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Rebirth From Betrayal Shorts Drama Drama Pulse
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00:07My father's eyes blazed with a terrifying golden light as he barked the command.
00:13The Alpha Command crushed down on my knees, driving me hard into the mud.
00:18My mother gazed down at me.
00:21Selina is an Omega.
00:22If her wolf enters Silvermoon prison, the Silver will torture her to death.
00:28Lyra, you're the older sister. You go.
00:32My adopted younger sister, an Omega, drove drunk and killed a human.
00:37Yet, my parents wanted me to take the fall.
00:41You killed a human. You must go to prison.
00:45My biological father pinned every ounce of guilt onto me.
00:51I couldn't hold back the tears.
00:52No, I won't. I didn't kill anyone.
00:57Why should I go to prison? I'm your real daughter.
01:00My father's fury erupted.
01:02You don't have a choice!
01:08The pure silver shackles locked tight around my wrists.
01:12My skin sizzled and burned where the metal touched it, searing pain drilling straight into the bones.
01:21Desperately, I looked Kaelin.
01:23He was the strongest Alpha in the pack.
01:26The top-ranked dominant and my fated mate.
01:29He only stared down at me with a cold gaze.
01:37Lyra, go.
01:39When you come out, we'll complete the mate bond.
01:40He reached out and stroked my face.
01:44These seven years, just bear it.
01:47Just this once.
01:51I collapsed into despair, screaming.
01:55No!
01:57No!
02:04Seven years later.
02:06Lyra, now that you're leaving Silvermoon Prison, keep your wolf under control.
02:10Don't look back.
02:15Dragging my ruined leg, I limped out through the Iron Gate.
02:19A car was waiting just beyond the territory boundary.
02:23The window rolled down, and Kaelin's face emerged.
02:28Lyra.
02:30Seven years, and he hadn't changed at all.
02:33I dragged my crippled leg into the car.
02:37In the rearview mirror, I saw my face.
02:40A map of scars seared into the skin by silver.
02:44You've suffered these seven years.
02:46I'll keep my promise.
02:47At the next full moon, I'll mark you formally.
02:51You'll become my Luna.
02:54Kaelin reached over and laid his hand over my rough, scarred knuckles.
02:58I looked into his gold-green eyes and slowly pulled my hand away.
03:04The wolf inside me couldn't even summon a whimper.
03:10Seven years in Silvermoon Prison had shown me exactly who Kaelin was.
03:18Who my family was.
03:19You don't have a choice!
03:22They had never loved me.
03:25And I no longer had any desire to be his mate.
03:29Sensing my indifference, Kaelin grew irritated.
03:32Selina knew you were coming back today.
03:34Her stress disorder flared up again.
03:36Your whole family is at the Territory Hospital, soothing her.
03:40I closed my eyes.
03:42The SUV drove into the heart of the Crescent Moon Pax territory.
03:47An hour later, we arrived at my home.
03:50Only a Beta housekeeper and a few Omega servants were in the main house.
03:53They caught the inferior scent clinging to me.
03:56And didn't bother to hide their disgust.
03:59The Beta housekeeper offered Kaelin a respectful salute before finally turning to me.
04:05Miss Lyra, the Lunar says that now you're back, you're to stay inside your own scent circle.
04:10Don't wander around.
04:11Don't bring shame to the pack.
04:13Shame.
04:14I'd endured seven years of Silver burning my flesh in Selina's place.
04:18And somehow I was the shame?
04:22But I'd stopped expecting anything from them seven years ago, on that night of thunder and rain.
04:27Understood.
04:29I turned toward the side door.
04:32Kaelin received a mind link.
04:33His pupils snapped vertically.
04:35Lyra, Selina's vital signs are weak.
04:37She needs me.
04:38I'll go check on her.
04:40Get some rest.
04:42With that, he turned and disappeared into the room.
04:50Tonight later, I went back to my assigned space.
04:53A storage closet.
04:55And curled up on the narrow wooden cot.
05:00Late at night, drifting between sleep and waking.
05:03I heard Chloe, the Beta's younger sister, speaking downstairs.
05:08Alpha father, Luna mother, Selina's mental state is terrible.
05:12Why don't we move Lyra out of the main house?
05:14Otherwise, Selina will have an episode every time she catches Lyra's scent.
05:17My father sighed, but said nothing.
05:20My mother said,
05:22She carries our blood.
05:24If we throw her out the moment she's released from prison, what will the other packs say?
05:29Then what do we do?
05:31Chloe paced anxiously.
05:35My father spoke.
05:37When Selina comes back, order Lyra to suppress all her scent signatures.
05:42She's forbidden from appearing in front of Selina.
05:45She's not allowed to take a single step out of her room.
05:47My eyes were closed, but a searing acidic burn spread deep in their sockets.
05:53Just then, my specialized communicator vibrated.
05:57An encrypted email.
05:59Miss Lyra, congratulations.
06:01You have passed the assessment for the Institute of Paranormal Confidential Research.
06:06Upon acceptance of the contract, you will depart for the sacred grounds of Domica Island under a new identity on
06:12the night of the full moon, seven days from now.
06:15Your pack identity will be permanently erased.
06:19No contact with the outside world for five years.
06:22Without a flicker of hesitation, I signed my name.
06:25Lyra.
06:26I had passed the Institute's assessment seven years ago.
06:29Right before I was thrown into prison instead of joining.
06:32As my release approached, I'd applied again.
06:35I'd passed again, without surprise.
06:38Seven days.
06:38I only had to endure seven more days.
06:42Then I would sever the pack bond completely and leave forever.
06:48The next morning, I walked into the living room.
06:51A thick, clying sweetness hit me.
06:54Omega scent, heavy and dense.
06:57Selena was back.
06:58She sat at the center of the sofa in a pure white dress.
07:01Everyone crowded around her.
07:03The beta housekeeper brought out a cake.
07:06The family spoke and practiced unison.
07:09Happy birthday, Selena.
07:12Selena smiled and thanked everyone, lifting her chin.
07:15I just left the hospital.
07:17Do you have anything special for me?
07:19My parents and sister stepped forward one by one, offering expensive treasures.
07:25Kaylin was about to present his gift, when he caught sight of me standing in the shadows.
07:31Lyra, you're awake.
07:33Come, celebrate Selene's birthday with us.
07:35Selena turned to me.
07:38Sister, I'm sorry.
07:40My stress disorder flared up yesterday.
07:42I couldn't go pick you up.
07:43You're not angry, are you?
07:45Before I could open my mouth, Kaylin answered for me.
07:49Lyra isn't that petty.
07:51She won't hold it against you.
07:53Selena took that as permission.
07:56Boldly, she looped her arm throughs and looked straight at me.
07:59Sister, give me a gift too.
08:02I want Kaylin as my mate.
08:05Mate stealing was taboo among the wolves.
08:07Yet she declared it openly, and not a single wolf in the room spoke a word against it.
08:13Rage boiled in my blood.
08:15I clenched my fists.
08:17And if I refuse?
08:23Selena's expression stiffened.
08:24She switched to the old wolf tongue, reserved for pure-blood aristocrats.
08:29I was only joking.
08:30I didn't expect my sister's wolf to be so savage.
08:33My Lena mother responded in the same old tongue, her tone soothing.
08:37Don't be afraid, Selena.
08:38Lyra has been wandering outside too long.
08:40Her bloodline is degraded.
08:42My Atva father released a calming pinewood scent.
08:44Blood ties don't matter.
08:45Your mother and I only recognize you as our daughter.
08:48Right, Selena.
08:49You're my only sister.
08:50I forced the bitterness down and pretended I couldn't understand a word of the old tongue.
08:55I turned to Kaylin.
08:56What are they saying?
08:57Kaylin's throat bobbed.
08:59Selena said it was just a joke.
09:01Everyone's telling you not to be so sensitive.
09:03The air reeked of lies.
09:05They had no idea.
09:07I understood every single word.
09:10My mother came from a noble, pure-blood line.
09:13My father ruled over this entire territory.
09:16From the moment they brought me back from the orphanage,
09:19they despised me for carrying too much of the stray's wildness.
09:23Every resource, every drop of love,
09:26they poured it all into its Selena.
