowan carried me across the mountain road and rushed me into the healing center.
03:26Cedric once ran through the neutral zone just to buy me honey oak cakes that would not irritate my stomach.
03:31Then Flora came along, and everything changed.
03:34They forgot all about it.
03:36I did not explain.
03:37I simply hung up.
03:38Healer Ailo chased after me and pressed a medical record into my hand.
03:49Daphne,
03:51this stomach bleed was serious.
03:53That drink aggravated your wolf and injured her stomach.
03:57If you keep being pushed like this,
03:59your chances of carrying a pup will only get lower.
04:06You need a stable mate bond.
04:08You also need a pack that won't keep hurting you.
04:27Mom, I've made up my mind.
04:30There was a long silence on the other end.
04:35Daphne,
04:35this is your whole life.
04:37Are you sure you don't want to wait for Rowan and Cedric anymore?
04:45I waited.
04:47Twenty years is long enough.
04:48My mother sighed.
04:49She stayed behind alone,
04:51protecting the last path of retreat for me.
04:54She had always wanted me to be happy.
04:58Years ago,
04:59when the old Luna of the Oak Pack,
05:00Hilda,
05:01suggested a made arrangement,
05:02my mother never forced me.
05:04Back then,
05:05I still believed love was rare.
05:11I thought that if I waited long enough,
05:13Rowan or Cedric would give me an answer.
05:18Now I understood.
05:20The answer had been written the moment
05:21they handed the Luna crown and Luna ring to Flora.
05:29I opened my phone to book a ride back to the Thorn Pack.
05:33Then I saw the photo Flora had just posted on Facebook.
05:38She was lying in my room.
05:40On her body was the mating ceremony gown
05:42Rowan and Cedric had custom-made for me half a year ago.
05:47On her feet were the crystal shoes I had never even worn.
05:57The Luna crown sat on her head.
05:59The Luna ring shone on her finger.
06:04Flora's Facebook caption.
06:06The one who is truly chosen never has to wait.
06:09I blocked Flora on Facebook
06:11and replied firmly to my mother.
06:14All I wanted was a home of my own.
06:39Daphne, I'm so sorry.
06:40I was watering the flowers.
06:42I didn't see you.
06:43Flora held the hose and only turned off the water
06:46after I was completely soaked.
06:49The autumn wind swept through the porch.
06:51My stomach, which had barely stopped bleeding,
06:53cramped again from the cold.
06:57I lifted my eyes and saw that the irises
06:59I had tended for years had been ripped out completely.
07:04I had planted those flowers myself
07:06when I first came to the Starstone Pack.
07:08The healer said the scent of irises was gentle
07:11and would not disturb my sleeping wolf spirit.
07:14I took care of them every day,
07:15waiting for the whole flower bed to bloom.
07:20Now the bed was filled with red roses.
07:24Bright, sharp, as cruel as Flora's smile.
07:27I thought red roses suited the future Luna better.
07:31You don't mind, do you, Aunt Daphne?
07:35Before I could answer,
07:36Rowan and Cedric came out of the house.
07:43Rowan only frowned when he saw me dripping wet.
07:46Cedric laughed under his breath.
07:50I thought you had a spine.
07:53I thought you'd never come back.
08:01What happened?
08:03The Thorn Pack doesn't want you either,
08:05so you had no choice but to crawl back to Starstone?
08:14I remembered the day I was first sent here.
08:21I was seven.
08:22My wolf spirit slept so deeply
08:24that my scent was almost non-existent.
08:27Cedric had held my hand
08:29and said he would make this place my home.
08:33Rowan personally cleaned out the best room
08:35in Starstone Manor for me.
08:39Now, and in the future,
08:43Daphne is the most important person in this manor.
08:47We grew up together after that.
08:50Starstone was rare, ruled by two Alphers.
08:53Rowan was calm.
08:54Cedric was sharp.
08:56Everyone said the two of them
08:57would take Starstone higher than ever.
08:58Then Flora came to Starstone Manor.
09:02At first, she only helped her mother
09:03sort things around the manor.
09:05Then she started accidentally breaking my cuts,
09:08scaling my downs,
09:09and smashing the moonstone pendant
09:10my mother had left me.
09:18The first time I confronted Flora,
09:20Rowan pushed me away.
09:23Flora has already had a hard life.
09:26You've been spoiled in Starstone for years.
09:30Why do you have to bully her?
09:32She's younger than you,
09:33and her wolf spirit just stabilized.
09:36Would it kill you to let her have this?
09:38From then on,
09:39my place in their hearts
09:40was slowly squeezed out.
09:42Now Flora stood before my rose-covered flowerbed,
09:44wearing the crown that should have been mine.
09:49I came back to pack my things.
09:53Daphne,
09:55know your place.
09:58From now on,
09:59you'll move into the lower warrior dorms.
10:02As for the healing center,
10:04Flora can start learning your duties.
10:12I resign from the Starstone Healing Center.
10:15Cedric's expression shifted.
10:20I thought packing would take a long time.
10:22But when I opened my door,
10:24I realized there was not much left
10:25that truly belonged to me.
10:27Most of the gowns in the closet
10:28had been chosen by Rowan.
10:30Our Daphne is the prettiest moon
10:32in the Starstone pack.
10:34Of course she deserves the best.
10:36Now those gowns were soaked in dirty water
10:37and reeked of an unfamiliar scent.
10:39Flora's sticky sweet scent
10:40covered every corner of the room.
10:42She knew that scent would irritate
10:43my dormant wolf spirit,
10:45yet she had left it heavy in the air
10:46on purpose.
10:49I moved the clothes aside
10:51and found photographs scattered
10:52all over the floor.
10:54Cedric used to love
10:55taking pictures of me.
11:00I want to record every version of you
11:02from childhood
11:03until the day of your mating ceremony.
11:05Now in every photo of the three of us,
11:07my face had been crossed out in red.
11:09In it,
11:09Rowan stood on my left,
11:10Cedric on my right.
11:11That was the place Rowan first took me.
11:16Remember this place.
11:18From now on,
11:19it belongs only to you.
11:24But last night,
11:25Flora said on Facebook
11:26that Rowan and Cedric
11:27were taking her there
11:28to look at the stars.
11:32I tore the photo apart
11:33and threw it into a trash bag.
11:40You're very willing to waste
11:42what Stardone gave you.
11:47I'll pay it back.
11:49I still want to go to the cliff
11:51and see the stars.
11:53All right.
11:55We'll take you tonight.
11:57It's windy there.
11:58I'll bring Daphne's old cloak for you.
12:02In that moment,
12:03I finally understood.
12:05They had not forgotten
12:06that the cliff belonged to me.
12:07I took a deep breath,
12:08picked up my luggage,
12:09and headed out.
12:16Flora suddenly hurried after me
12:17and grabbed my wrist.
12:25Her nails were long.
12:27They scraped several bloody lines
12:28into my skin.
12:30Daphne,
12:31why won't you hear me out?
12:33Is it because you look down on me
12:36for coming from the vine pack?
12:39Pain shot through my arm.
12:40I shook her off.
12:43She used the momentum
12:44to fall backward.
12:47Rowan!
12:48Help me!
12:53The next second,
12:54he slapped me across the face.
