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Short filmTranscript
00:00Choose one to be your mate.
00:02One of these potential Alpha candidates.
00:07None of them.
00:09I choose Daemon.
00:12The crippled Alpha.
00:13I am the only direct bloodline heir of the Iron Moon pack.
00:18Yet, I was born a female Alpha.
00:21Everyone said that the five orphans my father brought back from the battlefield
00:24were the true future of the pack.
00:27He raised them into the most admired Beta Warriors in Iron Moon.
00:31As for me, I was nothing more than a pretty heir with noble blood
00:36who couldn't even maintain a stable wolf form.
00:39And as far as those five were concerned, I barely existed.
00:44I spent ten years chasing after Kaylin Stone,
00:47only to earn countless looks of disdain in return.
00:51I used to think he treated all women that way.
00:53Until one day, standing outside his bedroom door,
00:57I heard him swear to Vivian Moss.
01:00I'll mark Lyra only to secure my position.
01:02You're the only mate I want.
01:07Those words shattered everything I had believed in for the past ten years.
01:12On the eve of the elders' council meeting,
01:15my father asked me who I wanted to choose.
01:18I thought of the way all five of them avoided my gaze.
01:21If I'm getting married, I might as well make it strategic.
01:25I choose Damon Bloodfing of the Bloodfill Pack.
01:28Damon was poisoned by silver five years ago.
01:31His legs were left paralyzed,
01:33and rumors say he can't even complete a mating mark anymore.
01:36Are you sure?
01:38Love isn't something people in our position get to negotiate.
01:41If everything comes down to power and survival,
01:44then I choose strength, not sentiment.
01:47Damon may be crippled,
01:48but his bloodline, his pack, and his warriors
01:50still outweigh those five men combined.
01:53My father's expression darkened.
01:54You say that so easily,
01:56but are you telling me
01:57none of the five boys I raised for you ever caught your attention?
02:02My mother had been my father's only mate.
02:04She died the year I was born.
02:06A rogue attack.
02:07Too much blood loss.
02:09No second chance.
02:10After that, he never took another mate.
02:13But he also never fully believed
02:15a female alpha could carry Iron Moon alone.
02:17So he followed the council's recommendation.
02:20He brought back five orphaned boys from the battlefield
02:23and raised them inside Iron Moon.
02:25He made one rule from the beginning.
02:28No matter who I chose,
02:29that man would be granted alpha status,
02:32meant to rule beside me,
02:34not beneath me.
02:35That was his compromise.
02:37Love me fiercely,
02:38and still not trust me enough to do it alone.
02:41I met his gaze.
02:43My bond with Damon Bloodbold doesn't require sentiment.
02:46It only requires succession.
02:48He is the sole heir of Bloodbold
02:51that makes him more valuable
02:52than any arranged foster alliance you built here.
02:56Compared to relying on adopted sons
02:58to stabilize Iron Moon,
02:59an alliance with a true power pack
03:01is simply the rational choice.
03:04Silence stretched between us.
03:07If none of them were able to hold your attention,
03:10then there is no reason to keep them in Iron Moon.
03:13We left the council hall together.
03:15My father cast Caelan a brief,
03:17unreadable glance
03:18before walking out.
03:21What did you report this time?
03:26Let me guess.
03:27She ran to Alpha again
03:28because we didn't treat her like royalty.
03:31Princess Lyra didn't get enough attention,
03:33so she needed to complain.
03:36You spent ten years chasing after us.
03:38We never once wanted you.
03:40You can't even shift.
03:41You're nothing but a weak, useless wolf.
03:43Vivian is more of a wolf than you'll ever be.
03:45What makes you think you deserve us?
03:47Five of us would never choose you.
03:50Good.
03:51Remember this day.
03:53I, Lyra Iron Moon,
03:56reject all five of you as my mates.
03:59Then Vivian showed up.
04:01The moment her eyes landed on me,
04:03she shifted back instinctively
04:05and slipped behind Caelan.
04:08She didn't do anything.
04:10Drop it for today.
04:13I stared at them.
04:15Five men.
04:16The same five who were supposed to stand behind me.
04:19Now all of them stood in front of her,
04:22protecting her from me.
04:24Something in my memory snapped open.