09:28Ten years ago, Selena awakened a rare healing-type omega gift.
09:34The entire pack howled at the moon in ecstasy.
09:38What they didn't know was that I'd already passed the blood moon trial by then,
09:43and had taught myself the most obscure dialect of the old wolf tongue.
09:48But none of that mattered anymore.
09:50Soon, very soon, I would escape this territory for good.
09:54I just got out of Silvermoon Prison.
09:56I want to go beyond the territory boundary.
09:58Get some air.
09:59You all carry on.
10:00Under their contemptuous stares,
10:02I dragged my ruined leg towards the door.
10:05Their mockery trailed behind me.
10:08Today was my birthday, too.
10:14Beyond the territory,
10:16I suppressed my wolf's scent signature
10:18and took a bus to the lower district of Seattle.
10:20Because of my Silvermoon Prison record,
10:22the pack had erased all my files.
10:24Combined with my crippled leg,
10:26the only work I could find was washing dishes in a run-down roadside diner,
10:29just enough to survive the next ten days.
10:32At half-past eleven at night,
10:33I finished scrubbing the last plate.
10:35As I stepped out of the diner,
10:37a man climbed out of his car and strode toward me.
10:43Lyra,
10:44why have you been away from the territory so long?
10:46He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the vehicle.
10:48The door opened.
10:49On the back seat sat a cake.
10:52Lyra,
10:53happy birthday.
10:55Kaylin's pack and mine shared a tight border.
10:59He and I,
11:00the top-ranked Alpha and I,
11:02had been bound by a mate contract since we were pups.
11:06I still remembered the first moment I saw him
11:09after returning to the territory.
11:11He stood in the sunlight,
11:13radiating brilliance.
11:15In that hostile territory,
11:17Kaylin was the only one who never scorned my wild scent.
11:21He would release his Alpha dominance
11:23to shield me.
11:25He brought me gifts on holidays.
11:27He was the only soul in that entire forest
11:30who was good to me.
11:32And in the end,
11:33he was the one who personally sent me
11:36to Silvermoon Prison.
11:40Lyra?
11:41What's wrong?
11:42Did you think I forgot your birthday?
11:43Kaylin's voice pulled me back.
11:45I answered evenly.
11:48He produced another box.
11:49I lifted the lid.
11:51Inside lay a red dress.
11:53Remember when you were little?
11:55You said you wanted to wear a red dress
11:56when we completed the mate bond.
11:58I had it made in advance.
12:01Do you like it?
12:04Alpha,
12:06you're remembering wrong.
12:07I hate red.
12:08When I was lost as a child,
12:10I'd been wearing a red dress.
12:13Ever since I could form memories,
12:15every full moon night,
12:16I put on red,
12:17hoping my pack could track my visual scent
12:19and bring me home.
12:20Kaylin's pupils contracted.
12:22He ruffled my hair.
12:25I'm sorry.
12:27I remembered wrong.
12:28Come on,
12:29I'll take you to a restaurant
12:30to celebrate.
12:31On the drive back,
12:32Kaylin gripped my hand tightly.
12:37Lyra,
12:37why is your scent so faint?
12:40Why are you thinner than you were
12:41seven years ago?
12:42And your leg...
12:44Before he could finish,
12:45the phone rang.
12:46The screen flashed a single word,
12:48Selina.
12:52Kaylin answered.
12:54His voice dropped into a frantic grail.
12:56Turn around!
12:57Back to the territory!
13:01The whole way,
13:02he soothed Selina through the communicator.
13:04By the time we burst back into the main house,
13:07I looked up.
13:08Selina stood on the roof's edge of the villa,
13:11still in her white dress.
13:13She looked at us.
13:14Sister's back.
13:16It's time for a defective Omega like me
13:19to step aside.
13:21Goodbye.
13:22Without another word,
13:23she jumped.
13:23The drop from roof to ground
13:25was maybe ten meters.
13:26But when Selina fell,
13:27every single one of my family
13:29lunged forward on pure instinct.
13:32That night,
13:33ambulance sirens wailed over the territory.
13:38They all went to the hospital.
13:39I went back to my storage closet,
13:42collapsed onto the hard plank bed,
13:43and checked my communicator.
13:4612.20 a.m.
13:48The top-ranked Alpha
13:49had broken his promise.
13:50He hadn't stayed
13:51to celebrate my birthday.
13:53But my wolf didn't howl in pain.
13:55All I felt was a vast,
13:57barren emptiness.
13:59I closed my eyes
14:00and sank into sleep.
14:02The next five days,
14:03I worked at the diner.
14:05My family stayed at the hospital,
14:08wrapping at Selina
14:09in thick layers of protective scent.
14:11Not one of them set foot
14:13back in the territory.
14:15Until that day,
14:17the restaurant TV broadcast the news.
14:19Alpha Kaelin and Selina
14:21of the Crescent Moon Pack
14:22announced their binding ceremony.
14:25My pupils snapped into vertical slits.
14:29That night,
14:30I pushed open the wooden door
14:31and walked back into the territory.
14:33They were all there.
14:35At Kaelin's scent,
14:36saturated the living room.
14:38My Luna mother caught
14:39the smell of Earth on me
14:41and opened her mouth
14:41to scold me.
14:43My Alpha father
14:44silenced her with a look.
14:46Lyra,
14:47you're finally back.
14:49Selina's Omega Depression
14:50is getting worse.
14:52So we've already made
14:53the decision for you.
14:54We're transferring
14:55your mate bond to Selina.
14:57You have no objections,
14:58I trust?
15:00They'd already used
15:01their authority
15:01to sever my bond.
15:03Now they stood there
15:04asking for my opinion
15:05as if it meant something.
15:08Alpha,
15:09you agreed to this too?
15:14Kaelin crossed the room
15:15in a few strides
15:16and seized my cold hand.
15:18Selim's only obsession
15:19right now
15:19is completing
15:20the binding ceremony with me.
15:21Don't worry, little wolf.
15:23I won't betray you.
15:24I'm just playing along,
15:26going through the motions.
15:27He was about to mark
15:28another she-wolf
15:29and he expected me to believe
15:30he wouldn't betray me?
15:31I wrenched my hand
15:33from his grip.
15:34Fine.
15:37Do whatever you want.
15:39Something tightened
15:40in at Kaelin's chest.
15:42He reached for me again.
15:46Out Selina suddenly released
15:47a dense wave
15:48of sorrowful pheromones.
15:52Sister, if you're not willing,
15:54then forget it.
15:55Through her sobs,
15:56she dug her nails
15:57into the back
15:58of her own hand.
15:59Chloe rushed
16:00to stop the self-harm,
16:01then spun around
16:02and bared her fangs
16:03at me with a snarl.
16:05Lyra!
16:06Can't you smell
16:07how sick she is?
16:09Do you need
16:09the whole family
16:10to kneel before you
16:11before you'll give in?
16:14My blood sister.
16:19Brainwashed completely
16:20by this twisted pack.
16:24Her roar dragged me
16:25back to the early days
16:26after I'd returned
16:27to the territory.
16:29At first,
16:29they forced me
16:30to give Selina
16:31the best den.
16:32Then,
16:33seven years ago,
16:34Selina broke
16:35the iron law.
16:36The memories ignited
16:37my rage past
16:38the breaking point.
16:39I met at Chloe's
16:40hostile glares
16:41and let out
16:41a cold laugh.
16:42Fine.
16:43If all of you
16:44kneel and submit to me,
16:46I'll agree to hand over
16:47my mate bond to Selina.
16:48The living room
16:49fell silent.
16:50None of them
16:51had expected
16:52such rebellion from me.
16:53I retreated
16:54to my cramped den.
16:56Late at night,
16:57my communicator buzzed.
16:58Kaylin.
16:59Lyra, Selina
17:00once saved my life.
17:02She gave me her kidney,
17:03the primal vitality
17:05of her wolf.
17:06That's why I have
17:07to complete
17:07this binding ceremony
17:08with her.
17:09Alpha,
17:10when you were
17:10gravely wounded,
17:11it was me
17:13who saved you.
17:14I'm the one
17:14who gave you
17:15my kidney.