12:59The crack of it rang through the hallway.
13:04Cedric stormed over
13:05when he heard the noise,
13:06his eyes fierce enough
13:07to tear me apart.
13:10Daphne!
13:12Why do you always have to go after Flora?
13:15He stepped closer,
13:16his alpha aura
13:16pressing down on my shoulders.
13:20Don't forget,
13:21if Starstone hadn't taken you in,
13:25a useless she-wolf
13:26with a sleeping spirit like you
13:28would have been ripped apart
13:30by rogues
13:31years ago.
13:32My ears rang.
13:34This was the first time
13:35Rowan had ever hit me.
13:37Rowan stared at the blood
13:38on my lip
13:38as if he had only just realized
13:40what he had done.
13:44It's fine.
13:46Consider that slap repayment
13:47for the night you carried me
13:48to the healing center.
13:50Cedric blocked my way.
13:51Not so fast.
13:53Apologize to Flora.
13:56No.
13:57I did nothing wrong.
14:00Cedric still wanted to lash out.
14:03Maybe Rowan felt guilty
14:04because he reached out
14:05and stopped him.
14:08Enough.
14:09I lost control just now.
14:12Don't take it to heart.
14:14When I come back,
14:15I'll bring you the pumpkin pie
14:16you used to like.
14:17But you have to promise me
14:19you won't target Flora again.
14:21A slap in exchange
14:22for a slice of pumpkin pie.
14:26But he had forgotten.
14:27My stomach was bad.
14:28I had not been able
14:29to eat pumpkin pie for years.
14:31Cold wind swept over me.
14:33My wet clothes clung to my body
14:34and the chills seeped into my bones.
14:37Still pretending.
14:39Just as I struggled
14:40to stay standing,
14:41Cedric shoved past me.
14:44I lost my balance
14:46and fell straight into the mud
14:47outside the manor.
14:48Dirty water splashed
14:49across my face.
14:50My stomach cramped so hard
14:51it felt as if the blade
14:52were twisting face to hide me.
14:55I looked up
14:55and saw Rowan stop for a second.
15:02In the end,
15:03he and Cedric
15:04helped her into the car,
15:05one on each side.
15:09The headlights disappeared
15:11along the road
15:11that led to the cliff.
15:20Healing center,
15:21please send someone
15:22to the gate
15:23of Starstone Manor.
15:30You just left
15:31the healing center
15:32and you already look like this?
15:34Do you have a death wish?
15:37The fever burned
15:38for three days.
15:42On the fourth day,
15:43Aloe placed a new medical record
15:44beside my bed.
15:49Your wolf spirit
15:50isn't refusing to wake
15:51because it was born that way.
15:54It's refusing to wake
15:55because the scent
15:56of the Starstone pack
15:57makes it feel less and less safe.
15:59After I was discharged,
16:01I went to the Starstone healing center
16:02to finalize my resignation.
16:06I wanted to say goodbye
16:07to Milo,
16:08the assistant
16:09I had once been close with.
16:14Only then did I learn
16:15that Flora
16:15had already driven Milo away.
16:17My medicine cabinet
16:18in the healing center
16:19had been labeled
16:20with Flora's name.
16:21The herbs I had sorted
16:22by hand
16:23were all turned upside down.
16:25The wolves on duty
16:26avoided my eyes.
16:33I waited at the entrance
16:34for half a day
16:34before someone told me
16:35that Rowan and Cedric
16:36had taken Flora
16:38to the neutral zone
16:38to help her relax.
16:40They went to the seaside
16:42I loved the most as a child.
16:44They also went to the places
16:45I had always wanted to visit
16:46but never could
16:47because of my help.
16:49I looked at the resignation form
16:51in my hand
16:51and suddenly found it
16:52almost funny.
16:54I had been wondering
16:54how to explain
16:55my departure with dignity.
16:57As it turned out
16:58no one cared
16:58why I was leaving.
17:00I handed the resignation form
17:02to the wolf on duty.
17:06Tell Rowan I've signed it.
17:08Miss Daphne,
17:09the Alpha hasn't approved it yet.
17:10I looked at him.
17:13From today on
17:13I am no longer part
17:14of the Starstone Healing Center.
17:16Whether he approves or not
17:17no longer matters.
17:18Then I turned and left.
17:21There was only one thing left.
17:23I had to say goodbye
17:24to Mara.
17:26I thought it would be
17:27my last decent farewell.
17:29I did not know Cedric
17:30was already waiting
17:31below the steps.
17:34Mara knew I was coming
17:35and pushed back a meeting
17:36with the Elder's Council for me.
17:40The moment she saw me
17:41her eyes turned red.
17:44Why have you lost
17:45so much weight?
17:47She reached up
17:48to touch my face.
17:52Her fingers stopped
17:53on the mark of the slap
17:54that had not fully faded
17:55and her expression
17:56changed Facebooked at me.
17:58Who hit you?
17:59I did not answer.
18:01I only handed her
18:01the gift my mother
18:02had prepared
18:03and a pack compensation list.
18:06Aunt Mara,
18:08thank you for taking care of me
18:10for taking care of me
18:10all these years.
18:12Tears fell from Mara's eyes.
18:15Why are you treating me
18:17like a stranger?
18:19I always wanted you
18:20to be my daughter-in-law.
18:22My throat tightened.
18:24No one can decide
18:25matters of the heart
18:26for someone else.
18:27Mara was quiet
18:28for a long time.
18:30I heard about your plan
18:31to take a mate
18:32from the Oakwood pack.
18:33Good child.
18:34I don't want to go.
18:37But if they truly
18:38made you hurt this much,
18:39then they don't deserve you.
18:41She placed an old brooch
18:43in my palm.
18:52Take this,
18:53not to make you remember
18:54Starmoan,
18:55but to remind you
18:57that someone here
18:58truly wants you
19:00to be happy.
19:00We were still talking
19:02when footsteps
19:02sounded outside.
19:04Rowan,
19:05Cedric,
19:05and Flora
19:06had returned.
19:10What mate registration?
19:13Daphne,
19:13what nonsense
19:15are you telling
19:15my mother now?
19:20Rowan,
19:21is that how
19:21you speak to her?
19:23Mother,
19:23don't listen to her
19:24twisting things.
19:26Rowan and I
19:27only gave Flora
19:27the crown and ring
19:28to fulfill
19:29one of her wishes.
19:37No wonder Daphne
19:39wanted to leave.
19:40You two bastards!
19:43Take that woman
19:44and get out!
19:46After the three of them
19:47left,
19:48I stayed and comforted
19:48Mara for a long time.
19:50In the end,
19:51she stopped trying
19:51to make me stay.
19:54Have a safe journey.
19:57when you get
19:57to the Oak Pack,
20:00don't let anyone
20:01mistreat you again.
20:03I nodded.
20:06I carried the last bit
20:07of kindness
20:07Starstone had left
20:08for me and walked out.
20:11But just as I
20:11stepped on the stairs,
20:12I fell hard.
20:15My knee
20:15hit the stone steps
20:16and pain blackened
20:17my vision.
20:19I looked up
20:20and saw Cedric
20:21standing in the shadows.
20:25Flora was crying
20:26behind him.
20:30Daphne!
