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Short filmTranscript
00:00In my past life, Lyra, the low-born daughter of a noble pack family, fell into the lake.
00:09My brother Caden pulled her out.
00:12She accused him of assaulting her in the water, demanded he take her as his mate,
00:17said she'd drag the whole thing before the Alpha King and Luna Queen, and have him punished if he refused.
00:23It was the worst possible time.
00:26Caden was right in the middle of his succession process for the Northmark Alpha title.
00:30I was terrified it would derail everything, so I pushed T into it.
00:35He took her as his mate.
00:39Seven months later, she gave birth to twins.
00:42Caden endured the humiliation, raised her two sons, fought rogue wolves on the border, until he came home crippled.
00:49Then she and her sons poisoned him.
00:51He bled from every wound and died in his own filth.
00:54I tried to report it.
00:56My fiancé, Dorian, looped his belt around my throat.
01:00If you report them, Lyra and my two sons die for it.
01:07I opened my eyes.
01:09I was back at the summer gathering.
01:12I saw Lyra fall into the lake.
01:16Sis, someone's drowning. We have to go help.
01:18Don't you dare move.
01:19This was a second chance.
01:21There was no version of this life where I let him walk into that trap.
01:24Sis, why are you crying?
01:26I'm fine. Wind got to me.
01:30Sis, let go of me. Someone's life is at stake.
01:33I said, don't move.
01:35Are you serious right now? Someone's drowning.
01:39Someone will save her, just not you.
01:43I turned to the squat, pockmarked stable hand standing nearby.
01:47Bram, you want to mate or not?
01:50Bram worked the stables at Northmark Manor.
01:52He was built like a barrel.
01:54Face cratered with old scars.
01:56Teeth the color of old bone.
01:57Lazy as the day was long.
02:00Spent his wages at gambling dens and pleasure houses.
02:03Any other servant? I'd have thrown him out years ago.
02:06But Bram had one thing going for him.
02:08His father.
02:09Old Wreck had carried my father's body off the battlefield with his own back.
02:13Out of a pile of the dead.
02:14That kind of loyalty didn't expire.
02:17So Bram, for all his uselessness,
02:20had a kind of untouchable status in the manor.
02:24Even Caden and I gave him a little room.
02:26We didn't send him on errands lightly.
02:29Today was only because our other two stable hands had fallen sick.
02:32So Bram was driving us to the summer gathering.
02:35Of course I want one, my lady.
02:39Bram.
02:41Today I'm handing you an opportunity.
02:45Go pull that girl out of the water.
02:47But after you get her out, hide in the reeds.
02:51Don't let anyone see you.
02:52Wait until I call for you.
02:55I promise by the end of today,
02:57you'll have yourself a highborn mate for free.
03:00Whatever you say, my lady.
03:04Then go.
03:06Bram hit the water with a splash.
03:08The delay had cost Lyra.
03:10She'd swallowed a lot of water by then and was barely conscious.
03:13Everyone follow me quickly.
03:15My lady fell in the water.
03:17Hide.
03:18Now.
03:18I'll call you when it's time.
03:20Yes, my lady.
03:21Lyra's personal attendant arrived with a whole group behind her.
03:25At the front, my fiance, Dorian, son of the pack elder.
03:28Caden saved her, didn't he?
03:30Lyra coughed up water and came around.
03:35She looked at the crowd.
03:37Then she pointed straight at Caden and burst into tears.
03:41Screaming that he'd assaulted her in the water.
03:43The crowd erupted.
03:46They call Beta Caden a young hero.
03:49Fearless against rogues on the border.
03:51And yet here he is, preying on a helpless girl.
03:53You really can't judge a wolf by his fur.
03:55Exactly.
03:56Attacking a defenseless woman.
03:58What kind of hero does that?
04:00Northmark Pack has always stood for loyalty and honor.
04:03How did they raise someone like this?
04:04I can't believe this is the Caden we all respected.
04:07He's dragged his whole bloodline through the mud.
04:12That's not what happened.
04:13I didn't touch her.
04:15You didn't touch me?
04:16You had your hands all over me in that water.
04:18You did this to me and now you're going to stand there and deny it?
04:21Caden, you're a Beta warrior.
04:22How could you do something like this?
04:24Dorian, I didn't.
04:25I swear I didn't.
04:26You have to believe me.
04:27Then why would Lyra say this?
04:28She's a daughter of a noble Pack family.
04:30What would she gain by lying?
04:31Why did you humiliate me like this, Caden?
04:33Does a woman's honor mean nothing to you?
04:36Do you think I'd destroy my own reputation just to frame you?
04:44Beta Caden used a rescuer's cover to assault an innocent girl.
04:47And now he won't even own it.
04:50Shameless.
04:54You ride your rogue fighting reputation and come back
04:57thinking you can do whatever you want to pack women in the capital?