17:16Silence on the other end.
17:18Then,
17:19Kaylin's cold laugh.
17:20Lyra,
17:21since when did you
17:21learn to lie?
17:22Selina was the one
17:23who saved me.
17:24Your own parents
17:25can swear it
17:25on the pack's name.
17:26You've disappointed
17:27me deeply.
17:28I lay on the freezing
17:29count,
17:30unable to speak.
17:31Eight years ago,
17:32Kaylin was ambushed
17:33and critically injured.
17:34I didn't hesitate.
17:35I went through
17:36the matching.
17:37I cut away a piece
17:38of myself
17:38and gave it to him.
17:39Now my sacrifice
17:40had been stolen
17:41by that Omega,
17:43and I wasn't even
17:43allowed to prove
17:44it was mine.
17:45After a long silence,
17:47I whispered,
17:48If you don't believe me,
17:49forget it.
17:49I'd already decided
17:50to abandon you
17:51completely anyway.
17:52I cut the connection,
17:53closed my eyes,
17:55slept.
17:58The second to last day.
18:00After my final shift,
18:01I stepped out
18:02of the diner.
18:03That familiar car
18:04was parked outside
18:05the shopping center.
18:07Above Shibon Commercial Street,
18:09fireworks suddenly
18:10burst across the sky.
18:11Alpha Kaylin loves Lyra forever.
18:14I tilted my head back,
18:16staring at the night sky,
18:17lost for a long moment.
18:19Kaylin trod toward me,
18:21his voice low and soft.
18:23Yesterday was my fault,
18:24but you have to believe me.
18:26The one I truly love
18:27is you,
18:28so you don't have to lie.
18:31How did he do it?
18:33How did he join forces
18:35with my family again
18:36and again,
18:37tear into me
18:38while pinning to the ground,
18:40and still say he loved me
18:41with a straight face?
18:42He pinched my hollow cheek.
18:44You really are too thin.
18:46Why aren't you eating properly?
18:48I snapped my gaze up.
18:49I spent seven years
18:50surviving Silver Moon Prison,
18:52a place saturated with silver.
18:54My wolf fought just to stay alive.
18:57Did you think I'd have the luxury
18:59of growing a full, healthy coat?
19:02A violent shover
19:03ran through Kaylin's massive frame.
19:05Maybe just in that second,
19:06it hit him.
19:07He was the one
19:08who had personally
19:09sent me into that hell.
19:10He opened his mouth to speak.
19:12The car door swung open.
19:14Selina's voice drifted out.
19:15Alpha Kaylin,
19:17sister,
19:18don't stand out there.
19:19The cold wind
19:20will damage your wolves.
19:23The last trace of warmth
19:25inside me died.
19:26Kaylin explained,
19:28Selina followed our scent
19:29to come see you.
19:30She says she wants to thank you
19:32for your generosity,
19:33for being willing
19:34to step aside.
19:35He bundled me into the car.
19:38In the enclosed space,
19:40Selina's gaze fell
19:41on my grease-stained
19:42thread-bake uniform.
19:44Sister,
19:45don't mother and father
19:46have the stewards
19:47send you supplies
19:48every month?
19:48Why are you still
19:50doing menial labor
19:50in a human diner?
19:52It damages
19:53the pack's dignity.
19:54She slipped a gemstone
19:55bracelet off her wrist
19:57and held it out to me.
20:00If you're short
20:01on survival resources,
20:03this bracelet
20:04is worth
20:04three million dollars.
20:06It should buy you
20:07a few good meals.
20:11Three million dollars.
20:13A random toy
20:13thrust to an Omega
20:14was worth
20:15three million dollars.
20:16I still remembered
20:17when I'd first
20:17returned to the territory
20:18and wanted to attend
20:19a human high school.
20:20The tuition
20:21was only three thousand dollars.
20:23I begged my Luna mother.
20:24Lyra,
20:24do I owe you something?
20:26I gave you life.
20:28You should be grateful.
20:30Why are you always
20:31so ungrateful?
20:32After that,
20:33I never asked this territory
20:34for a single scrap
20:35of meat again.
20:36The so-called
20:37steward supplies
20:38were nothing but a lie.
20:39They tilted their hearts
20:40to the extreme
20:41long ago.
20:42Look at your glossy,
20:43perfect coat.
20:44Now look at me,
20:45covered in scars.
20:47I smacked
20:47the Offerford bracelet away.
20:50Reign in your
20:51Omega pheromones.
20:52Stop putting on
20:53an act in front of me.
20:55I'm not that naive
20:5615-year-old pup anymore.
20:58At 15,
20:59I'd yearned desperately
21:00for a pack bond
21:01without Selena.
21:02She framed me instead.
21:03Every cruel thing
21:04she did,
21:05she pinned on me.
21:06By the time I realized
21:07what was happening,
21:08the entire pack
21:09had branded me
21:10an outsider.
21:11My rebuke
21:12sent tears
21:13rolling down
21:13Selena's cheeks,
21:15the air filled
21:16with a heartbreaking,
21:17pleading scent.
21:18The moment
21:19At-Cailin smelled it,
21:20he pulled Selena
21:21under the shelter
21:22of his chest
21:22and snared at me.
21:24Lyra!
21:25Selena meant well.
21:26It's fine
21:27if you don't want
21:27the bracelet.
21:28There's no need
21:29to say something
21:29so vicious.
21:30Right.
21:31This was the male
21:32who claimed
21:33he loved me
21:34from the deepest
21:35part of his soul.
21:36The moment
21:36there was any friction
21:37between me at Selena,
21:39he always took her side.
21:41Every single time.
21:42Alpha,
21:42if someone throws
21:43a piece of rotting meat
21:44at a starving wolf
21:45as charity,
21:46must the wolf
21:46swallow it
21:47and wag its bay
21:48in gratitude?
21:49Even crushed
21:49beneath your feet,
21:51my wolf has pride
21:52worth dying for.
21:54Cailin was struck
21:55silence.
21:56Beside him,
21:57Selena's breathing
21:57suddenly grew
21:58rapid and shallow.
22:00She let out
22:00a fragile whimmer.
22:02I'm sorry.
22:03It's my fault.
22:05Don't blame sister.
22:06Cailin barked
22:07at the driver.
22:08Quick!
22:09Turn around.
22:09Get to the
22:10territory hospital.
22:11Lyra,
22:12your wolf showed
22:12too much savagery
22:13just now.
22:14You can walk
22:15back on your own.
22:17The car door
22:18shut in my face.
22:19I was left
22:20discarded on the
22:21freezing street.
22:22I watched the
22:23taillights vanish
22:23and my heart
22:24felt nothing.
22:25No pain of being
22:26abandoned by my mate.
22:28Nothing at all.
22:30I dragged my
22:31ruined leg
22:32back to the
22:33territory main
22:33house.
22:34The villa was
22:36unusually lively.
22:37My luna mother
22:38laughed.
22:41The night after
22:42tomorrow's full moon,
22:44Selena's binding
22:45ceremony.
22:46I looked at them.
22:47Sorrow welled up
22:48from deep inside me.
22:49They had truly
22:50given every
22:51scrap of love
22:51to that omega.
22:52Tomorrow night
22:53at 9 o'clock
22:54the extraction
22:54vehicle would arrive.
22:56After that,
22:56I'd have no need
22:58for any blood
22:58plines ever again.
22:59The night after
23:00tomorrow was
23:01Selena and
23:01Kaelin's binding
23:02day.
23:02Chloe threw them
23:03a wild pre-celebration
23:04party.
23:05The next morning,
23:06since my storage
23:07closet had no
23:07water source,
23:08I had to drag
23:09my leg out
23:10to wash up.
23:11Passing the
23:11living room,
23:12I saw the
23:13young wolves
23:13playing a game.
23:14Selena and
23:15Kaelin sat
23:16in the center
23:16of it all.
23:17Alpha,
23:17you lost!
23:18Truth or dare?
23:20Kaelin leaned
23:20back lazily.
23:21Dare.
23:22Kiss Selena
23:23in front of
23:24everyone one
23:25full minute!
23:25The young
23:26Alpha suddenly
23:27caught sight of
23:28me at the edge
23:29of the room.
