- 3 hours ago
Alpha, I've Learned to Unlove You
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Kale ripped my shirt open and froze.
00:02My back was covered in silver whip scars, old and new, all from silver.
00:06What the hell happened here?
00:07I misbehaved.
00:09My wolf was bad.
00:10My voice was flat, like I was talking about someone else's pain.
00:13He stared at the scars he'd never seen.
00:15Then he said-
00:16You finally get it.
00:16You're not Luna material.
00:18He sent me to that camp three years ago, to train me into a proper Luna.
00:22I spent three years locked inside that Luna training camp.
00:26Now, I stopped loving him through the mate bond, just as he wanted.
00:30Then he came running back and said-
00:32I regret it.
00:34For eight years, the mate bond kept me by Kale Ashfield's side.
00:38Everyone said I was addicted to him.
00:40I was so drawn by the pull that I'd run off any she-wolf who got close to him.
00:46Whatever it took.
00:47Once, I used my future Luna status to make one of them leave Kale.
00:53The she-wolf laughed in my face.
00:58Being Kale's mate means an endless supply of power.
01:02Why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic threat?
01:06Then that she-wolf faked a fall down a flight of stairs.
01:13She forged a fear scent to make everyone think I attacked her.
01:18Kale thought I pushed her, and I ended up being sent to a Luna training camp by him.
01:24Other she-wolves went there to be trained into proper Lunas.
01:27I was sent there because Kale wanted me to stop clinging to him through the mate bond.
01:33In the end, I succeeded, only for him to tell me he regretted it.
01:38The moment I stout of the Luna training camp, I saw an Audi parked there.
01:43It looked totally out of place.
01:46I glanced at it and lowered my head, preparing to walk away.
01:52The person who got of the car called out to me.
01:55It was Kale.
01:57He had grown more mature in the last three years.
02:00I glanced at him once, then looked away.
02:02The staff at the camp taught us that staring at an Alpha was disobedience, especially at our own Alpha.
02:10Yes, after three years, I had been completely reformed.
02:16Kale told me to get in.
02:18I did so, sitting quietly in the back seat.
02:21I kept my head down, staring at my lap and not moving a messle.
02:26Kale sat beside me.
02:29I could feel the weight of his intense gaze.
02:32His Alpha scent made me tremble.
02:34But I couldn't move.
02:36The car was dead quiet.
02:38I held my breath, scared to make a peep.
02:40But a cough escaped me anyway.
02:48I've had this cough ever since the camp.
02:51The cough from the camp B-Dibs never healed.
02:54Kale glanced at me.
02:56Frowned.
02:57Then he turned away and rolled down the window, as if my cough disgusted him.
03:04The car pulled up at the Ashford pack house.
03:07Kale's grandmother, Maeve Ashford, lived there.
03:11The former Luna.
03:13It hit me why Kale had come to get me.
03:16Today, as I remembered, marked her 80th birthday.
03:21The pack gathering.
03:23Maeve had always believed I was Kale's true mate.
03:26The only person who did.
03:29Also the one who signed the Luna training camp admission order as former Luna.
03:37He got out of the car, didn't wait for me.
03:40I hesitated for a second, then blustered out,
03:43Um, Alpha.
03:46I didn't bring a gift.
03:57Follow me.
03:58He walked through the door without looking back.
04:01My feet stopped at the steps.
04:03I didn't want to go in.
04:05Sarah!
04:06My heart was pounding out of my chest.
04:09From fear.
04:11Sarah!
04:13You're back!
04:15Come in, dear!
04:17Maeve stood at the front door, her arms half open, waiting for me.
04:26I walked toward her, forcing my legs not to freeze up.
04:30Hello, Maeve.
04:33Sarah, honey, why are you being so distant?
04:38You're not mad at me for what happened, are you?
04:41Maeve stroked my hair, her eyes full of affection.
04:44I shook my head.
04:47Her touch felt warm, but it also reminded me of the last time she'd held me.
04:53Three years ago, in a pack council hallway.
04:58If Maeve hadn't threatened to harm herself to save me,
05:01I probably would have been banished from the pack.
05:05Instead, she saved me from hell.
05:08But Luna training camp was just a different one.
05:12She let us inside.
05:14The dining room stretched before me.
05:17Long table.
05:19Dim yellow light.
05:21Three place settings.
05:22Just like the dining hall at Luna training camp.
05:27I stopped at the doorway.
05:29My feet just wouldn't move.
05:31Sarah?
05:33Come sit, honey.
05:36Maeve's voice was gentle,
05:38but I couldn't make myself step forward.
05:41Dinner tables were dangerous places.
05:46I sat down at the very edge of the chair.
05:50Kale took the seat across from me.
05:53Maeve at the head.
05:55The spaghetti was already on the table.
06:03The rules from Luna training camp ran through my head.
06:07Head down.
06:09No sound.
06:11No reaching for anything else.
06:14Then I started eating as fast as I could.
06:19Serafina!
06:21Serafina!
06:23Yes, sir!
06:25I set down my fork and shot to my feet.
06:28The chair scraped the floor behind me.
06:31No one moved.
06:33Kale's hand was frozen mid-air,
06:35still holding his fork.
06:38Maeve's wine glass hovered halfway to her lips.
06:41I stared at the silverware I'd lined up straight.
06:45Then at my plate.
06:47It was empty and clean.
06:50I just stood there, waiting.
06:53Someone was supposed to tell me what to do next.
06:56But no one said anything.
06:58The silence was worse than any punishment.
07:01Then it hit me.
07:03I wasn't at the camp anymore.
07:06My hands started shaking.
07:09You scared her, you big idiot!
07:12Maeve's voice cracked.
07:14She set down her glass and stared at Kale,
07:17her eyes wet.
07:19Neither of them looked at me.
07:20Kale's jaw was tight.
07:24He didn't defend himself.
07:26Sit down, Sera.
07:28You're home now, sweetie.
07:30Just relax.
07:31I sat.