05:01He ruined her honor.
05:03He has to take responsibility.
05:05If this gets out, how is she ever supposed to find a mate?
05:07And she's lowborn on top of everything.
05:10Caden, if you're any kind of wolf, stand up in front of everyone right now and come making
05:14this right.
05:16Take Lyra as your mate.
05:19I'm telling you, I didn't do anything to her.
05:21Why won't any of you listen?
05:23Caden, even now you're going to dig in?
05:26I pulled Caden behind me and shook my head.
05:29This was Dorian and Lyra's trap.
05:31Every piece of it was designed.
05:33He could talk until he was hoarse.
05:35No one here was going to believe him.
05:37Vera.
05:38Northman Pack is your responsibility.
05:39This is Caden's fault.
05:41Set a date, go to the family with a formal mating request, and bring Lyra home to the manor properly.
05:45We're not yet mated, Vera.
05:46We're one unit.
05:47My family and yours are bound together.
05:49Everything I'm saying is for Caden's sake and Northman's sake.
05:52If this escalates, it damages Caden and Northman Pack's name.
05:55He's right in the middle of his Alpha title succession.
05:57If someone brings this before the Alpha King and it creates complications, that's a problem.
06:01The Luna Queen and Alpha Prince's Luna are arriving soon.
06:04If this blows up and ruins the summer gathering, the Luna Queen won't be pleased.
06:08Better to handle this quietly.
06:09Everyone walks away happy.
06:11Everyone walks away happy.
06:12He meant him and Lyra walk away happy.
06:15I looked at Dorian with his polished speech and his fake concern and felt sick to my stomach.
06:21Last life, I'd been fooled by that act.
06:24I'd made Caden carry the weight of it.
06:27And it had destroyed us both.
06:30This life, Caden and I could die right here before I let him mate Lyra.
06:34Dorian, hold on.
06:36Let me ask Lyra something first.
06:40I stepped forward.
06:42Lyra, are you absolutely certain the one who assaulted you in the water was my brother, Caden?
06:46I saw him clearly.
06:47It was Caden.
06:49You're saying Caden assaulted you in the water.
06:52Then why is every inch of him completely dry?
06:54The crowd looked at Caden.
06:56Not a drop of water on him.
06:58Confusion spread across their faces.
07:01He probably changed clothes after he pulled me out.
07:04I blacked out when I got to the bank.
07:06I don't know what happened after that.
07:07But in the water, I saw him clearly.
07:09Dorian's eyes went sharp.
07:11Vera, your brother did something wrong.
07:14Instead of making him admit it, you're interrogating Lyra.
07:16What is your problem?
07:17Is Northmark Pac trying to bully their way out of this?
07:23Just because they have Pac's strength and the Alpha King's favor doesn't mean there are no rules.
07:28We will get justice for Lyra today.
07:31The crowd followed.
07:34Caden has to take responsibility.
07:36Dorian looked around, confident with the crowd at his back.
07:42Vera, admit it right now and send a formal mating request to her family.
07:46I looked at Dorian, handsome on the outside and rotten to the core,
07:50and thought of the look on his face when he tightened that belt around my throat in the last life.
07:56My stomach turned.
07:59Dorian, did you personally see Caden assault Lyra?
08:03He opened his mouth.
08:04Nothing came out.
08:07What are you saying?
08:08That Lyra destroyed her own honor just to frame your brother?
08:15I thought I knew you.
08:17I was wrong.
08:18Duchess Maren pointed at me.
08:19How long does Northmark Pac plan to keep bullying people?
08:22You're covering for your brother even now.
08:25The crowd's mood turned.
08:26They looked ready to spit on me.
08:28We are upsetting Lyra, Dinand.
08:31Northmark Pac has gone too far.
08:33We all see it now.
08:34We always respected them.
08:36What a mistake that was.
08:38I looked over the crowd.
08:40Has anyone here personally seen my brother assault Lyra?
08:43Silence.
08:44They looked at each other.
08:45Nobody spoke.
08:46You're absolutely certain it was Caden.
08:48You say he ruined your honor.
08:50What's your proof?
08:53I have proof.
08:54She reached into her clothing and pulled out a jade pendant.
08:56This!
08:58When I was fighting in the water, I tore it off the person who attacked me.
09:05The crowd saw it and the verdict was sealed.
09:08Still have something to say?
09:10That's not mine.
09:15No one believed him.
09:17If it's not Caden's, whose is it?
09:18That's a fine piece of jade.
09:19But there's no Northmark mark on it.
09:22Lyra says it's my brother's.
09:23Does that make it his?
09:24When we got here, you and Caden were the only two at the scene.
09:26Who else could it belong of?
09:27Duchess Marin.
09:28Lyra says with nothing but her own word that this belongs to my brother.
09:31I could just as easily say it belongs to your mate.
09:33Don't you dare drag my mate into this!
