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Mask Shatters, Alpha Rises 30eps HD AJR
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00:00In the seventh year of my union with Ralph Hemming, Alpha of the Eclipse Pack,
00:03I went to the central tower of his territory to look for him.
00:07As his Luna, I wasn't supposed to eavesdrop,
00:09but my heightened senses picked up a conversation inside his office before I even reached the door.
00:14Alpha, you've been bonded for seven years now.
00:17Your Luna still drops by to see you often like she did during the honeymoon phase.
00:20You must be really happy, huh?
00:25What if I told you I never loved her?
00:28Would you believe me?
00:29Come on, Alpha.
00:30How could you be with someone for seven years and not love her?
00:34Don't tell me you're still hung up on that human girl, Bonnie, wasn't it?
00:37She left ages ago.
00:41Watch your mouth.
00:43But then, with a sigh heavy with memories, he added,
00:46Bonnie and I, that's long over.
00:49Bonnie Snow, a witch, Ralph's first love.
00:52It had been years since I'd heard that name.
00:55But hearing it now, something stirred.
00:59The wolf spirit inside me snarled in frustration, roused from its long, uneasy slumber.
01:03My hand on the doorknob slowly dropped.
01:05The thermos I held was still warm.
01:07It held a thick herbal stew I had made myself,
01:10infused with calming herbs to soothe an unsettled wolf spirit.
01:13Ralph had mentioned his wolf was restless lately,
01:15stressed by the pressures of territorial expansion.
01:17I'd made it for him.
01:18But suddenly, the warmth drained from the thermos,
01:20as if his words had sucked the heat right out of it,
01:22leaving only a chill that cut to the bone.
01:24I turned away, placed the thermos quietly on his secretary's desk,
01:27and walked out without a word.
01:32Seven years.
01:34It had been seven years since our political union began.
01:37To say I wasn't hurt would be a lie.
01:39I had once been the pride of my family, born as an alpha, raised to lead.
01:44But for the benefit of the alliance,
01:46I'd stepped down and offered myself as a bride to Ralph,
01:49because only one alpha could rule a pack.
01:51And so, I performed the ancient rite to suppress my nature,
01:54disguising myself as a delicate omega.
01:57I married him,
01:58enduring the dismissive looks and instive condescency he showed towards omegas,
02:04all the while believing that time would change things.
02:08But it hadn't.
02:09Turns out the seven-year Iche was real,
02:11only Ralph never even itched for me.
02:14Around two, Ralph returned.
02:15The door opened with a gust of cold air and the scent of rain,
02:18and him, his alpha pheromones,
02:20swept through the room like a storm front,
02:22commanding and heavy.
02:25You're still up?
02:28Couldn't sleep.
02:30We lay in the same bed, but back to back,
02:32divided as if we belonged to rival packs with clearly drawn borders.
02:35Thunder flashed through the windows.
02:37His words echoed in my mind.
02:38He never loved me.
02:40A dull ache spread in my chest.
02:42I bit my lip, but the tears came anyway.
02:44My wolf spirit roared inside me,
02:46demanding I bear my claws,
02:48demand answers,
02:49and challenge his authority.
02:50But I couldn't.
02:51For the sake of my fading pack,
02:53I had to endure.
02:54Ralph hadn't fallen asleep.
02:56He rolled over,
02:58his body pressing up against my back
02:59as he wrapped an arm around me.
03:01Tomorrow's our union anniversary.
03:03How do you want to spend it?
03:05For seven years, I had longed for this embrace.
03:08Now, all I felt was the urge to pull away.
03:10I wiped my nose,
03:12buried my emotions.
03:14Anything's fine.
03:16I've already asked my beta to take care of your gift.
03:18Tomorrow's packed.
03:19I won't have much time to keep you company.
03:21With that, he let go of me and rolled away.
03:23I was used to it.
03:24Every year on this day,
03:26I celebrated the anniversary alone.
03:27I was tired.
03:29Too tired to keep pretending.
03:31Too tired to keep score.
03:33I called Ralph to confirm
03:35that he'd be home for dinner tonight.
03:37He said yes.
03:38So I spent three hours
03:39cooking all his favorite dishes.
03:42Before I married him,
03:43I'd never set foot in a kitchen.
03:45As the future alpha of our pack,
03:47it wasn't expected of me.
03:48But Ralph once told me
03:49that werewolves had delicate stomachs.
03:51He said his digestion was poor.
03:53So I learned how to cook.
03:54For him,
03:55he promised to make me
03:56the most honored Luna
03:57and said I'd always be safe
03:58under his protection.
03:59And I believed him.
04:01I played the part
04:02of the perfect Omega,
04:03orbiting around my alpha
04:04like he was the center of my world.
04:07But Ralph had a habit
04:08of breaking promises.
04:09He was late to every dinner,
04:11every meeting,
04:11every moment we were supposed to share.
04:14Tonight was no different.
04:15I sat at the table,
04:17watching steam slowly fade
04:18from the food.
04:19My heart felt nothing.
04:21Just silence.
04:22I called him again.
04:24After all,
04:25this wasn't just dinner.
04:26We were supposed to discuss
04:28ending the political alliance
04:29between our two packs.
04:31That wasn't something
04:32to do over text.
04:33It deserved a face-to-face.
04:35He finally picked up
04:36on the third try.
04:38I'm busy.
04:39Don't wait for me.
04:42I...
04:43Ralph,
04:44I'm starving.
04:49The voice was sweet,
04:50high-pitched,
04:51and laced with fake innocence.
04:53It was Bonnie,
04:54the witch.
04:55She was back.
04:56A sharp pain
04:56stabbed through my chest.
04:58I clenched the phone tightly.
05:00Ralph,
05:01today's our anniversary.
05:02It's just an anniversary.
05:03Does it really matter?
05:04I said I'd spend time with you tomorrow.
05:06Isn't that enough?
05:08I let out a bitter laugh.
05:10So Bonnie's more important
05:11than the alliance
05:11between two werewolf packs?
05:13What about nullifying the bond?
05:14Should that wait
05:15until tomorrow, too?
05:16Tala,
05:16don't start.
05:17You've talked about
05:18breaking the bond so many times.
05:19Did you ever mean it?
05:20Anyway,
05:20happy seventh anniversary.
05:21I listened to the beeping
05:22of the disconnected line.
05:23Then I reached into the drawer,
05:25pulled out the mate-bond
05:26severation pitch,
05:26a document blessed
05:27by the moon goddess itself,
05:29and signed my name
05:29in firm,
05:30steady strokes.
05:31I packed everything I owned,
05:36and I walked out
05:38of the cold,
05:39empty house.
05:45I went straight
05:46to my friend Violet Lane,
05:47a beta wolf.
05:53This was the eighth time
05:54she asked me.
05:55Are you really
05:56going through with it?
05:57I nodded.
05:59I already signed.
06:05Tala,
06:06you've lost your mind.
06:09You're talking about
06:10the Alpha of the Eclipse pack?
06:12The one you spent 15 years
06:14pretending to be someone else
06:16just to marry?
06:17She wasn't wrong.
06:18I had lived a lie
06:20for 15 years
06:21all to secure this union.
06:22But Ralph had never loved me.
06:24His heart always belonged
06:26to that witch.
06:27I said quietly,
06:29my voice steady and flat.
06:31It doesn't matter anymore.
06:33The next morning,
06:34Ralph tried calling.
06:35I didn't answer.
06:37Then came the texts.
06:38Where are you?
06:39Are you really
06:40breaking the bond?
06:41Seriously?
06:41Stop being dramatic.
06:43You know I won't agree to this.
06:44Just because I missed
06:46some dumb anniversary?
06:47Tala,
06:48you're not that petty.
06:49Yesterday wasn't our anniversary.
06:51It's on the 15th of next month.
06:55Violet immediately clamped
06:56her mouth shut.
06:58I turned off my phone
06:59and went back to packing.
07:01Suddenly,
07:02sweat broke out on my forehead.
07:03A wave of nausea
07:04turned my stomach.
07:05My wolf spirit
07:06surged inside me,
07:07crashing wildly
07:08like it had a mind of its own.
07:09I barely made it to the bathroom
07:11before the dry heavling started.
07:12Tala?
07:13Violet was shocked.
07:14What's happening?
07:15Is something wrong?
07:16I don't know.