07:34But I couldn't eat another bite.
07:36Something about the way they looked at me,
07:38or didn't look at me,
07:41told me they'd seen it.
07:43The girl who walked in three years ago was gone.
07:47And the one sitting here now
07:49was someone they didn't recognize.
07:55Grandma was talking to you.
07:57Why weren't you listening?
08:00Kale's tone was sharp.
08:01I couldn't tell if he was mad I'd ignored Mae,
08:04or just ticked off about getting swatted.
08:06I'm sorry, Maeve.
08:07I was just very hungry.
08:09I didn't hear you.
08:11I gave her an apologetic look.
08:15The trainers at the camp always drilled it into us.
08:18Apologies have to be sincere.
08:21Only I knew the truth.
08:23It wasn't hunger.
08:25It was fear.
08:26Fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough,
08:29or for leaving food on my plate.
08:32I vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food.
08:36I'd heard her,
08:37but I just couldn't react fast enough.
08:40So Kale called out to me.
08:43By the time dinner was over,
08:46my forehead was covered in a light sweat.
08:49I wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room,
08:52or my own anxiety.
08:54Three years in that camp had taught me one thing.
08:58Never let your guard down.
09:00Not even at a dinner table.
09:04After dinner,
09:05I returned Grant Turn to Grandpa's old house.
09:09Thank you for the ride.
09:10I gave Kale a small bow.
09:13Maeve had wanted me to stay the night,
09:15but I'd turned her down.
09:17I didn't want any more contact with them than I had to.
09:20So I'd asked Kale to drive me home.
09:23Kale frowned.
09:25You really want to stay here?
09:26I glanced back at the house.
09:28It hadn't been touched in three years.
09:30Now, it was completely overgrown with weeds.
09:34But I nodded.
09:35I had nowhere else to go anyway.
09:37I was flat broke,
09:39and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago.
09:41The Luna training camp had given us uniforms,
09:45so these clothes had never even been worn out.
09:49I bent down to pull some weeds.
09:52The little critters living there scurried away.
09:55I saw cockroaches, mice, and a snake,
09:59coiled in the corner,
10:01too lazy to move.
10:03Once upon a time,
10:05I would have jumped straight into Kale's arms.
10:08Now, I just stared at them calmly.
10:10I just stared at them calmly
10:12and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away.
10:17Kale pulled me back toward the car.
10:21What's wrong?
10:22I didn't even realize he was still there.
10:24Didn't you see that snake?
10:26Oh, right.
10:27I'd forgotten Kale hated reptiles.
10:30I saw it.
10:31It's fine.
10:34I'll just shoo it away with a stick.
10:37If it bothers you,
10:38you can just leave.
10:41I caught myself reassuring him.
10:43I reached for the door handle,
10:45ready to hop out.
10:47But Kale locked the doors and drove off.
10:49I quickly buckled my seatbelt.
10:56Where are you taking me?
10:57He didn't say a word.
10:59I didn't dare ask again.
11:00He took me to his private apartment.
11:02He closed the door behind us without a word.
11:06I couldn't leave.
11:07It was a keypad lock.
11:09He went straight to the shower,
11:11probably trying to wash off the creeps
11:13from seeing all those critters.
11:14I sat straight on the living room couch.
11:18About an hour later,
11:19Kale came downstairs in pajamas,
11:21his hair still wet.
11:23I knew better than to stare.
11:27Stay here until your place is cleaned up.
11:29You can sleep here tonight.
11:31I thought about it for a second,
11:33then nodded.
11:36That house was a mess.
11:38Tackling it all alone
11:40would have kept me going way past midnight.
11:42He walked over.
11:44I stood up and stepped aside without thinking.
11:47Kale grabbed my chin,
11:49forcing me to look at him.
11:51So you're over me?
11:52His expression was questioning.
11:55Yes.
11:57I didn't hesitate for a second.
11:59Any delay would have felt like an insult
12:01to everything I'd been through.
12:03That night,
12:05the nightmare returned.
12:07In my dream,
12:08countless eyes stared back at me,
12:10filled with hatred,
12:12disgust,
12:13and contempt.
12:15Every single one of them belonged to Kale.
12:19The next day,
12:20when Kale left for work,
12:22I asked him to drop me off downtown.
12:25He didn't seem to mind,
12:27as long as I wasn't in his way.
12:29I hesitated in front of a florist's hiring sign.
12:33I didn't have a college degree.
12:35I never finished college,
12:36because Kale had me sent to that Luna training camp.
12:39Hunting for a job?
12:41The shop owner noticed me staring at the sign,
12:43but not coming in,
12:44so he finally asked.
12:46I nodded.
12:47The owner looked to be in his mid-twenties,
12:49and he seemed pretty nice.
12:51The pay was $3,000 monthly,
12:53and no diploma was required.
12:55I just had to be on time to help out at the shop every day.
12:59I asked the owner for a $1,000 advance.
13:03Money makes the world go round.
13:05I needed it everything.
13:07My official start date was the next day,
13:09and surprised Demer Simmonds.
13:11He trusted me.
13:13I spent $400 on a used electric scooter from a local shop.
13:17Once upon a time,
13:18$400 wooden dollars wouldn't have meant snot to me.
13:22Now, I had to haggle just to get it for that price.
13:25It's not like I was an orphan or anything.
13:28Three years ago, my parents disowned me,
13:31cast me out of the pack.
13:33The only person who'd ever really loved me,
13:36Grandpa, was gone a long time ago.
13:40If he was still here,
13:42I probably never would have ended up like this.
13:48I rode the scooter back to Grandpa's old house.
13:51The weeds outside were already gone.
13:53Kale must have sent someone to clear them.
13:56Inside, everything was covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
14:02It took me four hours just to make the place halfway livable.
14:05Most of the stuff inside was broken beyond fixing.
14:09I was trying to carry out the junk when I tripped.
14:12Everything went flying all over the floor.
14:14I was a mess.