09:39Lyra's voice cracked into a wail.
09:42I am a proper-born wolf of good standing.
09:45I have never stepped outside the bounds of what's right.
09:48I am not shameless.
09:49I don't degrade myself.
09:51My honor is gone.
09:53Now you're humiliating me on top of it.
09:55I'd rather draw than die!
09:56She broke free from the crowd and ran toward the water.
09:59Everyone gasped and grabbed for her.
10:01Dorian went white with fury, pulled back his hand, and slapped me hard across the face.
10:05I didn't think you were capable of this, Vera.
10:08He went to strike again.
10:09Caden caught his arm and locked it.
10:11Dorian, touch my sister one more time and see what I do to your hand.
10:16I said I didn't assault Lyra.
10:17I didn't ruin her honor.
10:19A wolf's word is his bond.
10:21Why is not one of you willing to take me at mine?
10:24If anyone else insult my sister, don't expect me to stay quiet.
10:28The crowd's anger spiked higher.
10:30Caden!
10:31You did something disgusting and you're standing here smug about it.
10:34Do you think PAC law doesn't apply to you?
10:36If you won't admit it, we'll take this to the Luna Queen herself and let her judge you!
10:41I pressed my hand to my stinging cheek.
10:43Beneath the pain, something warm spread through my chest from Caden's words.
10:47This life, whatever it cost me, I was going to protect him.
10:51I looked at Lyra.
10:53Seems like you've already decided to pour this bucket on my brother no matter what.
10:59But hear me clearly, Lyra.
11:01You want Caden as your mate?
11:03You're dreaming.
11:05We'd both die before that happens.
11:07She hesitated.
11:08Then something dark crossed her eyes.
11:09You're only standing firm because no one was there to witness it.
11:12No one can prove your version either.
11:14She turned and threw herself headfirst into a tree.
11:17The crowd lurched to stop her.
11:19Too slow.
11:20She split her forehead open.
11:21Blood ran down her face.
11:23The crowd's fury hit its peak.
11:27Northmark Pack is killing her!
11:30Her brother did wrong.
11:31And she's forcing an innocent girl to die for it.
11:35What kind of people are they?
11:37Lyra, this isn't your fault.
11:39Northmark Pack is wrong here.
11:41We'll have our mates bring this before the Pack Council tomorrow.
11:44If Northmark keeps refusing, right!
11:46Northmark Pack.
11:48Vera, you won't stop until she's dead, will you?
11:51I see who you really are now, Vera.
11:53I can't mate a woman with a heart like this.
11:55If Northmark Pack won't answer for Lyra today,
11:58then our mate-bond agreement is void.
11:59I'm calling it off.
12:00A woman who can't tell right from wrong,
12:03mate her and your Pack will never have peace!
12:05Better to break it off now!
12:07Dorian was certain I wouldn't let him do it.
12:10In this world, a woman whose mate-bond was broken was done.
12:13The gossip alone would drown her.
12:15But he didn't know I'd spent this entire time setting up for exactly this moment.
12:20You said it, Dorian, son of the Pack Elder.
12:21A wolf's word is his bond.
12:23I'm releasing our mate-bond agreement.
12:25Right now.
12:28Someone bring paper and something to write with.
12:29I want Dorian to put the dissolution in writing.
12:34Dorian had only meant it as leverage.
12:36Forced me to push Caden into the mating.
12:38He hadn't actually wanted out.
12:39My answer caught him completely off guard.
12:41He went still.
12:42Dorian was sharp, calculating.
12:43He saw the leverage failing and softened fast.
12:45If you'll just let Caden take responsibility,
12:47we don't need to dissolve anything.
12:49My brother Caden is a true wolf who has done nothing wrong.
12:53Write the dissolution, Dorian.
12:55A servant brought paper and a writing tool.
12:58Dorian was cornered.
12:59He wrote the dissolution,
13:01then threw it at me like he was doing me a favor.
13:04Lady Thorn from the noble Pack family is here.
13:07Lyra flinched and drew in on herself.
13:09My stepmother came.
13:10She'll destroy me.
13:11Vera, please.
13:12Just let this go.
13:14The Pack ladies pressed in around me.
13:15Vera, you're a woman too.
13:17You understand what honor means to us.
13:19If this spreads,
13:20how does Lyra ever find a mate?
13:21And she's lowborn.
13:23Besides science.
13:24Just say yes to this mating
13:25and give her a way to survive.
13:27They'd all been taken in by Lyra's helpless act.
13:30None of them had any idea
13:31what she was capable of behind closed doors.
13:33I gave a cold smile.
13:35You reap what you sow.
13:37Lyra, I'm not the one who can help you.
13:39I don't think anyone can help you today.
13:44Lady Thorn arrived and ran a flat look over Lyra, soaking wet.
13:49What happened?