23:29His grin
23:30widened.
23:31How about
23:31this?
23:32Pick any
23:32she-wolf in
23:33this room
23:33and kiss
23:34her for
23:34one minute.
23:35Lyra!
23:36Weren't you
23:36the one who
23:37was most
23:37obsessed with
23:38the Alpha?
23:39He's about
23:39to mark
23:40someone else.
23:41Why not
23:41share one
23:42last kiss
23:43with him?
23:43One last
23:44desperate
23:44memory to
23:45cling to?
23:46Kaelin stood
23:46up.
23:47Step by step,
23:48he walked
23:48toward me.
23:49Kaelin.
23:50There are too
23:51many people
23:52here.
23:52I'm about
23:53to make
23:53Selena my
23:54Luna.
23:54I can't
23:54humiliate
23:55her.
23:55You understand,
23:57don't you?
23:57I made a quiet
23:58sound of
23:58assent and
23:59turned toward
23:59the washroom.
24:00Behind me,
24:01I heard the
24:02wet sounds of
24:02Kaelin and
24:03Selena's mouths
24:04meeting and
24:05the wolves'
24:06excited howls.
24:07In this game
24:07where I was
24:08always the
24:08option to be
24:09discarded,
24:10I truly had
24:10to thank him
24:11for finally
24:12letting me go.
24:15Night fell.
24:16Kaelin lit up
24:17the entire
24:18territory sky with
24:19fireworks for
24:20Selena.
24:20He tracked
24:21my scent
24:22and called
24:22me into
24:23the shadows.
24:25Lyra,
24:26once the
24:27full moon
24:27comes tomorrow
24:27and Selena
24:28and I finish
24:28the false
24:29binding ceremony,
24:29we can finally
24:30be together
24:31properly.
24:33I opened
24:34my dry
24:34throat.
24:37I'm sorry,
24:38I won't.
24:40Before I could
24:40finish,
24:41At Chloe
24:41came running,
24:42howling.
24:43Kaelin!
24:44Come quick!
24:45Game time!
24:47Kaelin called
24:48back an
24:48acknowledgement,
24:49then turned
24:49to me.
24:50What were
24:51you saying?
24:52You want
24:52what?
24:53I gave a
24:55bitter smile.
24:56Nothing.
24:58Go.
25:00Revel
25:00with your
25:01pack.
25:02Kaelin
25:02squeezed
25:03my ice-cold
25:03fingers.
25:05Once
25:05tomorrow's
25:06ceremony
25:06is over,
25:07all of
25:08this will
25:08be over.
25:09He turned
25:10and strode
25:10back toward
25:11the clamorous
25:12light.
25:12I watched
25:13his back
25:14in silence.
25:15Yes,
25:16all ties
25:18were over.
25:20All the
25:20wolves flocked
25:21to Selene's
25:22lavish room.
25:23Alone,
25:24I slipped
25:24into the
25:25shadows of
25:25the main
25:25house and
25:27checked my
25:27communicator.
25:287.15pm,
25:30one hour and
25:3145 minutes
25:32left.
25:33I washed
25:34my body
25:35with cold
25:35water,
25:36scrubbing
25:36every last
25:37trace of
25:38the territory's
25:38scent from
25:39my fur.
25:40The mirror
25:41reflected a
25:41body mapped
25:42with burn
25:43scars and
25:43whip marks
25:44from
25:44Silvermoon
25:45prison.
25:46I put on
25:46the cleanest
25:47clothes I'd
25:47managed to
25:48keep all
25:48these years.
25:49Then I
25:50waited,
25:51the last
25:51hour.
25:52I looked
25:53around the
25:53den that
25:54had trapped
25:54me for so
25:54many years.
25:55A few
25:56ragged
25:56clothes,
25:57one thin
25:58blanket,
26:01a diary
26:02and a
26:02photo frame
26:02on the
26:03desk.
26:04I threw
26:04away every
26:05old
26:05belonging.
26:06I picked
26:07up the
26:08photo frame.
26:09Inside was
26:10a group
26:10portrait of
26:11two families,
26:11taken 12
26:13years ago,
26:13just after
26:14I'd returned
26:15to the
26:15territory.
26:16That photo
26:17had once
26:18held every
26:19desperate hope
26:20I'd had for
26:20this pack.
26:21Now I tore
26:22it to pieces
26:23and dropped
26:23it in the
26:24trash.
26:25Finally,
26:25I opened
26:26the diary.
26:28December
26:286,
26:292016.
26:30Sunny.
26:32I returned
26:33to the
26:33territory today.
26:34I met
26:34my Alpha
26:35and Luna.
26:36I have a
26:36home now.
26:37I'm not
26:38a stray
26:38anymore.
26:41April 1,
26:422017.
26:43Overcast.
26:44No food
26:46or money
26:46was allocated
26:47to me.
26:47I have to
26:48hunt for
26:49myself.
26:50July 7,
26:51Twaineed,
26:522018.
26:53Sunny.
26:54I traded
26:55my prey
26:56for a
26:56necklace.
26:57My little
26:58sister didn't
26:59like it.
26:59I need to
27:00earn more.
27:01Buy her
27:02something better
27:02next time.
27:04I turned
27:05to the
27:05last entry,
27:06written the
27:07night before
27:08I was sent
27:08to prison.
27:09Only one
27:10line.
27:11This pack
27:11doesn't love
27:12me.
27:12Not at
27:13all.
27:16A long
27:17forgotten
27:18burn rose
27:18behind my
27:19eyes.
27:20I picked
27:21up a pen
27:22and,
27:22using the
27:23old wolf
27:23tongue,
27:25wrote my
27:25final words.
27:27I'm leaving
27:28Alpha,
27:29Luna.
27:32Before I
27:33go,
27:34my wolf
27:34truly cannot
27:35understand.
27:36if you
27:37despised
27:38my so
27:38much,
27:39why did
27:39you search
27:39for me
27:40in the
27:40forest all
27:41those years
27:41ago?
27:44When other
27:44strays find
27:45their birth
27:46parents,
27:46they're met
27:47with endless
27:47acceptance and
27:48love.
27:49But for
27:49me,
27:51the moment
27:51you found
27:52me was
27:53the moment
27:53you found
27:54me was
27:54an I truly
27:55lost my
27:56parents.
27:57Chloe,
27:58you said
27:59you only
27:59recognized
28:00Selima as
28:01your sister.
28:02today,
28:03I grant
28:04you that
28:04wish.
28:06Kaylin,
28:07you said
28:08after the
28:08false binding
28:09ceremony we
28:10could be
28:10together again.
28:11I'm sorry.
28:13My wolf is
28:14already dead.
28:16I won't wait
28:17for you anymore.
28:18May your bond
28:19prove unbreakable.
28:20I am abandoning
28:22this territory
28:22forever.
28:24Through I
28:24grease
28:24per
28:24Ows
28:25Mensley.
28:25We will
28:26never see
28:27each other
28:27again.
28:28I finished
28:29writing,
28:30laid the diary
28:31flat on the
28:31desk and
28:33pulled the
28:33prison medical
28:33records from
28:34my bag.
28:38I set them
28:39down on top
28:40of the
28:40diary.
28:41The scan
28:42image was
28:43unmistakable.
28:44My body
28:44contained only
28:45one kidney.
28:46The clock
28:47struck nine.
28:49I grabbed
28:50my canvas
28:51bag and
28:51limped out
28:52of the
28:52territory.
28:54Behind me,
28:55lights blazed
28:56and the pack's
28:56revelry shook
28:57the ground.
28:59Ahead of me,
29:00several matte
29:01black military
29:02armored vehicles
29:03crowd silently
29:04in the dark.
29:05Without a
29:06flicker of
29:07hesitation,
29:07I stepped
29:08across the
29:09territory boundary
29:10and walked
29:10towards my
29:11new life.
29:15Engines roared
29:16to light.
29:16The convoy
29:17pulled away
29:18swiftly,
29:19swallowing me
29:19into the
29:20boundless night.
29:24The next day,
29:25to the sound
29:26of long,
29:27drawn-out wolf
29:28howls,
29:31Selina and
29:31Kaylin's
29:32mating ceremony
29:33officially began.
