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