13:49Everyone talked over each other to explain.
13:52It was Caden!
13:52The wolf!
13:52Lady Thorn's brow tightened.
13:54Take the second daughter away.
13:56Stop making a scene.
13:57An elder Pack matron stepped forward
13:58and began dragging Lyra out.
14:00Vera!
14:01Caden!
14:02If you won't admit it,
14:03I won't survive this.
14:05Lady Thorn,
14:05today's events really can't be blamed on your daughter.
14:08You must speak up for her.
14:09Vera, voice flat.
14:11Northmark Pack may have more battlefield honors
14:13in the Alpha King's favor than our family,
14:15but we are not easy to push around.
14:17My daughter has called me mother for over a decade.
14:20I will get justice for her from Northmark Pack.
14:23I could see the key person had arrived.
14:25The ground was ready.
14:26Lady Thorn,
14:28you're Lyra's stepmother.
14:30You're the one who has authority over her mating arrangements.
14:33So let me ask you plainly,
14:34right here in front of everyone,
14:36is it your family's position
14:37that whoever pulled Lyra out of that water today
14:39is responsible for her
14:40and must take her as their mate?
14:41It is.
14:42I looked at Lyra.
14:43That's your position too, Lyra?
14:44Lyra bit her lip.
14:45Yes.
14:46No matter who it is,
14:48Lyra will mate with that person.
14:49Yes or no?
14:50Yes.
14:51And Dorian and everyone here agrees?
14:53Of course.
14:53A true wolf owns his actions.
14:56Yes.
14:56Yes.
14:57Everyone heard that.
14:58You're all witnesses.
15:00Lyra,
15:01don't you regret this?
15:30I turned toward the thick reeds on the bank
15:32What are you talking about?
15:33I'm the one who saved you.
15:34No, you're not.
15:35It was Caden.
15:36It was Caden.
15:37That's ridiculous.
15:38My master and my lady were standing together.
15:40Neither of them went near the water.
15:42How could they have saved you?
15:43When I pulled you out,
15:44you tore that neck right off my neck.
15:46That's a lie.
15:47Something like that couldn't belong to someone like you.
15:49Bram smiled wide and slow,
15:51every yellow tooth on display.
15:53The Alpha Prince gave that to me personally.
15:55About a month ago,
15:56I kept the Alpha Prince's young heir
15:58from getting hurt
15:59when he fell from a carriage.
16:00The Alpha Prince uncliffed it himself
16:02and gave it to me as a reward.
16:04I saved you.
16:05That's the truth.
16:06Lyra's face went hollow.
16:07She kept shaking her head.
16:08It wasn't you.
16:09It wasn't you.
16:11It was Caden.
16:12The Alpha Prince's gift can be verified.
16:14It can't be faked.
16:15Bram serves Northmark Manor.
16:16He wouldn't lie about something this serious.
16:18But to be thorough,
16:19we should confirm it.
16:22We should check.
16:23The Luna Queen and the Alpha Prince's Luna
16:24both expected around this time.
16:25We could wait for the Luna Queen to decide.
16:27Dorian's expression went tight.
16:29He could feel the situation slipping past him.
16:31And there was nothing he could do about it.
16:34The Luna Queen has arrived.
16:36The Alpha Prince's Luna has arrived.
16:38Everyone dropped to their knees.
16:39Luna Seraphine told them to rise,
16:41smiling.
16:42Why is everyone gathered here
16:44instead of in the garden?
16:46Lady Thorn knelt and presented
16:47the whole situation to the Luna Queen,
16:49begging her to decide.
16:51The Luna Queen's expression grew serious.
16:54Vera,
16:54if Caden has feelings for Lyra,
16:56I can petition the Alpha King
16:57for a royal mate decree.
17:00Luna Queen,
17:01today is the first time
17:02he's ever laid eyes on Lyra.
17:03There are no feelings to speak of.
17:05Caden would never do something
17:07this dishonorable.
17:08The one who entered the water
17:09and pulled Lyra out
17:10was our stable hand, Bram.
17:12We have physical evidence.
17:14The Luna Queen
17:15had the pendant brought forward.
17:16She looked at it and said,
17:18This is indeed the Alpha Prince's peace.
17:20About a month ago,
17:21our young Kian nearly fell from the carriage.
17:23One of Northmark Manor's stable hand
17:24caught him in time.
17:25The Alpha Prince gave that pendant
17:26to the stable hand on the spot
17:27as a reward.
17:28The one who entered the water today
17:29is also a stable hand from Northmark.
17:31I imagine it's the same person.
17:33Luna Queen,
17:33it is the same person.
17:35That pendant proves Lyra
17:37was rescued by Bram,
17:38not Caden.
17:39But Lyra refuses to admit it
17:41and keeps insisting
17:42it was my brother.
17:44I respectfully ask
17:46the Luna Queen
17:46to investigate this thoroughly
17:48and restore Caden's name.