20:33Why did you have
20:34to come to
20:35Madame Mara
20:35and slander me?
20:38Rowan came
20:39from the other side,
20:40his face dark.
20:42Cedric grabbed my arm
20:43and dragged me
20:44in front of Flora.
20:47Apologize.
20:48I was shaking
20:49from the pain,
20:49but I still
20:50raised my head.
20:51I didn't slander you.
20:53The words had
20:54barely left my mouth
20:55when Cedric
20:55stepped on my
20:56injured ankle.
20:57Agony exploded
20:58through me.
20:59For a moment,
21:00I thought I heard
21:00the bone shift.
21:02Cedric bent down
21:03to look at me.
21:05Remember this.
21:08This is the price
21:09for hurting Flora.
21:12I'm not like Rowe.
21:14I won't keep
21:15indulging you.
21:17I curled on the ground
21:18as my consciousness
21:19began to fade.
21:20Only one thought
21:21remained in my mind.
21:22I owe them
21:23nothing now.
21:24A passing pack guard
21:26sent me to the
21:26healing center.
21:28The healer confirmed
21:29that the bone
21:30was not broken,
21:30but my ankle
21:31was severely sprained
21:32and the soft tissue
21:33was torn.
21:34He told me to rest
21:35for at least half a month.
21:36I did not listen.
21:38The next day,
21:39I dragged my swollen
21:40ankle away
21:40from the Starstone.
21:42On the way to City Hall,
21:43my phone kept lighting up.
21:46Are you pulling
21:47the Leaving Starstone
21:48Act again?
21:49Fine.
21:49I forgive you.
21:50Come back.
21:53Daphne, where are you?
21:54Why does the Oak Pack
21:55Heirs Registered Mate
21:56have the same name as you?
21:57I looked at the registration
21:58papers being pushed
21:59across the City Hall counter.
22:01My name and Asher's name
22:03were written clearly on them.
22:05Mate bond registration
22:06completed.
22:09I blocked both their numbers.
22:12Asher stood beside me
22:13and reached out
22:14to steady my elbow.
22:15It was the first time
22:16I had met him in person.
22:18He was quieter
22:19than he looked in video calls,
22:20with cool,
22:21clean features
22:22and a faint scent
22:23of oak around him.
22:24He was not forceful.
22:26But he made me feel safe.
22:29When he saw the bandage
22:30around my ankle,
22:31his gaze darkened.
22:33Does it hurt?
22:35I shook my head.
22:36He did not press me.
22:38Please submit her
22:39pack registry transfer
22:40at the same time.
22:42The Oak Pack
22:43is willing to accept Daphne.
22:45She is currently listed
22:46under the Starstone
22:47Pack's foster registry.
22:49Her transfer requires
22:51confirmation.
22:54I sure.
22:55After the registration
22:56was complete,
22:57my mother was waiting
22:58for me at Oak Manor.
22:59When she saw my injuries,
23:01her eyes reddened
23:02face-lookedly.
23:04How did you end up
23:06like this?
23:08I leaned into her arms
23:09and for the first time
23:10stopped pretending
23:11to be strong.
23:14Mom, I want to go home.
23:16She held me tightly.
23:18Alright, Mommy,
23:19we'll take you home.
23:22The old Luna
23:23of the Oak Pack,
23:24Hilda, was there too.
23:29Her hair was silvered
23:30with age,
23:30but the moment she saw me,
23:31she smiled and held my hand.
23:38I finally get to meet you.
23:40Then she saw the needle marks
23:41on my wrist
23:42and the bandage on my ankle.
23:43Her smile slowly faded.
23:46This is how the Starstone Pack
23:48cared for you?
23:49I lowered my head.
23:53Hilda did not ask further.
23:57She simply ordered someone
23:59to bring out
23:59a moonstone bracelet.
24:02The stone was warm
24:04and soft in color,
24:05like the gentlest light
24:06in the night.
24:08Put it on.
24:10From today on,
24:12the Oak Pack acknowledges you
24:13as Asha's registered mate.
24:16Once the mating ceremony
24:18is complete,
24:20you will be our Luna.
24:24This is too precious
24:27and my wolf soul
24:28is still asleep.
24:35What is one bracelet?
24:37The Oak Pack wants you,
24:39not whether your wolf spirit
24:41has awakened.
24:42In the Starstone Pack,
24:44everyone said
24:44my wolf spirit was asleep.
24:46They said I was not fit
24:47to be Luna,
24:48not fit to carry
24:49an Alphurs pup.
24:51But here,
24:51no one asked
24:52whether I was complete enough.
24:55They only asked
24:56whether I hurt,
24:57whether the first was tired.
25:00You can adjust slowly.
25:02The mating ceremony
25:03doesn't have to happen
25:04right away.
25:06We'll wait
25:07until your body is better.
25:09Then you can decide.
25:11That night,
25:12I stayed in the room
25:12my mother arranged for me.
25:14After I blocked
25:15Rowan and Cedric,
25:16the world was finally quiet.
25:18I thought I would not
25:19be able to sleep.
25:21But the scent of Oak Manor
25:22was steady,
25:23like a deep forest.
25:25For the first time in years,
25:26my dormant wolf spirit
25:27stirred faintly in my chest.
25:30My mother came in
25:31with warm water
25:31and sat beside my bed.
25:36You don't have to be brave tonight.
25:39I looked at the bracelet
25:40on my wrist.
25:41Its moonstone surface
25:42held a faint glow,
25:43not dazzling,
25:44just warm.
25:45Mom,
25:48did you ever regret
25:49sending me to Starstone?
25:52Every day,
25:55after I realized
25:56you were not happy,
25:59you did it
26:00to protect me.
26:02Protection
26:02should not become
26:03a cage.
26:05Her words were gentle,
26:06but they made my eyes sting.
26:07Asher knocked
26:08before entering.
26:09He did not step past
26:10the door
26:10until I nodded.
26:12Hilda asked me
26:13to make sure
26:14the healers come
26:14tomorrow morning.
26:17I won't disturb you.
26:20Asher.
26:24Thank you for asking
26:25before you enter.
26:27Asher looked
26:28slightly surprised.
26:30That should be normal.
26:32Normal.
26:33That word struck
26:34deeper than any vow.
26:36In Starstone,
26:37I had been forced
26:38to accept decisions,
26:39explanations,
26:40punishments,
26:40and pity.
26:41Here,
26:42even my silence
26:43was respected.
26:45After that night,
26:46preparations for
26:47the mating ceremony began.
26:49Hilda did not rush me
26:50into living with the oak pack
26:51and learning every rule.
26:53She said my body
26:54was still weak
26:54and I could stay
26:55with my mother first.
26:56When the ceremony
26:57drew closer,
26:58I could slowly become
26:59familiar with everything.
27:02My mother spent her days
27:03helping me prepare
27:04the gown and the flowers
27:04for the ceremony.
27:06I had thought
27:07that leaving Starstone
27:08so suddenly would leave
27:09me lost for a long time.
27:11But there was
27:12too much to do.
27:15Fittings,
27:16jewelry,
27:16confirming the elders
27:17who would witness
27:18the ceremony.
27:19Arranging the public
27:20right after the city hall
27:21registration.
