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The Alpha’s Baby Chose Me EnglishSub FullMovie
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00:00Inside the Moonspring Birthing House, a woman lay on a wooden bed, groaning in agony as she gave birth.
00:05The woman clenched her fists and pushed hard.
00:08A baby's cry rang out, the moment my sister gave birth gift to the pup.
00:12She shoved him into my arms and fled through a forbidden teleportation circle.
00:16My mother dropped to her knees and gripped my hand tightly.
00:19Ella, claim him. Please, your sister's life will be ruined if this comes out.
00:23I lowered my head and looked at the baby in my arms.
00:26He was still covered in blood, tiny and fragile, like a little life freshly lifted from the snow.
00:31But on his forehead glowed a silver crescent moon.
00:34It wasn't the mark of an ordinary wolf pup.
00:37It was a blood mark belonging only to the Silvermoon Alpha Bloodsleen.
00:41A chill ran through me.
00:44Who's the father? My mother trembled as she cried.
00:47Koli Darkhan.
00:49I froze.
00:50Koli Darkhorn, Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack and the most powerful werewolf lord in the Northern Territory.
00:55Rumor had it he was cold-blooded and ruthless.
00:57He even hung traitor's bones in the snowy forest as a warning to others.
01:00Lowering her voice, my mother said,
01:02Your sister stole his bloodline.
01:05She used Moonheat Incense.
01:07Moonheat Incense.
01:08The werewolf's forbidden drug.
01:11For a short time, it could mimic the scent of a fated mate and drive an Alpha out of control.
01:16My mother's voice grew even softer.
01:18She thought having his pup would make her the Alpha's Luna.
01:22But when Cole woke up, he immediately started searching for the woman from that night.
01:27If Kyle finds out the truth, he'll kill her.
01:30I laughed.
01:31So she can't die.
01:33But I can spend my life raising her child?
01:36My mother shook her head.
01:38Ella, you've always been the one who could handle anything.
01:41You've never deceived Cole, but your sister can't survive his wrath.
01:44That line again.
01:48I could handle it.
01:51Which meant I was the one expected to be sacrificed.
01:57Holding the baby tighter, I turned and walked into the snowstorm.
02:00This child was too dangerous.
02:02He wouldn't just attract Cole, he would attract Cole's enemies as well.
02:05I couldn't afford to raise him, and I certainly couldn't protect him.
02:08Besides, I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life paying for Celia's sins.
02:13I would take him to the person who should be responsible for him.
02:17The next day, in Moonholl Hall, wolf guards in black armor lined both sides of the grand staircase.
02:24Every eye in the hall was fixed on me.
02:26A low-ranked she-wolf from a remote border hunting village.
02:29Cole Darkharp sat upon his throne.
02:31Short hair rests upon his black battle cloak, and his dark gold eyes were as cold as blades.
02:36He glanced at me once.
02:38The crushing aura of a supreme alpha descended upon the hole.
02:41People dropped to their knees one after another.
02:43I didn't.
02:44At last, Cole raised his eyes.
02:46Who gave you permission to enter?
02:47I stepped forward and placed the baby on the black stone table before him.
02:51As if sensing something, the child suddenly opened his eyes.
02:54Dark gold eyes.
02:55Exactly the same as Cole's.
02:57Silence engulfed the entire hall.
02:59I pushed the blood oath stone in front of him.
03:01Cecily ran.
03:02This is the pup she gave birth to.
03:03He bears the silver moon blood mark on his forehead, and his eyes are dark gold.
03:07I stared at him and spoke each word clearly.
03:10Silver moon alpha, leave your blood mark.
03:13Your pup, take him back.
03:15Cole didn't move.
03:16Beside him, the high priestess, Melina, turned pale.
03:20My lord, the silver moon blood mark cannot be forged.
03:24If the pup truly carries the Darkhorn bloodline, he must be entered into the blood registry.
03:30Cole cut his fingertip, and a drop of blood fell onto the blood oath stone.
03:34Silver light exploded outward.
03:36A line of text appeared wean on the stone.
03:38Leo dark hole, silver moon bloodline.
03:40The entire hall dropped to its knees.
03:45I picked the child back up and turned to leave.
03:48Cole's voice rang out, cold and commanding.
03:51Stop.
03:53I looked back.
03:55I've returned your child.
03:57I'm going back to the border hunting village.
03:59The pup stays.
04:01His gaze settled on me.
04:04So do you.
04:07I laughed.
04:09Why?
04:11Cole's eyes shifted to Leo's hand.
04:13I lowered my head and realized that the baby who had been crying moments ago had somehow gone quiet.
04:17His tiny hand was clenched tightly around my collar.
04:19His forehead rest against my chest, and the silver moon blood mark was gradually warming.
04:23Because he only recognizes you.
04:27I was confined to the coldest side chamber in Silvermoon Castle.
04:31They called it a side chamber, but it was larger than the elder's house back in the hunting village.
04:36Silver wolf pelts hung from the stone walls, blue moon fire burned in the hearth,
04:40and four wolf guards stood watch outside the door.
04:43I sat on the edge of the bed with Leo in my arms.
04:46He had finally fallen asleep.
04:48I, however, hadn't closed my eyes all night.
04:52Not because I was afraid of Cole.
04:54Because I knew what came after dawn would be even harder.
04:59Sure enough, as soon as the morning bell rang,
05:01Melina entered with two attendants carrying a silver basin and a bloodmark needle.
05:07Miss Ella, the Alpha has ordered me to test Leo's bloodline.
05:11The Blood Oath Stone already confirmed it last night.
05:14The Blood Oath Stone confirms bloodlines, not birth mothers.
05:18We need to determine whether Leo has been harmed by forbidden magic.
05:23I let out a cold laugh.
05:25You don't dare go after Cecily.
05:28So you're going to stick a needle into a newborn instead?
05:31A bloodline test won't require a needle.
05:34He stepped inside.
05:35Snow still clung to his black cloak.
05:37His silver hair was tied back,
05:39and his expression was colder than the ice beyond the window.
05:43We'll use the Moonspring blood reflection.
05:46Melina stiffened.
05:47My lord, my lord,
05:49the Moonspring blood reflection is a ritual
05:51used only by those of the Silver Moon bloodline.
05:54Cole looked at the child.
05:57Isn't he Silver Moon blood?
06:05At the Moonspring,
06:06Cole let a drop of blood fall into the water.
06:09The spring instantly turned dark gold.
06:14The Silver Moon blood mark on Leo's forehead flared brightly,
06:17and every priest in attendance dropped to their knees.
06:21Melina's voice trembled.
06:23Blessed by the Moon goddess,
06:25he truly carries the Silver Moon bloodline.
06:28Before I could breathe a sigh of relief,
06:30a black raven suddenly slammed into a stone pillar beside the spring.
06:36The raven burst into a cloud of blood mist,
06:39revealing Cecily's image.
06:41She wore a red cloak,
06:42showing none of the weakness of a woman who had just given birth.
06:45She smiled at me.
06:48Ella,
06:49you really did bring him to Cole.
06:55A chill swept through me.
06:57She hadn't been running for her life.
06:58This had all been intentional.
07:00Cecily's voice drifted from the blood mist.
07:02Take good care of him for me.
07:04When I return,
07:06I'll personally come for my son.
07:08The blood mist dissipated.
07:10Leo burst into tears.
07:14Cole seized my wrist,
07:16his eyes dark with a frightening intensity.
07:18What exactly is your sister planning?
07:20I stared at the shattered remains of the raven.
07:23Only one thought filled my mind.
07:25Cecily had never intended to abandon her child.
07:28She had only dumped him on me temporarily.
07:31Once Co acknowledged Leo's bloodline,
07:34she'd back and take him.
07:36After we returned to the side chamber,
07:38Leo cried so hard that no one could calm him.
07:41An attendant brought a silver feeding horn filled with milk,
07:44but he refused it.
07:46They switched him to a softer blanket,
07:48but he cried even harder.
07:50Melina was so anxious that sweat beaded across her forehead.
07:54Cole endured it for a moment before saying in a low voice,
07:57Make him quiet.
08:00I'd had enough.
08:01I took Leo back into my arms,
08:04patted his back,
08:05and whispered,
08:08It's okay.
08:10I'm here.
08:11The crying immediately softened.
08:14Three more gentle paths,
08:15and he let out a little hiccup.
08:17Then he buried his face in the kirk of my neck
08:19and stopped crying altogether.