17:52The Luna Queen called Bram forward.
17:55Bram,
17:56is there any other evidence?
17:58Yes, Luna Queen.
17:59When I pulled Lyra
18:01out of the water,
18:01I saw a red crescent birthmark
18:04on her chest.
18:05If Lyra keeps denying it
18:06and keeps accusing my master,
18:07you can verify it.
18:08If the mark isn't there,
18:09I'll accept whatever punishment
18:10is given to me.
18:11The crowd erupted.
18:12Lyra was shaking.
18:14Her eyes were hollow.
18:16Dorian had gone white.
18:18A birthmark can't be faked.
18:20I'm going to get
18:20to the bottom of this.
18:22Take Lyra inside
18:23and have her examined.
18:24Lyra inside
18:24and have her examined.
18:25One of the Luna Queen's
18:26elder pack matrons
18:27stepped forward
18:28with two attendants.
18:29Lyra, come with us.
18:30Lyra's legs gave out.
18:32She fainted
18:33from sheer terror.
18:34The matron signaled
18:35the attendants.
18:36They carried Lyra inside.
18:38The Luna Queen
18:38turned to Duchess Maren.
18:40Go with a few
18:40of the pack ladies.
18:41Be witnesses.
18:44The matron opened
18:45Lyra's wet clothing
18:46in front of them.
18:47Between her collarbones,
18:48clear as anything,
18:49a red crescent birthmark.
18:51It's real.
18:52A mark like that,
18:53seen by a man in water.
18:55She'd have to be his mate
18:56whether she wanted it or not.
18:58The matron went further.
19:00She examined Lyra
19:01for proof of her claim.
19:03The group came back out quickly.
19:05Duchess Maren's face
19:06was cycling through
19:06shades of green and white.
19:08I already knew
19:08what they'd found.
19:10Lyra does have the red crescent
19:11birthmark on her chest.
19:12And when we examined her further,
19:14she...
19:14She has not been untouched
19:15for some time.
19:16She is also carrying
19:17a secret pregnancy.
19:18The crowd went silent.
19:20Then it exploded.
19:21The tide turned completely.
19:23What a scheme.
19:24She played all of us.
19:26She was sneaking
19:26a secret lover in
19:27while pretending
19:28to be honorable.
19:29Shameless.
19:30And then tried to frame
19:31Caden for it.
19:32Disgusting.
19:33Lady Thorne went stone-faced.
19:34She slapped Lyra
19:36across the face.
19:37Then again...
19:37You have shamed this family.
19:39I have never been
19:40more disgusted.
19:41Lyra was completely broken.
19:43She slid down
19:44to the ground like water
19:45and didn't react at all.
19:47Dorian shrank into the background
19:49and kept his mouth shut.
19:51Lady Thorne dropped to her knees
19:53before the Luna Queen.
19:55I failed in raising her.
19:56I accept whatever punishment you give.
19:59Failed in raising her.
20:00Is that what we're calling it?
20:02Lyra made her own mess,
20:03got herself with Childe in secret,
20:05and then tried to use Caden
20:06as a way out.
20:07If Vera hadn't fought back,
20:09Northrink Pact's only heir
20:10would have been buried alive by this.
20:13Take Lyra to the Pact
20:14tribunitional cells
20:15and interrogate her.
20:16I want the name
20:17of the secret lover.
20:18The matrons dragged Lyra
20:19into the back room.
20:20From inside came screaming.
20:23But Lyra had a hard core.
20:25No matter what they did,
20:26she refused to give up the name.
20:28Dorian was her only hope.
20:30The Luna Queen had no choice.
20:32She had Lyra move
20:33to the Pact tribunal cells.
20:34That same day,
20:35the matter reached the Alpha King.
20:37He issued a decree
20:38ordering Lyra's noble Pact family
20:40to answer for it.
20:43The family patriarch had spent
20:44his whole career being careful,
20:46staying low,
20:47keeping his head down,
20:48undone by a lowborn daughter
20:49who'd dreamed of climbing
20:50beyond her station.
20:51Though, if you traced it back
20:52far enough,
20:53it was Lady Thorne's
20:54iron-fisted control
20:55of the household
20:56that had left Lyra
20:57with no path
20:58but the one her own mother
20:59had taken.
21:00Use your face
21:01and your body
21:01and hope it gets you somewhere.
21:03That was how she'd ended up
21:04tangled with Dorian
21:05in the first place.
21:06The Alpha King also sent a rebuke
21:07to Duchess Meryn
21:08for her role in inflaming things,
21:10ordering her to keep
21:10her mouth shut going forward.
21:12Duchess Meryn never showed
21:13her face at another pack
21:14gathering in the capital
21:15for the rest of her life.
21:16Lyra held out
21:17in the tribunal cells.