04:26One year ago,
04:28not long after Vivian arrived at Iron Moon.
04:30That night,
04:31I carried healing broth to Caelan's quarters.
04:34He'd been injured during border patrol.
04:36He told me not to come.
04:38I still did.
04:39His door wasn't fully shut.
04:42Caelan,
04:43are you really going to mark Lyra?
04:47My hand froze on the doorframe.
04:49No.
04:52I won't mark her.
04:53My chest tightened before I even understood why.
04:56Then why
04:57did you agree
04:58to Alpha Ronan?
05:00Because
05:01that's the only way
05:02I can become
05:03Alpha
05:03of Iron Moon.
05:05And
05:05Lyra.
05:07She's just stepping stone.
05:09Once
05:09I take control,
05:10I'll send her
05:11away.
05:14Then what about me?
05:17You?
05:19You're the only one I want.
05:21Once I take Alpha,
05:23I'll mark you publicly.
05:24You'll be my Luna.
05:28Luna.
05:29She can't even shift right.
05:31Luna?
05:32Seriously?
05:35She's only valuable because of her bloodline.
05:38Nothing else.
05:41Does she actually believe
05:43we'd choose her?
05:47When she finds out,
05:49she's going to break.
05:51Like it was already decided.
05:54Then you won't
05:55lie to me.
05:57Right?
05:58I swear.
06:01Only you.
06:02The bowl slipped from my hands.
06:04It hit the ground and shattered.
06:09Who's there?
06:11I moved into the shadow beside the doorway
06:13and held my breath.
06:15Kalen stepped out.
06:16His eyes dropped to the broken bowl.
06:19A cat.
06:21I stayed where I was.
06:23Didn't speak.
06:24Didn't cry.
06:25Didn't make a sound.
06:26Only when the silence settled
06:28did I step back.
06:29Into the moonlight.
06:31It spilled across my face
06:32like something too clean
06:33for what I was feeling.
06:38The next morning,
06:39I met Vivian in the garden.
06:40She was holding a bowl of flower essence,
06:42smiling like she had been waiting for me.
06:46Good morning, Lyra.
06:48Sleep well?
06:49Now there was ease in her expression.
06:52Confidence.
06:53I did.
06:53I did.
06:54She paused,
06:55just for a second.
06:57Lyra,
06:58this was my mother's.
07:00I wanted you to have it.
07:02Thank you
07:02for everything you've done for me.
07:05Before I could respond,
07:06Kalen appeared.
07:08You're seriously
07:09taking her mother's relic?
07:12Now?
07:13I froze.
07:14Vivian dropped instantly,
07:16knees to the ground.
07:19It wasn't Lyra.
07:21I gave it to her.
07:22Please,
07:23don't blame her.
07:24She slammed her forehead
07:25into the ground.
07:26Again.
07:27Blood showed almost immediately.
07:30Merrick arrived first.
07:31Then Corbin,
07:32Orion,
07:33Riven.
07:34Lyra!
07:35Enough!
07:36You're the heir,
07:38not a bully.
07:39You have everything.
07:41And you still take
07:42the only thing she has?
07:45Riven drew his dagger
07:46in one smooth motion.
07:48Apologize.
07:49And Alpha Air
07:50boxed in on all sides.
07:52They weren't asking.
07:54They were pressing me down,
07:55forcing submission,
07:57forcing my neck
07:58exposed to an Omega
07:59who was clearly
08:00playing a game
08:01they refused to see.
08:03Vivian kept her head lowered,
08:05but I caught it anyway,
08:06that small,
08:07satisfied curve
08:08at the corner of her mouth.
08:09I didn't fight back
08:11because somewhere
08:12deep down
08:13there was still
08:14a stupid,
08:15fragile part of me
08:16that waited.
08:17Maybe Kalen would step in.
08:19Maybe he'd say,
08:20this doesn't add up.
08:21He didn't.
08:24Apologize
08:24or I don't
08:26mark you.
08:27That line
08:28landed harder
08:29than anything else
08:30because I had already
08:32given him
08:32everything I had in me.
08:34I couldn't afford
08:35to lose him.
08:36Not then.
08:37So I lowered my head.
08:38My throat burned
08:40as I exposed my neck.
08:41I'm sorry.