07:17Maybe just a stomach ache.
07:18I lied to keep her calm,
07:19but I knew it was more than that.
07:21This wasn't just indigestion.
07:23Something strange,
07:23powerful,
07:24was forming inside me.
07:26It pulsed like a heartbeat.
07:29It clashed violently
07:31with the spell
07:31I'd used to keep up
07:33my Omega disguise.
07:34This had never happened before.
07:36You idiot!
07:37I'm taking you to the hospital!
07:39We went to Alex Thorne's hospital,
07:41a top-tier medical facility
07:43that catered exclusively
07:44to supernatural BCs.
07:48Tala,
07:49turn on your phone.
07:50Maybe Ralph's been trying to reach you.
07:55Before I could answer,
07:56she switched it on for me.
07:58Other than the same few old message,
08:00there was nothing.
08:01I stared at the screen
08:02as it dimmed again
08:04and gave a bitter smile.
08:05Maybe to him,
08:06I'm just a political bride.
08:08Whether I'm around or not
08:09doesn't make a difference.
08:10Don't say that.
08:11Alphas are just busy.
08:13Violet tried to defend him,
08:15but then suddenly turned her head
08:16and froze.
08:18Coming down the hall was Ralph.
08:21At his side was a woman
08:22with a faint aura of magic
08:24surrounding her.
08:25He was carefully supporting her
08:27as they walked.
08:28Oh my gosh.
08:29Is that Bonnie?
08:30She's back?
08:32Violet grasped under her breath.
08:34Tala,
08:34your alpha's being stolen
08:35by that witch.
08:37Stolen?
08:38Maybe Ralph was never mine
08:40to begin with.
08:41I'm going to ask him
08:42what the hell
08:42he thinks he's doing.
08:45Violet snapped.
08:47His Luna wants to break the bond
08:49and he doesn't care,
08:51but he's got time
08:52to bring another woman
08:53to the hospital?
08:54Her raised voice
08:55caught their attention.
08:57Ralph looked up,
08:59startled to see me.
09:00A flicker of surprise
09:02passed through his eyes.
09:04What are you doing here?
09:05He asked.
09:06His tone touched with concern.
09:08He quickly explained.
09:09Bonnie twisted her ankle
09:10this morning,
09:11so I brought her in
09:11for a checkup.
09:12My gaze dropped to his hand.
09:15He was holding
09:16Bonnie's arm carefully,
09:17like she was made of glass.
09:19Hi, Tala.
09:20Long time no see.
09:21Bonnie greeted me
09:22with a soft smile,
09:23too gentle to be genuine.
09:25I could feel
09:26the hidden edge beneath it.
09:28Yeah, long time.
09:30I replied flatly
09:31and turned to leave.
09:32Where are you going?
09:33Are you feeling okay?
09:34I'll take you home.
09:36You have time for that?
09:37I said,
09:39pausing to look back.
09:40Shouldn't you be taking
09:41your lover home instead?
09:43I just got back
09:44and haven't found a place yet,
09:45so I stayed at one
09:46of Alpha's properties
09:46last night.
09:47Bonnie stepped in,
09:48all innocence
09:49and fake sweetness.
09:50Tala, as the Luna,
09:51you don't mind, right?
09:52Oh, and where were you
09:53last night?
09:53Ralph was worried
09:54sick about you.
09:54So he knew I was gone,
09:55and yet he never
09:56looked for me,
09:57not even once.
09:58I don't mind.
09:59Mrs. Snow,
10:00you can stay
10:01as long as you like.
10:03I said coolly.
10:04Ralph and I are preparing
10:05to nullify the bond anyway.
10:07To my surprise,
10:08Ralph came after me,
10:09leaving Bonnie behind.
10:10At the end of the hallway,
10:11his aura closed in around me,
10:13heavy,
10:13possessive,
10:14and demanding.
10:15What's this about?
10:16Why are you suddenly
10:16ending things?
10:17Because I missed
10:17our anniversary?
10:19Tala, I already gave you
10:20a gift.
10:20What more do you want
10:21from me?
10:21The sharp scent of
10:22cigarette smoke
10:23made my stomach churn.
10:25Pregnancy had made me
10:26extra sensitive to smells.
10:28I turned my head away
10:29and said coldly,
10:30Ralph,
10:31our anniversary is
10:32August 15th,
10:34not July 15th.
10:35He froze.
10:36A long silence passed.
10:39He crushed the cigarette
10:41under his boot.
10:42I swear.
10:43I'll remember next time,
10:44okay?
10:45Just give me one more chance.
10:49I swear.
10:51He had said the same thing
10:53in front of the elders
10:53when we signed the pact.
10:55He had promised to treat me
10:56like a true mate.
10:59And for a while,
11:00he played the part so well,
11:02even I almost believed it.
11:06Until I heard him say those words.
11:08He never loved me.
11:10It's too late, Ralph.
11:11My mind's made up.
11:12I'm not agreeing to this.
11:14I'll file for the separation
11:16with the Elder Council.
11:17You don't have to agree.
11:19Two years from now,
11:20the bond will end,
11:21whether you like it or not.
11:22Then I turned
11:23and walked away.
11:25Back at Violet's place,
11:26I collapsed onto the bed
11:28and fell asleep
11:29almost instantly.
11:31When I woke up,
11:32night had already fallen.
11:36My throat was dry
11:37as sandpaper.
11:39As I pushed open
11:40the bedroom door,
11:41I spotted Violet
11:42heening over the balcony railing,
11:44peering down at the street.
11:46Tara, finally!
11:48You're awake!
11:49Another hour
11:50and Ralph would have
11:51turned into a fossil.
11:53I poured myself
11:54a glass of water
11:55and downed it
11:55in one long gulp.
11:59What did you just say?
12:01Ralph!
12:02He's been waiting
12:03downstairs forever.
12:04He knocked on the door
12:05earlier but I didn't let him in.
12:07So now he's just
12:08standing there.
12:08Looks like it's gonna rain again.
12:10You want me to call him up?
12:11I think he's serious this time.
12:13I glanced outside.
12:16Sure enough,
12:17he was there.
12:18Leaning against his car,
12:19tall and poised
12:20in a tailored suit,
12:21every line of his
12:22postury rigid.
12:24Violet's resolve softened.
12:26Let him come up, Tala.
12:27Think about it.
12:27Other than being cold to you,
12:29has he really done
12:29anything unforgivable
12:30to jeopardize the Alliance?
12:32When Ralph finally
12:33came upstairs,
12:34Violet gave us space.
12:36Come home with me, Tala.
12:38At that moment,
12:39I was scrolling through
12:40a supernatural-only
12:41social network.
12:42Bonnie had just posted
12:43a new photo.
12:44The photo showed a hand,
12:45large and strong,
12:46brushing a leaf
12:47from her shoulder.
12:47On its ring finger
12:48glinted the eclipse pack's
12:50alpha signet.
12:50I knew that hand.
12:52I knew that ring.
12:53We'd been married
12:53for seven years.
12:55In all that time,
12:56he had never once
12:57used his alpha energy
12:58to warm me
12:59through a single
12:59winter night.
13:00Love showed in how
13:02our energy responded
13:02to each other,
13:03in how our pheromones
13:04reached out and lingered.
13:06Ralph broke the silence.
13:07Are you mad because
13:08I forgot our anniversary
13:09or because I went
13:10to see Bonnie?
13:11When I didn't reply,
13:12he kept going.
13:13She just got back.
13:14She has no one, Tara.
13:15No pack, no family.
13:17If I don't take care
13:17of her, who will?
13:18You know how fragile she is.
13:20Bonnie's only human.
13:21Fragile.
13:22I laughed bitterly inside.
13:24That woman was a witch.
13:25A powerful one.
13:26She could twist
13:27a top-teeb alpha's mind
13:28without lifting a finger.
13:29There was nothing
13:30fragile about her.
13:31Yes, Bonnie was what
13:32they called a wanderer.
13:33Years ago,
13:34when other supernatural
13:35creatures bullied her,
13:36I was the one who saved her.
13:37I was the one who
13:38introduced her to Ralph.
13:39He was ten,
13:40and the moment he laid
13:41eyes on her,
13:41he was gone.
13:42Later, Ralph's father,
13:43the former alpha,
13:44sensed the unusual magic
13:45flowing from her
13:46and made a decision.