21:18Three days later,
21:19two pack matrons
21:20came from her family.
21:21They forced a draft
21:22of medicine down her throat.
21:23An hour later,
21:24she miscarried.
21:25Twins.
21:25Lyra wouldn't stop bleeding.
21:27No one from the tribunal
21:28had been told
21:28to send a healer.
21:29The attitude was,
21:30live or die?
21:31That's on her.
21:32She lived anyway.
21:33Half a month later,
21:34the Luna Queen
21:34came to Northmark Manor herself
21:36to check on Caden and me.
21:37She took my hand,
21:38sat down,
21:39made small talk for a bit.
21:40That girl is tough,
21:41as hasn't said a word
21:42in the tribunal cells.
21:44I was thinking of sending
21:45her off with a cup of poison.
21:47Let Lyra die that easily?
21:48That was letting her off
21:49too light.
21:52I stood and bowed.
21:53Luna Queen,
21:54I have a request.
21:55She smiled.
21:56Vera,
21:56just say it.
21:57Luna Queen,
21:57the Alpha Queen Mother's
21:58birthday is next month.
21:59In her honor,
22:00spare Lyra's life.
22:01That day Lyra said herself
22:02that whoever saved her
22:02would become her mate.
22:03Lady Thorne agreed to it
22:04in front of everyone.
22:05She was pulled out
22:06by our stable hand, Bram.
22:07So perhaps-
22:08The Luna Queen tilted her head.
22:09Vera,
22:09even if you want to give
22:10Lyra a way out,
22:12your stable hand
22:13might not want to take her.
22:14What I was giving Lyra
22:15wasn't a way out.
22:15It was a life worse than death.
22:17Why don't I bring Bram in
22:18and ask him in person?
22:19If he's willing,
22:20it's a fair arrangement.
22:21Bram gambled and chased women.
22:23Every coin he earned
22:23either vanished at the gambling den
22:25or got spent
22:26at the pleasure house.
22:27Lyra was stunning.
22:28Skin like cream,
22:29face like a spring blossom.
22:31One of the most striking women
22:32among all the high-born
22:33pack women in the capital.
22:34A woman like that
22:35on any ordinary day,
22:36Bram wouldn't even be allowed
22:38to look at her twice.
22:39She was used goods now,
22:40sure.
22:40But if this moment passed,
22:42a wolf like Bram
22:43would never get another shot
22:44at someone like her.
22:45I was betting he'd say yes.
22:46A servant brought Bram
22:47to the doorway of the main hall.
22:49Bram,
22:50are you still willing
22:51to take Lyra as your mate?
22:52Bram paused,
22:53worked through it,
22:54and decided fast.
22:55Yes, my lady.
22:56I turned to the Luna Queen.
22:57Since that settled Luna Queen,
22:59bring them together.
23:00The Luna Queen smiled.
23:01You asked Vera,
23:02how could I say no?
23:04The night Lyra walked out
23:05of the tribunal cells,
23:06a carriage from her family
23:07dropped her at Bram's door.
23:09No ceremony,
23:09no ceremony talk,
23:10no anything.
23:11They were done with her,
23:12dropping off a problem
23:13they wanted gone.
23:16A month later,
23:17the Alpha King's punishment
23:18came down.
23:18Lyra's father was stripped
23:19of his rank
23:20and sent to a backwater post.
23:21A nobody position,
23:22in a nobody place,
23:23never permitted
23:24to return to the capital.
23:25The day the decree came,
23:26he threw Lady Thorne
23:27out of the household.
23:28As for Lyra,
23:29her worst days
23:30were just beginning.
23:31Bram was rough and crude,
23:32nothing like Dorian,
23:33who had at least known
23:34how to handle a woman.
23:35The first night,
23:36he worked her
23:36until she couldn't
23:37get out of bed.
23:38After that,
23:38he did whatever suited him,
23:40whenever it suited him.
23:41Bram's household was poor,
23:42no servants.
23:43Lyra cooked and washed
23:44and waited on him.
23:45If she didn't do it right,
23:46she got hit
23:46or screamed at.
23:47Lyra suffered in silence.
23:49It was barely living,
23:49but she refused to die.
23:51She'd already survived
23:52the tribunal cells.
23:53She was young.
23:54She was still beautiful.
23:54As long as she was breathing,
23:56she believed
23:57she could find a way back.
23:58Six months later,
23:59Dorian decided
24:00things had quieted down enough
24:01and came back
24:02from the southern territories.
24:03Lyra heard the news
24:04and immediately got word
24:05to his personal attendant.
24:07Dorian, for his part,
24:08had long since
24:08stopped thinking about her.
24:10He wanted nothing more
24:10than to put distance
24:11between them,
24:12but she had something on him.
24:14He didn't have a choice.
24:16He planned to see her once,
24:18say what needed to be said,
24:19give her some coin,
24:20and be done with it.