08:42And that moment,
08:44that single submission
08:45lasted a year.
08:47After that day,
08:48Vivian changed
08:49how she moved around me,
08:51like I was something dangerous.
08:53Sometimes she dropped
08:54to her knees
08:54the moment she saw me.
08:56Sometimes she hid
08:57behind the five of them,
08:58shaking,
08:59crying on cue,
09:00and I did nothing.
09:02Once,
09:02she tripped in the garden,
09:04a shallow scrape
09:05on her knee.
09:05Nothing serious,
09:06but she ran
09:07straight to Kaelin
09:08in tears,
09:10claiming I had pushed her.
09:11No questions asked.
09:13All five of them
09:14came for me.
09:15They tore through
09:15my quarters like a storm.
09:17Everything broken.
09:18Everything scattered.
09:20If you touch her again,
09:22break a wolf legs myself.
09:24I almost laughed.
09:25Wolf legs.
09:27I couldn't even shift properly,
09:29but it didn't matter.
09:30They believed her.
09:31Always her.
09:32The memory snapped back
09:34like a pulled thread.
09:36Vivian was still
09:36behind Kaelin now,
09:38smiling faintly,
09:39like she had already
09:41won something
09:41no one else could see.
09:43If you're that afraid,
09:44I'll hurt her.
09:45You might as well
09:45leash her to your side.
09:47Are you threatening me?
09:49What are you planning
09:50to do to her?
09:52Let me guess.
09:53Now that we gave Vivian
09:55a Starfall Sanctum,
09:56you're finally snapping?
09:57You already have everything,
09:59and she has nothing.
10:01It's just Starfall Sanctum.
10:03Why are you acting
10:04like this is some tragedy?
10:06My gaze sharpened.
10:07Starfall Sanctum?
10:09Starfall Sanctum
10:10wasn't just a place.
10:11It was a buried lunar basin
10:13deep under Iron Moon territory.
10:15When it hit the sacred waters,
10:17it refracted into something
10:18that looked like a galaxy
10:19trapped underground.
10:21My father spent 18 years
10:23building it.
10:24For me,
10:25a coming-of-age gift.
10:27Half a year ago,
10:28as it neared completion,
10:30he handed oversight
10:31to Kaylin.
10:32He was supposed to present it
10:33to me on my ceremony day.
10:35Instead,
10:36it never reached me.
10:37It went to Vivian.
10:39My eyes locked on Kaylin.
10:41He was the one
10:42who controlled final access.
10:43No one entered
10:44without his approval.
10:46Vivian grew up
10:47on the outskirts of the pack.
10:49She's never seen
10:49a real night sky.
10:51I gave her a moment.
10:53That's all.
10:55The Sanctum
10:55is still yours on paper.
10:58Don't turn this
10:59into something it isn't.
11:01And stop making a scene.
11:03If it comes to it,
11:04I'll announce
11:05our mating bond
11:05at your coming-of-age ceremony
11:07next month.
11:08That should satisfy you enough.
11:09Right?
11:10The way Kaylin looked at me,
11:13calm,
11:14almost magnanimous,
11:16made...
11:16made something cold
11:18twist in my chest.
11:19For a second,
11:21I almost wondered
11:22if I was the one
11:23who didn't belong here.
11:25If anything,
11:26they looked at him
11:27like he was making
11:27some kind of
11:28noble sacrifice.
11:30You really don't have
11:31to go this far.
11:32Lyra's spoiled,
11:34ruthless.
11:35Marking her is no different
11:36than marking
11:38a stone.
11:39At least you'll finally
11:40get what she's been
11:41chasing for years.
11:43Kaylin,
11:44don't do this for me.
11:45If it helps,
11:46I'll kneel to her.
11:47I'll beg.
11:48I'll do anything she wants.
11:50I swallowed once,
11:51hard.
11:52I won't choose you.
11:54Kaylin's brow lifted slightly,
11:56like he was still deciding
11:57whether I was serious.
11:59Merrick and Corbin
11:59exchanged a look,
12:00like they were more afraid
12:02I'd choose them instead.
12:03That alone
12:04hit something deep
12:05in my chest.
12:06Ten years,
12:08standing behind them,
12:09and still,
12:10I was the only one
12:11treated like I didn't
12:12belong in the same space.