08:21Everyone in the room stared at me.
08:23Cole's gaze settled on my hands.
08:27How did you do that?
08:28By holding a baby,
08:30not interrogating a prisoner.
08:31He looked at me coldly.
08:33I met his eyes without flinching.
08:35A pup that young doesn't understand orders.
08:38You can't intimidate him.
08:40You'll only scare him into crying.
08:42Outside the door,
08:44even the wolf guards seemed to stop breathing.
08:46I knew that sentence could have gotten me killed.
08:49But Cole didn't get angry.
08:51He only looked at the child in my arms
08:53and remained silent for a long time.
08:57From today on,
08:59you'll take care of him for the time being.
09:01I almost laughed.
09:03For the time being?
09:05How long?
09:05Until a suitable wet mather is found.
09:07And once you find one,
09:09I can leave?
09:10If the child no longer needs you.
09:12The words pierced my chest like a thorn.
09:15Of course I wanted to leave.
09:16But I looked down at Leo,
09:19who had finally fallen asleep in my arms.
09:21He knew nothing.
09:22Didn't know his birth mother
09:24had treated him like a bargaining chip.
09:26He didn't know his father
09:27had nearly handed him over to rules and protocol
09:29just moments ago.
09:31He only knew that I had held him.
09:33I closed my eyes briefly.
09:36Fine.
09:38But I have conditions.
09:40Cole said,
09:41Speak.
09:42First, I'm not a servant.
09:44Your people aren't allowed to order me to kneel.
09:46Second,
09:47when it comes to feeding him,
09:48putting him to sleep,
09:49or changing his cloths,
09:50I make the decisions.
09:51Third,
09:51Ceasley is the one who ran.
09:53Go find her.
09:53Don't put all her debts on me.
09:55Cole stared at me for a long moment.
09:58Are you telling me how to do my job?
09:59I'm reminding you not to be stupid.
10:02This time,
10:03even Milena lowered her head.
10:04Cole stepped closer.
10:06His scent carried the cold,
10:08metallic edge of a snowy night.
10:10Ella,
10:11didn't anyone in that border-hunting village
10:13teach you to lower your head
10:15when speaking to the Silvermoon Alpha?
10:18Holding Leo in my arms,
10:20I didn't retreat even a single step.
10:23They did.
10:25Then why don't you?
10:28Because if I lower my head,
10:30no one will be left to protect him.
10:32For a brief moment,
10:34something in Cole's eyes deepened.
10:36That night,
10:37Leo developed a fever.
10:39Not an ordinary fever.
10:41The moon mark on his forehead
10:43burned as if it had been set on fire.
10:45His tiny body curled up beneath the blanket,
10:48soft whimpers escaping his throat
10:49like a distressed wolf pup.
10:51I carried him to the door.
10:54Get a priest!
10:55The wolf guard standing watch hesitated.
10:58The Alpha ordered that no one is to leave
11:00without permission.
11:01I slammed my foot against the door.
11:03If he doesn't get here now,
11:05the child will die!
11:07Half a quarter hour later,
11:09Cole and Melina arrived at the same time.
11:13Melina took one look at Leo,
11:15and all color drained from her face.
11:17His moon mark awakened too early.
11:22Cole's expression hardened.
11:24What does that mean?
11:25The Silvermoon bloodline inside him
11:27is too powerful.
11:29He's too young to withstand it.
11:31He needs someone with the same bloodline
11:33to stabilize him.
11:35Cole reached out to take the child.
11:37The moment Leo touched his fingertips,
11:39Silver light exploded.
11:41His cries turned sharp and piercing,
11:43as though he were being torn apart.
11:45Terrified, I snatched Leo back into my arms.
11:48Don't touch him!
11:49Cole's hand froze in midair.
11:51Melina spoke urgently.
11:53My lord,
11:54your bloodline is too powerful.
11:56It's overwhelming him.
11:57We need someone he trusts
11:58to act as a buffer.
12:00Cole looked at me.
12:01My heart sank.
12:02Me?
12:02Leo recognizes your scent.
12:05Hold him while I channel
12:06the bloodline power into you.
12:07Then you'll pass it on to soothe him.
12:09I knew it was going to hurt.
12:11But Leo's cries
12:12had already grown weak from exhaustion,
12:14and his tiny hand still clung to me.
12:16I gritted my teeth.
12:18Do it.
12:19Cole took my hand.
12:20The next instant,
12:21an icy,
12:22dominating force
12:22surged into my palm
12:24and raced through my veins.
12:25It shot up my arm
12:27and into my shoulder,
12:28like countless tiny blades
12:30scraping against my bones.
12:32Pain darkened my vision,
12:33but I held Leo tightly
12:35and kept soothing him
12:36over and over.
12:37Leo, it's okay.
12:39I'm here.
12:41At last,
12:42the silver light
12:43gradually receded.
12:45The crying stopped.
12:46Then a sudden burning sensation
12:48flared at the back of my neck.
12:51Melina gasped.
12:52Her moon mark!
12:53I dropped to my knees.
12:55The taste of blood
12:56rose in my throat.
12:57Melina examined
12:58the back of my neck,
12:59her voice trembling.
13:00This isn't a low-grade moon mark.
13:03There's a bloodline seal on her.
13:05Cole's eyes instantly turned cold.
13:07Who placed it?
13:09Of course I knew.
13:10My mother.
13:11Ever since I was little,
13:13she had told me
13:13that my moon mark was weak,
13:15that I would never become
13:16a powerful wolf.
13:17She told me not to compete,
13:19not to fight,
13:21not to stand out.
13:23So I hadn't been born weak.
13:25I'd been sealed.
13:28Cole ordered his guards
13:30to bring my mother
13:31to the side chamber.
13:32She knelt there,
13:33not dare to meet my eyes.
13:35I asked,
13:36Was it you who placed
13:38the bloodline seal on me?
13:39Tears streamed down
13:40my mother's face.
13:41Ella, I did it
13:42for your own good.
13:44I had heard those words
13:45for 24 years,
13:46and every single time
13:48they were followed
13:48by a demand
13:49that I sacrifice something.
13:51Holdingly,
13:52I pushed myself
13:52to my feet,
13:53my body still trembling.
13:55For my own good?
13:57So you sealed
13:58my moon mark?
13:59My mother shook her head.
14:01You awakened
14:02when you were little.
14:03You were too powerful.
14:05You almost hurt Cecily.
14:07I was afraid
14:08people would see you
14:09as a monster,
14:10and I was afraid
14:11your sister
14:12would come to hate you.
14:13I laughed.
14:15So to protect her,
14:16you turned me
14:17into a cripple?
14:18My mother cried
14:19too hard to answer.
14:21Coley's voice
14:22turned cold.
14:23Did Cecia know
14:24about this?
14:24My mother froze.
14:26Her silence
14:27was answer enough.
14:28At last,
14:29I understood.
14:31Cecily hadn't left
14:31the child with me
14:32just because
14:33I had a soft heart.
14:34She knew my blood
14:35could soothe Leo.
14:36She had calculated
14:37that I would take
14:38the child into my arms,
14:40and she had calculated
14:41that the child
14:42would become
14:42dependent on me.
14:43I looked at my mother
14:45and asked one word
14:46at a time.
14:48You believed
14:48everything she told you.
14:50When she said
14:51I should claim
14:52the child,
14:52you believed her.
14:54When she said
14:55Cole was someone
14:56we couldn't afford
14:56to offend,
14:57you believed her too.
15:00Mother,
15:01was there ever
15:02a single time
15:03you believed in me?
15:04My mother
15:05opened her mouth,
15:07but no words
15:08came out.
15:09An urgent report
15:10suddenly arrived
15:11from outside the hall.
15:12My lord!
15:13A Black Raven message.
15:15Cecily has appeared
15:16at the Dark Moon camp.
15:17The rebel leader,
15:18Varro,
15:19is with her.
15:20Coley took the message.
15:21There was only
15:22one sentence
15:23written on it.
15:24Before the next
15:25full moon,
15:26I will come
15:26for my son.
15:29I tightened
15:30my hold on Leo.
15:32My hands and feet
15:33turned ice cold.
15:35She was coming back.
15:38From that night on,
15:39I no longer stayed
15:40in the side chamber.
15:42Cole moved Leo
15:42and me into
15:43the Silver Wolf Tower.
15:44The entire
15:45Silver Moon territory
15:46was talking about it.