13:47He couldn't risk his air
13:48getting entangled
13:49with a mysterious witch
13:50who might threaten
13:50the future of the pack.
13:52So he sent her overseas.
13:53During the years,
13:54Ralph spiraled.
13:55I was the one
13:55who stood by him.
13:56To the rest of the pack,
13:57we were a match made in heaven.
13:58The ideal union
13:59between a strong alpha
14:00and an omega of noble lineage.
14:02We were supposed to create
14:03the next generation of legends.
14:04Our bond was sealed
14:05with the blessing
14:06of both families
14:06and witnessed by two great packs.
14:08For seven years,
14:09I believed he'd moved on
14:10from Bonnie.
14:11That maybe,
14:12just maybe,
14:13he'd started to feel
14:13something real for me.
14:15But all of it
14:15had been a joke.
14:16A cruel one.
14:17Before I could speak again,
14:18his phone buzzed.
14:19Bonnie?
14:20What's wrong?
14:21Ralph,
14:21I'm hungry.
14:22Come home and cook for me.
14:24Whether you come home or not,
14:25I won't agree
14:25to breaking our bond.
14:27He rushed after that.
14:29The witch was hungry
14:30and needed to go cook for her.
14:31In all seven years
14:32of our marriage,
14:33he never cooked
14:34a single meal for me.
14:35He once told me
14:36that real alphas
14:37don't stoop to things like that.
14:41But now,
14:42for Bonnie,
14:43he would.
14:44The days that followed
14:45were a blur of pain.
14:46The conflicting forces
14:47inside me
14:48grew forcer by the hour.
14:49The spell that masked me
14:51as an omega
14:52was draining my energy fast,
14:53while something foreign
14:55and powerful within me surged,
14:57pushing against the barrier
14:58of that disguise.
15:00I could barely eat.
15:05My body couldn't handle it.
15:07Violet, worried sick,
15:08dragged me to Alex's hospital.
15:10Inside the clean,
15:11quiet exam room,
15:13Alex studied my energy readings
15:14with a frown
15:15I'd never seen on him before.
15:17As a vampire,
15:18Alex had a rare sensitivity
15:19to life energy.
15:21Do I look that bad?
15:23What?
15:23Am I dying?
15:27Alex didn't laugh.
15:29He set the report down
15:31and looked at me seriously.
15:33Your energy field is a mess.
15:34Your power is being suppressed
15:36by an overwhelming force.
15:38But underneath that,
15:39I sensed the burning energy
15:40of a top-lier alpha.
15:42Then his voice dropped lower.
15:44And there's more.
15:44I can hear two heartbeats.
15:46The second one,
15:47it's strong, wild, alpha level.
15:49This is a miracle.
15:50He hesitated,
15:51then handed me the report.
15:53His voice still tinged
15:54with disbelief.
15:55Tala,
15:56you're pregnant.
15:57Two months along.
16:01I sat there,
16:02stunned.
16:04I'm pregnant?
16:05With Ralph's child?
16:07An alpha carrying another alpha's baby
16:10that was unheard of.
16:12In the werewolf world,
16:13it was a miracle
16:14that would shake the foundation
16:16of every plaque.
16:18Does Ralph know?
16:20He'd be thrilled.
16:24No.
16:26I grabbed his wrist.
16:28Don't tell him.
16:29Please, Alex.
16:31Promise me.
16:32Not about the baby
16:33and not about who I really am.
16:35The only person
16:36who was excited
16:37about my pregnancy
16:38was Violet.
16:39This is amazing!
16:40Two alphas made a baby?
16:42What do you think?
16:43Boy or girl?
16:44Can I be the godmother?
16:45You and Ralph's baby
16:46must be gorgeous
16:47and powerful.
16:48Tara,
16:49I can't wait!
16:49This pup is going to have
16:51the purest alpha bloodline ever!
16:54She went on and on
16:56the whole ride home,
16:58completely forgetting
17:00one tiny detail.
17:01I was about to end things
17:03with Ralph.
17:03For good.
17:04Our bond wasn't
17:06officially dissolved yet,
17:07but before that
17:08could be decided,
17:09Connor Hemming,
17:10the respected former alpha
17:11of the Eclipse Pack,
17:12was about to celebrate
17:13his 800th birthday.
17:15Early that morning,
17:17Ralph showed up
17:17outside Violet's place.
17:19Connor had always
17:20treated me with kindness.
17:21I didn't want
17:22to disappoint him,
17:23so I went with Ralph
17:25back to the estate.
17:26At the party,
17:27Connor held my hand
17:28the entire time,
17:29beaming as he asked
17:30when I planned
17:31to give the pack
17:32its next air.
17:33He said he'd been
17:33waiting a long time.
17:35My hand instinctively
17:36moved to my stomach,
17:37a swirl of emotions
17:38tightening in my chest.
17:40Right on cue,
17:41Ralph reached over
17:42and clasped my fingers
17:43in his,
17:44putting on a perfect show
17:45for everyone around us.
17:47Don't worry, Grandpa.
17:49Tala and I
17:49are working on it.
17:51Watching him
17:52perform his role
17:52so flawlessly
17:53made my stomach turn.
17:55Literally.
17:57A wave of nausea
17:58surged up,
17:59and I pushed past him,
18:00rushing to the restroom
18:01to throw up.
18:02I had just finished
18:03washing my hands
18:04when I saw her.
18:05Bonnie.
18:06She appeared behind me,
18:08casually turning on
18:09the faucet
18:10as she smiled
18:10at my reflection
18:11in the mirror.
18:12There was something
18:13cold in that smile,
18:15something laced
18:16with black magic.
18:17You're surprisingly
18:18considerate.
18:19Already thinking
18:19of ending things?
18:20Her mask dropped
18:21completely as she
18:22tilted her head,
18:23a cruel smirk
18:24curling on her lips.
18:25Tala, let's be honest.
18:26Deep down,
18:27you've always known.
18:28In Ralph's eyes,
18:29you're just my stand-in.
18:30Now that I'm back,
18:31it's time for you
18:31to step aside.
18:32The alpha blood
18:33in my veins
18:33surged at her words,
18:35but I stayed still,
18:36meeting her gaze
18:37with ice in mine.
18:38Even if I did
18:39step aside,
18:40you'd still never
18:40be Luna.
18:41That role doesn't
18:42go to a witch
18:43with no roots
18:44and a shadowy past.
18:45I held her glare
18:46without flinching.
18:47Bonnie,
18:48the elders aren't blind.
18:49They saw through you
18:50a long time ago.
18:50If they hadn't,
18:51you wouldn't have been
18:52the one exiled
18:52seven years ago,
18:53I would have.
18:53My words hit their mark,
18:55her expression twisted
18:55in rage.
18:56You think you're so special
18:57just because your bloodline's
18:58a little purer than mine?
19:00Why does everyone adore you?
19:01Why was I the one sent away
19:02while you got to stay
19:03by his side?
19:04Because unlike Ralph,
19:05the rest of the pack
19:06can see things
19:07for what they are.
19:08They know exactly
19:09what kind of person
19:09you are, Bonnie.
19:10You can fool him
19:12but no one else.
19:13Bonnie was never
19:13the innocent little lamb
19:14she pretended to be.
19:16Sure,
19:16she could play
19:17the harmless sweetheart
19:17in front of Ralph,
19:18but that mask
19:19had finally cracked.
19:20I'm betting Ralph's
19:22as blind as a bat.
19:23I came back
19:24for one reason,
19:25to become Luna
19:26of the Eclipse Pack.
19:28The moment the words
19:29left her mouth,
19:30a dark,
19:32shadowy magic
19:32began to swirl
19:34in her palm.
19:35Without warning,
19:37she swung her hand
19:38toward my face.
19:40But I was faster.
19:46My instincts
19:47as an alpha
19:48kicked in
19:49and I caught
19:49her wrist mid-air.
19:51With a flick
19:51of my arm,
19:52I slapped her hard
19:54across the face.
19:55That strike carried
19:56just a hint
19:56of my alpha strength,
19:57but it was enough
19:58to knock her flat
19:59to the ground.
20:00You hit me?
20:02Bonnie gasped
20:02in disbelief,
20:04clutching her cheek.
20:05Tara, please!
20:06I didn't mean any harm.