12:14I turned to leave.
12:15Vivian caught my wrist.
12:17Then she dropped instantly,
12:19knees to the ground,
12:20head lowered.
12:21Please,
12:22don't make this harder
12:23for Kaylin.
12:25The five of them
12:26were brought into Iron Moon.
12:27They were never equal
12:28to begin with.
12:29If you're going to report this
12:30over Starfall Sanctuary,
12:32I'll apologize.
12:33I'll do whatever you want.
12:36Then she started bowing,
12:37fast,
12:38hard.
12:39Her forehead hit the ground
12:41until blood appeared.
12:42Kaylin moved immediately.
12:43He pulled her up,
12:45jaw tight.
12:46So you say you won't choose me,
12:48but when the time comes,
12:50don't change your mind.
12:52This whole thing
12:53you're just trying to
12:55pressure her indirectly.
12:57You just want an excuse
12:58to report her
12:59and force her out,
13:00don't you?
13:00I don't care what you think.
13:02I won't choose you.
13:06Kaylin grabbed my wrist,
13:08hard.
13:09Not me?
13:10Then who?
13:11Marek?
13:12Corbin?
13:13Mark wants freedom.
13:15Corbin wants peace.
13:17Haven't you already
13:18taken enough from them?
13:20If you agree to stop
13:21targeting Vivian,
13:22I'll mark you.
13:25Just stop this.
13:27That's all I'm asking.
13:28For the first time,
13:29he looked exhausted,
13:30like I had been the one
13:31wearing him down for years.
13:33I held his gaze
13:34for a long moment,
13:35then said quietly,
13:37Everything will go
13:38the way you want.
13:39He was afraid
13:40I'd hurt Vivian.
13:41He refused to mark me.
13:43Fine.
13:44Once I became
13:44Damon Bloodfang's mate,
13:46none of this
13:47would matter anyway.
13:48The day of my
13:48coming-of-age ceremony
13:50arrived.
13:51Iron Moon had been
13:52transformed.
13:53Everyone knew
13:54why they were here.
13:56Not just my
13:5718th birthday.
13:58My mate declaration.
14:00And everyone
14:01already knew
14:02the outcome.
14:04Kaylin Stone.
14:06Because I had
14:07chased him
14:07for 10 years.
14:09Because the entire
14:10pack had watched
14:11it happen.
14:12The five of them
14:13stood in the front row.
14:14Even the guests
14:15looked at them
14:16more than they
14:17looked at me.
14:18Like this ceremony
14:19belonged to them.
14:21I was about to
14:22shut down the whispers
14:23when a servant screamed.
14:25Help!
14:26Vivian is missing!
14:27There's a note!
14:29She's been kidnapped!
14:30The shift was immediate.
14:33Merrick moved first.
14:36Before I could even turn,
14:38my head snapped to the side.
14:41Silence swallowed
14:42the entire hall.
14:43The pain landed
14:45a beat too late.
14:47Around us,
14:48people scattered
14:48instinctively.
14:50Kaylin grabbed
14:51Merrick's arm
14:51before he could swing again.
14:53Then he looked at me.
14:56We already stood here
14:58like you're choosing
14:58between us,
14:59like we're disposable.
15:00And it still isn't enough!
15:01His voice sharpened.
15:03Do you want her dead?
15:05I stared back at him.
15:07Corbin looked at me
15:07like I was something
15:08contaminated.
15:09You waited until
15:10she was alone
15:11and staged this.
15:13You really think
15:14we won't see through it?
15:15That's when it clicked.
15:16Not confusion.
15:17Clarity.
15:18Vivian had done this
15:20again.
15:21And this time,
15:22she'd done it
15:23in front of everyone.
15:25No one moved
15:26to intervene.
15:27Not after I was
15:28slapped in public.
15:30Not after I stood there
15:31bleeding pride.
15:33Because they had already
15:34made their decision.
15:36Iron Moon wasn't mine
15:38in their eyes.
15:39Apologize.
15:40He let out a short,
15:42humorless laugh.
15:44Vivian nearly lost
15:45her innocence
15:46and you're worried
15:47about a slap?