15:47A low-ranked
15:48she-wolf from the
15:49Borderlands
15:49had somehow moved
15:50into the Alpha's
15:51inner tower
15:51with a child
15:52of the Silver Moon
15:53bloodline.
15:54Trouble arrived
15:54on the very first day.
15:56The visitor was
15:57Lydia of the
15:58White Feather Pack.
15:59She was the
15:59Alliance bride
16:00the elders had chosen
16:01for Cole.
16:02Dressed in a
16:03snow-white gown
16:04and followed
16:04by six attendants,
16:06she walked in
16:06without sparing me
16:07so much as a glance.
16:09I heard the
16:10child is wary
16:11of strangers.
16:12She looked
16:12toward Leo's
16:13cradle.
16:13I came to see him.
16:14I stepped in
16:15front of the
16:15cradle.
16:16He just fell asleep.
16:17Lydia smiled
16:17gently, but her
16:18words were sharp
16:19as needles.
16:20Miss Ella,
16:21you're only looking
16:21after Leo
16:22temporarily.
16:23Don't forget
16:23your place.
16:24I remember my
16:25place perfectly
16:26well.
16:26I said,
16:28his mother
16:28dumped him
16:29on me,
16:29his father
16:30won't let me
16:30leave,
16:31and now you're
16:32here reminding
16:32me not to
16:33think too highly
16:33of myself.
16:34One of the
16:34attendants snapped.
16:35How dare you?
16:36Miss Lydia will
16:37be the future
16:37Luna of the
16:38Silvermoon
16:38Territory.
16:39I nodded.
16:39Then she can
16:40start giving me
16:41orders when she
16:41actually becomes
16:42one.
16:43For a moment,
16:44Lydia's composure
16:45cracked.
16:46She walked to
16:47the cradle and
16:47reached down to
16:48pick up Leo.
16:49I didn't stop her.
16:50The instant her
16:51fingertips brushed
16:52the swaddling
16:52cloth, Leo's
16:54eyes flew open.
16:55A low growl,
16:56startlingly wolfish
16:57for an infant,
16:57rumbled from his
16:58throat.
16:59In the next
16:59second, a burst
17:00of silver light
17:01threw Lydia
17:01backward.
17:02She staggered
17:03three-step.
17:06A crescent-shaped
17:07burn appearing
17:08across the
17:09back of her
17:09hand.
17:10The attendants
17:10cried out in
17:11alarm.
17:12Leo turned his
17:13head toward me
17:14instead.
17:15His little mouth
17:16trembled and he
17:17began to cry
17:18miserably.
17:18I quickly scooped
17:20him up.
17:21The moment he
17:22settled into my
17:23arms, he quieted
17:24down.
17:25Footsteps sounded
17:26from the doorway.
17:27Cole had arrived.
17:28Lydia's eyes
17:28immediately reddened.
17:29Cole, Leo rejects
17:30me because this woman
17:31taught him to.
17:32Cole glanced at her
17:33injured hand.
17:34Leo isn't even
17:35seven days old.
17:36He can't
17:36understand a
17:37single word.
17:37Lydia's expression
17:38darkened.
17:39Then Cole added,
17:40Without my
17:40permission, don't
17:41touch him again.
17:46I'm your
17:47alliance bride.
17:48That was the
17:49final blow to
17:50her composure.
17:51That was only
17:52the elder's
17:53proposal.
17:53The white
17:54feather pack has
17:55already prepared
17:56the betrothal
17:56gifts!
17:57Then send them
17:58back.
17:58At last,
17:59resentment surfed
18:00openly in Lydia's
18:01eyes.
18:02As she passed
18:03by me, she
18:04lowered her voice
18:04and said,
18:05Ella, you
18:06can't protect
18:07him.
18:08Cecil has
18:09already sold
18:09the information
18:10to the Dark
18:10Moon Rebels.
18:12The entire
18:13Northern Territory
18:14knows now that
18:15the Silver
18:15Moon Alpha
18:16has an heir.
18:17I held Leo
18:18in my arms,
18:19my heart sinking.
18:20That alone
18:20was enough.
18:21There was no
18:22need for some
18:22ancient temple
18:23or a complicated
18:24prophecy.
18:25Leo was just
18:26a newborn child,
18:27but because he
18:27was Cole's son,
18:29people already
18:29wanted to take
18:30him, use
18:31him, or kill
18:32him.
18:32That night,
18:33Cole convened a
18:34council of his
18:35commanders.
18:36Originally, I
18:37wasn't allowed to
18:37attend.
18:38I stood at the
18:39doorway with Leo
18:40in my arms.
18:41You're discussing
18:42his life.
18:42Why shouldn't I
18:43be allowed to
18:44hear it?
18:45Cole glanced
18:46at me.
18:46Come in.
18:47Inside the
18:48council chamber sat
18:49seven Wolfguard
18:50commanders, three
18:51priests, and
18:52several elders.
18:53One of them
18:54frowned.
18:55My lord,
18:57this is a
18:57military council.
18:59Cole replied
19:00calmly.
19:01She stays.
19:02The dark moon
19:03rebels were
19:04gathering along
19:04the northern border,
19:06and Sicily was
19:07traveling with
19:08Varro.
19:09One elder
19:10proposed sending
19:11Leo to the
19:12sanctuary
19:13of the sacred
19:14spring, where
19:15the priests could
19:16take custody of
19:17him.
19:17I asked
19:17coldly,
19:18custody or
19:20confinement.
19:21Every eye in
19:22the room turned
19:22toward me.
19:23I continued,
19:24the moment you
19:24move him out of
19:25the silver wolf
19:26tower, you'll be
19:26tossing meat into
19:27a pack of starving
19:28wolves.
19:28An elder from
19:30the white feather
19:30pack frowned.
19:31Your words are
19:33too harsh.
19:35I looked at him.
19:36What you're proposing
19:37is even uglier.
19:38He slammed a hand
19:39onto the table.
19:40Your borderland
19:41girl.
19:42Leo suddenly
19:43started crying.
19:44The moon mark on
19:45his forehead flared
19:46to light.
19:47Frost instantly
19:48spread across the
19:49entire council
19:50table.
19:52The white feather
19:53elder's hand
19:54froze solid against
19:55the tabletop.
19:56Cole made no
19:57move to help
19:58him.
19:59He merely
20:00looked down
20:00at Leo,
20:01his voice
20:01noticeably
20:02softer.
20:03Let go.
20:08Leo, of course,
20:09couldn't understand
20:10him.
20:11He only cried
20:13harder.
20:13I sighed.
20:16You can't comfort
20:18a baby with the
20:18same voice you
20:19used to interrogate
20:20prisoners.
20:21Gora fell silent.
20:22I lifted Leo
20:22and gently
20:23patted his back.
20:24There, there.
20:25I know.
20:26You don't like
20:27him.
20:28The frost
20:29gradually
20:29retreated.
20:30The white feather
20:31elder awkwardly
20:31yanked his hand
20:32free.
20:33Cole swept
20:34his gaze across
20:35the room.
20:36From this day
20:37forward, no one
20:38is permitted to
20:39approach Leo
20:40under the pretense
20:41of caring for him.
20:44Anyone who
20:44disobeys will be
20:46treated as a
20:47traitor.
20:47This time, no one
20:48dared object.
20:49In the middle of the
20:50night, Leo started
20:51crying again.
20:53The wet nurse
20:53couldn't soothe
20:54him.
20:55The priests
20:56couldn't soothe
20:56him.
20:57Even I couldn't
20:58soothe him
20:59while holding
20:59him.
21:00After examining
21:01him, Melina
21:02turned to Cole
21:03with a complicated
21:04expression.
21:05Leo needs comfort
21:06from a matching
21:06wolf form.
21:07Cole, he frowned.
21:08Explain.
21:11He needs to sleep
21:12against your wolf
21:13form.
21:14The room fell
21:15silent.
21:16I looked at
21:17Cole.
21:18Cole looked at
21:18me.
21:19After a long
21:20pause, I fought
21:21back a smile.
21:22My lord, maybe
21:24you should shift.
21:25Of course, Cole
21:26refused.
21:27He was the
21:27Silver Moon Alpha,
21:29the most powerful
21:30werewolf ruler in
21:31the Northern
21:31Territory.
21:33Asking him to
21:34turn into a
21:34giant wolf so a
21:35baby could use
21:36him as a
21:36mattress was
21:39harder than
21:39asking him to
21:40admit defeat in
21:41public.
