00:06Vivian for the sake of the family you have to accept all of this he poisoned me rendering me
00:14mute then dragged me into the warehouse no matter how I struggled it was useless I was born the
00:20same day as my brother the son my father always wanted I was mute our pack was poor my mother
00:27stopped him from sending me away by five I still hadn't spoken and even my mother stopped protecting
00:32me after that I kept my head down did more work ate less stayed out of trouble until I was
00:3815 the
00:39Thornwood heir was cursed only his fated mate could save him if the curse didn't break I would share
00:45his death rate the Thornwood pack moved fast I raised you today that counts for something
00:51take care of your mate don't come back my sister slipped her favorite snack into my hands still
00:56broken she was afraid I'd blame her but when it comes to life and death who isn't afraid
01:01Ethan was too sick to stand so his older brother took his place after the ceremony I was brought
01:07to his room passing through the hall I snuck a look and saw a large coffin outside the door
01:12alpha Ethan
01:18everyone out
01:28I'm sorry this was never what I wanted I won't be the reason an innocent person dies
01:34take the money and go I have someone waiting at the back gate miss
01:51don't call anyone can you get me some water
02:01I'm sorry I know my own condition I shouldn't have dragged another innocent person into this
02:06I apologize on my parents behalf if you leave tonight I'll make sure everything is handled
02:11you and your family won't be touched
02:19can you not
02:23just the two of us breathing in the dark and I was too hungry to sleep I hadn't eaten since
02:28my sister's
02:29snack that morning is he going to the bathroom do I need to help I heard something being set down
02:36nearby
02:39I picked up a meat pie and bit into it I ate the whole plate lay back down
02:47since you won't go stay call it my selfishness as long as I'm breathing I'll keep you safe if I
02:53don't make it I'll make sure you're taken care of you won't go down with me you're going to live
02:59a
02:59long life what did you just speak the words were out before I knew it
03:06Ethan you're going to live a long life it was the first time I'd ever wanted something for
03:11someone else nobody knew I wasn't incapable of speech I just couldn't flowers will bloom
03:16anything I said out loud would come true the rain will stop but the cost was immense going to
03:22the thornwood pack settled my debt to my father I agreed without hesitating but now I thought maybe
03:28being with Ethan wasn't so bad can you help me sit up
03:42Vivian I'm coming with you almost no one had ever called me by name before
03:46no response from me he called the staff to help him up
03:53every staff member we passed looked surprised it stayed that way until we reached his parents wing
04:01Ethan I told you to rest why are you up don't worry mother I already feel better
04:05sorry for making you worry Vivian these are my parents
04:08Luna Serena had lived a comfortable life until her son was born sick she rushed out before we reached the
04:14door sweetheart bringing you in was the right call Ethan can get out of bed now my dear right the
04:25gift I
04:25almost forgot Vivian this is the mark bracelet my mother-in-law gave me when I made it in now
04:32I'm
04:32passing it to you she was so warm I didn't know what to do I accepted it and bowed immediately
04:37these are
04:38deeds to several properties on the south side of our territory as long as you stay by Ethan's side
04:43the thornwood pack takes care of its own I'll thank father on Vivian's behalf
04:52sit down and eat first there was an issue with one of our trade routes Robin left at dawn to
04:59handle
04:59it when he's back he'll come meet you he'll be over the moon when he hears Ethan is doing better
05:04the thornwood breakfast spread was something else try this I made it myself I promise it's good
05:14easy Vivian don't overdo it first thing tell the kitchen what you like they'll make it whenever
05:19you want I hope they didn't think I was feral when I looked over their eyes were warm Ethan had
05:24eaten
05:24half a bowl and one small pastry but his parents looked pleased after breakfast Ethan was tired
05:30go rest back in his rooms he lay down breathing harder than usual I turned and went to the kitchen
05:38if Ethan actually recovers he's good looking and capable getting paired with a mute Omega from nowhere
05:46he must be gutted you jealous why didn't you volunteer then pass I'm not mating someone who might be dead
05:53tomorrow get back to work what are you all standing around for my lady they're young and foolish please
06:00don't hold it against them they meant no harm she framed it as asking for forgiveness but she'd already
06:06decided the outcome for me at breakfast I'd noticed Ethan barely ate that had to change I spent the morning
06:13in the kitchen when the staff saw I had no plans to report them they drifted off
06:18my lady Lord Ethan has his own dedicated kitchen staff he won't be used to food from outside we have
06:24specific dietary protocols for him you'd be better off eating in your own quarters I'll have someone
06:29bring your meals there from now on she wasn't wrong to state the rules but she absolutely wasn't right
06:35to make the decision for me Vivian why are you standing in the hallway sorry Ethan Vivian didn't want
06:43the food we prepared for her she was just about to go eat in the side room so she wouldn't
06:47disturb you
06:53you made that for me
07:00she turned and looked at me satisfaction in her eyes Rose overstepped let my mother know she's dismissed
07:07pack your things
07:09she was standing up for me no one had ever done that before for no reason at all I set
07:15out the
07:15food wow Ethan to the table is that broth did you put lavender in it the scent is incredible
07:27ah light but not plain Vivian you're a really good cook glad you think so Vivian can you read
07:35pack law trade documents any of it
07:40then I'll teach you
07:46we'll swap I'll teach you to read and write you teach me sign language that way I'll know what's going
07:52on with you whether you're happy upset whatever it is you're my mate now you don't have to take
07:59anything from anyone no one in this pack gets to treat you as less ever Rose's words didn't bother
08:07me I had heard far worse my whole life but when Ethan said that my eyes stung for the first
08:12time
08:13Ethan in the weeks after I cooked for him walked with him sat with him while he worked he stopped
08:19having
08:19episodes his color came back he gained weight come here