29:37My Luna
29:38mother swept
29:38her gaze around
29:39and couldn't
29:40pick up
29:40Lyra's scent.
29:41She frowned
29:42and growled.
29:43Chloe,
29:44where is
29:44Lyra?
29:45If she's
29:45absent,
29:46the other
29:46packs will
29:47talk.
29:47Go!
29:48Drag
29:49Lyra out
29:49here.
29:51I'll get
29:52her.
29:53Which den
29:54is she
29:54sleeping in?
29:56The storage
29:57closet.
29:58Every
29:59dominant wolf
29:59present went
30:00still.
30:01My alpha
30:02father's
30:02brown
30:03frontled in
30:03confusion.
30:05Why would
30:05Lyra sleep
30:06in a storage
30:07closet?
30:08The servant
30:09shook.
30:11When Miss
30:11Lyra was
30:12first brought
30:13back,
30:13there was
30:14no suitable
30:14den.
30:16The Luna
30:16said she
30:17would stay
30:17in the storage
30:18closet temporarily.
30:19that temporarily
30:20had lasted
30:21twelve years.
30:23An ugly
30:24flush rose
30:25on my
30:25Luna
30:25mother's
30:26face.
30:27She masked
30:28her guilt
30:28with a
30:29surge of
30:30dominance.
30:31Selena,
30:32dressed in
30:32pure white
30:33silk ceremonial
30:34robes,
30:35released a
30:35clining wave
30:36of pheromones.
30:37Our storage
30:38closet is
30:38still better
30:39than fighting
30:39wild dogs
30:40for scraps
30:41in the forest
30:41like she
30:42used to.
30:43Sister
30:44shouldn't
30:44feel too
30:45wronged,
30:45should she?
30:46A thread
30:47of dissonance
30:48flickered
30:48throughout
30:49Chloe's
30:49heart.
30:51Frowning,
30:52she walked
30:53toward the
30:53renected
30:54corner at
30:54the end
30:55of the
30:55corridor.
30:58The heavy
30:59wooden door
30:59creaked
31:00open.
31:01No warm
31:02scent of
31:02packmates.
31:04Only dust
31:05and mildew.
31:07Lyra's bed
31:08was pushed
31:08against a
31:09row of
31:09rusted
31:09shelving.
31:11Beside it
31:12sat an
31:12abandoned
31:13water tank,
31:14topped
31:15with a
31:15battered
31:16desk lamp,
31:17a yellow
31:18diary,
31:18and a
31:19stack of
31:20medical
31:20documents.
31:25Lyra
31:26wasn't
31:26there.
31:28Chloe's
31:28heart
31:29began to
31:29pound.
31:30She
31:30walked to
31:31the water
31:31tank.
31:32With
31:33trembling
31:33hands,
31:34she picked
31:34up the
31:35diary and
31:35the medical
31:36reports.
31:38Alpha
31:39father!
31:40Luna
31:41mother!
31:42Sister
31:43isn't in
31:43the
31:43territory,
31:44but she
31:45left
31:45these
31:45behind!
31:47Alpha
31:48father moved
31:48to investigate,
31:49but the
31:50sound of
31:50an SUV
31:51engine and
31:51the crushing
31:52weight of
31:52a top
31:53plea
31:53alpha's
31:53dominance
31:54rolled in
31:55from
31:55outside.
31:58Kaylin
31:59had arrived.
32:00My
32:01Luna
32:01mother spoke
32:02first.
32:03She's
32:03probably just
32:04throwing a
32:04tantrum and
32:05ran off to
32:06the boundary.
32:09Chloe,
32:10put those
32:11things down
32:11and come
32:12out.
32:13The
32:13alpha
32:14is here
32:14for
32:14Selina.
32:17Alpha
32:18father
32:18hesitated,
32:19then suppressed
32:20his unease
32:21and turned
32:22to go
32:22out.
32:24The
32:25main
32:25hall.
32:26At
32:26Kaylin
32:27stood in
32:27the center,
32:28holding a
32:28bouquet.
32:29His face
32:30showed no
32:30trace of
32:31joy.
32:32His
32:33optory
32:33senses were
32:34filtering the
32:34air with
32:35frantic
32:35intensity.
32:36Nothing.
32:37No trace
32:38of Lyra's
32:39scent.
32:40His
32:40brow
32:40furled
32:41hard.
32:44Where
32:44is
32:44Lyra?
32:46Jealousy
32:46flashed
32:47through
32:47Lyra's
32:47eyes.
32:48Kaylin,
32:50sister
32:50probably
32:51couldn't
32:51handle
32:51the
32:52stimulation.
32:53She
32:53ran
32:53out
32:54of
32:54the
32:54territory.
32:55My
32:55Luna
32:55mother
32:56echoed
32:56her.
32:56Alpha,
32:57we
32:58failed
32:59to
32:59domesticate
32:59Lyra's
33:00wildness.
33:01Forgive
33:01us.
33:02Kaylin's
33:03wolf
33:03growled
33:03in
33:04agitation.
33:04He
33:05pulled
33:05out
33:05his
33:05communicator
33:06and
33:06messaged
33:06Lyra.
33:08Why
33:09is your
33:09wolf
33:09still so
33:10childish?
33:10Where
33:11the hell
33:11did you
33:11run
33:11off
33:12to?
33:13No
33:13response.
33:15Not
33:15through
33:15MindLink.
33:16Not
33:17through
33:17the
33:17communicator.
33:18Chloe
33:18emerged,
33:20clutching the
33:20diary and
33:21the medical
33:21reports.
33:22She'd only
33:23glanced at
33:23the report,
33:24but what she
33:24saw made
33:25her blood
33:25run cold.
33:27Why
33:27was Lyra's
33:28body in
33:29such
33:29terrible
33:29condition?
33:30Why
33:31did she
33:31only
33:31have
33:32one
33:32kidney?
33:35She
33:36had
33:36already
33:36ordered
33:37her
33:37deputy
33:37to
33:38launch
33:38a
33:38full
33:39investigation
33:39into
33:40Lyra's
33:40seven
33:40years
33:41in
33:41Silver
33:41Moon
33:42prison.
33:44Selina
33:45broke
33:45the
33:45silence,
33:46looping
33:46her
33:47arm
33:47through
33:47Kaylin's.
33:48Alpha,
33:49our
33:49mating
33:49ceremony
33:50is about
33:50to
33:50start.
33:51Sister
33:52left,
33:53so
33:53she
33:53left.
33:54Chloe
33:54and
33:55Alpha
33:55father
33:55both
33:55frowned
33:56Selina
33:56didn't
33:57care
33:57in
33:57the
33:57slightest
33:57whether
33:58Lyra
33:58lived
33:59or
33:59died.
34:02A
34:02false
34:02finding
34:03ceremony
34:03doesn't
34:04need
34:04to
34:04go
34:04that
34:04far.
34:05You
34:06just
34:06wanted
34:06to
34:06wear
34:06the
34:06wedding
34:06dress
34:07and
34:07walk
34:07into
34:07the
34:08Moon
34:08temple.
34:09Kaylin's
34:09voice
34:09was
34:10cold.
34:10Let's
34:11go.
34:11Get
34:11it
34:11done.
34:13He
34:14pulled
34:14his
34:14arm
34:15free
34:15and
34:15strode
34:16out
34:16of
34:16the
34:16main
34:16house,
34:17carrying
34:17a
34:17freezing
34:18area
34:18with
34:18him.
34:22Because
34:22it
34:22was
34:23a
34:23false
34:23ceremony,
34:24Kaylin
34:24had
34:25invited
34:25no
34:26guests.
34:27The
34:28temple
34:28stood
34:28empty
34:29except
34:29for
34:29the
34:29Alpha
34:30family
34:30and
34:30an
34:30elder
34:31to
34:31officiate.
34:32Selina
34:33finally
34:33shattered.
34:38This
34:39is
34:39what
34:39I
34:39wanted
34:40at
34:40all!
34:45Lyra
34:46left,
34:46so
34:46what?
34:47You
34:47still
34:48have
34:48me!