21:41In the end, Cole
21:43walked to the
21:43center of the
21:44thick rug with a
21:44dark expression.
21:45A flash of
21:46silver light filled
21:47the room.
21:47A massive black
21:48and silver wolf
21:49appeared to
21:49one.
21:49His shoulders
21:50were as high
21:51as a small
21:51hill, silver
21:52fur cascading
21:53to the floor,
21:53while dark
21:54gold wolf
21:54eyes stared
21:55at me coldly.
21:56I carried
21:56Leo over.
21:57The moment
21:58Leo caught
21:59his scent,
21:59he stopped
22:00crying.
22:00His tiny
22:01hand even
22:01reached up
22:02and grabbed
22:02the tip of
22:03the giant
22:03wolf's ear.
22:05Cole's entire
22:05body went
22:06rigid.
22:06I bit back
22:07a laugh.
22:08Don't move.
22:09He just
22:09calmed down.
22:10The giant
22:11wolf glared
22:11at me.
22:12I gently
22:13laid O
22:13between his
22:14front paws.
22:15Curled
22:15against the
22:16warm fur,
22:17the little
22:17one quickly
22:17fell asleep.
22:19That night
22:20became the
22:20most peaceful
22:21sleep Leo
22:21had had
22:22since the
22:22day he
22:22was born.
22:25The next
22:25morning,
22:26Leo woke
22:27up clutching
22:27a small
22:28tuft of
22:28silver fur.
22:29I glanced
22:29at the patch
22:30near Coer
22:31temple,
22:31which seemed
22:32noticeably
22:32thinner.
22:33You shed.
22:34Core expression
22:35darkened.
22:36Be quiet.
22:37I tucked
22:38the tuft of
22:39fur into a
22:39small cloth
22:40pouch.
22:41If he cries
22:41when you're not
22:42around, maybe
22:42this will work.
22:43After a brief
22:43silence, Coer
22:44said,
22:45He's not a
22:46puppy.
22:47But you looked
22:48a lot like one
22:48last night.
22:49Outside the
22:49door, the
22:50wolf guard
22:50suddenly erupted
22:51into a fit
22:52of coughing.
22:53Those peaceful
22:53days didn't
22:54last long.
22:55On the day
22:55of the
22:56moonspring
22:56blessing
22:56ceremony, the
22:58elders demanded
22:58that Leo
22:59publicly receive
23:00the bloodline
23:01blessing to
23:02prove he was
23:02the future
23:03heir of the
23:03silver moon
23:04pack.
23:05Cole originally
23:05intended to
23:06refuse.
23:07I said instead,
23:08We're going.
23:09He looked at
23:09me.
23:09Do you realize
23:10how many eyes
23:10will be on
23:11him?
23:11I do.
23:12Holding Leo
23:13in my arms,
23:13I continued.
23:15But he can't
23:15stay hidden in
23:16the tower forever.
23:20The people
23:20who want to
23:21hurt him
23:22will reveal
23:22themselves
23:22sooner or
23:23later.
23:24So we brought
23:24Leo to the
23:25moonspring
23:25high platform.
23:26A fierce
23:27snowstorm swept
23:28across the
23:29ceremony that
23:29day.
23:30The banners
23:31of the various
23:31wolf packs
23:32snapped loudly
23:33in the wind.
23:33I stood beside
23:35Cole with Leo
23:35in my arms.
23:37Countless eyes
23:38settled on me.
23:39Some were
23:40filled with
23:40contempt,
23:41some with
23:42scrutiny,
23:43some with
23:43jealousy,
23:44and some
23:45with naked
23:46greed.
23:47Leo's
23:47bloodline
23:48is noble,
23:48but his
23:49mother's
23:49background
23:50remains
23:50uncertain.
23:51If Cecily
23:52returns,
23:53then according
23:53to the
23:53ancient laws,
23:54she has
23:54the right
23:55to reclaim
23:55her child.
23:55She abandoned
23:56him the
23:56moment she
23:56gave birth.
23:57What right
23:57does she
23:58have to
23:58take him
23:58back?
23:59She is
23:59still his
23:59birth mother.
24:01At that
24:02moment,
24:02the sky
24:03suddenly
24:03darkened.
24:04A black
24:05raven fell
24:06onto the
24:06center of
24:06the high
24:07platform and
24:08burst into
24:08a pool of
24:09blood.
24:09A figure
24:10emerged from
24:11the swirling
24:11blood mist.
24:12It was Cecily.
24:13Her gaze
24:14settled on Leo
24:15in my arms,
24:15and she
24:16smiled gently.
24:17Sister,
24:18give me back
24:19my child.
24:21The entire
24:22platform erupted
24:23into chaos.
24:24Wolf guards
24:25drew their
24:25blaves.
24:26The priests
24:27formed protective
24:28circles.
24:29People hurriedly
24:29backed away.
24:30Only I
24:31remained where
24:32I was,
24:33holding Leo
24:34and staring
24:34at Selina's
24:35figure in
24:35the blood
24:36mist.
24:36She wore
24:37her red
24:38cloak,
24:38and her
24:39complexion
24:40looked even
24:40better than
24:41when she
24:41had left.
24:44She didn't
24:45look like a
24:45mother on
24:46the run.
24:47She looked
24:48like a
24:49hunter returning
24:49to claim
24:50her prize.
24:51I asked,
24:55You still
24:56remember he's
24:57your child?
24:58Cecily's eyes
24:59locked onto
24:59Leo,
25:00shining with
25:01an unsettling
25:01intensity.
25:02Of course.
25:04I gave birth
25:04to him.
25:05You abandoned
25:05him the moment
25:06he was born
25:06and dumped
25:07him on me.
25:08Ella,
25:08I didn't have
25:09a choice.
25:10You've always
25:11been stronger
25:11than me.
25:12You could
25:12handle it.
25:14That phrase
25:15again.
25:15You could
25:16handle it.
25:17Which was why
25:18everyone handed
25:19me the knife
25:19and expected
25:20me to drive
25:21it into my
25:21own heart.
25:22My voice
25:22turned cold.
25:23I'm not
25:24your shield.
25:24Cecily
25:25looked toward
25:26Cole,
25:27her tone
25:27softening.
25:29Kor,
25:30I know you
25:31hate me
25:31for deceiving
25:32you.
25:32But Leo
25:32is our
25:33child.
25:34Are you
25:35really going
25:35to let
25:35an outsider
25:36hold him
25:36while standing
25:37between us?
25:38You don't
25:39deserve to
25:40say his
25:40name.
25:40The smile
25:41on Cecily's
25:41face stiffened.
25:42Whatever
25:43mistakes
25:43that Cecile
25:44made,
25:45she is still
25:46the birth
25:46mother.
25:47According to
25:47the ancient
25:48laws,
25:48she has the
25:49right to
25:49petition the
25:50moonspring
25:50for a
25:51recognition
25:51rile.
25:53Then I
25:53understood.
25:54This so-called
25:55blessing ceremony
25:56had been paving
25:56the way for
25:57Cecile all
25:58along.
25:58You don't
25:59have to
25:59accept.
25:59The white
26:00feather
26:00elder scoffed.
26:02Is the
26:02silver moon
26:03alpha afraid?
26:05Whispers
26:05immediately spread
26:06through the
26:07crowd.
26:08I looked down
26:08at Leo.
26:09He was still
26:10too young to
26:10understand schemes
26:11and manipulation.
26:12But Cecily had
26:14given birth to him.
26:15The pull of blood
26:15could not simply be
26:16erased.
26:17I raised my head.
26:18Fine.
26:19Kolei frowned.
26:21Ella.
26:22I didn't look
26:22at him.
26:23My eyes
26:24stayed fixed
26:24on Cecily.
26:25But I have
26:26one condition.
26:29If Leo
26:30doesn't
26:30recognize you,
26:31you'll admit
26:32before everyone
26:33that you
26:33willingly
26:34abandoned him.
26:35Cecily
26:36smiled.
26:36And if he
26:37does recognize
26:37me,
26:38I tightened
26:39my hold
26:40on Leo.
26:42I'll hand
26:43him over
26:43to you.
26:45Kole
26:45immediately
26:45grabbed my
26:46wrist.
26:46Lowering
26:47my voice,
26:47I said,
26:48I won't
26:49lose.
26:50What makes
26:51you so
26:51certain?