15:48Then she appeared,
15:50crying, running,
15:52her dress torn,
15:54dirt stained,
15:55like she had barely
15:56escaped something violent.
15:57Violet!
15:58It was Lyra.
16:00She had me taken.
16:03She said she'd have
16:05rogue wolves
16:06to violate me
16:08so I'd never
16:09come back.
16:11The hall detonated.
16:13Whispers turned
16:14into outrage,
16:15shock
16:16into judgment.
16:18Kalen didn't hesitate.
16:19He pulled his coat
16:20around her like she was
16:21something fragile
16:22and irreplaceable.
16:24Then he looked at me.
16:26You don't stop,
16:27do you?
16:28His voice dropped.
16:29I will never mark
16:31someone like you.
16:32Corbin stepped forward.
16:34The Alpha couldn't
16:35produce a male heir
16:36so she brought us in
16:37as tools.
16:38We accepted
16:39that arrangement.
16:42But this ends now.
16:44No more pretending
16:45there's peace.
16:46He turned and walked out.
16:48The others followed,
16:49one by one.
16:51Before leaving,
16:52Kalen stopped
16:53and glanced over
16:53his shoulder at me.
16:55I will mark you,
16:57but only as a placeholder.
16:59If you want the
17:00Iron Moon pack protected,
17:01you'll behave.
17:01I almost laughed
17:03because the irony
17:03was almost insulting.
17:05Did they forget?
17:07Iron Moon was still
17:08standing because
17:09I was here.
17:11When they moved to leave,
17:13someone finally
17:14tried to intervene.
17:15I raised my voice.
17:17Let them go.
17:18Vivian glanced back at me
17:20like she had already
17:21won something permanent.
17:23What do we do now?
17:24All five of them are gone.
17:26Who will you choose?
17:28The crowd shifted uneasily.
17:29A woman still has to
17:30marry eventually.
17:31If even those five
17:32rejected her.
17:33Who's left?
17:35Then lifted my glass.
17:37Ladies and gentlemen,
17:39as you all know,
17:40today isn't just
17:42my coming-of-age ceremony.
17:45It's my mate declaration.
17:48Above the hall,
17:49the crystal projection
17:50flared to light.
17:51A face appeared.
17:53The entire hall
17:55went dead silent.
17:58That's Damon Bloodfall?
18:01They had barely left
18:03when gasps erupted
18:05behind them.
18:06The five immediately
18:07turned back.
18:18You picked a cripple
18:20just to piss me off?
18:22You chased me
18:24for ten years.
18:25All because you
18:26wanted my mark.
18:28Keep dreaming!
18:32A runt will always
18:33be a runt.
18:35Who gave you
18:36the audacity
18:37to lay a hand
18:38on my Luna?
18:57Get your hands
18:59off my Luna.
19:02Get your hands
19:03off my Luna!
19:08That's right.
19:11My daughter is the heir
19:13of the Iron Moon pack.
19:16Only the strongest
19:17warrior alive
19:18is worthy of
19:19standing beside her.
19:20Damon Bloodbase
19:21is powerful, sure.
19:23But he's confined
19:23to a wheelchair.
19:24Right.
19:25No matter how strong
19:26he is, what good
19:27is a paralyzed heir?
19:28Might as well
19:29pick one of the
19:29five adopted warriors?
19:30I listened quietly,
19:31then smiled.
19:33Cripple?
19:34Let them talk.
19:36They had no idea
19:37what Damon Bloodfang
19:39was capable of.
19:40And with me
19:41by his side,
19:43he wouldn't remain
19:44broken for long.
19:45Damon held
19:46a moonlight rose
19:47out to me.
19:48There was still dew
19:49clinging to its petals.
19:51I took it
19:52without hesitation.
19:53His eyes lit up.
19:55His fingers brushed
19:56softly against the
19:57back of my hand.
19:59He paused for a moment
20:00before slowly
20:01pulling away.
20:03I looked up at him.
20:05He smiled.
20:06The crowd erupted
20:07into fresh whispers.
20:09Then I noticed
20:10movement near the
20:11back of the crowd.
20:12The five warriors
20:13standing below the stage
20:14had finally realized
20:16this wasn't a joke.
20:18Caelan pushed
20:18through the crowd,
20:19ignoring every protocol
20:20in sight,
20:22ignoring Damon
20:22entirely.