20:08I would never get
20:08between you and Ralph.
20:10What's going on here?
20:15Tara, what did you do
20:16to Bonnie?
20:17Can't you see?
20:19She tried to attack me
20:20with witchcraft.
20:21I was just defending myself.
20:23Witchcraft?
20:24Bonnie doesn't know
20:24witchcraft.
20:26Tala, how could you
20:26be so heartless?
20:27She's just a helpless human.
20:28I didn't bother arguing,
20:29but suddenly,
20:30a sharp pain
20:31tore through my abdomen.
20:32My hands flew
20:33to my stomach.
20:33No, I had shattered
20:35that shadow energy
20:35before it reached me.
20:36But something was wrong.
20:38A strange force
20:39clashed violently
20:40with the spell
20:40I've used to disguise
20:41myself as an omega.
20:42Bonnie rushed over,
20:43pretending to be concerned.
20:44But as she leaned in,
20:45her voice dropped
20:46to a whisper
20:46only I could hear,
20:48laced with venom.
20:49See?
20:49Ralph will always choose me.
20:51Go on, take a guess.
20:52If we were both hurt,
20:54who do you think
20:54he'd take to the hospital?
20:55Before I could respond,
20:57Bonnie let out
20:58a sharp, dramatic scream
20:59and collapsed to the floor.
21:01Ah!
21:01It hurts!
21:02Ralph!
21:03My stomach!
21:04It hurts so bad!
21:06A piercing cramp
21:07shot through my lower abdomen.
21:09I bent over,
21:10clutching my belly,
21:11but the pain only worsened.
21:13Then,
21:14suddenly,
21:15a hot rush
21:15surged between my legs,
21:17thick with alpha life force.
21:19The air turned heavy
21:21with the sharp,
21:22metallic scent of blood.
21:23I looked down.
21:24Red.
21:25Bright,
21:26terrifying red.
21:29Ralph!
21:30I reached toward him,
21:31barely able to lift my hand.
21:33I was desperate to tell him
21:34that our baby,
21:35we might be losing the baby,
21:37but he didn't see me.
21:39He didn't even hear me.
21:41His attention was locked on Bonnie
21:43and the fake magical energy
21:45she radiated like cheap perfume.
21:49Hang on, Bonnie.
21:50I'm taking you to the hospital right now.
21:52As he turned to leave,
21:54I clutched at the hem of his coat.
21:56Ralph,
21:57my stomach,
21:59it hurts.
22:01Can you just be reasonable for once?
22:03He yanked his arm free from my grap.
22:06Can't you see Bonnie's in worse shape?
22:08Anybody fucking is gonna watch in God!
22:11Then he shoved me hard.
22:13I hit the ground.
22:15Pain exploded through me
22:17as blood bloomed beneath me,
22:19soaking into the once pristine white carpet.
22:21And without so much as a glance back,
22:23Ralphie walked away.
22:25Bonnie cradled tightly in his arms.
22:27He didn't see me.
22:29He didn't smell the blood
22:30that should have triggered
22:31every instinct in him as an alpha.
22:33The blood of his own child.
22:36Coldness crept from my chest
22:38to my fingertips.
22:39I curled my hands into fists,
22:41every nerve in my body on fire,
22:43but none of it compared
22:44with the ache in my chest.
22:45Tell her!
22:46A familiar voice broke through the fog.
22:48Alex.
22:48He was at my side in seconds,
22:50horror written across his face
22:51as he caught the scent in the air
22:53and saw the blood spreading beneath me.
22:55What happened?
22:57Where's Ralph?
23:00To the hospital.
23:03I managed to whisper
23:05before everything went dark.
23:07I didn't know how long
23:08I had been asleep.
23:10When I finally came to,
23:12I heard Alex and Violet whispering
23:14just outside the room.
23:16Is he serious?
23:18Tara's losing her baby
23:19and he's still off
23:20playing house with that witch?
23:21You knew this whole time
23:22and you didn't say anything?
23:26She told us not to tell Ralph
23:27about the baby.
23:30She's made up her mind
23:31to break the bond.
23:32Maybe losing it
23:33is a kind of release for her.
23:35The baby is gone?
23:37I hadn't even made up my mind
23:39whether to keep it
23:40and now
23:41there was no decision
23:42left to make.
23:43That child was conceived
23:45the night Raleigh came home drunk.
23:46It wasn't planned
23:47and definitely not wanted.
23:49Not by him.
23:51Maybe this was for the best.
23:52Maybe this was fate
23:54tying up a loose end.
23:57Tala!
23:58You're awake!
24:00Violet rushed to my side.
24:02Her eyes rimmed with red.
24:12Where are you?
24:14At the hospital.
24:15Why are you at the hospital again?
24:17Grandpa wants us over for brunch.
24:19I'm coming to pick you up.
24:22The love I once had for him
24:24bled out of me last night.
24:25With the baby gone,
24:26so was the last fragile thread
24:27tying us together.
24:29I'm busy.
24:30If Grandpa didn't ask to see you,
24:32do you really think I'd want to?
24:33We're not done talking about
24:34you attacking Bonnie yesterday.
24:36Fine.
24:37I'll be there.
24:40This time,
24:41I was going to end things properly.
24:44Once and for all.
24:50I'm coming with you.
24:57When I arrived,
24:59Ralph was already standing
25:00at the entrance of the restaurant.
25:01You didn't even bother
25:02to put on makeup
25:03before seeing me.
25:04Looking this pale,
25:05are you trying to make Grandpa
25:06think I've been mistreating you?
25:08Alex, I heard you are back.
25:09You shouldn't be getting this close
25:11to my Luna, filthy vampire.
25:12I'll wait for you in the car.
25:14If you need anything,
25:16just call.
25:17What are you wearing?
25:17Before I could say a word,
25:19Ralph yanked it off me with force
25:21and threw it at Alex.
25:22Take your death shroud back.
25:24She's not well.
25:25She shouldn't be out in the wind.
25:27And who gave you the right
25:28to call her by name?
25:29Drenching me in his
25:30overwhelming alpha scent.
25:32A clear territorial claim.
25:34Inside the private room,
25:35Connor greeted me with a warm smile
25:37the moment he saw me.
25:38Tala, you're here.
25:39Come here, sit next to me.
25:40Why do you look so awful?
25:42That brat didn't bully you, did he?
25:45Here, your favorite.
25:45I stared at the dessert
25:47and my eyes began to well up
25:48with tears.
25:49Ralph, there's something
25:50I need to say to you.
25:51He glanced up at me,
25:53his expression sharp and warning.
25:54I pulled out the signed copy
25:56of the Mate Bon severance
25:57packed from my bag.
25:58Let's talk about
25:59how Bonnie left the country.
26:01Shut your mouth.
26:02This isn't the time
26:02or place for that.
26:03Watch your mouth, you brat.
26:05Connor barked,
26:06smacking Ralph hard
26:07on the back of the head.
26:08I stared at the two alphas
26:10before me.
26:11Grandfather and grandson,
26:12two generations of power.
26:13My expression unreadable.
26:16Seven years ago,
26:16I sensed your growing obsession
26:18with that witch.
26:19So, I used what little was left
26:21of my family's reputation
26:22to convince your father.
26:23An alliance with my declining pack
26:25would give you
26:26the purest alpha bloodline.
26:27I met Ralph's gaze,
26:29unflinching,
26:29as the fury lit up
26:30behind his eyes.
26:31When Bonnie left,
26:33I took my chance.
26:34I stayed by your side
26:35through your empty days.
26:36Ralph, our bond
26:37wasn't born from love.
26:38It was stolen.
26:39A calculated political move.
26:40Shut up.
26:41I said shut up.
26:42Enough!
26:42You insolent pup.
26:45How dare you raise
26:46your voice at Tala.
26:47I saw you sneaking out
26:49of my birthday party
26:50last night with her
26:51in your arms.
26:53Ralph's rage simmered down.
26:55He sank back into his chair,
26:56but his eyes never left me.
26:58They were cold,
26:59sharp, unforgiving.
27:00I don't want your forgiveness.
27:02You should hate me.
27:03I schemed to drive away
27:04the woman you loved
27:05and manipulated my way
27:07into becoming your Luna.
27:08A wicked Omega like me
27:10was never worthy
27:11of a noble Alpha like you.
27:12I've signed my name.