26:52I looked
26:53at Leo
26:53in my arms.
26:55Because
26:56she's never
26:56held him.
26:58The
26:58moonspring
26:59recognition
26:59reet began.
27:01The
27:01sacred
27:01spring
27:02transformed
27:02into a
27:03silver
27:03mirror.
27:04On the
27:05opposite
27:05side
27:06stood
27:06at
27:06Cecily's
27:07blood
27:07shadow.
27:08Her
27:08hand
27:08outstretched
27:09toward
27:09Leo.
27:10Come
27:11to
27:11mommy,
27:11sweetheart.
27:13Leo
27:13opened his
27:14dark
27:14gold
27:14eyes
27:15and looked
27:15at her
27:16quietly.
27:16The
27:17entire
27:17crowd
27:18held
27:18its
27:18breath.
27:20His
27:20tiny
27:20hand
27:21tritched.
27:22A
27:23victorious
27:23smile
27:24spread across
27:24Cecily's
27:25face.
27:26Then,
27:26in the
27:27very next
27:27instant,
27:28Leo
27:28turned away.
27:29He grabbed
27:30my collar
27:31with all
27:31his strength
27:32and buried
27:32his face
27:33against my
27:33chest.
27:34The
27:34mirrored
27:34surface
27:35of the
27:35sacred
27:35spring
27:36shattered
27:36with a
27:37thunderous
27:37crack.
27:38Melina's
27:39voice trembled
27:40with excitement.
27:41The
27:41moonspring
27:42has
27:42acknowledged
27:42the
27:42guardian
27:43bond
27:43between
27:44Miss
27:44Ella
27:44and
27:45Leo.
27:46Blood
27:46cannot be
27:47changed,
27:48but Leo
27:48has made
27:49his choice.
27:49Cecily's
27:50expression
27:50twisted.
27:51Impossible!
27:52I gave birth
27:53to him!
27:53I looked
27:54at her,
27:54but he's
27:55afraid of
27:55you.
27:56The
27:56words hit
27:57her like a
27:57slap across
27:58the face.
27:59Ella,
28:00do you think
28:01you've won?
28:02Cecily
28:03glared at
28:04me with
28:04naked
28:04hatred.
28:06I'll
28:07come back
28:07myself,
28:08and when
28:09I do,
28:09I'll
28:09take back
28:10my child,
28:11along with
28:12everything
28:12you owe
28:13me.
28:13The
28:14blood
28:14mist
28:14dispersed.
28:15The
28:15White
28:16Feather
28:16Elder
28:16tried
28:17to
28:17slip
28:17away
28:18amid
28:18the
28:18confusion.
28:19Cole
28:19lifted
28:20a
28:20hand.
28:20The
28:21wolf
28:21guards
28:21immediately
28:22surrounded
28:22him.
28:23Cole's
28:24voice
28:24was
28:25as
28:25cold
28:25as
28:25falling
28:26snow.
28:26The
28:27White
28:27Feather
28:27Pack
28:27collude
28:28with
28:28Cecily.
28:29Detain
28:30him.
28:30The
28:31White
28:31angrily,
28:34I
28:34bent
28:35down
28:35and
28:35picked
28:35up
28:35a
28:35lens
28:36of
28:36red
28:36thread
28:37left
28:37behind
28:37by
28:38the
28:38Black
28:38Raven.
28:39Stamped
28:39on the
28:40end of
28:40the
28:40thread
28:40was
28:41the
28:41feather
28:41sigil
28:42of
28:42the
28:42White
28:42Feather
28:42Pack.
28:45Now
28:45you do.
28:47Silence
28:47fell over
28:48the entire
28:48platform.
28:50But I
28:50felt no
28:51relief,
28:52because I
28:53knew
28:53Cecily
28:54would never
28:55let this
28:55end
28:55here.
28:56She
28:57had
28:57already
28:57lost
28:58her
28:58child
28:58once.
28:59The
28:59next
29:00time,
29:00she
29:01wouldn't
29:01try to
29:02persuade
29:02him.
29:03She
29:04would
29:04come
29:04to
29:04take
29:05him
29:05by
29:05force.
29:08Cecily
29:08came back
29:09far sooner
29:09than anyone
29:10expected.
29:10There
29:11was no
29:11moon
29:11that
29:11night.
29:12I
29:12was
29:12changing
29:13Leo's
29:13swaddling
29:13cloth
29:14when a
29:14warhorn
29:15suddenly
29:15sounded
29:15in the
29:16distance.
29:16Firelight
29:17blazed
29:17beyond the
29:18silver wolf
29:18tower,
29:19and a
29:19maid
29:19came running
29:19in,
29:20screaming,
29:20The
29:21dark moon
29:21rebels
29:21have
29:22breached
29:22the
29:22outer
29:22wall!
29:23I
29:23scooped
29:23at
29:23Leo
29:24into
29:24my
29:24arms
29:24and grabbed
29:25the
29:25short
29:25dagger
29:26Cole
29:26had
29:26given
29:26me.
29:27Where's
29:27Cole?
29:28The
29:28alpha
29:28is
29:28fighting
29:29at
29:29the
29:29north
29:29wall!
29:30My
29:30heart
29:30sank.
29:31The
29:31rebels
29:31had
29:32chosen
29:32to
29:32attack
29:32the
29:33inner
29:33tower
29:33while
29:33he
29:33was
29:34occupied
29:34elsewhere.
29:35Their
29:35goal
29:36wasn't
29:36victory.
29:37It
29:37was
29:37at
29:37Leo.
29:38Melina
29:38rushed
29:39in and
29:39shoved
29:39a
29:39silver
29:40talism
29:40into
29:40my
29:41hand.
29:41Come
29:41with
29:42me.
29:42There's
29:42a
29:42secret
29:42passage
29:43beneath
29:43the
29:43tower.
29:44We
29:44had
29:44barely
29:44reached
29:44the
29:45stair
29:45when
29:45the
29:45wall
29:46exploded
29:46inward.
29:47Three
29:47wolf
29:47soldiers
29:48in
29:48black
29:48armor
29:49charged
29:49through
29:49the
29:49breach,
29:50their
29:50eyes
29:50glowing
29:51blood
29:51red.
29:51I
29:51thrust
29:52Leo
29:52into
29:52the
29:52maid's
29:53arms
29:53and
29:53drew
29:53my
29:54dagger.
29:54I
29:54didn't
29:55know
29:55noble
29:55swordmanship.
29:56I only
29:56knew
29:57the
29:57survival
29:57tricks
29:57taught
29:58in
29:58a
29:58border
29:58hunting
29:58village.
29:59Avoid
29:59the throat,
30:00get
30:00inside
30:01the ribs,
30:02drive
30:02the
30:02blade
30:02where the
30:03flesh
30:03is
30:03soft.
30:04The
30:04first
30:04wolf
30:04soldier
30:04screamed and
30:05crashed
30:05into
30:06the
30:06stone
30:06wall.
30:06The
30:07second
30:07lunged
30:07toward
30:08the
30:08maid.
30:09Leo
30:09suddenly
30:10started
30:10crying.
30:12Silver
30:12light
30:13erupted.
30:13The
30:14wolf
30:14soldier
30:14was
30:15thrown
30:15backward
30:15as if
30:16struck
30:16by a
30:16battering
30:17ram.
30:20The
30:20third
30:21seized
30:21my
30:21hair
30:22and
30:22slammed
30:22me
30:22hard
30:23onto
30:23the
30:23floor.
30:23Planting
30:24a
30:24boot
30:24on
30:24my
30:24wrist,
30:24he
30:25grinned
30:25viciously.
30:27I
30:27grinned
30:27at my
30:28teeth.
30:28Then
30:28she
30:28remembered
30:29wrong.
30:29I
30:29drove
30:30my
30:30knee
30:30into
30:30his
30:30grain,
30:31grabbed
30:31a
30:31shattered
30:31silver
30:32lamp
30:32and
30:36borderlands
30:36knows
30:37this.
30:37The
30:37prey
30:37that
30:37talks
30:38too
30:38much
30:38dies
30:38first.
30:39The
30:39secret
30:39passage
30:40had
30:40already
30:40been
30:40blocked
30:40by
30:40falling
30:41rubble.
30:41Outside,
30:42the
30:42sound
30:42of
30:42approaching
30:43footsteps
30:43grew
30:43closer
30:44and
30:44closer.