20:24Caelan's gaze
20:25bounced between Damon,
20:26the flowers in my hands,
20:27and the lingering touch
20:29Damon hadn't quite
20:30withdrawn.
20:31Are you crazy?
20:33You're seriously
20:34choosing him?
20:35A cripple?
20:36His glare shifted
20:37toward Damon.
20:38The warmth vanished
20:39from Damon's expression.
20:41Instantly,
20:42the temperature around us
20:43seemed to drop.
20:44Who are you?
20:45Something predatory
20:47flashed behind his eyes.
20:48I grew up with Lyra.
20:52The five of us
20:53were supposed to be
20:54her future mates.
20:56I didn't ask that.
20:58Damon cut him off.
21:00His gaze never left
21:01Caelan.
21:02Cold.
21:03Unyielding.
21:05What gives you the right
21:07to touch my Luna?
21:12Damon's hand closed
21:13around my wrist.
21:14His thumb brushed
21:15lightly over my pulse.
21:17The gesture was subtle,
21:19yet there was something
21:20undeniably possessive
21:22about it.
21:24You should go.
21:25My voice didn't shake.
21:28I've already chosen
21:29my mate.
21:31And it isn't you.
21:32His eyes dropped
21:33to Damon's hand
21:34around my wrist.
21:35Lyra.
21:36His voice sounded rough.
21:38You loved me
21:39for ten years.
21:41How can you just...
21:43Damon looked up.
21:44One glance.
21:46That was all.
21:48Caelan went completely
21:49still.
21:50Every trace of confidence
21:52vanished.
21:53Without another word,
21:54he turned
21:55and walked away.
21:57Damon's attention
21:58returned to me
21:59immediately,
22:00as though everyone else
22:01had ceased to exist.
22:03His thumb continued
22:04tracing slow circles
22:05against my skin.
22:07Your heart's racing.
22:09That's because...
22:10Honestly,
22:11I had no idea
22:12how to finish
22:13that sentence.
22:14Because I'm touching you?
22:15Amusement flickered
22:16across his face.
22:17Or because you sense it too.
22:19Sense what?
22:19His gaze locked
22:20onto mine.
22:22This.
22:24The pull between us.
22:26His voice dropped lower.
22:28The moment you accepted
22:30those flowers,
22:30my wolf knew.
22:32It took one look at you
22:33and decided.
22:36Mine.
22:37Then he released my wrist.
22:39But somehow,
22:41the sensation lingered,
22:42as though his touch
22:43had left an imprint behind.
22:45Across the square,
22:47Caelan hadn't left.
22:48He was still watching me
22:49lean closer to Damon.
22:50For the first time,
22:53he saw me smile like that.
22:55Openly.
22:56Genuinely.
22:58And for the first time,
23:00it wasn't meant for him.
23:02After the celebration ended,
23:04Damon looked at me quietly.
23:05For once,
23:07he seemed almost...
23:09uncertain.
23:10Are you sure about this?
23:12About leaving with me?
23:15About becoming my Luna?
23:17I nodded.
23:20Yes.
23:21A smile appeared on his face.
23:23It was the first time
23:24I'd ever seen one.
23:26Then let's go.
23:27I'm taking you home.
23:28Before leaving,
23:29I handed my father
23:30a memory crystal.
23:32These are some of the records
23:34I've collected
23:34over the last year.
23:36Evidence against Viviana.
23:37I believe she's working
23:38with rogues near the border.
23:40My father froze.
23:42Are you certain?
23:44I am.
23:44Damon was waiting for me
23:46aboard the chariot.
23:48He held out his hand.
23:49I took it.
23:50His hand was large,
23:52cool to the touch,
23:54and impossibly steady.
23:56Then he lowered his head
23:57and brushed a kiss
23:58across my knuckles.
24:02Nervous?
24:04No.
24:05His lips were cold,
24:07but they burned so hot
24:09my fingers curled.
24:13The winters at Bloodflang Cope
24:14are long,
24:15but you'll never have
24:16to face them alone.
24:18I'll keep you warm
24:20before the cold
24:20ever reaches you.
24:22Moonlight reflected
24:23in his crimson eyes.