27:14Just add yours
27:15and we'll be nothing
27:15to each other.
27:16Just remember,
27:17this was your choice.
27:18Don't come crawling back.
27:19He gripped the pen so tightly
27:20it looked like it might
27:21snap in his fist.
27:23I won't.
27:23I never will.
27:24Fine, Tala.
27:25If that's what you want,
27:26I'll give it to you.
27:27Ralph snatched the pen
27:28and with a stroke
27:29as sharp and fierce as ever
27:30signed his name.
27:32In that instant,
27:34when the ink hit the page,
27:35I felt it.
27:36The bond between us.
27:38The one sanctified
27:39by the moon goddess herself.
27:40The one that had bound us
27:42for seven long years.
27:43Shattered.
27:44Just like that.
27:45The moment the bond shattered,
27:47a wave of emptiness
27:48and emotional backlash
27:49slammed into me.
27:50My vision darkened
27:52and my body swayed
27:53before crashing to the ground.
27:54My bag hit the floor with me,
27:56its contents spilling out
27:57across the tiles.
27:58Among them was the medical report
28:00from Alex's hospital,
28:02the one detailing
28:02my current condition.
28:04My chest tightened.
28:05I reached for it instinctively,
28:07but Ralph was faster.
28:08He snatched it up
28:09before I could stop him.
28:10What's this?
28:11Give it back.
28:12It has nothing to do with you.
28:13But I was too late.
28:14Ralph had opened it.
28:16He couldn't understand
28:17the unique glyphs,
28:18but his alpha instinct
28:19picked up on the energy.
28:20A miscarriage?
28:22Ralph's eyes widened.
28:24Shock rippled through him,
28:25quickly morphing into rage.
28:27Tala, whose child did you abort?
28:28Was it mine or his?
28:30He whipped around,
28:31pointing a trembling finger
28:32at Alex,
28:33who had just appeared
28:34in the doorway.
28:35Ralph snogged.
28:36Well, that explains everything.
28:37Now I see why you were
28:38so desperate to break our bond.
28:40You've been sleeping
28:41with the damn vampire,
28:42haven't you?
28:43He hurled the report
28:43at my feet.
28:44Tala, how could you be so low?
28:46It was yours.
28:47I didn't hide it.
28:48There was no reason to anymore.
28:49I was two months along.
28:51Why would you abort our child?
28:53I didn't hurt him.
28:54You did.
28:54Last night,
28:55I told you I was in pain.
28:56I said my stomach hurt.
28:57I was bleeding,
28:58Ralph,
28:59bleeding so much.
29:00That blood carried
29:01the life of our child.
29:02And you,
29:03you couldn't even smell it.
29:04You couldn't feel it?
29:05Your eyes were glued
29:06to that witch.
29:07You didn't even look at me.
29:08Ralph, remember this.
29:10You killed our baby.
29:11You ignored my cries for help.
29:12You let him die.
29:13What did you just say?
29:15Last night,
29:15I thought,
29:16I thought you were just
29:17fighting with Bonnie.
29:18Yes,
29:18because in your eyes,
29:19I'm always the one
29:20causing trouble.
29:21I'll never measure up
29:22to her, will I?
29:23I could be bleeding out
29:24in front of you
29:25and you still wouldn't see me.
29:26I'm done, Ralph.
29:27I don't want to see you
29:28ever again.
29:29I turned,
29:30barely able to stand.
29:31My voice dropped
29:32to a hoarse whisper
29:33as I grabbed Alex's arm
29:34for support.
29:35Take me away from here, Alex.
29:41When I opened my eyes again,
29:43I was lying inside
29:43the medical pod
29:44at Alex's hospital.
29:46The one designed
29:47for elite supernaturals,
29:48where the energy
29:49was pure and calming.
29:50Soft moonstone light
29:51bathed the room,
29:52soothing the shattered pieces
29:53of my wolf spirit,
29:55which had been teetering
29:56on the edge of collapse.
29:57Alex told me
29:58I'd been unconscious
29:59for an entire day.
30:00Connor had come
30:01to visit in person
30:02and offered condolences
30:03on behalf of the pack
30:04for the loss of my pup.
30:06Violet sat beside me
30:07peeling an apple
30:08with visible frustration.
30:09The elders still
30:10have some decency.
30:11They sent rare herbs
30:12and energy crystals
30:13to help restore your energy.
30:15But Ralph,
30:16that jerk didn't even bother
30:17to show his face.
30:18What a heartless scumbag.
30:20Sorry, Tala,
30:21I didn't mean to bring him up.
30:22It's okay.
30:23I licked my cracked lips,
30:24the emptiness in my gut
30:25more painful than any wound.
30:27I just want some water.
30:29Here, let me help you.
30:30Alex said your core essence
30:31is badly damaged,
30:32the after effects
30:33of severing the blood oath
30:35and the miscarriage.
30:36Your body won't recover overnight.
30:38I'll take you to my place tomorrow.
30:39You can stay with me for a while.
30:41That won't be necessary.
30:42I've made up my mind.
30:44I'm going home.
30:45The door opened.
30:46Alex stepped in,
30:47holding the latest energy scan report,
30:49his expression grave.
30:50Your life force has stabilized,
30:52but the conflict between your alpha essence
30:54and the spell that masked you as an omega
30:56is growing more intense.
30:58I'll allow you to return home,
31:00but only if you promise me one thing,
31:03no emotional outbursts,
31:05and under no circumstances
31:07are you to use your true power.
31:09Understood?
31:10Got it.
31:11You two really are the biggest nags.
31:12It was as if a crushing weight
31:14had been lifted.
31:15Seven years of silent suffering
31:17peeled away in one clean break.
31:19Maybe I'd been wrong all along.
31:21Clinging to Ralph wasn't the life
31:23I was meant for.
31:24My real life was just beginning.
31:26By the time I finished packing,
31:27it was already past three.
31:29Alex helped me out of the hospital room.
31:31You sure you want to head out in this heat?
31:33The sun's blazing.
31:34Dummy.
31:34It's fine.
31:35I'm a vampire duke, remember?
31:37A little sunlight doesn't scare me.
31:40He'd always been so nice to me.
31:41When we were kids,
31:42whenever I came home
31:43bruised and broken from alpha training,
31:45he would show up quietly.
31:47Alex, you're such a good man.
31:48Surely you have a girlfriend by now?
31:50No girlfriend.
31:52But there's someone I like.
31:54Oh, who is it?
31:54Do I know her?
31:55One day, you'll find out.
31:57But not yet.
31:59It's not time.
32:00Wow, how mysterious.
32:02Whoever she is, she must be lucky.
32:04Being your girlfriend
32:04would be pretty amazing.
32:06I hope she thinks so.
32:08I really do.
32:12Just as we were passing a bend,
32:13I caught the hushed voices of two fey nurses chatting nearby.
32:17Did you see him?
32:18Eclipse packs alpha.
32:20He's in that VIP room with his little girlfriend.
32:22I saw him.
32:23Didn't he just break the bond with his Luna?
32:25That girl he's with now?
32:27Isn't she just some witch?
32:28What's wrong with that alpha?
32:30Choosing a witch over his own heir he had just lost.
32:33Beats me.
32:34Their world is a mess.
32:35I took a slow deep breath,
32:36but the ache in my chest returned.
32:38It was sharp and familiar.
32:40Alex's hand tightened around mine.
32:42One day,
32:43Ralph will realize losing you
32:44was the greatest mistake he'll ever make.
32:47That's his burden, not yours.
32:49Any alpha who can tell the difference
32:51between true love and illusion.
32:53He's not someone worth breaking your heart over.
32:56You're right.
32:57He's not my concern anymore.
32:58Who he's with
32:59doesn't matter to me now.
33:01Of all the routes we could have taken,
33:03it had to be the one that passed the VIP isolation ward.
33:06As we turned the corner,
33:07Ralph stepped out of the room,
33:09his arm wrapped around Bonnie.
33:10The two of them came face to face with us.
33:12I lifted my gaze to meet hers.
33:14Bonnie looked radiant,
33:16rosy cheeks,
33:17glossy hair,
33:18and dressed head to toe in a luxury designer outfit.
33:21Compared to her,
33:22I looked like the abandoned one.
33:24Like the Omega no one wanted.
33:26Tala, you're at the hospital too?