30:44I
30:44strapped
30:44at
30:45Leo
30:45securely
30:45against
30:45my
30:46chest
30:46and
30:46prepared
30:46to
30:46jump
30:47from
30:47the
30:47tower
30:47window.
30:48Then
30:48I
30:48heard
30:48Cole's
30:48voice
30:48behind
30:49me.
30:49I
30:52turned
30:52around.
30:53Cole
30:53stood
30:53beside
30:54the
30:54shattered
30:54wall.
30:55His
30:55black
30:55battle
30:56armor
30:56was
30:56drenched
30:56in
30:57blood.
30:57None
30:57of
30:58it
30:58was
30:58his.
30:58His
30:59eyes
30:59had
30:59partially
30:59shifted,
31:00dark
31:01gold
31:01swirling
31:01with
31:02savage
31:02fury.
31:03When
31:03he
31:03saw
31:03the
31:03bruised
31:03finger
31:04marks
31:04around
31:04my
31:04neck,
31:05his
31:05expression
31:06turned
31:06utterly
31:06cold.
31:07In
31:07the
31:07next
31:07instant,
31:08a
31:08wolf's
31:08hower
31:08shattered
31:09the
31:09snow
31:09piled
31:09atop
31:10the
31:10tower.
31:10Cole
31:10shifted
31:11into
31:11a
31:11massive
31:11black
31:12and
31:12silver
31:12wolf
31:12charged
31:13back
31:13into
31:13the
31:14battle.
31:14This
31:14wasn't
31:14the
31:15wolf
31:15form
31:15that
31:15comforted
31:16leo.
31:17This
31:17was
31:17the
31:18silver
31:18moon
31:18alpha
31:19of
31:19the
31:19battlefield,
31:20armor
31:20split
31:21beneath
31:21his
31:21claws,
31:22throats
31:22shattered
31:23between
31:23his
31:23fangs.
31:25No
31:26one
31:26who
31:26approached
31:27the
31:27silver
31:27wolf
31:28tower
31:28walked
31:28away
31:29alive.
31:29By
31:30dawn,
31:30the
31:30dark
31:31moon
31:31rebels
31:31had
31:31retreated,
31:32but
31:32they
31:32had
31:32taken
31:33my
31:33mother
31:33with
31:33them.
31:34She
31:34had
31:34been
31:34imprisoned
31:35in
31:35the
31:35outer
31:35tower.
31:36Before
31:37withdrawing,
31:38the
31:38rebels
31:38abducted
31:38her and
31:39left
31:39behind
31:40only a
31:40black
31:40bone
31:41token.
31:41Carved
31:42into
31:42it
31:42were
31:42Cecily's
31:43words,
31:43trade
31:44Ella
31:44for
31:44her.
31:44I
31:45stared
31:45at
31:45the
31:45message.
31:46Surprisingly,
31:47it
31:47didn't
31:47hurt as
31:47much as
31:48I
31:48thought
31:48it
31:48would.
31:49My
31:49mother
31:49had
31:49sacrificed
31:50me
31:50for
31:50Cecily.
31:51And
31:52now
31:52Cecily
31:52had
31:52taken
31:53her
31:53for
31:53herself.
31:54It
31:54felt
31:54like
31:54a
31:54circle
31:55of
31:55retribution
31:55finally
31:56closing.
31:57I'll
31:57send
31:57people
31:57to
31:57rescue
31:58her.
31:58I
31:58shook
31:58my
31:58head.
31:59They
31:59want
31:59me.
31:59They
31:59won't
31:59kill
32:00her
32:00easily.
32:01You
32:02want
32:02to
32:02go?
32:03I
32:04want
32:04to
32:04end
32:04this.
32:05No.
32:07You're
32:07staying
32:07here.
32:08Holding
32:09Leo,
32:09I
32:09looked
32:10at
32:10the
32:10scorched
32:10tower
32:11walls.
32:13They're
32:14after
32:14me.
32:15If I
32:16keep
32:16hiding
32:16behind
32:17you,
32:17more
32:17people
32:18will
32:18die
32:18in
32:18my
32:18place.
32:19Kola's
32:19jaw
32:20tightened.
32:20You've
32:21never
32:21been
32:21trained
32:21for
32:22war.
32:22I
32:22survived
32:2324
32:23years
32:23on
32:24the
32:24border.
32:24I
32:24looked
32:25directly
32:25at
32:25him.
32:26Koli,
32:26I'm
32:26not
32:27your
32:27weakness.
32:27I'm
32:28someone
32:28who
32:28can
32:29stand
32:29beside
32:29you
32:29and
32:30tear
32:30out
32:30an
32:30enemy's
32:31throat.
32:34He
32:35stared
32:35at
32:35me
32:36for
32:36a
32:36long
32:36time
32:36without
32:37speaking.
32:37That
32:38evening,
32:38as the
32:39sun
32:39set,
32:39Cole
32:39personally
32:40taught
32:40me
32:40how
32:40to
32:40hold
32:41a
32:41blade.
32:41Not
32:42the
32:42elegant
32:42techniques
32:43favored
32:43by
32:43nobles.
32:44The
32:44shortest,
32:45fastest,
32:45most
32:46ruthless
32:46ways
32:46to
32:46kill.
32:47He
32:47stood
32:47behind
32:48me,
32:48one
32:48hand
32:49wrapped
32:49around
32:49my
32:50wrist,
32:50his
32:50voice
32:51low,
32:51beside
32:51my
32:52ear.
32:52Don't
32:53watch
32:53the
32:53blade.
32:54Watch
32:54the
32:54enemy's
32:54shoulders.
32:55The
32:56moment
32:56the
32:56shoulders
32:56move,
32:57you'll
32:57already
32:57know
32:58where
32:58the
32:58strike
32:58is
32:58coming
32:59from.
32:59I
32:59followed
33:00his
33:00instruction.
33:01One
33:02slice
33:02opened
33:03the
33:03wooden
33:03target's
33:04throat.
33:06Good.
33:07Leo,
33:08lying in
33:09the
33:09cradle
33:09nearby,
33:10suddenly
33:10made a
33:11small
33:11sound.
33:12Cole
33:12immediately
33:13released
33:13me,
33:14as if
33:14he'd
33:14been
33:14caught
33:14doing
33:15something.
33:15I
33:16noticed
33:16the
33:16brief
33:17stiffness
33:17that
33:17flashed
33:18across
33:18his
33:18face
33:19and
33:19couldn't
33:19help
33:19laughing.
33:22My
33:22lord,
33:22are
33:22you
33:23afraid
33:23of
33:23him?
33:24He
33:24should
33:24be
33:25asleep.
33:25He's
33:25only a
33:26few
33:26days
33:26old.
33:27Even
33:27a
33:27few
33:27days
33:28old,
33:28he
33:28shouldn't
33:28be
33:28looking
33:28around
33:29at
33:29everything.
33:29I
33:30went
33:30anyway,
33:31just
33:32not
33:32alone.
33:33Cole
33:34brought
33:34twelve
33:34of his
33:35most
33:35elite
33:35wolf
33:36guards,
33:36while
33:37Melina
33:37inscribed
33:38concealment
33:38runes
33:39on me
33:39to hide
33:40my
33:40scent.
33:41Leo
33:41remained
33:42in the
33:42silver
33:42wolf
33:43tower
33:43under
33:43the
33:43protection
33:44of
33:44three
33:44squads
33:45of
33:45wolf
33:45guards
33:46and
33:46a
33:46circle
33:46of
33:46priests.
33:47The
33:47dark
33:48moon
33:48camp
33:48was
33:48hidden
33:49beneath
33:49a
33:49cliff
33:49in
33:50a
33:50forest
33:50of
33:50black
33:50pines.
33:51At
33:52the
33:52center
33:52of
33:52the
33:52camp
33:53stood
33:53a
33:53black
33:53altar.
33:54My
33:55mother
33:55was
33:55bound
33:55to
33:55a
33:56wooden
33:56post,
33:56her
33:57face
33:57pale
33:57and
33:57lifeless.
33:59Cecily
33:59stood
33:59before
34:00her.
34:01Hidden
34:02in the
34:02shadows,
34:03I
34:03heard
34:03my
34:04mother
34:04ask
34:04through
34:05tears,
34:06cecily
34:07what
34:08are
34:08you
34:08trying
34:08to
34:08do?
34:10That's
34:11your
34:11child.
34:12A
34:12child.