14:16My knee hurt,
14:17and I was covered in dirt.
14:19I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes stop in front of me.
14:22I didn't even have to look up to know who they belonged to.
14:26I got up slowly,
14:27my knee throbbing with pain.
14:31Alpha Ashford,
14:33can I help you with something?
14:35I'd gone from calling him Kale to Alpha Ashford,
14:39putting him at arm's length with his title.
14:41It was better this way,
14:43keeping my distance.
14:45I never wanted to go back to that hellhole ever again.
14:49Kale's brow was frowed.
14:50Grandma sent me to check on how you're doing.
14:53Please tell her I'm fine,
14:54and she doesn't have to worry about me.
14:56I crouched back down to clean up the mess.
14:59That fall had just made everything worse.
15:04Kale grabbed me by the back of my collar.
15:06With a tear,
15:07my shirt split right open.
15:09It was the same shirt worn yesterday,
15:11and the same one I'd had three years ago.
15:14The fabric was so thin,
15:16it tore almost instantly.
15:18Alpha Ashford,
15:20have some respect!
15:22My voice was sharp with anger
15:24as I clutched the torn fabric.
15:27Thank God it was only the back that tore,
15:29but it was my only shirt.
15:30I hadn't had time to buy new clothes,
15:33and now how was I supposed to go shopping?
15:36But Kale's eyes were fixed on the scars on my back.
15:39What the hell happened here?
15:41I misbehaved.
15:43My wolf was bad.
15:45My voice was flat,
15:46like I was talking about someone else's pain.
15:51You finally get it.
15:54You're not Luna material.
15:55He walked out.
15:59I glanced over my shoulder.
16:01My back was covered in scars,
16:03old and new,
16:04all from silver whips.
16:06The newest ones were probably from a few days ago.
16:09I couldn't even remember exactly which day.
16:12They hadn't even fully healed yet.
16:17I found a dusty shirt in the closet,
16:20shook it off,
16:21and slipped it on right away.
16:23Pretty soon,
16:24I felt an itch on my back,
16:26right over the wounds.
16:28They probably got infected.
16:31Of course,
16:32just as I was heading out to buy new clothes,
16:34Kale came back.
16:35Was he back to laugh at me?
16:37Change into these.
16:39He tossed a bag at me.
16:41I refused.
16:42He had a she-wolf lover.
16:46It felt wrong for him to be buying me clothes.
16:50But it'd been three years.
16:52Maybe Valeria was his chosen mate now.
16:55Not that I cared.
16:57Kale pulled me roughly back inside the house.
17:00I sat down and did what he told me.
17:03He cleaned the wounds on my back
17:05with antiseptic and rubbing alcohol.
17:07It stang,
17:08but I didn't make a sound.
17:09It was nothing next to what I'd been through.
17:12His hands were rough,
17:14but strangely careful.
17:15Like he was trying to undo something
17:17he couldn't name.
17:21Kale finished cleaning the wounds on my back.
17:24He helped pull my shirt down.
17:26His fingers brushed my skin.
17:28I flinched and stepped back.
17:30Kale pointed at the mark
17:32between my shoulder blades.
17:33What's this?
17:35This one was different from the others.
17:37Not a whip scar.
17:39A dark tokam.
17:41Carved to the skin like a burned into my flesh.
17:43This mark.
17:44What is it?
17:45He frowned.
17:47Who did this to you?
17:49My hand moved to cover the mark.
17:52I don't know.
17:53He stared at me.
17:54You don't know what happened to your own body.
17:56His voice was flat.
17:58Like he'd caught me in a lie.
18:00I woke up one morning and the mark was there.
18:02That's all I know.
18:04Kale looked at me for a long moment.
18:06Then he let out a short breath.
18:07Why did they do this to you?
18:09Because I misbehaved.
18:13But I'm good now.
18:15What did you do?
18:16One of the trainers caught me
18:17after I dropped food on the table.
18:20Kale frowned.
18:21He studied my face.
18:23Trying to decide if I was telling the truth.
18:26Elsewhere.
18:28Where else did they hurt you?
18:30I shook my head.
18:31I curled up when they hit me.
18:33My back was the only part they could reach.
18:39It's getting late.
18:40You should go now.
18:42I needed him out of this house.
18:44I'll crash here for the next...
18:46No.
18:47The word came out before I could stop it.
18:52Kale turned and stared at me.
18:54He looked like...
18:56He couldn't believe what I'd just said.
18:59You can't stay here.
19:00My voice was shaking.
19:02My whole body was shaking.
19:04He took a step towards my bedroom.
19:06I moved between him and the door.
19:09I didn't think.
19:10My body just did it.
19:12Move.
19:13No.
19:14He reached for my arm.
19:15I yanked it back so hard I hit the wall.
19:18My chest was heaving.
19:20My hands came up.
19:22Then I realized what I was doing.
19:24At the camp, if you raised your hands, they beat you harder.
19:28They said you were resisting.
19:30Kale stopped walking.
19:32He stared at my shaking hands.
19:34At the way I was pressed against the wall.
19:37Sarah.
19:38Calm down.
19:39I bolted.
19:41I ran into Grandpa's room and locked the door.
19:43Pressed my back against it.
19:46Listened.
19:47No footsteps.
19:48I slid down to the floor.
19:50My legs still wouldn't stop shaking.
19:54Late that night, I woke up in Grandpa's bed.
19:58My leg was throbbing.
20:00The knee I'd scraped when I tripped over the junk was swollen and hot.
20:04Then the pain moved up my back.
20:06Every wound Kale had cleaned was burning.
20:09I touched my forehead.
20:11My skin was on fire.
20:12I tried to stand.
20:14My legs folded and I hit the floor.
20:17The dust made me cough.
20:19At the camp, if you got sick, you stayed on the floor.
20:23No one came.
20:24The camp staff said sick people were just looking for attention.
20:28I didn't call for help.
20:30I laid there until the room started spinning.
20:34Until I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed.
20:38A shadow moved toward me.