27:22I was so busy
27:23that I fell asleep
27:24the moment my head
27:25touched the pillow.
27:27The people and things
27:28from the past
27:29began to fade,
27:30little by little.
27:32Then one day,
27:33while I was trying
27:33on my mating ceremony gown
27:34in a boutique,
27:35Mara called me.
27:39Her voice was anxious
27:40and full of guilt.
27:43Daphne,
27:44Rowan and Cedric
27:45heard you were really
27:46going through
27:46with the mating ceremony.
27:48They faced
27:48Mekai's not coming to see you.
27:50My fingers paused.
27:52Mara sighed.
27:55I couldn't stop them.
27:57Don't mind them.
27:58Just do what you need to do.
28:00Before the call ended,
28:01I saw two familiar figures
28:03in the mirror.
28:04Rowan and Cedric
28:05stood at the door.
28:06They stared at my reflection.
28:09Shock disbelief.
28:12Rowan spoke first.
28:15Daphne,
28:17are you really going
28:18to hold a mating ceremony
28:19with Asher?
28:20His voice trembled slightly.
28:23I remembered a different version
28:24of him from years ago,
28:25looking at me the same way.
28:28On the starry cliff,
28:30he had once said
28:30he wanted a mating ceremony
28:31with me one day
28:32and would wait.
28:34Did he wait?
28:35No.
28:38He placed the Luna crown
28:39on Flora's head.
28:43Stop acting.
28:45I don't believe
28:46you would really bond
28:47with someone else.
28:49His eyes were red,
28:50but his mouth
28:50was still cruel.
28:52You're a sick she-wolf
28:53with a sleeping wolf spirit
28:55who was raised by star stone.
28:56Why would the oak pack
28:57rennily want you?
29:02You're only using
29:03another method
29:04to get our attention.
29:06I lowered my head
29:07and smoothed the skirt.
29:11Leave on your own.
29:13Out of respect for Mera,
29:15I won't have dragged
29:15the gods due out.
29:17Rowan's face turned pale.
29:20Daphne,
29:20stop this nonsense.
29:22A mating ceremony
29:23is not something
29:24you use to throw a tentro.
29:26We spent 20 years together,
29:28and you never chose
29:30either of us.
29:31Why would you choose
29:33someone you've only met
29:33a few times?
29:35I'm not doing this
29:36out of anger.
29:38Every decision I make now
29:39is one I have thought through.
29:42The oak pack
29:43is only interested
29:44in what's left
29:45of the thorn pack
29:46behind you.
29:49Don't overestimate yourself.
29:52Before I could speak,
29:53Rowan suddenly stepped forward
29:54and grabbed my wrist.
29:56Come back with me.
29:57His grip was strong.
30:00Pain shot through my ankle,
30:01and I nearly lost my balance.
30:05I'll explain things
30:06to Starstone.
30:07The oak pack registration
30:09can still be cancelled.
30:11The next second,
30:12Rowan was inside.
30:17I fell into a warm embrace.
30:21A faint oak scent
30:23surrounded me.
30:26Asher stood in front of me
30:27and held my hand.
30:30The future Luna
30:32of the oak pack
30:33does not need scraps
30:34from Starstone.
30:36Cedric glared at Asher.
30:39This is Starstone matter.
30:41Asher gave him
30:42one cold look.
30:44She has already transferred
30:45out of the Starstone registry.
30:48You no longer have the right
30:49to pressure her
30:50with your alpha aura.
30:51I tightened my grip
30:52on Asher's hand
30:53and for the first time
30:54stepped forward
30:54to stand beside him.
30:58Did you hear that?
31:00I have my own pack,
31:02my own mate
31:03and my own future.
31:05I won't circle
31:06around you anymore.
31:07Asher took an oak
31:08pack mate ring
31:09from a box.
31:11He did not put it
31:12on me right away.
31:13May I?
31:17Yes.
31:19Asher slid the ring
31:20onto my finger.
31:23In the mirror,
31:24the light from the ring
31:25reflected on Rowan
31:26and Cedric's pale faces.
31:28Cedric suddenly erupted.
31:31Daphne,
31:31you can't be this heartless!
31:35I know there's still
31:36a place for me
31:36in your heart!
31:38Then he turned on Asher.
31:41You're the heir
31:42of the oak pack
31:43and you're willing
31:44to take a woman
31:44we raised
31:45for 20 years?
31:46Her wolf spirit
31:48is asleep.
31:49Her body
31:50is flawed.
31:52She isn't fit
31:54to be a Luna.
31:55Asher's eyes
31:56went cold.
31:58Oak pack guards
31:59stepped forward
31:59at once.
32:01Cedric struggled
32:02but they restrained him.
32:05Rowan did not fight.
32:07He only kept looking
32:08at me
32:08with a complicated
32:09expression.
32:12Daphne,
32:13you'll regret this.
32:15I looked down
32:16at the ring
32:16on my finger.
32:21The only thing
32:22I regret
32:23is waiting for you.
32:24The boutique
32:25fell quiet again.
32:30Will you regret it?
32:32If you need more time
32:34we can postpone
32:34the ceremony.
32:36I looked at the man
32:37in front of me.
32:39He had never given me
32:40burning love declarations.
32:42But every step
32:43he took gave me
32:43a choice.
32:45I rose on tiptoe
32:46and kissed him lightly.
32:49I won't regret it.
32:52Right now
32:53I only want
32:54a home with you.
32:57Asher's body
32:57stiffened
32:58for one brief second.
33:00Then he wrapped
33:00his arms around me.
33:03So this is what
33:04a real home
33:04feels like.
33:07It did not need
33:0820 years of waiting.
33:11After what happened
33:12in the boutique
33:13the Oak Pack
33:14originally wanted
33:14to hold
33:15Starstone responsible.
33:17My mother
33:18stopped them
33:19for Mara's sake.
33:21But from that day on
33:22Oak Pack guard
33:23stayed by my side
33:24and refused to let
33:25Rowan or Cedric
33:25come near me.
33:28My life slowly
33:29returned to peace.
33:32The mating ceremony
33:33preparations moved
33:34forward one step
33:35at a time.
33:37I thought everything
33:38from Starstone
33:38was finally far
33:39behind me.
33:43I did not expect
33:45Flora to be the
33:45first one to find me.
33:49That day
33:50Asher and I
33:50had just left
33:51the boutique.
33:55Flora rushed out
33:56from the roadside
33:56and dropped
33:57to her knees
33:57in front of me.
34:02Daphne,
34:03I was wrong.
34:05Please,
34:06be merciful.
34:09Put in
34:10a good word
34:11for me.
34:11She had no
34:12lunar crown,
34:13no lunar ring.
34:15Asher said
34:15nothing.
34:16He only stood
34:17at my side
34:17to keep her
34:18from getting close.
34:19Flora tried
34:19to crawl forward
34:20and grab my leg,
34:21but the guard
34:22stopped her.
34:22I shouldn't
34:23have fought you!
34:24I shouldn't
34:25have touched
34:25your room!
34:28I shouldn't
34:28have worn
34:29your crown
34:30or ring!
34:31She sobbed
34:32until she could
34:33barely breathe.
34:35Rowan and Cedric
34:36won't protect
34:37me anymore.