08:26here this is for you Vivian these are yours see if there's anything you like listen to me child
08:34while I'm standing no one in this pack touches you you are a thornwood now Ethan isn't fully recovered
08:41yet so he must stay but on the day you go back to your birth pack to retrieve your things
08:46I'm coming with
08:47you we should have thought of this sooner we were so focused on Ethan's survival we didn't think
08:52about what you'd need or who we needed to put in their place go back I hadn't thought about that
08:57once since coming here I owed my father nothing now there was no reason to go back don't worry
09:03I've got your back a full alpha guard escort we leave for the boss pack Terry tomorrow
09:11early that morning Ethan walked me to the gate
09:18I'm sorry Vivian you shouldn't have had to deal with any of this
09:24Ethan you never need to apologize to me all right all right we'll be back by afternoon I'm not losing
09:31your
09:31I'm not losing my father I'm not losing my father I'm not losing my father I'm not losing my father
09:43thank you mother
09:50my father clearly hadn't expected me back alive
09:54the vehicle stopped outside the house the yard was empty
10:00what are you doing here did you run
10:06you stupid girl you're gonna be the death of me
10:11if you want to die do it somewhere else don't drag me into it stop stop
10:20Vivian is my pack's daughter-in-law now
10:24you don't just get to hit her is this luna serena luna serena had been raised with everything
10:31she had never seen a father treat his daughter like this don't be scared
10:38Marcus bring the things in
10:48oh
10:49oh this is all a misunderstanding the girl doesn't know her place i was just worried she might embarrass
10:55your family we've come to visit as agreed we hope you'll hold to what you signed
11:01from now on Vivian belongs with the thornwood pack come on baby let's go home
11:10i knew their warmth toward me was because of ethan but it didn't matter for the first time i understood
11:15what it felt like to have people in your corner so this was what it was like to have a
11:19home after we
11:20left luna serena took me to a restaurant vivian the food here is amazing just the two of us today
11:25let's eat properly after we eat we'll go look at the shops pick out some jewelry and clothes
11:32no arguing it's not a request
11:39we really should find a good healer to look at that such a good girl can't speak anyone can walk
11:47over her
11:51though i do need to learn some sign language otherwise i'm the one looking like i'm talking
11:55too much my hearing had always been sharp i caught all of it didn't know whether to laugh or not
12:01in the time since i arrived i've been learning to read and write with ethan i could already handle
12:06simple exchanges on paper at the table i asked the server for paper and pen i wrote a few words
12:14and
12:14passed them to luna serena vivian it's me who should be thanking you and i owe you an apology
12:23bringing you in was selfish of me you were our last hope and i didn't want ethan to die alone
12:31you've heard the rumors we wanted someone to go into the death right with him i won't deny it
12:39i did think that way please forgive a mother who wasn't thinking straight
12:49vivian you're a good person whatever happens if ethan doesn't make it you're free to go
12:56the thornwood pack will not hold you ethan is a good kid it was my fault he was born the
13:03way he was
13:04but he never once blamed anyone if the moon goddess needs someone to pay let it be me
13:12just let ethan be okay he's had a hard road since you arrived he's eating more i've never seen him
13:22this relaxed
13:26that night i got back late back already good day you're right i'll be more careful
13:39looks like my girl had a rough day did the glaze nut fender not show up in a couple of
13:43days i'll take
13:44you out to get some we'll stop by the south market too pick up a few boxes of fresh egg
13:49turds in one
13:50of the properties edmund deed you there's a place with a natural hot spring runs warm year rounding
13:55want to go take a look if you like it we can stay a few days thank you ethan i
14:02always knew the pack's
14:04attitude toward me came from him he protected me dealt with everyone who came at me but when people
14:09cursed him he never flinched he had even sorted out every exit for me in advance just in case
14:15vivian was so lucky to have you then you can't take this back
14:20was he feverish vivian don't move
14:28not yet
14:31right he still needed more recovery time in the six months after that ethan never had another episode
14:37the recovered ethan came into his own he had presents one day celine ashcroft blocked me at the door
14:44you're vivian boss i keep forgetting you're mute a mute omega from nowhere what exactly makes you fit to
14:52stand next to ethan she doesn't need to answer that the question is whether i'm fit for her he draped
14:58his jacket over my shoulders you didn't wear enough layers
15:07vivian wait for me
15:12selena vivian can't speak if she's done something to offend you come to me directly whatever it costs
15:18the thornhood pack will cover it but if someone is going out of their way to push her because she
15:23can't defend herself i won't be turning the other cheek anyone there's a cost one more thing i want
15:32to say this in front of everyone the thornwood pack has always had one rule you take one mate
15:38you don't leave them whatever happens mine is vivian boss only her
15:47don't worry they won't touch us
15:53not as good as yours ever since i quietly made one for him once he'd been obsessed with them
16:00i want yours every day for the rest of my life
16:04okay it came out before i could stop it vivian please don't make promises out loud for me
16:12all right he seemed to know something about my voice every time luna serena suggested finding a
16:18healer he always found a reason to stop her had so much as a headache he treated it like a
16:23crisis but
16:24he never brought it up directly just as he never pressed me on why his condition improved after i
16:29arrived it became the thing we both knew and never said words of power open what you wish becomes
16:35real vivian do you want to see what's out there revans talked about all kinds of places packs built
16:42over water desert territories at sunset mountains covered in snow year-round i talked to my parents
16:49we've spent our whole lives inside these walls the moon goddess gave me a second chance why not use
16:56it differently vivian let's go see it together what do you say a second chance what else was this for
17:05me
17:06deal let's go then stay with me everywhere
Comments