20:41Then it covered me.
20:43When I opened my eyes again, the ceiling was white and the air stanked of bleach.
20:49An IV was taped to my arm.
20:51I was in the pack hospital.
20:54I didn't know how I got here.
20:56I pulled the IV out.
20:58Blood ran down my wrist.
21:00I re-reached for my shoes.
21:02Where are you off to?
21:04Kale was slumped in a chair.
21:06Next to my bed.
21:07His eyes read.
21:09I got a job.
21:10I start today.
21:12Do you even know you're running a fever?
21:14He sounded more tired than angry.
21:17Don't worry, Alpha Ashford.
21:22I'll pay you back for the medical bills as soon as I get my first paycheck.
21:26I slipped out before he could say anything else.
21:30I got on my scooter and made it to the flower shop just in time.
21:35The front window was covered in red hearts.
21:39A sign read,
21:41Valentine's Day Special.
21:42The flower shop was packed.
21:45I worked the register.
21:53Valeria was arm in arm with Kale, laughing.
21:57I froze.
21:59Val, Kale.
22:00The owner walked over and shook Kale's hand.
22:03The owner was Declan Cross, Valeria's brother.
22:06I had been working for her brother.
22:09Valeria spotted me.
22:10Her eyes went wide.
22:12She flinched and buried her face in Kale's chest.
22:16Cliffy, what is she doing here?
22:18She's the one who pushed me down the stairs.
22:20She pointed a shaking finger at me, her voice trembling.
22:24Declan stared at me, his face twisted with the disgust.
22:28He grabbed my arm and shoved me out the door.
22:31I hit the ground.
22:33Kale stood in the doorway and watched.
22:36He didn't move.
22:37I pushed myself up, looked at him.
22:40I looked embarrassed.
22:42Maybe he couldn't stand it any longer.
22:45He threw me some money and turned away.
22:48I didn't want to lose this job.
22:51Fortunately, a restaurant hired me as a dishwasher.
22:55A few days later, Valeria came to that restaurant.
22:59She found me.
23:00Then she made sure I saw her every time when she came.
23:04I stayed in the back and scrubbed harder.
23:07I thought if I kept my head down, she would leave me alone.
23:11But Valeria wasn't done with me yet.
23:15I was carrying clean plates out to the dining area.
23:21Well, look who it is.
23:23The Silvercrest Pack Andrus?
23:25Rumanus.
23:26Oh wait, just a pathetic little shadow nobody wants around.
23:29A few girls blocked my way.
23:31My old college classmates.
23:33Valeria's friends.
23:34Valeria stood behind them watching.
23:37No innocent act this time.
23:38I tried to walk past them.
23:40Did I say you could leave?
23:42One of them grabbed my hair and yanked hard.
23:44The plates crashed to the floor.
23:46The whole restaurant went quiet.
23:48All I could think about was how much those plates would cost me.
23:51What's going on here?
23:52Kale's voice.
23:53He was standing behind me.
23:55Before I could say anything, At Valeria spoke up.
23:59Her voice soft and shaking.
24:01Kale, we were just trying to make up with Sarah.
24:05Catch up a little.
24:06But then she lost her temper.
24:09And tried to hit me with a plate.
24:13The manager rushed over and stared at the broken plates.
24:18Are you out of your mind?
24:19I opened my mouth.
24:21Don't.
24:23Just don't.
24:24He pointed at the door.
24:26Get out of my restaurant.
24:28Now.
24:30Valeria's friends smirked behind him.
24:32One of them gave me a little wave.
24:34Valeria was still tucked against Kale's chest.
24:37Her shoulders shaking.
24:39The perfect victim.
24:41I waited for Kale to say something.
24:43He didn't.
24:44He only cared about comforting Valeria.
24:47He didn't even look at me.
24:49I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cash.
24:53Handed it to the manager.
24:55It left me with ten ten dollars.
24:57I walked past Kale on my way out.
25:05Outside, the cold air hit my face.
25:09Ten dollars.
25:10I could buy herbs to sever the mate bond.
25:13That night, the full moon hung low outside Grandpa's window.
25:18I knelt in the moonlight and prayed to the moon goddess.
25:21I reject Kale Ashford as my mate.
25:24I sever this bond.
25:26Perhaps my prayer was too disrespectful to my alpha.
25:29The mate bond tore through me like a blade of fire through my soul.
25:34I curled up on the floor.
25:37Convulsing.
25:38I lost track of time.
25:41Right as my eyes closed for good,
25:43I thought I saw Kale standing in the doorway.
25:47When is she going to wake up?
25:49She's been asleep for days.
25:51When I came to,
25:53it seemed I heard Kale's voice.
25:56Why was his wolf still calling to me?
26:00The rejection hadn't taken.
26:02I'd tried to set the bond,
26:04but Kale hadn't accepted it.
26:06It wasn't until a team of healers began examining me that I understood.
26:11Kale had rushed me here.
26:13Trying to sever the mate bond had nearly killed me.
26:17I'd been given a second chance.
26:19That figure I saw hadn't been an illusion.
26:23It was him.
26:25He'd heard me reject him.
26:27Are you sending me back?
26:28I looked at his his darkened expression.
26:31The healer says your wolf soul is weakening.
26:34Kale avoided my question.
26:36I nodded,
26:37but that wasn't the point.
26:39All I cared about
26:40was whether I had to be sent back.
26:42Why didn't you tell me?
26:44Would you have believed me if I had?
26:47Telling him would only have made him think
26:49I was making excuses to leave that camp.
26:54I had reached out to him.
26:56Each Luna candidate
26:58was granted a scheduled pack link to family twice a year.
27:02During my first six months,
27:03I called him once.
27:04I'm sick.
27:05I cough up blood sometimes.
27:07And they hit us.
27:08Can I please come home?
27:10I promise I won't bother you anymore.
27:13What did he say back then?
27:15Find a better excuse next time.
27:17Then he hung up.