34:39Madame
34:39Mara
34:39found out
34:40my mother
34:41sold things
34:41from Starstone
34:42Man and
34:42through the
34:43Werewolf Black
34:43Market
34:44in the
34:44Neutral Zone.
34:45The elders
34:46are going
34:47to judge me.
34:48They'll listen
34:48if you say
34:49something.
34:49Only you.
34:52I looked
34:52at her.
34:53Flora,
34:54I told the
34:55truth so many
34:55times and
34:56they never
34:56listened to
34:57a single
34:57word.
34:58Now you
34:59want me
34:59to tell
35:00a lie
35:00for you?
35:04Flora's
35:05face went
35:05white.
35:06I continued
35:07calmly.
35:09Everything
35:09you stole
35:10should be
35:10returned
35:11one piece
35:12at a
35:12time.
35:12As for
35:13what the
35:14pack
35:14court
35:14decides,
35:17that is
35:17between you
35:18and the
35:18elders.
35:21Then I
35:21handed the
35:22screenshots,
35:23room records
35:23and old
35:24property list
35:24I had
35:25saved to
35:25an oak
35:25pack
35:25guard,
35:26asking him
35:27to forward
35:27them to
35:27the
35:28elders'
35:28council.
35:32Asher said
35:33quietly,
35:34Let's go
35:35home.
35:35I
35:36nodded.
35:37But after
35:38only a few
35:38steps,
35:39darkness
35:39swept over
35:40my vision.
35:42My body
35:43went limp
35:44and I
35:44collapsed
35:44into Asher's
35:45arms.
35:46When I
35:47woke again,
35:48I was in
35:48Oak Manor.
35:50The room
35:50was full
35:51of people.
35:52My mother
35:53held my
35:53hand,
35:54her eyes
35:54both red
35:54and bright.
35:56Hilda
35:56was smiling
35:57so widely
35:58she could
35:58not hide
35:58it.
36:00Double
36:00joy.
36:01I knew
36:02you were
36:02blessed.
36:04Confused,
36:04I looked
36:05at Asher.
36:06He sat
36:06beside the
36:07bed,
36:07his gaze
36:08so gentle
36:08it made
36:08me nervous.
36:10Healer
36:10Nora said
36:11softly,
36:13Daphne,
36:14you're
36:14carrying a
36:15pup?
36:15I froze.
36:18Only
36:19after a
36:19moment did
36:20I place
36:20my hand
36:20over my
36:21lower
36:21abdomen.
36:22It was
36:23quiet
36:23there.
36:25But deep
36:25in my
36:26chest,
36:26my sleeping
36:26wolf spirit
36:27moved
36:27again.
36:28Like an
36:29eye finally
36:29opening in
36:30the dark.
36:32Asher
36:32held my
36:33hand
36:33carefully.
36:36If you
36:37are
36:37afraid,
36:39tell me.
36:40We
36:40will
36:40face it
36:42together.
36:43I looked
36:43at him
36:44and suddenly
36:44understood
36:44that the
36:45pup was
36:45not a
36:45chain.
36:48This
36:48time,
36:49it was
36:49a
36:49future.
36:52After
36:53news of
36:53the pup
36:54spread,
36:54the oak
36:55pack became
36:55even more
36:56nervous than
36:56I was.
36:59Hilda
37:00immediately
37:00decided to
37:01move up
37:01the mating
37:02ceremony.
37:08her title
37:11cannot wait.
37:13She sat
37:13in the
37:14main hall,
37:15her tone
37:15allowing no
37:15argument.
37:20Since
37:21Daphne
37:21carries an
37:22oak pack
37:23pup,
37:24she must
37:24complete the
37:25ceremony at
37:26Moon and
37:27Goddess
37:27Square.
37:31I want
37:32everyone to
37:33know she
37:33is not
37:34someone
37:34discarded
37:35by another
37:36pack.
37:37She is
37:38the
37:39Luna
37:39the oak
37:40pack
37:41chose
37:41to bring
37:42home.
37:43My mother
37:44sat beside me
37:45and held
37:45my hand.
37:49One
37:50moment she
37:50smiled.
37:51The next,
37:52she lowered
37:52her head
37:52to wipe
37:53away tears.
37:59When you
38:00were little,
38:00you always
38:01said you
38:02wanted a
38:02home that
38:02truly belonged
38:03to you.
38:05I leaned
38:05Agatha's
38:05foot to
38:06her shoulder.
38:08I have
38:09one now.
38:10Asher did
38:11not let the
38:11Elder's Council
38:12announce my
38:12pregnancy right
38:13away.
38:13He said
38:14my body
38:15was still
38:15weak and
38:15my wolf
38:16spirit had
38:16only just
38:17begun to
38:17wake.
38:18I could
38:18not take
38:18too much
38:19outside
38:19pressure.
38:23Your
38:23safety comes
38:24first.
38:25A title
38:26means nothing
38:26if it costs
38:27you peace.
38:28But the
38:29news still
38:29reached the
38:30Starstone
38:30pack.
38:33Mara
38:33called me.
38:36Her
38:37voice was
38:37coarse.
38:39Daphne,
38:40I'm
38:40sorry.
38:43I found
38:44out too
38:45late.
38:47It's
38:48over.
38:50Rowan
38:51and Cedric,
38:54they want
38:55to see
38:55you.
38:56I did
38:56not answer
38:57right away.
38:59Mara
38:59seemed to
38:59know the
39:00answer already
39:00and sighed
39:01softly.
39:02I'll
39:03stop them.
39:04Focus on
39:05your ceremony.
39:08After the
39:09call ended,
39:09Asher came
39:10up behind me
39:10and draped a
39:11cloak over
39:11my shoulders.
39:15Are you
39:15cold?
39:16I shook
39:17my head.
39:18He looked
39:18down at my
39:19abdomen,
39:19his voice
39:20very gentle.
39:23Nora said
39:24today that
39:26your wolf
39:26spirit is
39:28starting to
39:28respond to
39:30the life
39:31wave from
39:31the pup.
39:32My fingers
39:33tightened
39:34slightly.
39:35In the
39:36Starstone
39:36pack, I
39:37had heard
39:37too many
39:37judgments
39:38about my
39:38wolf
39:38spirit.
39:40Asleep,
39:41weak,
39:41defective,
39:42not fit
39:42to be
39:42Luna,
39:43not fit
39:43to carry
39:43an
39:44Alphurs
39:44pup.
39:45Yet after
39:46I left
39:46Starstone,
39:47it began
39:47to wake.
39:49I suddenly
39:50smiled.
39:52So it
39:53wasn't that
39:53I wasn't
39:54good enough.
39:55Asher
39:56looked at
39:56me.
39:58That
39:58place was
39:58just too
39:59cold.
40:00The day
40:01before the
40:01mating
40:01ceremony,
40:02an oak
40:03pack elder
40:03came to
40:03confirm the
40:04registry.
40:05He placed
40:06the heavy
40:06pack registry
40:07on the
40:07table.
40:08My old
40:09record under
40:09the Starstone
40:10foster registry
40:10had already
40:11been crossed
40:11out.
40:11On the
40:12new page
40:12was my
40:13name.