24:21Then Lyra showed up in white,
24:22threw herself against him,
24:23and told him about the twins,
24:25crying with her whole body.
24:27She wasn't the bright,
24:28bold girl he remembered.
24:29There was something
24:29different about her now.
24:31Fragile.
24:31Quietly devastating.
24:32Dorian hesitated.
24:33He didn't leave right away.
24:34Ever since Dorian
24:35came back to the capital,
24:37I'd had people
24:37watching both of them.
24:38When word came
24:39that they were meeting that day,
24:40I'd already had the drugs
24:41slipped into both of their drinks.
24:43It took hold.
24:44They ended up tangled together.
24:45I had someone quietly tip off Bram
24:47and bring him there
24:48to catch them.
24:48Dorian and Lyra
24:49were caught bare
24:50in the middle of it,
24:51a set of antlers that size.
24:52Bram wasn't going
24:53to swallow it quietly.
24:54He went at Dorian
24:56with everything he had.
24:57In the brawl,
24:58someone landed two hard kicks
24:59right between Dorian's legs.
25:01Dorian screamed
25:02and blacked out on the spot.
25:03Pack healers cycled through,
25:04one after another.
25:05They all came out
25:06shaking their heads,
25:07nothing they could do.
25:08Dorian would never have pups.
25:10Pack elder Dorian Sr.
25:11had only one son.
25:12His bloodline was finished.
25:13The pack elder was furious.
25:15He wanted the person
25:16who'd done it
25:16quietly dealt with.
25:17But when he pressed
25:18Dorian's attendant for details,
25:19he found out about Lyra,
25:21found out Dorian
25:22had been behind
25:22the whole scheme
25:23at the gathering,
25:24found out the twins
25:24Lyra lost in the tribunal cells
25:26were Dorian's cold sweat.
25:29The pack elder buried the story
25:31and brought in private healers
25:33from all over the capital.
25:34What he didn't know,
25:35the one who'd thrown those kicks
25:37had been training for 30 years
25:38and had put everything behind them.
25:40No healer in the world
25:41was fixing that.
25:42Word spread across the capital
25:43that the pack elder's son,
25:45the great Dorian,
25:46couldn't perform.
25:46Northmark Manor
25:47helped that word travel,
25:48of course.
25:49Dorian,
25:50who had always been sharp
25:51and polished
25:51and insufferably sure of himself,
25:53was eaten alive by it.
25:54Every person he'd ever outshone
25:56lined up to get their shots in.
25:57One day,
25:58Dorian broke.
25:59He set a fire in his room
26:00and burned himself
26:01to death inside it.
26:02On the other side of the city,
26:03Bram dragged Lyra home
26:04after catching her
26:05and beat her
26:06until she couldn't leave her bed
26:07for two weeks.
26:08His crowd set up gambling games,
26:10the kind he never knew
26:11how to walk away from.
26:12After one session,
26:13Bram lost Lyra to a thug
26:14named Wade.
26:15Wade had his fun with her
26:16for two months.
26:17When the novelty wore off,
26:19he put a price on it.
26:19Lyra refused
26:20with everything she had.
26:21Wade just smiled
26:22and put a compulsion drug
26:23in her food.
26:24When it took hold,
26:25Lyra was the one begging.
26:26After that,
26:27Wade's place had a steady rotation
26:28of men coming and going
26:30every day.
26:30Sometimes one or two,
26:32sometimes five or six.
26:33Lyra sank lower
26:34than the lowest
26:35back alley wolf
26:36in the capital.
26:36My brother Caden
26:37ran into Princess Kala
26:38at a tavern,
26:39dressed as a man,
26:40sharp-eyed and full of fire.
26:42He took her
26:42for a fellow young wolf.
26:43Without knowing who she was,
26:45he went out with her
26:46more than once.
26:47They fell for each other.
26:48When he found out the truth,
26:49he petitioned the Alpha King
26:50to take her as his mate.
26:51He brought Kala
26:52back to the northern border
26:53with him,
26:54said they were going to see
26:55the wide sky
26:55and the open land together.
26:57As for me,
26:58the Alpha Prince's Luna
26:59had noticed me
27:00the day of the summer gathering.
27:01A year later,
27:02the Alpha Prince
27:03took the throne.
27:04His Luna was crowned
27:05Luna Queen.
27:05She personally asked
27:06on behalf of her
27:07full-blooded brother,
27:08the new royal consort Arryn,
27:10to take me as his mate.
27:11Arryn was brilliant
27:12and trained
27:13and striking in a way
27:15that made it hard
27:16to look at him directly.
27:17At last month's
27:18mid-autumn night gathering,
27:19he'd reached up
27:20and broken off
27:21a sprig of sweet Osmanthus
27:22and handed it to me.
27:23When he passed it over,
27:24our eyes met.