24:25The chariot rose
24:26into the night sky.
24:28Below us,
24:28the lights of Iron Moon
24:30grew smaller
24:30and smaller.
24:32His fingers tightened
24:33around mine.
24:37Lyra,
24:38I'll spend the rest
24:39of my life
24:40making sure
24:40you're cherished.
24:42I looked out.
24:44Lifetime is a long promise.
24:46Then I glanced back at him.
24:49Let's start with today.
24:51A soft laugh
24:52escaped him.
24:53Then he turned his head
24:55and rested his cheek
24:56against my palm,
24:57as though he'd found
24:58something precious.
25:00And for the first time
25:02in a very long while,
25:04the future
25:05didn't seem frightening,
25:06no matter how cold
25:08the north might be.
25:10I had a feeling
25:11I wasn't going to face it
25:12alone.
25:14Bloodfang Keep
25:15stood atop a cliff
25:16overlooking
25:16the northern wastelands.
25:18From a distance,
25:18it looked less like a fortress
25:20and more like a sleeping beast
25:21waiting to awaken.
25:23Damon's chambers
25:24occupied the highest floor
25:25of the keep.
25:27At the door,
25:28he dismissed Jace
25:29with a nod,
25:30leaving only the two of us.
25:33I pushed his wheelchair
25:34through the hallway.
25:37You're not afraid of me?
25:39What exactly am I supposed
25:41to be afraid of?
25:42A faint smirk
25:43tugged at his lips.
25:44That I'll stand up
25:45one day and devour you.
25:48You can't even stand.
25:50Seems a little difficult
25:51to devour anyone.
25:52He didn't answer.
25:53Just shot me a look
25:54that said more than words.
25:56For some reason,
25:57my confidence
25:58evaporated first.
26:03On the night
26:04of the full moon,
26:05I woke to a low,
26:06guttural sound.
26:07A growl.
26:09It sounded half beast,
26:11half agony.
26:12Like something caught
26:13between a howl
26:14and a scream.
26:15The sound echoed
26:17from somewhere
26:17down the corridor.
26:19I followed it
26:20until I reached
26:21a heavy iron door.
26:22Lady Lyra,
26:23you can't go in there.
26:25What's inside?
26:27Jace didn't answer
26:28and that silence
26:30told me everything.
26:32I pushed the door open.
26:36Damon sat rigidly
26:38in his wheelchair.
26:39His hands gripped
26:41the armrests so tightly
26:42his knuckles
26:43had gone white.
26:45Every muscle in his body
26:46was locked tight.
26:48Blood stained the corner
26:49of his mouth,
26:50dropping onto the stone
26:51floor below.
26:51Damon.
26:52His head snapped up.
26:54Those crimson eyes
26:55locked onto mine
26:55instantly.
26:56For one heartbeat,
26:57I thought he was
26:58going to lunge at me.
27:00He didn't.
27:01Instead,
27:01he squeezed his eyes shut,
27:04every muscle
27:05trembling with strain.
27:07Leave.
27:08I didn't move.
27:10If anything,
27:10I stepped closer.
27:12Slowly,
27:13I reached up
27:13and touched his face.
27:15His skin was burning,
27:17hot enough
27:18to make me flinch.
27:19What is this?
27:21His lips were cracked,
27:23trembling.
27:25Every breath
27:26looked painful.
27:28Five years ago,
27:29I was wounded
27:32during a pack conflict.
27:34Silver poisoning
27:35reached my spine.
27:37I lost the use
27:38of my legs.
27:40Every full moon,
27:41it comes back.
27:42It feels like my bones
27:44are being torn apart
27:44from the inside.
27:46If you want to leave,
27:48I won't stop you.
27:49I'll have Jace
27:50take you back
27:51to the Iron Moon pack,
27:52and I'll make sure
27:53you're provided for.
27:54I didn't let him finish.
27:56I leaned down
27:57and kissed him.
27:58His lips were
27:59feverishly hot.
28:01The metallic taste of blood
28:03lingered between us.
28:04Daemon went completely still,
28:07as though he'd forgotten
28:08how to breathe.
28:10Then I bit down
28:11on my own tongue
28:12and let the healing blood
28:13pass between us.
28:15Daemon's eyes flew open,
28:17shock flooding his expression.