34:14Do
34:14you
34:15still
34:15think
34:15I
34:15gave
34:15birth
34:16to
34:16him
34:16because
34:16I
34:16wanted
34:17to
34:17be
34:17a
34:17mother?
34:19Cecily
34:20ran
34:20her
34:20fingers
34:21over
34:21the
34:21wolf
34:21bones
34:22arranged
34:22on
34:22the
34:22altar.
34:23I
34:24got
34:24pregnant
34:24because
34:25I
34:25wanted
34:25to
34:25become
34:26the
34:26mistress
34:26of
34:27the
34:27silver
34:27moon
34:27territory.
34:30But
34:30Cole
34:30never
34:31intended
34:31to
34:31marry
34:31me.
34:32If
34:33he
34:33found
34:33out
34:33I
34:33deceived
34:34him
34:34he
34:36so
34:36I
34:36needed
34:36Ella.
34:40My
34:40fingernails
34:41dug
34:41into
34:42my
34:42palms.
34:43Cecily
34:43continued.
34:44She's
34:45always
34:45been
34:45stupid.
34:47You
34:47told
34:47her
34:48to
34:48give
34:48things
34:48up.
34:49And
34:49she
34:49gave
34:49them
34:49up.
34:50You
34:50told
34:50her
34:50to
34:50endure.
34:51And
34:51she
34:51endured.
34:53She's
34:53the
34:53easiest
34:54person
34:54in
34:54the
34:54world
34:55to
34:55use.
34:56My
34:56mother
34:56wept.
34:57She's
34:57your
34:57sister.
34:58Cecily
34:58slapped
34:59her
34:59across
34:59the
34:59face.
35:00Sister?
35:01What
35:01gives
35:02her
35:02the
35:02right
35:02to
35:02be
35:02my
35:02sister?
35:03How
35:04could
35:04someone
35:04who
35:04never
35:05fought
35:05for
35:05anything
35:05always
35:06have
35:06people
35:06protecting
35:07her?
35:07My
35:08mother
35:08broke
35:08down
35:09completely.
35:10I
35:10was
35:10wrong.
35:11I
35:11never
35:11should
35:12have
35:12made
35:12her
35:12give
35:12everything
35:13up
35:13for
35:13you.
35:14Cecily
35:14snurred.
35:15It's a
35:16little late
35:16for that
35:16now.
35:17She
35:17drew
35:18a pale
35:18bone
35:19knife.
35:20Call
35:20her.
35:21My
35:21mother
35:21shook
35:21her
35:21head
35:22through
35:22her
35:22tears.
35:22I
35:23already
35:23sent
35:24a
35:24letter
35:24telling
35:24her
35:25not
35:25to
35:25come.
35:26Cecily's
35:27expression
35:27turned
35:27cold
35:28in an
35:28instant.
35:29Then
35:29you're
35:30useless.
35:31The
35:31bone
35:32knife
35:32rose.
35:33I
35:33couldn't
35:34hold
35:34back
35:34any
35:34longer.
35:35I
35:37charged
35:37out of
35:38hiding.
35:38She
35:38looked
35:39at me
35:39without
35:39the
35:39slightest
35:40surprise.
35:41You
35:42really
35:42came.
35:43At
35:43that
35:43same
35:44instant,
35:44blood
35:45red
35:45formations
35:45ignited
35:46throughout
35:47the
35:47black
35:47pine
35:47forest.
35:48Cole
35:49and
35:49the
35:49wolf
35:49guards
35:49were
35:50cut
35:50off
35:50outside
35:50the
35:51barrier.
35:51Cecily
35:52had
35:52never
35:52wanted
35:52my
35:53mother.
35:53She
35:54wanted
35:54me.
35:55Dark
35:55markings
35:55of
35:55the
35:56blood
35:56formation
35:56coiled
35:57around
35:57my
35:57ankles.
35:58Cecily
35:58walked
35:59toward
35:59me,
36:00madness
36:00blazing
36:01in her
36:01eyes.
36:02Do you
36:02know what
36:02I've
36:03always
36:03feared
36:03most
36:04about
36:04you?
36:05I
36:05looked
36:05at
36:06her
36:06coldly.
36:06That
36:07I
36:07didn't
36:07die
36:08cleaning
36:08up
36:08one
36:09of
36:09the
36:09disasters
36:09you
36:10created?
36:10Her
36:11expression
36:11twisted.
36:12I
36:13hate
36:13that
36:13you
36:14always
36:14act
36:14so
36:14clear
36:15headed.
36:15What
36:16gives
36:16you
36:16the
36:16right
36:16to
36:17be
36:17the
36:17sane
36:17one.
36:18You
36:18should
36:18have
36:18kept
36:18taking
36:19responsibility
36:20for
36:20me,
36:20just
36:21like
36:21you
36:21always
36:22did.
36:22I
36:22drove
36:23my
36:23blade
36:23toward
36:23her,
36:24but
36:24she
36:24dodged.
36:25Her
36:26bone
36:26knife
36:26whisked
36:27across
36:27of
36:27my
36:27arm.
36:28Blood
36:28dripped
36:28onto
36:29the
36:29formation,
36:30and the
36:30silver
36:31light
36:31suddenly
36:32flared.
36:33Cecily's
36:33eyes
36:34lit up
36:34with
36:35manic
36:35joy.
36:36Just
36:37as
36:37I
36:37thought.
36:38Your
36:38blood
36:39can
36:39still
36:39stabilize
36:40the
36:40silver
36:40moon
36:41bloodline.
36:48outside
36:48the
36:49barrier,
36:49Cole
36:49shifted
36:50into
36:50his
36:50wolf
36:50form
36:51and
36:51slammed
36:51violently
36:52against
36:52the
36:52seal.
36:53Cecily
36:53glanced
36:54at him
36:54smiling
36:54even
36:55more
36:55triumphantly.
36:56Cole,
36:56you're
36:57getting
36:57anxious
36:57too?
36:58I
36:58thought
36:58you
36:58were
36:58supposed
36:59to
36:59be
36:59cold
36:59blooded.
37:00Cole's
37:00voice
37:00came
37:01out
37:01like
37:01it
37:01was
37:01being
37:01ground.
37:02If
37:03you
37:03touch
37:03her,
37:04I'll
37:04wipe
37:04your
37:04entire
37:04bloodline
37:05off
37:05this
37:05world.
37:06No
37:06graves,
37:06no
37:06remnants.
37:07Cecily
37:08grabbed
37:08my
37:08wrist and
37:09tried
37:16scabbed
37:17into
37:17my
37:17mother's
37:17abdomen.
37:18My
37:19mind
37:19went
37:19blank.
37:20Mother!
37:21She
37:21collapsed
37:21into
37:21my
37:22arms,
37:22blood
37:23quickly
37:23soaking
37:23through
37:24her
37:24clothes.
37:24Trembling,
37:25she
37:25reached
37:25into
37:26her
37:26chest
37:26and
37:26pulled
37:27out
37:27a
37:27frost
37:27colored
37:28bone
37:28pendant,
37:29pressing
37:30it
37:30into
37:30my
37:30paw.
37:30Your
37:31father
37:31left
37:31this
37:31for
37:32you.
37:32I
37:32never
37:32should
37:33have
37:33hidden
37:33it.
37:34Ella,
37:34you're
37:34not
37:35weak.
37:35It
37:36was
37:36your
37:36mother
37:36who
37:37was
37:37wrong.
37:37Give
37:37me
37:37the
37:37pendant!
37:38Cecily
37:38screamed
37:39and
37:39lunged.
37:40I
37:40clenched
37:40it
37:40tightly
37:41in
37:41my
37:41hand.
37:41The
37:41next
37:42instant
37:42felt
37:42as if
37:43fire
37:43had
37:43erupted
37:43at the
37:44back
37:44of
37:44my
37:44neck.
37:44The
37:45seal
37:45that
37:45had
37:45bound
37:45me
37:45for
37:46twenty-four
37:46years
37:46shattered.
37:47Silver
37:47white
37:47frost
37:48pattern
37:48spread
37:48from
37:48my
37:48neck
37:49down
37:49to
37:49my
37:49wrist
37:49and
37:49the
37:49blood
37:50formation
37:50backfired
37:51violently,
37:51blasting
37:52Cecius
37:52backward.
37:53Coal
37:53broke
37:53through
37:53the
37:53barrier
37:54and
37:54rushed
37:54to
37:54my
37:54side.