27:18After that call,
27:19I was beaten again.
27:20I never called him after that.
27:22Why did I cough up blood?
27:26Their blows had landed on my back.
27:30Over and over.
27:32The internal damage
27:33eventually affected my stomach and lungs.
27:36Seeing Kale fall silence,
27:38I knew he still didn't believe me.
27:41I lowered my head
27:42and didn't ask again
27:44whether he'd send me back.
27:45Should I be sent back,
27:47I won't leave alive.
27:51And of a place like that,
27:53no one would notice
27:55whether a person was breathing.
27:58I thought once I got out,
28:00I could start over.
28:03But I was wrong.
28:05My peace was always shattered
28:07whenever Kale came into the picture.
28:12The at-healer called Kale out,
28:15saying some test results were ready.
28:17The door swung open
28:19as Kale strode back in.
28:22He yanked the blanket aside,
28:24then my hospital gown.
28:25The dark totem
28:27on my shoulder blades
28:28was exposed.
28:30This mark.
28:31What is this curse?
28:33His eyes were bloodshot,
28:35a vein throbbing
28:36on his forehead
28:37as he stared at me.
28:39He looked terrifying.
28:42Just like the camp trainers.
28:46They had that same look
28:47in their eyes.
28:48That look
28:50always came right
28:51before a silver whip.
28:52I pulled the blanket up
28:54and hid underneath it.
28:55The bed shifted
28:57as Kale sat down beside me.
29:00He gently tugged
29:01at the covers.
29:02Sarah, come out.
29:04You'll suffocate.
29:05His voice softened
29:07as if he'd realized
29:08he'd scared me.
29:10Promise you won't hit me?
29:12My voice was muffled
29:13under the blanket.
29:15Only after he promised
29:16did I poke my head.
29:19He asked again,
29:20patient this time.
29:22What is this curse
29:23on your back?
29:24Who did this?
29:26I shook my head.
29:27I don't know.
29:29Kale took out his phone
29:30and said he would
29:31investigate this thoroughly.
29:35Ever since
29:36learning about my
29:37wolf soul weakening,
29:38we Kale had barely
29:39left my side.
29:41It was as if he was afraid
29:42I might try something again.
29:44But I saw that
29:45the Luna training camp
29:46had been shut down
29:47on television.
29:49No doubt it was
29:50Kale's doing.
29:51It claimed to shape
29:52proper Lunas
29:53for the packs.
29:54Behind closed doors,
29:56it carved cursed totems
29:57into their skin
29:58and called it discipline.
30:00Did he do this
30:01to you too?
30:02Kale pointed at the screen.
30:04The man being interviewed
30:05was the infamous
30:06at-director,
30:07spoke excitedly
30:08to the reporter.
30:10I was helping them.
30:12They should be thankful.
30:14Without my guidance,
30:15do you think
30:16they'd be so compliant now?
30:18Go ask their alphas.
30:19Their Lunas
30:20are perfectly
30:21obedient now,
30:22aren't they?
30:23Their cursed totems
30:24were my fair compensation.
30:26They made the Lunas
30:27obedient.
30:28My method was simple.
30:29Add something
30:30to their bedtime milk.
30:33Then carve the cursed totem
30:35between their shoulder blades.
30:38I'd watch them wake up
30:39as the totem
30:41burned into their skin.
30:44The man grew more
30:45angiomated as he spoke.
30:46I felt a wave,
30:47a wave of dread,
30:48of dread
30:49seep into my bones.
30:50The bloody scene
30:51felt like it had
30:52happened yesterday.
30:54That night,
30:55I went to bed
30:56as usual.
30:57Four lights out,
30:59we all had to drink
30:59the milk the attenders brought.
31:02Refusal meant a beating.
31:04In my sleep,
31:05I felt like
31:06I was being restrained.
31:08Then,
31:08slowly,
31:09a burning pain
31:11carved between
31:12my shoulder blades.
31:13My eyes flew open
31:15to see the director's
31:16horrifying face
31:18hanging over me.
31:19It wasn't a dream.
31:21He was staring
31:22intently
31:24at my shoulder blades.
31:26The pain made me black out.
31:29I didn't wake
31:30until the next day.
31:32He threatened me.
31:34If I ever spoke a word,
31:36the curse would fully activate
31:37and my wolf soul
31:38would be destroyed.
31:40No wonder
31:40so many people there
31:42moved stiffly.
31:43And no one
31:45ever said a thing.
31:47Sarah!
31:48Kale called me.
31:49I stared at him,
31:51my gaze empty.
31:52Ah!
31:54Then a mouthful of blood
31:56and spilled over.
31:57I collapsed.
32:01I had no idea
32:02how long I was out.
32:05When I woke up,
32:07I was still connected
32:08to a ventilator.
32:09I shifted my fingers,
32:11trying to wake Kale.
32:14His weight was resting
32:15on my hand
32:16and it had gone nirm.
32:19You're awake.
32:20How do you feel?
32:21You were in shock,
32:22did you realize?
32:23But I was in shock.
32:24How would I know?
32:25But was this really Kale?
32:27His jaw was shadowed
32:29with stubble,
32:30his eyes streeped
32:31with red.
32:32This wasn't the same
32:33cool collected man
32:34I remembered.
32:36I tried to speak,
32:37but had no strength left.
32:39I just lay still,
32:41let the healers and Kale
32:42do what they needed to do.
32:44I learned I'd been
32:45unconscious for four days.
32:47Kale had stayed by my side
32:49the whole time.
32:52That afternoon,
32:53a at-healer
32:54removed the ventilator.
32:56I could talk again.
32:58What's the prognosis?
33:00Weeks?
33:01Months?
33:02I knew my time
33:03was running out.
33:05Kale's hand,
33:06which had been holding
33:07a spoon to feed me
33:08broth,
33:08paused.
33:09After a long moment,
33:11The curse is devouring
33:13your wolf soul.
33:15Six months.
33:19Maybe less.
33:21A faint smile of relief
33:23touched my lips.