40:13Daphne,
40:14born of
40:14the
40:14thorn pack
40:15transferred
40:15into the
40:16oak pack.
40:18Registered
40:18mate
40:19Asher.
40:20Upon
40:21completion of
40:21the ceremony
40:21to be
40:22recorded as
40:22Luna of
40:23the oak
40:23pack,
40:24I looked
40:24at that
40:25line,
40:25and peace
40:25settled
40:26Facebook
40:26I'd
40:26me.
40:28This
40:29was not
40:29the kind
40:29of we'll
40:30give you
40:30a place
40:30Rowan and
40:31Cedric
40:31used to
40:31offer.
40:32This
40:33was recognition
40:33written clearly
40:34in the
40:34pack registry.
40:36Tomorrow,
40:38queerly
40:38trivue.
40:40I touched
40:41the page
40:41lightly.
40:43Then let
40:43tomorrow come.
40:45On the
40:46day of the
40:46mating ceremony,
40:48Moon Goddess
40:48Square was
40:49covered in
40:49white branches
40:50and flowers.
40:51The elders
40:52stood before
40:52the high
40:53platform,
40:53ready to
40:54witness the
40:54rite.
40:55I sat in
40:56the dressing
40:56room while
40:57my mother
40:57adjusted my
40:58veil.
40:59She looked
41:00at me in
41:00the mirror,
41:01her eyes
41:01read again.
41:04Mira,
41:04ask me to
41:05apologize to
41:06you for
41:06her.
41:07I lowered
41:08my eyes.
41:09She did
41:10nothing wrong.
41:11She said
41:11she failed
41:12to see
41:12how much
41:13you suffered.
41:14I held
41:15my mother's
41:15hand gently.
41:18It's all
41:18in the
41:19past.
41:19Those ugly
41:20memories
41:20had become
41:21old wounds.
41:22The scars
41:23remained,
41:24but they
41:24no longer
41:24bled.
41:26Just before
41:27the ceremony
41:27music began,
41:28arguing broke
41:29out outside.
41:33A guard
41:33came in
41:34and lowered
41:34his voice.
41:38Rowan and
41:39Cedric
41:39forced
41:39through the
41:39outside of
41:40the square.
41:41They stopped
41:41them.
41:42My mother's
41:42face darkened.
41:43I was not
41:44surprised.
41:45I stood and
41:46walked to the
41:47end of the
41:47corridor.
41:50Through the
41:51stone gate
41:51outside the
41:52square,
41:52I saw
41:53Rowan and
41:53Cedric
41:53being blocked
41:54by oak
41:54packguards.
41:57Their clothes
41:57were disheveled,
41:58their faces
41:58were bruised.
41:59They looked
42:00as if they
42:00had fought
42:01their way
42:01there.
42:02When Cedric
42:03saw me,
42:04the dimness
42:04in his eyes
42:05lit up.
42:07Daphne!
42:08Rowan rushed
42:09forward too.
42:11You can't
42:12complete this
42:13ceremony.
42:14We know
42:15we were
42:15wrong.
42:17We were
42:18blinded by
42:19Flora!
42:20How
42:21ridiculous.
42:23After
42:2320 years
42:24of growing
42:24up together,
42:25they only
42:25saw the
42:25truth after
42:26I left.
42:27I did
42:28not answer.
42:29Rowan's
42:30eyes suddenly
42:30reddened.
42:32Did you
42:33forget
42:33everything
42:34between us?
42:36You
42:36left so
42:37completely.
42:39You
42:40didn't
42:40take a
42:40single
42:40dress.
42:42Not
42:42one
42:43photograph.
42:44The
42:45irises
42:45in
42:46Stardone
42:46Manor
42:47are gone.
42:48Your
42:49scent
42:49is gone.
42:5120
42:51years,
42:52Daphne.
42:54you
42:54left
42:55nothing
42:55behind
42:55but
42:56memories.
42:57I
42:57looked at
42:58him.
42:59Cedric
43:00suddenly
43:00broke
43:00away from
43:01the
43:01bars and
43:01dropped
43:01to his
43:02knees
43:02in front
43:02of me.
43:06He
43:06picked up
43:07a sharp
43:07stone and
43:07smashed it
43:08into his
43:08own
43:08ankle.
43:12Blood
43:12rushed out
43:13hastily.
43:15Daphne,
43:16don't be
43:16angry
43:17anymore,
43:17okay?
43:19Look,
43:21I'm
43:22paying
43:22back
43:22that
43:22kick.
43:25As
43:26long as
43:26you
43:26forgive
43:26me,
43:29I'll
43:29do
43:29anything.
43:30I
43:30looked at
43:31his
43:31bloody
43:31ankle.
43:32There
43:33was no
43:33satisfaction
43:34in me.
43:36No
43:37pity
43:37either,
43:39only
43:39calm.
43:44Rowan,
43:45Cedric,
43:46you
43:47taught me
43:48that
43:48waiting
43:49means
43:49nothing
43:49in front
43:50of
43:50people
43:50who
43:50refuse
43:51to
43:51choose
43:51me.
43:54I
43:55placed a
43:55hand over
43:56my abdomen.
43:58I
43:59already
43:59have a
43:59pup.
44:00From
44:01now
44:01on,
44:04Asher,
44:05our
44:05pup,
44:06and I
44:07will
44:07live
44:08well.
44:09So
44:09I
44:09hope
44:10you
44:10never
44:10appear
44:11in
44:11front
44:11of
44:11me
44:11again.
44:12And
44:12if
44:13you
44:13want
44:13to
44:13die,
44:15do
44:15it
44:15somewhere
44:16else.
44:17Don't
44:17ruin
44:18my
44:18ceremony.
44:21The
44:22guard
44:22stepped
44:22forward
44:23again
44:23and
44:23dragged
44:24Cedric
44:24away.
44:26Rowan
44:27stopped
44:27struggling.
44:29He
44:29only
44:29stared
44:30at
44:30me,
44:30as
44:30if
44:31he
44:31finally
44:31understood
44:31that
44:32some
44:32things
44:32could
44:32never
44:32come
44:33back.
44:34I
44:34turned
44:34and
44:35walked
44:35toward
44:35the
44:35square.
44:37Behind
44:38me,
44:38Cedric's
44:39broken shout
44:39tore
44:40through
44:40the
44:40air.
44:41I
44:42did
44:42not
44:42look
44:42back.
44:44On
44:44the
44:44platform,
44:45Asher
44:46had been
44:46waiting for
44:46me the
44:46whole time.
44:49The
44:49elder
44:49raised the
44:50ceremonial
44:50scroll.
44:55The
44:55mating
44:56ceremony
44:57of the
44:58oak
44:59pack
45:00begins.
45:05I
45:05walked
45:06toward
45:06Asher
45:06step
45:07by
45:07step.
45:08At
45:09moon
45:09goddess
45:09square,
45:10every
45:10member of
45:11the
45:11oak
45:11pack
45:11lowered
45:11their
45:12head
45:12in
45:12silence.
45:15Asher
45:15held out
45:16his
45:16hand.
45:17I
45:17placed
45:18mine
45:18in
45:18his
45:18palm.
45:19The
45:19elder
45:20stood
45:20before
45:20us,
45:21his
45:21voice
45:21solemn.