27:25I stood there for a second,
27:27completely still.
27:28I still go red
27:28thinking about it,
27:29but I said yes.
27:30The new Luna Queen
27:31smiled and leaned in close
27:32and called me
27:33sister.
27:34Not long after,
27:35the pack council
27:35went through a full sweep.
27:37Pack Elder Dorian Sr.
27:38was found guilty
27:39of corruption
27:39and embezzlement
27:40of pack resources.
27:41He was stripped
27:42of his title
27:42and the whole family
27:43was banished
27:44to the far southern borderlands.
27:46Northmark Pack's star
27:47was rising.
27:47Our name carried
27:48more weight
27:49than it ever had.
27:49Everyone who had
27:50crushed us in the last life
27:51had fallen into the mud.
27:53This life,
27:53the next,
27:53they were never
27:54getting back up.
27:57The pack elder
27:58buried the story
27:59and brought in
28:00private healers
28:00from all over the capital.
28:02What he didn't know,
28:03the one who'd thrown
28:04those kicks
28:04had been training
28:05for 30 years
28:06and had put
28:06everything behind them.
28:08No healer in the world
28:09was fixing that.
28:09Word spread across the capital
28:11that the pack elder's son,
28:12the great Dorian,
28:13couldn't perform.
28:14Northmark Manor
28:15helped that word travel,
28:16of course.
28:17Dorian,
28:17who had always been
28:18sharp and polished
28:19and insufferably sure
28:20of himself,
28:21was eaten alive by it.
28:22Every person he'd ever
28:23outshone,
28:23lined up to get
28:24their shots in.
28:25One day,
28:26Dorian broke.
28:26He set a fire in his room
28:28and burned himself
28:28to death inside it.
28:30On the other side
28:30of the city,
28:31Bram dragged Lyra home
28:32after catching her
28:33and beat her
28:33until she couldn't
28:34leave her bed
28:35for two weeks.
28:36His crowd set up
28:36gambling games,
28:37the kind he never knew
28:38how to walk away from.
28:39After one session,
28:41Bram lost Lyra
28:41to a thug named Wade.
28:43Wade had his fun
28:44with her for two months.
28:45When the novelty wore off,
28:46he put a price on it.
28:47Lyra refused
28:48with everything she had.
28:49Wade just smiled
28:50and put a compulsion drug
28:51in her food.
28:51When it took hold,
28:52Lyra was the one begging.
28:54After that,
28:54Wade's place
28:55had a steady rotation
28:56of men
28:56coming and going
28:57every day,
28:58sometimes one or two,
28:59sometimes five or six.
29:01Lyra sank lower
29:02than the lowest
29:02back alley wolf
29:03in the capital.
29:04My brother,
29:05Caden,
29:05ran into Princess Kala
29:06at a tavern,
29:07dressed as a man,
29:08sharp-eyed
29:08and full of fire.
29:09He took her
29:10for a fellow young wolf.
29:11Without knowing
29:11who she was,
29:12he went out with her
29:13more than once.
29:14They fell for each other.
29:15When he found out the truth,
29:17he petitioned the Alpha King
29:18to take her as his mate.
29:19He brought Kala
29:19back to the northern border
29:20with him,
29:21said they were going to see
29:22the wide sky
29:23and the open land together.
29:25As for me,
29:25the Alpha Prince's Luna
29:27had noticed me
29:27the day of the summer gathering.
29:29A year later,
29:30the Alpha Prince
29:30took the throne.
29:31His Luna was crowned
29:32Luna Queen.
29:33She personally asked
29:34on behalf of her
29:35full-blooded brother,
29:36the new royal consort Arryn,
29:37to take me as his mate.
29:39Arryn was brilliant
29:40and trained,
29:41and striking in a way
29:42that made it hard
29:43to look at him directly.
29:44At last month's
29:45mid-autumn night gathering,
29:47he'd reached up
29:48and broken off
29:49a sprig of sweet osmanthus
29:50and handed it to me.
29:51When he passed it over,
29:52our eyes met.
29:53I stood there for a second,
29:54completely still.
29:55I still go red
29:56thinking about it,
29:57but I said yes.
29:58The new Luna Queen
29:58smiled and leaned in close
30:00and called me
30:01sister.
30:01Not long after,
30:02the pack council
30:03went through a full sweep.
30:04Pack Elder Dorian Sr.
30:06was found guilty
30:06of corruption
30:07and embezzlement
30:08of pack resources.
30:09He was stripped
30:09of his title
30:10and the whole family
30:11was banished
30:11to the far southern borderlands.
30:13Northmark Pack's
30:14star was rising.
30:15Our name carried
30:16more weight
30:16than it ever had.
30:17Everyone who had
30:18crushed us
30:18in the last life
30:19had fallen into the mud.
30:20This life,
30:21the next,
30:21they were never
30:22getting back up.
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