33:26Good.
33:27I could get to see
33:28Grandpa soon.
33:29The curse?
33:30I phrased it as a question,
33:32but I was sure.
33:33Even after,
33:34I'd learned to behave,
33:36and the beatings
33:37mostly stopped.
33:39I kept coughing up blood.
33:41The curse only grew worse.
33:46Kale nodded.
33:48Can I get back to work?
33:50Is there any way
33:52you could keep
33:52your chosen she-wolf
33:53from interfering?
33:55If they'd just leave me alone,
33:57I could work in peace.
34:00I still owe Declan
34:01one thousand dollars.
34:02After all.
34:04She's not my chosen mate.
34:07I didn't care
34:08what Valeria was.
34:10I just needed her
34:12to stay away.
34:14I started a small street stall
34:17on a decent block,
34:18selling burritos.
34:19I had planned
34:20to find a regular job,
34:22but Kale forbade it.
34:23When he set his mind
34:24to something,
34:25no one could change it.
34:27He offered me to options,
34:29start my own small business
34:30or stay home.
34:31Doing something I chose,
34:33with the time I had left,
34:35was a good idea.
34:36I stood nervously
34:37behind my cart,
34:38worried no customers
34:39would come.
34:40The location was close
34:42to campus,
34:43steady foot traffic
34:43from students
34:44and professionals.
34:45It was a fully licensed area
34:47for street vendors
34:48to operate.
34:49Best of all,
34:50it was close
34:51to Grandpa's house.
34:52Hey,
34:53how much for a burrito?
34:54I was lost in thought
34:55when a guy with a bright,
34:56easy smile
34:57walked up to my stall.
34:58I looked up
34:59and met his clear eyes.
35:01He had faint dimples,
35:02wearing a basketball jersey,
35:04a ball in his hand
35:05as if he'd just come
35:06from a game.
35:07I was caught off guard
35:08for a second.
35:09He spoke again
35:10before I came out
35:11of my trance.
35:12For some reason,
35:14looking into his eyes
35:15didn't make me uneasy
35:16at all.
35:17Usually,
35:18any eye contact
35:19filled me with dread
35:20so many pairs of eyes
35:21haunted my nights.
35:24Would you like to try one?
35:25It's free.
35:27Why free?
35:28Is it because
35:29I'm so good looking?
35:30He grinned
35:31and rubbed his chin playfully.
35:33His playful tone
35:34made my face grow warm.
35:36No,
35:37it's my first day.
35:38If it turns out,
35:40I'm palatable.
35:42I couldn't possibly
35:43take your money.
35:44I'd practiced at home
35:46over and over,
35:46but doing it for real
35:48felt completely different.
35:50Oh,
35:50so I'm your guinea pig.
35:51I thought I'd scared him off.
35:54No!
35:55Just kidding.
35:57Go ahead.
35:58I'll eat it
35:58however it turns out.
36:02He laughed warmly.
36:04Most vendors
36:05could make one
36:06in three to five minutes.
36:07My clumsy attempt
36:08took nearly seven.
36:10The outside was crispy,
36:12though not burnt.
36:16Maybe I should make you
36:17another one?
36:18This is perfect.
36:20He took the wrapped burrito
36:21and bit into it.
36:24It's great.
36:25Seriously,
36:26this is how it should be.
36:27Nice and crispy.
36:28His compliment
36:28made me smile.
36:30So,
36:31how much?
36:31You're not gonna charge me
36:33an arm and a leg,
36:33are you?
36:34He widened his eyes
36:35in alarm.
36:36No,
36:37this one's complimentary.
36:40A lucky start
36:41for my first day.
36:42As he turned to leave,
36:43he glanced back
36:44and waved.
36:45I'm at
36:46Finn Whitmer,
36:47by the way.
36:48I watched him walk away.
36:49It struck me then
36:50how distant
36:51my own college days felt.
36:53If I hadn't been
36:54so reckless back then,
36:55I would have graduated
36:56a year ago.
36:59As the day went on,
37:00more customers came.
37:02I was almost too busy
37:03to keep up.
37:05But I got quicker
37:06and more confident
37:07with each one.
37:08I didn't pack up
37:09until I'd run out
37:10of ingredients.
37:11I'll drive you home.
37:13Kale pulled up beside me
37:14in his car.
37:15It's fine.
37:16I have my scooter.
37:17I nodded toward
37:19my scooter parked nearby.
37:21It's getting chilly tonight.
37:23You'll catch a cold.
37:24I won't die from it.
37:26Serafina,
37:27how long are you going
37:28to keep fighting me
37:28on everything?
37:29Kale caught my wrist
37:30as I started to walk away.
37:32Alpha Ashford,
37:33do not forget.
37:34I was the one
37:36who attacked your Luna.
37:37I'm the one to blame.
37:39In that moment,
37:41to cut any last tie
37:42between us...
37:44Sarah, stop lying.
37:47I know the truth now.
37:49She fell on her own.
37:51Suddenly,
37:52his arms came around me
37:54from behind.
37:56My body stiffened
37:58in his hold.
37:59So he knew.
38:00Hadn't he told me
38:01to protect Valeria?
38:03So you were protecting her
38:04while I bore all the blame?
38:07No.
38:09I was afraid
38:10once you knew the truth.
38:11You'd hate me
38:12for not believing you sooner.
38:13I was wrong.
38:15I'm sorry.
38:16His arms tightened around me.
38:19I only found out
38:20two days ago.
38:22I went to tell Valeria
38:23to stay away from you
38:24and we argued.
38:27She let it slip.
38:28I could no longer
38:29hold back my tears.
38:31They fell onto
38:32the back of his hand.
38:34At least I would clear
38:35my name before I died.
38:37Don't cry, Sarah.
38:38Sarah.
38:39He released me,
38:40bending down
38:40to wipe my tears.
38:41I sobbed
38:43uncontrollably
38:44in his arms.
38:45For a moment,
38:46neither of us spoke.