45:25This
45:25was not
45:26an
45:26ordinary
45:26wedding.
45:27Every
45:27vow would
45:28be written
45:28into the
45:28oak
45:29pack
45:29registry
45:29and become
45:30an
45:30identity
45:30recognized
45:31by the
45:31pack.
45:33Daphne,
45:34do you
45:35willingly
45:35can
45:36complete
45:36this
45:37mating
45:38ceremony
45:38with
45:39Asher?
45:41Join
45:42the
45:42oak
45:42pack
45:42and
45:43carry
45:44the
45:44duties
45:44of
45:44Luna.
45:47I
45:47looked
45:48at
45:48Asher.
45:50I
45:51do.
45:51The
45:52elder
45:52turned
45:52to
45:53Asher.
45:55Asher,
45:56do you
45:57willingly
45:58acknowledge
45:58Daphne
45:59as your
46:00mate?
46:01Protect
46:02and
46:02honor
46:03her
46:04and
46:04guard
46:05the
46:05oak
46:05pack
46:06with
46:06her.
46:08Asher
46:08tightened
46:09his
46:09hold
46:09on
46:09my
46:09hand.
46:13I
46:13do.
46:15Hilda
46:16personally
46:16brought
46:16forward
46:17the
46:17Luna
46:17crown
46:17of
46:17the
46:17oak
46:18pack.
46:20It
46:20was
46:20not
46:21extravagant.
46:22Pale
46:22gold
46:22branches
46:22crossed
46:23in
46:23delicate
46:23lines
46:24and
46:24a
46:24warm
46:24moonstone
46:25rested
46:25at
46:25the
46:25center.
46:26She
46:26handed
46:26the
46:27crown
46:27to
46:27Asher.
46:33But
46:34Asher
46:34did
46:34not
46:34immediately
46:35place
46:35it
46:35on
46:35my
46:35head.
46:37Asher
46:38asked
46:38softly.
46:41May
46:41I?
46:42I
46:43looked
46:43at
46:43him
46:43and
46:43nodded.
46:48The
46:48moment
46:49the
46:49crown
46:49settled
46:49on
46:49me,
46:50I
46:50heard
46:50the
46:50faintest
46:51breath
46:51deep
46:51Facebook
46:52eyed
46:52my
46:52heart.
47:01My
47:02wolf
47:02spirit
47:02woke.
47:03It
47:04did
47:04not
47:04roar.
47:05It
47:05did
47:05not
47:05struggle.
47:07It
47:08simply
47:08opened
47:08its
47:08eyes
47:09and
47:09looked
47:09quietly
47:09at
47:09Asher
47:10than
47:10at
47:10the
47:10pup
47:10in
47:10my
47:11womb.
47:13Healer
47:13Nora
47:14stood
47:14below
47:14the
47:14platform,
47:15her
47:15eyes
47:15bright
47:15in
47:16surprise.
47:18The
47:19elder
47:19opened
47:19the
47:19pack
47:20registry
47:20and
47:20wrote
47:20my
47:20identity
47:21on
47:21a
47:21new
47:21page.
47:24From
47:25this
47:25day
47:25forward
47:26Daphne
47:26is
47:27Luna
47:27of
47:28the
47:28oak
47:28pack.
47:29Every
47:29wolf
47:30in
47:30the
47:30square
47:30spoke
47:31a
47:31reason.
47:32Luna!
47:37I
47:37had
47:37waited
47:38four
47:38years
47:38for
47:38someone
47:39to
47:39acknowledge
47:39my
47:39place.
47:41Only
47:41now
47:41did
47:42I
47:42understand.
47:45A
47:45place
47:46that
47:46truly
47:46belonged
47:46to
47:47me
47:47should
47:47never
47:47have
47:47had
47:47to
47:47be
47:48begged
47:48for.
47:49Asher
47:50held
47:50my
47:50hand
47:50and
47:50led
47:50me
47:51down
47:51from
47:51the
47:51platform.
48:00Luna,
48:01welcome
48:02home.
48:03My eyes
48:03burned,
48:04but this
48:04time I did
48:04not cry
48:05from pain.
48:09After the
48:09ceremony,
48:10an oak pack
48:11guard brought
48:11news.
48:13Luna, the
48:14Starstone Elders
48:14Council has
48:15issued an
48:15initial ruling.
48:17The Starstone Elders
48:18Council had
48:19restricted Rowan
48:19and Cedric's
48:20Alpha
48:20Authority.
48:22They were
48:22required to
48:23surrender half
48:23of their
48:24authority over
48:24pack affairs,
48:25and their
48:26right to
48:26confirm a
48:26Luna candidate
48:27was temporarily
48:28revoked.
48:29Because Cedric
48:29had harmed
48:30Ashivolf who
48:31had already
48:31transferred out
48:32of the
48:32Starstone
48:32registry,
48:33he was
48:33forbidden to
48:34use Alpha
48:34Aura alone
48:35to handle
48:35pack disputes.
48:37The reason
48:37was simple.
48:38They had
48:39allowed Flora
48:39to claim
48:40Luna symbols,
48:41hurt Ashivolf
48:42no longer
48:42under their
48:42registry,
48:43and made
48:44Starstone lose
48:44face before
48:45the oak pack.
48:46Flora and
48:47Leta were
48:47removed from
48:47the Starstone
48:48registry.
48:49Before being
48:50sent back to
48:50the Vine
48:51Pack,
48:51they would
48:51face the
48:52pack port.
48:53The Vine
48:54Pack refused
48:54to pay their
48:55compensation for
48:55them.
48:56Once they
48:56returned,
48:57they would
48:57lose the
48:58protection they
48:58had once
48:58relied on.
49:00The Luna
49:00crown was
49:01taken back.
49:02The Luna
49:03ring was
49:03removed.
49:04Every single
49:05thing Flora
49:06had stolen was
49:06taken from
49:07her one by
49:07one.
49:08After I
49:09heard the
49:09news,
49:10I only
49:10nodded.
49:11Asher held
49:11my hand and
49:12led me down
49:13from the
49:13platform.
49:14In the
49:14distance,
49:15Rowan and
49:15Cedric were
49:16being escorted
49:16away by
49:17guards.
49:18Hilda ordered
49:19the oak
49:20guardstow
49:20connect the
49:21courtroom feed
49:21from
49:21Starstone.
49:26Flora and
49:27Lita stood
49:28before the
49:28Starstone elders.
49:32Daphne hated
49:33me.
49:36She set me
49:37up.
49:38Those room
49:39records and
49:40screenshots could
49:41have been made
49:41by anyone.
49:42Lita immediately
49:43knelt beside
49:43her.
49:47My daughter
49:48is young.
49:52She only wore
49:53those things
49:54because the
49:54two alphas
49:55allowed it.
49:57If anyone
49:58should be
49:59blamed,
50:00it is
50:01Daphne.
50:05She never
50:06made her
50:06position clear.
50:08Mara's face
50:08turned cold
50:09on the other
50:10side of the
50:10room.
50:12Enough.
50:14The Starstone
50:15elder opened
50:15the black
50:16market ledger.
50:20Lita,
50:21your personal
50:23seal is on
50:23every sale
50:24record.