33:28You look terrible.
33:29Are you not feeling well?
33:30I didn't want to say a word to either of them.
33:33I turned on my heel to leave.
33:35Where are you going?
33:36Apparently,
33:37the backlash from the broken oath
33:38hadn't spared him either.
33:40Home.
33:40I'll take you.
33:41No, Alex will drive me.
33:43What's going on between you and that vampire,
33:45Tala?
33:45You better explain yourself.
33:47Whether I'm with Alex or any other kind of creature,
33:49it's none of your business anymore.
33:51My body, still frail from everything I'd been through,
33:54tensed from the stress.
33:55A sharp pain twisted through me.
33:58Instinctively, I clutched my lower stomach.
34:00Are you okay?
34:01Is the pain back?
34:03You're still unwell since we-
34:05Everything Ralph should have done for me,
34:06someone else was doing now.
34:08Alex opened my bag,
34:09found the small crystal vial and handed it to me.
34:12I drank the warm liquid,
34:14and the pain began to ease.
34:15Without looking back at the pair,
34:17I took Alex's hand and walked away.
34:19Ralph, what are we having later?
34:21I'm starving.
34:22I want a proper feast.
34:23Will you take me out?
34:24I thought you were supposed to be sick.
34:26Tell the maid to make you something light.
34:27I've got things to do.
34:29Whatever they said next I didn't hear.
34:31I was already gone, and I didn't care.
34:33When I got back to Silver Creek Pack territory, home,
34:36it felt like the first breath of fresh air
34:38after being underwater for too long.
34:40My parents had made a full spread of home-cooked food.
34:43The familiar smells, the warmth in their eyes,
34:45the small questions and quiet concern.
34:47All of it made tears burn behind my eyes.
34:50Look at you so thin.
34:52Have you not been eating well?
34:54You haven't visited us in so long.
34:56Now that you're back, stay a while, okay?
34:59They looked so much older than the last time I was here.
35:02I noticed more white in dad's hair,
35:04deeper lines on mom's face.
35:06All these years, I'd poured everything into playing the role of Luna
35:09chasing after Ralph, and trying to be the perfect mate.
35:12I had neglected the people who truly loved me.
35:15But this time, I was going to stay,
35:17for as long as they needed me.
35:19Dad picked up a piece of roasted meat, my favorite,
35:21and gently placed it on my plate.
35:23My chest tightened.
35:24I blinked hard and swallowed down the lump in my throat.
35:27I spent a few quiet days at my parents' place.
35:30Bit by bit, my body and soul began to recover.
35:33There was something about the gentle energy in Silver Creek.
35:36It soothed the ragged edges of my wounded wolf spirit.
35:39I hadn't yet found the courage to tell my parents
35:41that I'd severed the blood oath with Ralph.
35:44Let's tell it he's here.
35:45Oh, far out.
35:46He's downstairs right now.
35:48I walked to the top of the staircase.
35:49And saw him sitting stiffly on the living room couch.
35:53The force of his Alpha presence filled the entire room like a storm front.
35:57Leaving my parents, Silver Creek's Alpha and Luna,
36:00looking small and anxious in his shadow.
36:02Watching my dad bow and scrape like that,
36:04my heart ached like it was being stabbed with needles.
36:07Tala, it's been a while.
36:08He hadn't called my name like that in years.
36:10Not since we first sealed our blood oath.
36:13What do you want?
36:13I've come to take you home, Ralph said.
36:15You've been staying here for a few days.
36:17Grandpa's been asking about you.
36:18He used the old man as an excuse, polished and polite.
36:22Ralph thought that if I stayed silent,
36:24if I didn't tell my parents about the bond being broken,
36:27there might still be hope for us.
36:28I stared at him, expressionless.
36:31He looked tired, worn down even.
36:34So Bonnie's charm hadn't brought him much comfort after all.
36:37All right, I said simply.
36:38I didn't argue, didn't give him a fight,
36:40just nodded and followed him out the door.
36:42He clearly hadn't expected me to agree so easily.
36:45Surprise flickered across his face.
36:47Once we were in the car, he wouldn't stop talking.
36:50He went on and on about how the Elder Council was pressing him to name an heir.
36:54About his father, who'd finally returned from his years abroad.
36:57About PAC politics, new alliances, land deals.
37:00He was trying to fill the silence with noise.
37:03Trying to close the widening space between us.
37:05I said nothing.
37:07And in that silence, I realized something.
37:10For seven years, I had been the one filling the silence between us.
37:13Now the roles were reversed.
37:14We drove through the Eclipse PACs territory, past the familiar houses, and down the winding
37:19road to the estate.
37:20As I stepped back inside, everything felt different.
37:24The furniture in the hall remained exactly where I remembered.
37:27But now, there was someone else sitting on the couch.
37:31Bonnie.
37:32The moment she saw me, her face drained of color.
37:34She shot to her feet as if jolted by an electric current.
37:37You disappeared this morning?
37:39And now I find out you went together?
37:41What's that supposed to mean?
37:42Are you trying to get back together with her?
37:44Ralph's expression soured.
37:46What are you doing here?
37:46He asked, his tone heavy with frustration.
37:48I already arranged a new place for you.
37:50I told you not to come here unless it was important.
37:52I get scared when I'm alone.
37:54And since Tala already ended the blood oath, why shouldn't I move in?
37:58I'm your girlfriend now, aren't I?
38:00Their voices rose as the argument spiraled into chaos.
38:03But I had no interest in their little drama.
38:05I walked right past them and headed upstairs.
38:08I opened the door to the bedroom that had once belonged to me and Ralph.
38:11A space that had symbolized my role as Luna.
38:14But the moment I stepped inside, I was nearly knocked back by the scent.
38:18It was strong, overwhelming.
38:20An invasive mix of lilies and dark magic.
38:23The unmistakable mark of a witch.
38:26The smell clung to the air like a poisonous fog,
38:29wrapping itself around every corner of the room.
38:31It was aggressive and deliberate,
38:33like it had been poured into every surface to wipe away anything that had once been mine.
38:37I looked around, my clothes, gone, my books, gone.
38:42Even the small mementos I'd brought from Silver Creek, they had all vanished.
38:46In their place were Bonnie's things, cheap, flashy and reeking of human style.
38:50Gaudy trinkets, floral printed throws and perfume bottles cluttered the nightstands.
38:55She hadn't wasted any time.
38:56It had barely been a few days since I broke the blood oath,
38:59and she was already racing to erase every trace of my existence from this house.
39:03Tala, what do you think you're doing?
39:06Where are my things?
39:07Thrown out?
39:08You're not the luna of this pack.
39:10There's no reason for your stuff to be here.
39:12Ralph only came to get you because the elders told him to.
39:14You and him?
39:15That's over.
39:16Even if I'm done with him, it's not like things are going so well for you either.
39:20Ralph told you to stay away from here unless it was important.
39:23Seems like you're still a long way.
39:25You bitch!
39:26Bonnie snapped, her face twisted with rage as she lunged at me.
39:30Bonnie, you'd better back off.
39:31My pup died because of your witchcraft.
39:33If you don't want to join my pup in the afterlife, you'll tell me where my things are.
39:37Now, that was when Ralph walked in.
39:40He saw a terrified witch pinned to the wall by the throat.
39:43And me, the one holding her there.
39:46Bonnie, did I give you permission to touch anything in this room?
39:49How dare you put your things here?
39:50I froze.
39:51He didn't allow Bonnie to touch anything in this room?
39:54Why?
39:55Ralph, where are my things?
39:56The birthday gift from my parents, where did they go?
39:59I'll find them for you.
40:00Where are Tala's things?
40:01I told the maids to toss them.
40:03They're probably in the trash outback.
40:05Ralph, look at her.
40:06I did.
40:07Too bad I didn't squeeze harder.
40:09Maybe then my pup could rest in peace.
40:11I didn't wait for a response.
40:13I walked straight out the door, heading for the trash bins behind the house.
40:16I'll ask the staff to look for them for you.
40:18No need.
40:19I bent down and began searching through the trash myself.
40:22To my surprise, Ralph slipped on his own gloves and crouched beside me, sifting through
40:26the garbage with me.
40:27And in that moment, seeing him there like that, I froze, stunned.
40:31The garbage room was tucked away in a sealed basement beneath the villa district.