38:48Three years of silence.
38:49Three years of pain
38:50I'd swallowed
38:51without a word.
38:52And now,
38:53finally,
38:54someone believed me.
38:57Kale,
38:59here.
38:59I pointed to my chest.
39:01My wolf doesn't recognize you anymore.
39:04Kale,
39:05if I could,
39:06I'd wish we had never met.
39:07I wiped my tears
39:09and gave a faint smile.
39:11This is the last time
39:12I'll call you that.
39:14From now on,
39:15let's each live our own lives.
39:20I don't want to be
39:21your Luna anymore.
39:24And I want the mate bond gone.
39:27I'd treat this as a goodbye,
39:28a proper end
39:29to those eight years
39:30I spent loving him.
39:34I could never forget
39:35the three years
39:36in that camp.
39:37And the person
39:38who'd sent me there
39:39was Kale himself.
39:43Sarah.
39:44He reached for me,
39:46but I stepped back.
39:48Alpha Ashford,
39:50please don't derp me again.
39:52I want my remaining time
39:54to be peaceful.
39:57With that,
39:59I left.
40:00I drove my scooter home.
40:03Kale's car
40:04followed at a distance
40:06in the rear-view mirror.
40:07I ignored him.
40:10I went to my stall
40:11as usual every day.
40:13Kale watched from a distance.
40:15I just ignored him.
40:17Hey, I'm back.
40:19Brought my classmates
40:20to try your burritos.
40:21It was Finn,
40:23my first customer.
40:24I glanced at the two boys
40:26behind him
40:26and gave a slight nod
40:27in greeting.
40:28What kind would you like?
40:30A real sense of ease
40:31washed over me,
40:33something I hadn't felt
40:34in a long time.
40:35Whatever you recommend.
40:37Maybe one of each?
40:38I'll take some back
40:39for my roommates too.
40:40One of his buddies said,
40:41eyeing the ingredients.
40:43So, how much?
40:44You didn't let me pay
40:45last time.
40:47You've got to charge me today,
40:48or I won't come back.
40:50I hadn't said
40:51I wouldn't charge him.
40:52I still needed
40:53to pay back my debt.
40:55Six dollars each.
40:56Cash only, though.
40:58If you don't have any,
41:00you can get change
41:00at the store down the block.
41:02I pointed to the sign
41:03on my cart
41:04and then toward the store
41:05down the block.
41:06Wait right here.
41:08I'll be back.
41:10I watched Finn
41:11walk away inside.
41:13The young seemed
41:14so full of life.
41:15It was easy to forget
41:17I was only a year
41:18older than him.
41:18Yet my life
41:20felt worlds apart.
41:24Hey, isn't he good looking?
41:26And he's single.
41:28Maybe give him a shot?
41:30His classmates
41:31clearly thought
41:32my glance at Finn
41:33meant more than it did.
41:35I shook my head
41:37and stayed silent.
41:38I was making around
41:40three to four hundred dollars
41:41a day.
41:42Soon, I had enough
41:43to repay my debt.
41:45Declan seemed to have
41:46been waiting for me.
41:47He looked different.
41:49Guilty, almost.
41:51I heard what really happened.
41:54Valeria admitted
41:55the truth to Kale.
41:58I'm sorry for what
41:59I did to you.
42:00I didn't reply.
42:03I placed the money
42:04on the counter
42:05and left.
42:08Finally,
42:09I was free
42:10of that burden.
42:12Why did Finn keep
42:13coming to my stall?
42:14Did he really love
42:15burritos that much?
42:17Do you really like
42:18burritos that much?
42:19I finally asked.
42:21No.
42:22Why?
42:23Taking another bite.
42:25Why do you come every day?
42:27Were you short on money
42:28for meals?
42:29But he didn't look like
42:30he was struggling.
42:31Your scent makes me feel calm.
42:33Between bites.
42:34I didn't fully process
42:36his words.
42:37Not until he swallowed,
42:38leaned closer,
42:39and looked at me seriously.
42:41Be my chosen mate?
42:43I froze for a second,
42:45then shook my head.
42:46I'm still bound to Kale
42:47through the mate bond.
42:48The rejection didn't take.
42:49I tried,
42:50but he didn't accept it.
42:51I took his hand
42:52and placed it
42:53on my shoulder blade.
42:54There's a curse totem here.
42:55Then,
42:55I pointed to my chest.
42:57The curse is devouring
42:58my wolf soul.
42:59He shrugged,
43:00unfazed.
43:01I know.
43:02I've always known.
43:03How could he know?
43:05Reading my surprise.
43:06I'll tell you later.
43:08His hand lingered
43:09gently on my shoulder bead.
43:11Did it hurt?
43:12My eyes stung.
43:14No one had ever
43:15asked me that before.
43:16Not Kale.
43:17Not my parents.
43:19Not a single person
43:20in three years.
43:21But this young man did.
43:23Six months later,
43:24I held the medical report
43:26the healer
43:26had just given me.
43:27He said the curse's erosion
43:29was gradually receding.
43:31Finn had made sure
43:32I ate three meals a day.
43:34He walked me
43:35to every checkup.
43:36For the first time in years,
43:38I wanted to live.
43:40And it showed.
43:41With a positive mindset,
43:43consistent medication,
43:44and no late night
43:45depressive episodes,
43:47full recovery was possible.
43:49There were cases of people
43:51surviving the curse.
43:52It just wasn't easy.
43:54But I had managed it.
43:56The moon goddess
43:58had heard my prayer
43:59that full moon night.
44:00Her blessing had been
44:02quietly healing
44:02my wolf soul all along.
44:09Hey, where are you?
44:11You're not at your stall today.
44:13My phone buzzed
44:14with a message from Finn.
44:16He'd bought me
44:17this phone himself.
44:19He'd claimed it was
44:20a one plus one deal,
44:22that he had an extra,
44:23and if I didn't take it,
44:25he'd throw it away.
44:26Who believed that?