34:50Am
34:51I
34:51so
34:51inferior
34:52to
34:52that
34:52stray
34:53wild
34:53wolf?
34:54She's
34:54been
34:54to
34:55prison?
34:55How
34:56could
34:56she
34:56possibly
34:56be
34:57worthy
34:57of
34:57you?
34:58Selina,
35:00you
35:00threatened
35:01to
35:01kill
35:01yourself.
35:02You
35:03jumped
35:03off
35:03the
35:03roof.
35:04That's
35:04the
35:04only
35:05reason
35:05I
35:05agreed
35:05to
35:06this
35:06sham
35:06of
35:07a
35:07ceremony.
35:08Now
35:09we've
35:09done
35:09what
35:10you
35:10asked,
35:10I'm
35:11going
35:11to
35:11find
35:11Lyra.
35:18He
35:18fixed
35:18his
35:19eyes
35:19on
35:19her
35:19hard.
35:20And don't
35:20you
35:20forget,
35:22Lyra went
35:22to
35:22Silvermoon
35:23prison
35:23in your
35:23place.
35:25Every
35:25wolf
35:25present
35:26turned
35:26to
35:26stone.
35:28Selina
35:28let out
35:29a piercing
35:29shriek.
35:31From
35:32somewhere
35:32on her
35:32person,
35:33she drew
35:33a silver
35:34coated
35:34blade
35:35and pressed
35:35it to
35:36her own
35:36throat.
35:38I
35:39don't
35:39care!
35:40What
35:40makes
35:41Lyra
35:41better
35:41than
35:42me?
35:42When
35:43you
35:43were
35:43dying
35:44from
35:44your
35:44wounds
35:45all
35:45those
35:45years
35:46ago,
35:46I
35:46was
35:46the
35:47one
35:47who
35:47gave
35:47you
35:48my
35:48kidney!
35:52My
35:53Luna
35:53mother
35:54lunged
35:54to
35:54grab
35:54the
35:55knife.
35:55Selina,
35:56don't
35:56do
35:57anything
35:57reckless.
35:58Dame
35:58back!
36:01Kaylin
36:02is the
36:02only
36:03mate
36:03I
36:03want.
36:04Why
36:05can't
36:05I
36:05have
36:05him?
36:06It's
36:06all
36:06Lyra's
36:07fault.
36:08She
36:09deserves
36:09to
36:10die!
36:11Her
36:11hysterical
36:11curses
36:12echoed
36:12through
36:12the
36:13temple.
36:13The
36:14scene
36:14spiraled
36:14completely
36:15out
36:15of
36:15control.
36:21It
36:22ended
36:22with
36:23an
36:23ambulance.
36:23His
36:24palm
36:24was
36:24severely
36:25burned
36:25from
36:25wrestling
36:25the
36:26blade
36:26from
36:26her
36:26grip
36:26barehanded.
36:29He
36:29sat
36:29in
36:30the
36:30ambulance
36:30calling
36:31and
36:31messaging
36:31Lyra
36:32like
36:32a
36:32man
36:32possessed.
36:33Lyra,
36:34the
36:34false
36:35binding
36:35ceremony
36:35is
36:35over.
36:36Where
36:36are
36:36you?
36:37Don't
36:37let
36:37anger
36:37cloud
36:37your
36:38reason.
36:38Let
36:38me
36:38come
36:38find
36:39you,
36:39all right?
36:40But Lyra's
36:41message
36:41interface
36:42remained
36:42dead
36:43silent.
36:44Territory
36:45hospital.
36:46Outside
36:46the
36:47operating
36:47room,
36:48ignoring
36:48the blood
36:48still
36:49seeping
36:49from her
36:49own
36:50wound,
36:50my
36:51Luna
36:51mother
36:51anxiously
36:52instructed
36:52the
36:52healer.
36:53My
36:53daughter
36:53is a
36:53fragile
36:54omega.
36:55She
36:55has
36:55depression.
36:56She's
36:56missing
36:57a
36:57kidney.
36:58Be
36:58gentle
36:58when you
36:58stitch
36:59her
36:59wound.
37:00Ma'am,
37:00we've
37:01done a
37:01full
37:01body
37:02scan.
37:02Her
37:03body
37:03is
37:04perfectly
37:04healthy.
37:05She
37:05is
37:06not
37:06missing
37:06a
37:06kidney.
37:07What
37:07did
37:08you
37:08say?
37:14My
37:14alpha
37:15father
37:15unleashed
37:15a crushing
37:16wave
37:16of
37:16dominance.
37:17The
37:18nurse,
37:18pinned
37:18by
37:19the
37:19pressure,
37:20repeated
37:20every
37:20word.
37:21Both
37:22alpha
37:22and
37:22Luna
37:23stared,
37:23stunned
37:24and
37:24disbelieving.
37:25At
37:26that
37:26moment,
37:27Chloe
37:27was
37:28staring
37:28at
37:28the
37:28data
37:28her
37:29deputy
37:29had
37:29sent,
37:30medical
37:30records
37:31matching
37:31the
37:32ones
37:32Lyra
37:32had
37:32left
37:33behind,
37:33along
37:34with
37:34two
37:34segments
37:35of
37:35blurry
37:35surveillance
37:36footage.
37:37The
37:38first
37:38clip,
37:38Lyra
37:39and
37:39Kaylin
37:39wheeled
37:40side
37:40by
37:40side
37:41into
37:41the
37:41operating
37:41room,
37:42an
37:42organ
37:42transplant.
37:43The
37:44second
37:44clip,
37:45the
37:47Lyra,
37:47being
37:48servidually
37:48torn
37:48into,
37:49beaten
37:49and
37:49tormented
37:50by a
37:50group
37:50of
37:51powerful
37:51she-wolves.
37:52How dare
37:53they do
37:54this to
37:54the
37:54blood
37:54daughter
37:55of
37:55the
37:55alpha!
37:57Alpha
37:58father gave
37:58orders!
37:59Kaylin sent
38:00supplies!
38:01How could
38:01this have
38:02happened?
38:07The
38:07mastermind
38:08behind it
38:08all was
38:10Selene.
38:13She
38:13couldn't hold
38:14it in any
38:14longer,
38:14but her
38:15parents had
38:16already vanished
38:16from sight.
38:17Gripping
38:18the
38:18diary,
38:18she ran
38:18frantically
38:19through the
38:19hospital.
38:20She found
38:20Selene's
38:20room and
38:21shoved
38:21the door
38:21open.
38:22Alpha
38:22father,
38:23Luna
38:23mother,
38:23please,
38:24read what
38:24your eldest
38:24daughter left
38:25behind first.
38:26She flipped
38:27to the
38:27final pages.
38:28Lyra has
38:28always understood
38:29the old
38:29wolf tongue.
38:30Every word
38:30we used
38:30to exclude
38:31her,
38:31she heard
38:31and understood
38:32every single
38:32one.
38:33The blood
38:33in both
38:34Alpha and
38:35Luna seemed
38:35to freeze
38:36solid.
38:38Alpha
38:38father snatched
38:39the diary.
38:40He read
38:41it word
38:42by word,
38:42his breathing
38:43growing heavier
38:44and more
38:45ragged.
38:46Chloe turned
38:47a cold
38:47stare on
38:48Selene.
38:49Selene,
38:49the person
38:50who gave
38:50Kaylin her
38:51kidney all
38:51those years
38:52ago?
38:52It was
38:53never you,
38:53was it?
38:54Selene went
38:55sorged.
38:56The guilt
38:56that flink
38:57across her
38:57face made
38:58the last
38:58shred of
38:58hope in
38:59Chloe's
38:59heart
39:00collapse
39:00into rubble.
39:01Why did
39:01you cut
39:02off the
39:03survival
39:03supplies
39:04mother and
39:04father sent
39:05to Lyra?
39:06Why did
39:07you bribe
39:07the prison
39:08guards to
39:08torture her
39:09inside the
39:09prison?
39:10Selene
39:11released a
39:11weak pulse
39:12of pheromones,
39:13fending
39:13bewilderment.
39:14What are you
39:15talking about?
39:17The two,
39:17Alpha and
39:18Luna,
39:18having finished
39:19the ginery,
39:19walked over.