40:34The air reeked of spoiled food and fermenting waste.
40:38A nauseating stench that clung to everything.
40:40For werewolves, whose sense of smell was a hundred times sharper than a human's, this place was a sensory
40:46nightmare.
40:47Everyone in the pack knew that Ralph was a clean freak to an obsessive degree.
40:51He couldn't stand even a trace of filth.
40:53And yet here he was, this proud, untreatable alpha, digging through piles of rotting trash
40:59with me.
41:00He wore gloves, his movements stiff and awkward.
41:03His brow furrowed in discomfort.
41:05It was obvious he was fighting.
41:07I stared at him, confusion churning in my chest.
41:10I paused what I was doing, unable to hold back any longer.
41:13Why?
41:14What?
41:15I said why.
41:16Why are you doing this now?
41:18Our blood oath has already been severed.
41:20At last he stopped.
41:21He lifted his head and looked at me.
41:23His dark eyes gleamed with something tangled and raw.
41:26It took me a long time to see the truth, but now I see it.
41:30Tala, I can let go of everything that happened before.
41:32I just need you to come back.
41:34I come here to take back what used to be mine.
41:36The old Tala couldn't survive without Ralph.
41:39But now, that heart had died along with the pup I lost.
41:42Tala...
41:43Just call me Miss Tala Ralph.
41:44I don't get it.
41:46It's only been a few days.
41:47How could you change so much?
41:48It's that vampire, isn't it?
41:50Alex came back and now you want to be with him.
41:52Enough, Ralph.
41:53You know exactly what you did.
41:55Did you already forget how I lost our child?
41:57Ralph stood there, stunned into silence.
41:59His eyes were now filled with nothing but pain and remorse.
42:03The air between us froze over.
42:05Then, my phone buzzed.
42:06It was Alex.
42:07He'd invited me to dinner.
42:08Please tell your servant to find my things.
42:10Once they do, have them mailed to me.
42:13Tala, I'm giving you one last chance.
42:14Pick me or him.
42:15Ralph, you know who I am.
42:17Back then, I wanted the bond because I still loved you.
42:20But now, the bond is gone.
42:22And so is my love.
42:23The moment those words left my mouth, I finally felt it.
42:27Release.
42:27A strange, liberating peace.
42:29The stench clinging to my hands was unbearable.
42:32I walked into the villa's guest bathroom to wash my hands.
42:35As I stepped inside, I overheard two Omega maids whispering while they cleaned.
42:39Alpha's been in a terrible mood these past few days.
42:43Nothing we do makes him happy.
42:45Every morning, we lay out his clothes, and he just tosses them all onto the floor.
42:50I don't know what's gotten into him.
42:52You really don't know?
42:53He misses Luna.
42:54She used to make all his meals.
42:57Every morning, she picked out his ties and matched them with his suits.
43:01No wonder.
43:02I saw him the other night in his study.
43:05Sitting there till midnight.
43:07Just staring at a photo of her.
43:09Strange, isn't it?
43:10When Luna was still living here, he always came home late.
43:14But ever since she left, he's back early.
43:17Sitting alone in that cold empty room.
43:19So, who does he actually care about?
43:22Luna or Miss Snow?
43:23I can't tell.
43:25But I really don't think he likes Miss Snow.
43:27Every time she gets close to him, he just snaps.
43:31Really?
43:32I froze in place for a beat.
43:33I let out a soft cough to announce my presence and interrupt their conversation.
43:38They turned away quickly as I walked over to the sink.
43:40I twisted the faucet and scrubbed my hands with all the strength I had.
43:44As if I could scrub away every trace of Ralph that had clung to me these past seven years.
43:49Every scent.
43:50Every memory.
43:51Everything.
43:52Luna.
43:53Don't call me that.
43:54I no longer belong to the Eclipse Pack.
43:56Oh.
43:57Really?
43:58Luna.
43:59The Alpha still cares about you.
44:01We can all see it.
44:02Nothing pleases him these days.
44:04He keeps snapping at us.
44:06And sometimes, he even calls out your name.
44:08My hands paused under the faucet.
44:10I looked up at the reflection in the mirror.
44:12Since leaving Ralph, I actually looked healthier.
44:15The color had returned to my face.
44:17For the first time in a long while, I saw a version of myself I liked, and I had no
44:22intention
44:22of going back.
44:23Alex arrived quickly.
44:25When he saw me, he stepped forward and opened the car door like a gentleman.
44:28What do you want for dinner tonight?
44:30Anything's fine.
44:31Tala, I hope you won't regret this.
44:33I didn't even spare him a glance.
44:35Because now I realized, choosing to bond with him in the first place had been the greatest
44:39mistake of my life.
44:41After everything with Ralph had seemingly ended, I received a package from him.
44:45Inside were the gifts he had once given me, each tied to a memory from my youth.
44:49Now battered and broken, thrown out carelessly by Bonnie.
44:52I spent the entire afternoon cleaning and fixing what I could, my heart growing heavier
44:57with each item I touched, as though it had been weighed down with lead.
45:01Just then, my parents burst through the door, pale and visibly shaken.
45:05My father looked defeated, his eyes hollow with despair, while my mother wept quietly beside
45:11him.
45:11What happened?
45:12Something wrong with the pack?
45:13Well, he's lost it.
45:15My father's voice trembled.
45:17He sank onto the couch like a man whose world had just crumbled.
45:21He's pulled every economic support for pack.
45:24You know as well as I do all businesses have been struggling for years.
45:29It means pack's funding is the only thing keeping us afloat.
45:32Now that he's pulled out, we're finished.
45:35What?
45:36We're allied through marriage.
45:38How could he do this?
45:40You broke the blood oath.
45:42Is he punishing us because of you?
45:46That's not all.
45:47All the human companies we had contracts with, they called today.
45:52Every single one can send deals, batting out, saying they'll never work with us again.
45:57He's blacklisting us.
45:58Ralph is making sure old pack has no place left in the human world.
46:03I froze at his words, and suddenly Ralph's words from the day before came back to me.
46:07Tala, I hope you won't regret this.
46:09So that's what he meant.
46:10He wasn't just trying to hurt me.
46:12He was destroying everything I held dear just because I chose to walk away.
46:16I let out a bitter laugh.
46:18Seven years of loyalty, sacrifice, and compromise.
46:20Turns out to him it was just a game.
46:23A game he could toss aside the moment he lost interest.
46:26Those seven years of my life were a waste.
46:29Tala, my sweet girl.
46:32Please, go talk to Ralph.
46:35Beg him if you have to.
46:38Ralph knew exactly what he was doing.
46:40This wasn't random cruelty.
46:41It was a calculated move that targeted me.
46:44Fine, I'll go see him.
46:45The next morning, I returned to Eclipse Pack's towering headquarters.
46:49This time, I wasn't the Luna.
46:51I was merely a representative of a crumbling Silver Creek Pack, an outsider begging for help.
46:56The werewolf guards at entrance no longer looked at me with respect.
47:00Their gazes were cold, almost amused.
47:03They didn't stop me.
47:04They knew exactly why I wash her, to beg for an audience with their alpha.
47:08I was told Ralph was in a meeting, so from 9 now until nearly 11.30,
47:12I sit in the public lounge of the lobby.
47:14People stared, some looked curious, others judged, most just pitied me.
47:19And that was exactly what Ralph wanted, to humiliate me publicly.
47:23Eventually, a passing employee informed me that Ralph had already left through his private elevator to go out for lunch.
47:29That's when he knew, he was playing me, testing how long I'd wait, breaking me down on purpose.
47:34But I didn't leave, I had to prove I was serious.
47:36To LRPM, Ralph finally returned.
47:40When he saw me still waiting, his lips curled into a smug smile.
47:43You've got five minutes, say what you commit to say.
47:46I'd like you to take a look at these.
47:47Some of our ventures have already turned a fur of it.
47:50Ralph snorted.
47:51Epic breakthrough, huh?
47:52What are we talking about?
47:53A million?
47:54Two?
47:54Tala, do you have an idea how much we earn every hour?
47:57Why should I invest in your pack?
47:59His words sliced deep.
48:00I clenched the file in my hand until the edges crumpled.
48:03What do you want from me, Ralph?
48:04What will it take for you to honor the Alliance, eh?
48:07You beg me, then maybe I'll consider it.