44:28I certainly didn't.
44:30At the healing ward.
44:32Half an hour later,
44:33Finn Finn came gum-jogging
44:35toward me
44:35in his basketball jersey.
44:40What did the healer say?
44:42I put on a somber face,
44:43pretending to be downcast.
44:45I saw his expression dim,
44:47but he kept his voice steady.
44:49It's okay.
44:51I'll be with you
44:52every step of the way.
44:52I cut him off.
44:53Just kidding.
44:53The healer says
44:54I'm doing really well.
44:57I couldn't bear
44:58to tease him for long.
44:59You've gotten mean.
45:01He pretended to be upset,
45:03but then he picked me up
45:04and spun me around twice.
45:06So,
45:07does this mean
45:08you'll say yes?
45:09I blinked at him playfully.
45:11Say yes to what?
45:12I blinked at him playfully.
45:13Be my chosen mate.
45:14But I'm not completely healed yet.
45:16What if it comes back?
45:19I don't care.
45:20My job is to love you
45:21and make you happy.
45:22If you're happy,
45:23you'll get better.
45:23He hugged me tightly,
45:25nuzzling against me.
45:26All right,
45:26I suppose I was around to say yes.
45:28I wrapped my arms
45:29around him in return.
45:30I sounded as if
45:31I was doing him a favor.
45:33The truth was,
45:33he had been the one
45:34settling for me all along.
45:38As Finn and I
45:39walked away hand in hand,
45:41I saw Kale.
45:44He stood watching us,
45:46his eyes red.
45:48I hadn't seen him
45:49in two or three months.
45:50The last time I saw him
45:52was when Maeve,
45:53the former Luna,
45:53passed away.
45:55He'd picked me up
45:56to attend the service,
45:57and that was it.
45:59I'd also repaid him
46:00for all the medical bills,
46:01even the money
46:02for the food cart.
46:04I knew he'd been
46:05watching me from a distance.
46:06He'd tried to approach me
46:08a few times,
46:09but I'd threatened
46:10to harm myself each time.
46:12And he'd finally
46:13stayed away.
46:14Sarah, who is this?
46:15His eyes were still red.
46:17He already knew the answer.
46:20My chosen mate.
46:21Finn answered first,
46:23raising our joined hands.
46:25Is he good to you?
46:28Yes.
46:29I know what it looks like
46:30when you love someone, Sarah.
46:32And I can see
46:33it's not me anymore.
46:34Took me a while to face it.
46:36Be happy.
46:38He turned and walked away,
46:39then stopped.
46:40His voice was barely a whisper,
46:43but I heard it
46:44through the bond.
46:45I, Kale Ashfield,
46:47reject you,
46:48Sarah Fina,
46:48as my mate.
46:50A pause.
46:51I set you free.
46:53The mate bond
46:54snapped.
46:55Pain blinding,
46:57searing pain
46:58ripped through my chest.
46:59I staggered,
47:00my knees buckling.
47:02Finn's arm caught me.
47:04I saw Kale stagger
47:05to his hand
47:06gripping his chest.
47:07His wolf's howl
47:08cutting through the air
47:09before the bond
47:10went dead.
47:11He'd finally accepted
47:12my rejection.
47:13The thread that had
47:14bound me to him
47:15for eight years
47:15went silent.
47:16I didn't look back.
47:18Some people are meant
47:19to be part of your story,
47:20but not your ending.
47:24I heard later
47:25that Kale gave up
47:26his alpha title
47:27and went to help
47:27the she-wolves
47:28destroyed by the
47:29training camps.
47:30As for me,
47:31I was curled on the sofa,
47:34looking at the man
47:35in front of me.
47:36You said before
47:37that you knew
47:38about my health.
47:39How?
47:41I sprained my ankle
47:42during a game
47:43and ended on
47:44the healing woad.
47:45I was in the room
47:46next to yours.
47:47I overheard something
47:49while walking by,
47:50got curious,
47:51and looked through
47:52the glass.
47:52One look.
47:54And I just knew.
47:55He made it sound
47:56so casual.
47:57That's it?
47:58I didn't buy it.
47:59Your classmates
48:00mentioned something.
48:01My photo is
48:02your computer wallpaper,
48:04the one from when
48:05I was a sophomore.
48:07I meant the guys
48:08who had stopped
48:08by my stall
48:09for burritos.
48:12Sure enough,
48:14Finn looked
48:14briefly embarrassed.
48:17He was probably
48:18cursing them
48:19in his head.
48:21Okay, fine.
48:23I was an exchange
48:24student at your
48:24university in my
48:25freshman year,
48:26doing a photography
48:27project.
48:28You were there
48:29that day,
48:29so full of life,
48:30I couldn't help
48:31but take a picture.
48:32Later,
48:33I heard you were
48:34with Kale.
48:34So I kept
48:35my distance.
48:36I don't do
48:36home wrecking.
48:37He lifted
48:38his chin slightly.
48:39It wasn't until
48:40I saw you
48:41in the healing
48:41wound that I
48:42realized how stupid
48:43I'd been all along.
48:44If I had stepped
48:45in back then,
48:46maybe none of this
48:46would have happened
48:47to you.
48:48After that,
48:49I kept an eye
48:49on you,
48:50waiting until the
48:51day I ran into
48:52you at your stall.
48:53He looked
48:53genuinely remortful.
48:55I reached out
48:56and hugged him.
48:58Don't blame
48:59yourself.
48:59Some things
49:00were meant to
49:00happen.
49:01It wasn't
49:02your fault.
49:03I'd almost
49:03missed the chance
49:04to be with
49:04someone so wonderful.
49:06But in the end,
49:08nothing was too late.
49:11Other she-wolves
49:12went to the training
49:12camp to become
49:13proper lunas.
49:15I went to quit
49:16loving my mate.
49:17In the end,
49:18I didn't just quit him.
49:19I learned to love
49:21myself again.
49:21I learned to be
49:23at home.
49:23I learned to be
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