39:20Chloe gave
39:21the order
39:21to her
39:22deputy.
39:23Bring
39:23them in.
39:27Five minutes
39:28later,
39:29the deputy
39:29entered with
39:30the prison
39:30guard,
39:31a financial
39:32official,
39:32and a
39:33heavyset,
39:34brutal-looking
39:34she-wolf
39:35convict.
39:44At the
39:45same moment,
39:46he stepped
39:47into the
39:47room,
39:48radiating a
39:48frigid,
39:49sharp,
39:50fear-forest
39:50scent.
39:51His face
39:52was a
39:53frozen mask
39:53of slaughter.
39:56His piercing
39:57gaze pinned
39:58her pale
39:58face in
39:59place.
40:00As Lyra's
40:01mate,
40:01I also have
40:02the absolute
40:02right to
40:03send out
40:03the truth
40:04behind all
40:04of this.
40:05Selene
40:06turned ghost
40:07white.
40:08Kaelin,
40:10what truth?
40:11I don't
40:12understand a
40:12single thing
40:13you're all
40:13saying.
40:14Selene,
40:15you're still
40:16trying to
40:16deceive us,
40:17even now?
40:18How many
40:18times over
40:19the years
40:19have you
40:20slandered
40:20Lyra?
40:21Chloe's
40:22voice rose
40:22sharply.
40:23Do I
40:24need to
40:24sniff out
40:24every filthy
40:25thing you've
40:26done?
40:26Right here
40:27in front
40:27of the
40:27Alpha?
40:29Selene
40:29collapsed to
40:30the floor,
40:30eyes red.
40:32Chloe,
40:34I'm your
40:34real sister.
40:35How can
40:36you speak
40:36to me like
40:37this?
40:37Chloe's
40:37laugh was
40:38ice.
40:39Then have
40:39you forgotten?
40:40Lyra is the
40:41eldest sister who
40:41shares the
40:42same blood
40:42as me!
40:43Selene
40:44began to
40:45hyperhentilate,
40:46putting on
40:46the full
40:46performance of
40:47a stress-induced
40:48episode.
40:49My Luna
40:50mother's blind,
40:51protective instinct
40:52surge again.
40:53Enough!
40:54Are you
40:54trying to
40:55drive your
40:55sister to
40:56her death?
41:01Mom,
41:03you're still
41:03defending her?
41:04Do you even
41:05know who your
41:05real pup is
41:06anymore?
41:07But Chloe
41:08grabbed the
41:09medical records
41:09and records.
41:10Lyra has only
41:11one kidney
41:12inside her
41:12body.
41:13She's the
41:14one who
41:14truly saved
41:15Kaylin's
41:16life.
41:17Lyra's near-death
41:18reports from
41:19Silvermoon
41:19prison.
41:20All of
41:21it was
41:21caused by
41:22deliberate
41:23malicious
41:24assault.
41:26She lived
41:27in this
41:28territory for
41:2812 years.
41:29We never
41:30gave her a
41:30drop of
41:31love.
41:31Instead,
41:32we despised
41:33her and
41:34exiled her
41:35because of
41:35Selene's
41:35lies.
41:37Selene's
41:37depression
41:38is a
41:38complete
41:39fabrication.
41:42She laid
41:43down the
41:44most damning
41:44evidence,
41:45the scan
41:46showing
41:46Selene's
41:47two perfectly
41:48healthy
41:48kidneys and
41:49a psychological
41:50report confirming
41:51she was
41:52mentally stable
41:52with antisocial
41:54personality
41:55tendencies.
41:56The silent
41:57Kaylin finally
41:58moved.
42:00He unleashed a
42:01terrifying wave
42:02of alpha
42:03dominance.
42:07Chloe,
42:08give me
42:09Lyra's
42:09reports.
42:11Critical
42:12condition
42:12notices,
42:13x-rays,
42:14blood-stained
42:15medical
42:15photographs.
42:16He turned
42:17them over
42:17one by
42:18one.
42:19When he
42:19reached the
42:20full-body
42:20injury chart,
42:22her arms,
42:22her stomach,
42:23her back,
42:24her thighs,
42:25barely a
42:25patch of
42:25unbroken
42:26skin,
42:27every inch
42:27covered in
42:28bite marks
42:28and silver
42:29burn scars,
42:30the top
42:30clear
42:31held
42:31rationality
42:32sight.
42:32He lunged
42:33at
42:33Selene,
42:34towering
42:34over her.
42:41Tell me,
42:42what did
42:43you do
42:43to my
42:43mate?
42:44Selene,
42:45how dare
42:46you torture
42:47her like
42:47this?
42:48With no
42:48more room
42:49to hide,
42:50Selene
42:51laughed,
42:52twisted.
42:55She looked
42:56at my
42:56Luna mother.
42:59Mommy,
43:00it hurts.
43:02Chloe threw
43:03herself in
43:04front of
43:04their mother.
43:06Stop your
43:06performance.
43:07For all
43:08these years,
43:08you used
43:09our sympathy.
43:10You used
43:11our mother's
43:11love and
43:12turned her
43:12into a
43:12blade,
43:13stabbing it
43:14over and
43:14over into
43:15her own
43:15biological
43:16daughter's
43:16heart.
43:17Selene,
43:17you're
43:17vicious
43:18beyond
43:18comprehension.
43:19Don't
43:20you understand?
43:21What you've
43:22done will
43:22leave this
43:23family drowning
43:24in irredeemable
43:25regret for
43:25the rest
43:26of our
43:26lives.
43:27Selene
43:27turned to
43:28Alpha Father.
43:30Daddy,
43:32you've
43:32always loved
43:33me the
43:33most.
43:34Alpha Father
43:34clutched the
43:35diary so
43:36hard it
43:37crumpled.
43:37In agony,
43:38he averted
43:39his eyes.
43:39In that
43:40moment,
43:40Selene
43:41lost every
43:42chip she
43:43had left.
43:43Her gaze
43:44went hollow.
43:45She breathed
43:45out the
43:45words,
43:46light as
43:46ash.
43:47I just
43:48wanted
43:48Lyra to
43:48die.
43:49That's
43:49all.
43:50Nothing
43:50more.
43:52Selene!
43:53Kaylin's
43:54voice sounded
43:55like it was
43:55ripped from
43:56a torn
43:56throat.
43:58Confess
43:59every
44:00single
44:01one of
44:01your
44:01crimes.
44:03Every
44:03word.
44:05Now.
44:06Alpha
44:06Father
44:07spoke,
44:08his voice
44:09heavy with
44:10grief.
44:12Kaylin,
44:15I will
44:16give you an
44:16accounting,
44:17but before
44:18that,
44:18you should
44:19read what
44:19Lyra left
44:20for you,
44:21what she
44:21wrote at
44:22the end.
44:23Numbly,
44:24Kaylin took
44:24the diary.
44:25He turned
44:26to the
44:26last
44:26page,
44:27so the
44:28day he
44:29kissed
44:29Selene
44:29in front
44:30of
44:30everyone.
44:31That was
44:31when Lyra
44:32had already
44:33given up
44:34completely,
44:34and he
44:35had arrogantly
44:36believed that
44:38after the
44:38false binding
44:39ceremony,
44:40he could
44:41still have
44:41her.
44:44Kaylin pressed
44:45the diary
44:46hard against
44:47his chest.
44:47Under the
44:48eyes of
44:48everyone
44:49present,
44:50the coldest,
44:51most ruthless
44:51top-tier
44:52Alpha,
44:53finally showed
44:54a face
44:54of utter
44:55devastation.
44:55A tear
44:56of remorse
44:57slipped silently
44:58from his
44:58eye.
44:59Selene
45:00was still
45:00crying.
45:02I didn't
45:03mean it.
45:04I was
45:04just scared
45:05of losing
45:05you.
45:06No.
45:07Kaylin
45:07said,
45:08his eyes
45:08held no
45:09mercy,
45:10only deathly
45:11stillness.
45:12You didn't
45:13mean it?
45:13Then who
45:14did?
45:15Lyra,
45:16who you
45:17framed and
45:17sent to
45:18prison.