48:09I'm begging you, Ralph.
48:10That doesn't sound like begging.
48:12Nocturne Club tonight, you'll come with me.
48:14He wanted to make a spectacle out of me.
48:17To show the world I was still a subordinate.
48:19Alright.
48:20This company, this pack was my father's legacy, my people's only hope.
48:24The Nocturne Club.
48:26Every supernatural elite in the city knew it.
48:28His intentions were clear.
48:30I hadn't eaten or drunk a thing all day.
48:32And yet, Istutal.
48:33Just as I was ready to leave his office, an ice-cold place drenched in his scent,
48:37my stomach let out an untimely growl.
48:40It wasn't loud, but in this dead silent room,
48:43it was thunder to a top-tier alpha's hypersensitive ears.
48:46Worse, the hunger triggered a disruption in my internal energy.
48:50A dull ache resurfaced in the lower part of my abdomen.
48:53Right where an old wound had only just healed.
48:56My face turned pale.
48:58I cursed myself under my breath.
49:00Weakness was the last thing I could afford right now.
49:02All I wanted was to leave.
49:04Stop there.
49:05His voice rang out behind me, low, commanding, and impossible to ignore.
49:10I froze, not turning around.
49:12You haven't had lunch, have you?
49:13His tone was unreadable, but I could feel his gaze, sharp and unyielding,
49:17locked on me like a hawk sizing up prey.
49:20Sitting here waiting for his majesty to hand down a verdict didn't exactly leave me time for lunch.
49:25Isn't this what you wanted?
49:26To torment me, watch me squirm and realize just how far I've fallen?
49:30When did I ever do that?
49:31I had an emergency transatlantic video call in the secured conference room upstairs.
49:36You think I skipped lunch just to mess with you?
49:37I let out a bitter laugh, not believing a word of it.
49:41It sounded like something he came up with on the fly.
49:44It took another step toward the door only to be stopped again.
49:47My lunch is on the way.
49:48Sit, eat with me.
49:49No thanks.
49:50Just then, the door creaked open.
49:52The beta's secretary, Elena Sand, stepped in, pushing a heated food cart.
49:56The cart was laden with elegant dishes,
49:58and almost instantly the rich aroma began to fill the office.
50:02Alpha, your lunch is ready.
50:03I stared in shock.
50:05There were two sets of silverware on the tray.
50:07So, he hadn't been lying.
50:09He really hadn't eaten.
50:10Come on, sit.
50:11Let's eat together.
50:12Ralph shot me a quick glance and gestured toward the chair next to him.
50:15Like nothing had ever happened.
50:17Like there if between us, the shattered blood oath, had never existed at all.
50:22The proud wolf spirit inside me snarled in protest.
50:25It wanted me to reject this hollow kindness outright.
50:28I'll eat at home.
50:29Tala, have you forgotten why you're here today?
50:31And who do you represent?
50:33That pressure nearly stole the breath from my lungs.
50:35I had to swallow my pride, along with all the bitterness, and take the seat beside him.
50:41Elena remained composed, setting out the dishes with quiet efficiency before bowing slightly and
50:46slipping out of the room.
50:47My brows furrowed as I took in the food on the table.
50:50Every dish was something I had once made for him.
50:53Rosemary roast beef, to replenish the massive energy reserves his body burned through every day.
50:58Mooncap mushroom stew with devil root, to soothe the restless wolf spirit that surged in him when
51:04pack affairs overwhelmed his mind.
51:06And even the bitter green salad, a dish he always claimed to hate but which was undeniably good for
51:11his health.
51:12I had cooked these meals for him day after day for seven years.
51:15After we broke our bond I thought he'd purge everything that carried my mark.
51:19Erase me from his life, even from his plate.
51:22But he was still eating them?
51:24What are you staring at, eat?
51:25You knew I'd be here all morning and wouldn't eat?
51:28We've known each other too long, I lowering his head to slice into the roast beef.
51:32We were mates for seven years.
51:33Do you really think I don't know you well?
51:35You're the most stubborn creature I've ever met.
51:37Once you set your mind on something, you'll stay until the bitter end.
51:40The words hit me hard, like an invisible hand had clenched around my heart and given it
51:45a cruel twist.
51:46He was right, that's how I'd always been.
51:48I would wait, just like a stubborn tree rooted in place, until he came back.
51:53I used to think it was loyalty, Luna's dependence on her alpha.
51:56But maybe it was the pride of another alpha, too stubborn to walk away.
52:01My thoughts tangled like brambles.
52:03I gave my head a small shake, trying to cast them off.
52:06I cut a piece of steak and brought it to my lips.
52:08The warmth spread as it slid down my throat.
52:10It dulled the ache in my body and warmed the cold that had settled deep in my bones.
52:15The cooks can't hold a candle to you, Ralph dropped his fork, visibly annoyed after just
52:20a few bites.
52:21His face was drawn in open irritation, they can't even get the seasoning right, the timing's
52:25off.
52:25Useless.
52:26I should fire the whole lot of them, top-rated chefs that I paid a fortune to and they still
52:30can't cook like you.
52:31Really?
52:32I think it tastes good.
52:33Everything on the table, from ingredients to technique, was flawless.
52:37Yet here he was, picking it apart.
52:40If you like it so much then finish it, all of it.
52:43Without another word, Ralph strode back to his massive desk, diving into the endless stack
52:48of paperwork.
52:48I didn't realize how much I'd eaten until I finally leaned back, full and warm.
52:53Outside, dusk had settled over the city.
52:55Ralph was still working.
52:57He was buried in files, staring down problems like a lion surveying his territory.
53:01I used to find that focused look captivating.
53:04That part hadn't changed, but something inside me had.
53:07Finished?
53:08Yeah.
53:09If there's nothing else, I'll head out.
53:10I'll meet you at Nocturne Club at 8 sharp.
53:13Okay.
53:14But at least we were talking civilly.
53:16Maybe tonight wouldn't be as difficult as I'd feared.
53:18At exactly 8 in the evening I arrived at Nocturne Club.
53:21This wasn't your average human night spot.
53:24It was the exclusive gathering place for the city's supernatural elite.
53:28Tonight the club shimmered with dazzling extravagance.
53:31Magical dust floated through the air like fireflies twinkling beneath the chandeliers.
53:36The heady fragrance of roses mingled with the potent pheromones, creating a charged atmosphere.
53:41It didn't feel like a party.
53:43It felt like a grand proposal.
53:45As soon as I stepped inside, a half-demon with a sly grin sauntered up to me.
53:49His eyes raked over me with barely concealed mischief.
53:52Looks like Alpha Heming's pulling out all the stops tonight.
53:55Guess he's serious about winning someone back.
53:58Word is he rented out the entire club.
54:02If that's not a show, I don't know what is.
54:05I frowned not understanding what he meant.
54:07You don't know.
54:09Tonight's supposed to be Alpha Heming's big redemption arc.
54:13Apparently, he's throwing this whole spectacle for some woman he used to love.
54:18No idea what makes her so special.
54:22But apparently, Alpha Heming thinks she's worth it.
54:26Who is the woman he's talking about?
54:28Rationally, I knew there was no way he meant me.
54:31Ralph had long since cast me aside.
54:33Could it be Bonnie?
54:34To force me to watch as he proposed to that witch?
54:37I clenched my lips.
54:38I slipped into the darkest corner of the room.
54:41Ma'am, this is for you.
54:43When the lady of the night arrives, could you please give it to her?
54:47Before I could respond, another older server rushed over and snatched the ropes.
54:51Are you out of your mind?
54:53Don't you recognize her?
54:55You still don't recognize who the leading lady is tonight?
54:58If Alpha Heming's plan fails because of you, it's on your head.
55:03I am terribly sorry.
55:04Ma'am, he's new.
55:06Didn't he know who you were?
55:08Please forgive us.
55:09They vanished just as fast.
55:11Eyes were starting to turn.
55:13People were whispering, curious, watching.
55:16The lady of the night?
55:17What if Ralph invited me here tonight because he really is trying to win me back?
55:22My heart started to pound faster.
55:24Heat rushing up my neck to my cheeks.
55:26Panic bloomed in my chest.
55:28What would I do if...
55:29Ralph got down on one knee and asked his ex Luna to marry him again.
55:33Could I say no?
55:35And if I did, could my pack survive the fallout?
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