28:19He felt it immediately.
28:20The moment my blood
28:22entered his system,
28:24the silver poisoning
28:25began to retreat.
28:27Slowly.
28:29Steadily.
28:30His breathing
28:31gradually evened out.
28:33Even old wounds
28:34began closing
28:35before my eyes.
28:36Your blood?
28:38Disbelief filled his voice.
28:39It can heal silver wounds?
28:41I looked directly
28:43into his eyes.
28:44I'm not leaving.
28:46My voice was quiet
28:47and certain.
28:49I chose you.
28:50And I don't walk away
28:52from my choices.
28:54For the first time,
28:55he looked vulnerable.
28:56The next second,
28:58Daemon pulled me
28:58into his arms.
28:59The movement was fierce,
29:01instinctive.
29:02Do you have
29:04any idea
29:05how long I've waited for you?
29:07My heart skipped.
29:09What do you mean?
29:11Ten years ago,
29:12in Shadow Forest,
29:14I was the one
29:15who saved you.
29:17Not Kaylin.
29:18Me.
29:19My breath caught.
29:21Kaylin arrived afterward.
29:25A bitter smile
29:26crossed his face.
29:27You mistook him
29:28for your rescuer.
29:29His hand tightened
29:30around mine.
29:31I spent ten years
29:32looking for you.
29:33Then he lowered his head.
29:35His lips brushed gently
29:37against the back
29:38of my neck.
29:39A silent promise.
29:40A promise
29:42that neither of us
29:43intended to break.
29:46Damon's teeth
29:47grazed the sensitive
29:48skin of my neck.
29:49Not enough
29:50to break the surface.
29:51Just enough
29:52to make my breath catch.
29:54His nose brushed
29:55the spot
29:56behind my ear.
29:58Each breath
29:59ghosted
29:59across my skin.
30:01My body reacted
30:02before my mind
30:03could catch up.
30:04Without realizing it,
30:05I fisted a hand
30:07in the front
30:07of his shirt.
30:09Damon.
30:10The sound came out
30:11softer than I intended.
30:13Don't move.
30:14His voice was rough.
30:15I'm making sure
30:16I remember you.
30:17His lips brushed
30:18my skin again.
30:20My wolf doesn't
30:21like sharing.
30:22His lips lingered
30:23briefly at the curve
30:24of my neck.
30:25The contact
30:26sent another wave
30:27of heat
30:28through me.
30:28A small sound
30:29escaped me
30:30before I could
30:31stop it.
30:31You sense it too?
30:33Sense what?
30:34The bond.
30:35The part of us
30:36that recognizes
30:37what we found.
30:37My wolf took
30:38one look at you
30:39and made up its mind.
30:40His forehead rested
30:41briefly against mine.
30:42Mine.
30:43Early the next morning,
30:45a knock sounded
30:46at the bedroom door.
30:49Lady Lyra.
30:50Jace's voice
30:51came from outside.
30:52A message has arrived
30:54from the Iron Moon.
30:55Pack.
30:56I pushed myself
30:57up against the headboard.
30:59Go ahead.
31:02Alpha Rowan
31:03showed the memory
31:04crystal to the
31:05five warriors.
31:08And then?
31:10Faced with the evidence,
31:12Viviana finally confessed.
31:14Alpha Rowan
31:15ordered a search
31:16of Vivian's room.
31:17They found proof
31:18that she had been
31:18working with rogue wolves
31:19to frame you
31:20for her kidnapping.
31:21A chest full
31:22of silver weapons
31:23and several secret letters.
31:26She personally admitted
31:27to everything she'd done
31:28to you.
31:28Every lie.
31:29Every accusation.
31:30Every scheme.
31:32The moment my father
31:34saw the truth,
31:35he summoned
31:36all five of them.
31:40I raised you
31:41for ten years!
31:43And this is how
31:45you repay me?
31:46By destroying
31:47my daughter!
31:48You!
31:50You used your mark
31:51to force her
31:52to kneel!
31:53Alpha,
31:54Vivian
31:55tricked us.
31:56Enough!
31:57You five
31:58are no longer
31:59Iron Moon wolves.
32:00I cast you out.
32:03Live as rogues.
32:04Get out!
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