45:19Or me,
45:21who you
45:21played like
45:22a puppet
45:22in your
45:23palm!
45:25Selene,
45:26you had
45:27everything.
45:28The Alpha
45:29and Luna
45:29doted on
45:30you.
45:30The entire
45:31pack treated
45:32you like
45:32a treasure.
45:33Lyra's
45:34return never
45:34once shook
45:35your position.
45:36Then what
45:37about you?
45:38Selene
45:39tore off
45:39her mask
45:40completely.
45:41Did her
45:41existence
45:42never shake
45:42my place
45:43in your
45:43heart?
45:44The question
45:45made Kaylin's
45:46breath stop
45:47cold.
45:50See?
45:53your wolf
45:54already
45:54answered
45:55for you.
45:57Selene's
45:57lips curled
45:58in bitter
45:58mockery.
46:00After Lyra
46:01came back
46:02you changed.
46:03The way
46:03you looked
46:04at her
46:04it was
46:05pure
46:05possessiveness.
46:06How could
46:07I not
46:07be jealous?
46:08How could
46:09I not
46:10hate her
46:10to the
46:10marrow
46:11of my
46:11bones?
46:11so I
46:13had to
46:13make her
46:14disappear.
46:19I had
46:20to make
46:21her
46:21rot
46:22in that
46:23filthy
46:23prison
46:24until
46:25nothing
46:26was left!
46:28Kaylin
46:29stared at
46:29this stranger
46:30wearing an
46:31Omega's
46:31face.
46:32All that
46:33remained in
46:33his eyes
46:34was despair.
46:36Selene
46:37laughed and
46:38sobbed in
46:38the same
46:38breath.
46:39It's all
46:40that bitch
46:41Lyra's
46:42fault
46:42anyway!
46:43Why did
46:44she have
46:44to come
46:45back?
46:48Her
46:49very
46:49existence
46:50kept
46:51reminding
46:51me
46:52I'm
46:53nothing
46:53but a
46:53cheap
46:54counterfeit!
46:57A
46:58violent
46:59slap
46:59exploded
47:00through the
47:00room.
47:01Selene
47:01clutched
47:02her
47:02swollen
47:02cheek
47:03staring
47:03in
47:04disbelief
47:04at the
47:04Alpha
47:05father
47:05who
47:05had
47:06once
47:06treasured
47:06her
47:06above
47:07all
47:07else.
47:08Alpha
47:09father's
47:09face
47:10was
47:10dark.
47:11A
47:11tidal
47:11wave
47:11of
47:12regret
47:12crashed
47:12over
47:13him.
47:16Selene
47:17tried
47:17to
47:17stir
47:18whatever
47:18pity
47:18remained.
47:22You are
47:23no longer
47:23worthy
47:23of using
47:24that
47:24title
47:25to
47:26defile
47:26the
47:26honor
47:27of
47:27an
47:27alpha.
47:28Alpha
47:28father's
47:29eyes
47:29were
47:29rimmed
47:30red.
47:30What
47:31we owe
47:31Lyra
47:31we will
47:32repay.
47:33What
47:33you owe
47:34her
47:34you will
47:35repay
47:35in
47:36blood.
47:37Kaelin
47:38I
47:39Selene
47:39turned
47:40to
47:40him.
47:41Shut
47:41your
47:41mouth.
47:42You're
47:42not
47:42worthy
47:42of
47:42calling
47:43me
47:43that
47:43anymore.
47:45Is
47:45there
47:45truly
47:46no
47:46mercy
47:46left?
47:48You
47:49still
47:49think
47:49this
47:50is
47:50just
47:50a
47:50small
47:50matter?
47:51Kaelin's
47:51laugh
47:52was
47:52colder
47:52than
47:53death.
47:56Isn't
47:57it?
47:58Lyra
47:58only spent
47:59seven
47:59years
47:59in
47:59prison.
48:00She's
48:01not
48:01even
48:01dead!
48:02Selene
48:02shrieked.
48:08her
48:09entire
48:10body
48:11is
48:11covered
48:11in
48:12scars
48:12from
48:12the
48:13wolves
48:13you
48:13paid
48:13to
48:13tear
48:14into
48:14her!
48:15Kaelin
48:15roared.
48:19So
48:20what?
48:20She
48:21deserved
48:21it!
48:27The
48:28sound of
48:29breaking
48:29bone was
48:29stark and
48:30piercing in
48:31the room.
48:32Kaelin's
48:33wolf claws
48:33closed around
48:34at Selene's
48:35wrist.
48:35With
48:36horrifying
48:36force,
48:37he crushed
48:37the bones.
48:43At the
48:43same
48:44moment,
48:44aboard a
48:45plane bound
48:45for
48:46Dominica.
48:46I stared
48:47blankly out
48:48the window
48:48into the
48:49pitch-black
48:49sky.
48:51Those
48:51grey
48:51myothams
48:52had all
48:52become
48:53the dust
48:53behind
48:54me.
48:59This
49:00aircraft
49:00is scheduled
49:01to arrive
49:01in Dominica
49:02in five
49:03minutes.
49:05The
49:05announcement
49:05echoed
49:06through
49:06the
49:06cabin.
49:08I cast
49:09the past
49:09away
49:10completely.
49:11Looking at
49:12the brightening
49:12coastline,
49:13the corner
49:14of my
49:14mouth
49:14curved
49:15into a
49:16wild,
49:16free arc.
49:22Dominica.
49:23I had
49:23arrived.
49:24I was
49:25about to
49:25meet my
49:26new life.
49:27Six years
49:27passed in
49:28the blink
49:28in an eye.
49:29Kaelin
49:29and the
49:30crescent
49:30moon pack
49:31still hadn't
49:32found a
49:32single trace
49:33of me.
49:35When a
49:36soul resolves
49:36to vanish
49:37from the
49:37territory,
49:38even the
49:39moon goddess
49:39herself struggles
49:40to track
49:41it.
49:43Kaelin had
49:44wasted away,
49:45visibly.
49:47The
49:47communicator
49:48on his
49:48desk
49:48buzzed.
49:51He rubbed
49:52his exhausted
49:53brow and
49:53answered,
49:59alpha,
50:00Selina's
50:01mental state
50:01has collapsed
50:02completely.
50:03Every day
50:04she tears
50:04into herself
50:05like a
50:05rabid
50:05animal.
50:07Her wolf
50:08has gone
50:08feral.
50:09The doctors
50:10recommend
50:10transferring
50:11her to
50:11a psychiatric
50:12institution.
50:13This time,
50:14is it
50:15real or
50:17another
50:17performance?
50:19Kaelin's
50:20voice was
50:20frozen steel.
50:23It's
50:24real.
50:25Her wolf
50:25spirit has
50:26atriferated
50:27from prolonged
50:27terror.
50:28Fine.
50:29I'll send
50:30the transport.
50:33Kaelin cut
50:34the call
50:34without mercy.
50:35Over
50:36these six
50:36years,
50:37he had
50:38arranged for
50:38Selina to
50:39receive special
50:40attention inside
50:41the prison.
50:42Every single
50:43agony I had
50:44endured in
50:44Silvermoon
50:45prison,
50:46she had
50:47tasted every
50:48one of them
50:48in full
50:48measure.
50:50The
50:51crescent
50:51moon
50:51pack
50:52had
50:52maintained
50:52a
50:52deathly
50:53silence
50:53about
50:54it.
50:54Kaelin
50:55dropped
50:55his gaze
50:55to the
50:56photo
50:56on his
50:56desk,
50:57the photo
50:58of me
50:58just after
50:59my
50:59release.
51:00Gone,
51:01skeletal,
51:02expressionless.
51:03Which
51:03forest are
51:04you hiding
51:04in,
51:04Lyra?
51:06He traced
51:06the brow
51:07and eyes
51:07in the
51:08photograph.
51:08Infinite
51:09regret
51:09soaked
51:10his voice.
51:10I know
51:11that making
51:11everyone who
51:12hurt you
51:12taste the
51:13same pain
51:13is the
51:13only true
51:14apology.
51:15But if
51:16you never
51:16come back,
51:17how do I
51:18return the
51:18soul I
51:19owe you?
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