50:25Flora,
50:27your messages
50:28asked the
50:29buyer to
50:29move the
50:29items before
50:30Daphne returned
50:31to the
50:32manor.
50:32The screen
50:33showed the
50:34evidence one
50:34by one.
50:35My broken
50:36moonstone
50:37pendant.
50:37My missing
50:38gowns, the
50:39old Starstone
50:40ceremonial table
50:40wear.
50:41paper, the
50:42payment records
50:43from the
50:43neutral zone.
50:45Flora shook
50:46her head
50:47wildly.
50:51No!
50:53Rowan and
50:54Cedric said
50:55I would be
50:55Luna!
50:57Everything in
50:58that manin
50:59would become
50:59mine anyway!
51:01The courtroom
51:01went silent.
51:03That one
51:03sentence destroyed
51:04her last
51:05excuse.
51:07Mara closed
51:08her eyes.
51:11You stole
51:13from Starstone,
51:14framed Daphne
51:15and used
51:16my son's
51:17stupidity
51:18as your
51:18shield.
51:25Daphne,
51:25please!
51:26Say something!
51:28Tell them
51:28you forgive me!
51:29I looked at
51:30her through
51:30the screen.
51:32I'm not
51:32your shield
51:33anymore.
51:35The
51:36Starstone
51:36elder struck
51:37the table.
51:39Flora and
51:40Leta will be
51:40expelled from
51:41Starstone
51:42tonight.
51:43All stolen
51:44property will
51:45be recovered.
51:49Any unpaid
51:51debt will
51:53follow them
51:54back to
51:54the vine
51:55pack.
51:56Flora screamed
51:57as the guards
51:57took her arms.
52:01Before the feed
52:02cut off,
52:03she shouted
52:03one last
52:04sentence.
52:05If I go
52:06down,
52:07Rowan and
52:08Cedric's
52:09go down
52:10with me!
52:13After Flora's
52:14last accusation,
52:15Starstone opened
52:16a second hearing
52:17at dawn.
52:18This time,
52:19Rowan and
52:19Cedric were
52:20standing before
52:21the elders'
52:21council.
52:22They no longer
52:23wore the full
52:24alpha badges
52:24on their coats.
52:27Half of the
52:28Starstone command
52:29seal had already
52:30been removed.
52:31The Starstone
52:32elder read the
52:32judgment in front
52:33of everyone.
52:35Rowan and
52:36Cedric failed
52:37to protect a
52:38fostered she-wolf
52:40under Starstone
52:41skep.
52:44They handed
52:44lunar symbols
52:45to an
52:46unconfirmed
52:47candidate,
52:49allowed theft
52:50inside the
52:50manor,
52:52and attacked
52:53a registered
52:54mate of the
52:55oak pack.
52:57Cedric's jaw
52:58tightened.
52:59Punish me.
53:03But let me see
53:04Daphne once.
53:06I will give up
53:08my personal
53:08estate.
53:10I will rebuild
53:11the Iris Garden.
53:12I will return
53:13every room to
53:14the way it was.
53:16Just ask her to
53:17come back and
53:18look once.
53:20The room,
53:21the flowers,
53:22the cliff,
53:23the gown.
53:25They still thought
53:26love could be
53:26repaired by putting
53:27old things back
53:28in place.
53:30I don't want
53:31the Iris Garden
53:32back.
53:34I don't want
53:34the cliff.
53:35I don't want
53:35your apology.
53:38I don't want
53:39any place in
53:40Starstone.
53:41Cedric's eyes
53:41turned red.
53:43Daphne,
53:43I know I hurt
53:44you.
53:46I can change.
53:48You can change
53:49for Starstone,
53:51not for me.
53:52From today
53:53forward,
53:54Rowan and
53:55Cedric will
53:57remain under
53:58elder supervision
54:00for one
54:02year.
54:03Their authority
54:04to select or
54:05confirm a
54:06Luna is
54:06revoked.
54:08Any contact
54:09with Luna Daphne
54:10of the Oak
54:11Pack requires
54:12Oak Pack
54:13approval.
54:14Mara spoke
54:14through the
54:15screen.
54:17Daphne,
54:18I am sorry
54:18for the home
54:19that failed
54:19you.
54:20My mother
54:21held my
54:21hand.
54:23I touched
54:23the Luna
54:24crown on
54:24the table
54:25beside me
54:25and felt
54:26my wolf
54:26spirit settle
54:27calmly in
54:27my chest.
54:29Aunt
54:30Mira,
54:30I remember
54:31your kindness.
54:32But I am
54:33done with
54:34Starstone.
54:35I turn to
54:36the Oak
54:37Guard.
54:39Send my
54:39final statement.
54:41I will not
54:42attend any
54:43further
54:43Starstone
54:44hearings.
54:45I will not
54:46meet Rowan
54:47or Cedric.
54:49I will not
54:50accept private
54:51messages from
54:52them.
54:53Yes,
54:54Luna.
54:55The guard
54:55cut the
54:56feed.
54:58For the
54:59first time,
55:00Rowan and
55:00Cedric's
55:01voices could
55:01not reach
55:02me.
55:03Asher gently
55:03took my
55:04hand.
55:05I looked
55:06at him,
55:07then at my
55:07mother and
55:08Hilda.
55:10The wind
55:11swept across
55:12the square.
55:14The
55:14moonstone on
55:15my crown
55:15glowed
55:15softly.
55:17My
55:18wolf spirit
55:19moved closer
55:19Facebook-eyed
55:20my heart.
55:22At last,
55:23it was no
55:23longer afraid.
55:25I tightened
55:26my fingers around
55:27Asher's hand and
55:28walked forward with
55:28a smile.
55:29smile.
55:31I was not a
55:32dim moon.
55:33I had simply
55:34left the people
55:35who never knew
55:35how to look up
55:36at me.
55:37From then on,
55:38the suffering
55:38was over.
55:40My life had
55:41truly begun.
55:44Leora walked
55:45beside me,
55:45her eyes still
55:46wet.
55:47Daphne,
55:49your father
55:51would have
55:51been proud.
55:53Hilda smiled
55:54and adjusted
55:55the edge of
55:55my cloak.
55:58The Oak
55:59Pack will
56:00remember this
56:01day.
56:02Not because
56:03we gained
56:04a Luna,
56:05but because
56:06our Luna
56:07chose us
56:08with clear
56:09eyes.
56:10I turned
56:10back only
56:11once.
56:12Not to
56:13look for
56:13Rowan or
56:14Cedric.
56:16I looked
56:17at the
56:17white branches,
56:18the flowers,
56:19and the path
56:19I had walked
56:20alone before
56:20Asher reached
56:21for my hand.
56:24Are you
56:25tired?
56:27A little.
56:29Then go
56:30home with
56:30me.
56:31Home dot
56:31the word
56:32no longer
56:32hurt.
56:34It no longer
56:34sounded like
56:35a room that
56:35could be
56:36taken away,
56:36a cliff that
56:37could be
56:37shared with
56:38another woman,
56:40or a promise
56:41that could
56:41be broken.
56:44It sounded
56:45like a door
56:45opening for
56:46me.
56:46I nodded.
56:50Let's go
56:50home.
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