37:55My
37:55mother
37:55raised
37:55a
37:56trembling
37:56hand
37:56trying
37:57to
37:57touch
37:57my
37:57face
37:58but
37:58she
37:58couldn't
37:58reach
37:59it.
37:59Don't
37:59live
37:59for
38:00anyone
38:00else
38:00anymore.
38:01Her
38:01hand
38:02fell.
38:02Cecily
38:03crawled
38:03up
38:03from
38:03the
38:04ground,
38:04hair
38:04disheveled
38:05laughing.
38:06Good.
38:06She
38:07deserved
38:07to die
38:08a long
38:08time
38:08ago.
38:09I
38:09rose
38:09to
38:09my
38:09feet,
38:10gripping
38:10the
38:10short
38:10blade.
38:11Frost
38:11light
38:12gathered
38:12along
38:12the
38:13blade,
38:13shimmering
38:14silver.
38:14For
38:14the
38:15first
38:15time,
38:15Cecily's
38:16face
38:16showed
38:16fear.
38:17Ella,
38:18what are
38:18you going
38:18to do?
38:19Step
38:19by step,
38:20I walked
38:20toward her.
38:21You
38:21said I
38:22was
38:22useful,
38:22didn't
38:23you?
38:23I
38:23lifted
38:24the
38:24blade,
38:24but
38:24I'm
38:24not
38:25useful
38:25anymore.
38:28I
38:28didn't
38:29kill
38:29Cecily,
38:30not
38:30because
38:30I
38:31softened,
38:32because
38:32Cole
38:32stopped
38:33me.
38:34His
38:35hand
38:35closed
38:35around
38:35the
38:36blade,
38:36blood
38:36dripping
38:37down
38:37the
38:37silver
38:37runes
38:38etched
38:38along
38:38his
38:39skin.
38:39She
38:39can't
38:40die
38:40yet.
38:41Let
38:41go!
38:42The
38:43Dark
38:43Moon
38:43rebels
38:44are still
38:46if she's
38:47alive,
38:47we can
38:48force
38:48Varro
38:49to show
38:49himself.
38:50I
38:50don't
38:50care!
38:51I
38:51do!
38:53Cole
38:54looked
38:54at me,
38:55his gaze
38:56as deep
38:56and heavy
38:57as a
38:57dark
38:57sea
38:57at
38:58night.
38:59Ella,
38:59I
39:00won't
39:00let
39:00you
39:00trade
39:00Leo's
39:01life
39:01for
39:01a
39:01moment
39:02of
39:02satisfaction.
39:03Leo,
39:04that
39:05name
39:05made
39:05my
39:06hand
39:06hesitate.
39:07Cecily
39:07lay on
39:08the
39:08ground
39:08and
39:08suddenly
39:09laughed.
39:11Look
39:11at
39:11you,
39:12little
39:12sister.
39:13You're
39:13still
39:14tied
39:14down
39:14by
39:14a
39:14child.
39:15Cole
39:16stomped
39:17down
39:17on
39:17her
39:17wrist.
39:18A
39:18sharp
39:18crack
39:19of
39:19bone
39:19echoed
39:19through
39:20the
39:20hall.
39:21Cecily
39:21screamed,
39:22One
39:23more
39:23word
39:24and
39:24I'll
39:25break
39:25the
39:25other
39:25hand.
39:27She
39:28finally
39:28went
39:28silent.
39:30We
39:31took
39:31her
39:31back
39:31to
39:31Moon
39:32Hall
39:32Hall
39:32as
39:32a
39:32prisoner
39:33along
39:34with
39:34my
39:34mother's
39:34body.
39:37That
39:37night,
39:38I
39:38stayed
39:38by
39:39Leo's
39:39side
39:39and
39:40by
39:40my
39:40mother's
39:41coffin.
39:42Before
39:43dawn,
39:44Cole
39:44entered and
39:45placed a
39:45white cloak
39:46in my
39:46hands.
39:47In the
39:47Northern
39:48Territory,
39:49funerals are
39:49held in
39:50white.
39:53He set
39:53an old
39:54record file
39:54in front of
39:55me.
39:56My father's
39:57name was
39:58written
39:58inside.
40:00He had
40:00been the
40:01strongest border
40:01guard in the
40:02Silver Moon
40:03Territory,
40:04killed by
40:05Dark Moon
40:05Rebels while
40:06protecting
40:06pups.
40:07My mother
40:08had sealed
40:08my Moon
40:09Mark because
40:09she feared I
40:10would be
40:10targeted after
40:11awakening,
40:11and she
40:12also feared
40:12Cecile's
40:13jealousy,
40:14so she
40:14raised us
40:15in hiding
40:15under false
40:16identities.
40:18I closed
40:19my eyes.
40:20Everything
40:21suddenly made
40:21sense.
40:22My mother
40:23favored Cecily
40:24because of
40:24guilt.
40:27She sealed
40:28my power
40:29because of
40:30fear.
40:32But no
40:33matter the
40:33reason,
40:34I was
40:35always the
40:36one sacrificed.
40:37After the
40:38funeral,
40:38Cole took
40:39me to the
40:39dungeon to
40:40see Cecily.
40:40She was
40:42bound in
40:42silver
40:42chains,
40:43pale-faced,
40:44but her
40:44eyes still
40:45refused to
40:46yield.
40:46I asked
40:47her,
40:47did you
40:48ever,
40:49even once,
40:50think of
40:51Leo as
40:51your child?
40:54For a
40:55brief moment,
40:56her expression
40:56went blank.
40:57Then she
40:58laughed.
40:59What use
41:00is a
41:01child?
41:02Only the
41:03weak use
41:04children to
41:04prove they're
41:05loved.
41:08I see.
41:10see what?
41:13That you
41:14don't deserve
41:14to hear him
41:15ask,
41:16when he
41:17grows up,
41:18why his
41:19birth mother
41:20didn't want
41:20him.
41:22Cecily's
41:23expression
41:23finally changed.
41:24I turned
41:25to leave.
41:26Ella!
41:26You think
41:27Cole really
41:28loves you?
41:29He just
41:29needs you
41:29to stabilize
41:30the child!
41:31You and
41:31I are the
41:31same!
41:32We're both
41:33just tools!
41:34We're
41:34different.
41:35When I
41:35protect
41:36Leo,
41:36I at
41:36least know
41:37he can
41:37feel pain.
41:38You only
41:39know he's
41:39useful.
41:40When I
41:40left the
41:41dungeon,
41:41Cole was
41:42waiting
41:42outside.
41:44Do you
41:45need me
41:45because
41:45Leo needs
41:46me?
41:47He didn't
41:47answer right
41:48away.
41:49My heart
41:50went cold.
41:51At first,
41:52yes.
41:52Later,
41:53no.
41:54Then what
41:54is it
41:54now?
41:55Cole looked
41:55at me
41:55like he
41:56was facing
41:56a confession
41:57harder than
41:57any war.
41:58Later,
41:59I realized
41:59something.
42:00When you
42:00walk into
42:01the snowstorm,
42:02you never
42:02once think
42:03about who
42:03might come
42:03to save
42:04you.
42:04Ella,
42:04I want
42:05to be
42:05the one
42:05who
42:05comes.
42:07I
42:08froze.
42:08But you
42:09don't need
42:10saving,
42:11so I want
42:12to stand
42:12beside you
42:13instead.
42:14I didn't
42:15know how
42:15to respond.
42:16At that
42:16moment,
42:17urgent bells
42:18rang out
42:18from the
42:18direction of
42:19the Silver
42:19Wolf Tower.
42:20Melina rushed
42:21into the
42:21corridor,
42:22her face
42:22pale.
42:24The
42:25dungeon's
42:25been
42:25breached.
42:26Cecily
42:26has been
42:27rescued
42:27by the
42:27Dark
42:28Moon
42:28Rebels,
42:28and Leo
42:29is gone
42:29too.
42:31In that
42:31moment,
42:32I couldn't
42:32hear anything
42:33at all.
42:34All I
42:34saw was
42:35Cole's
42:35eyes
42:35shifting
42:36into
42:36beast
42:36form.
42:37The
42:37next
42:37second,
42:38he
42:38transformed
42:38into a
42:39massive
42:39wolf
42:39and charged
42:40out of
42:40Moon Hall Hall.
42:41The Silver
42:42Wolf Tower
42:42was in
42:43ruins.
42:43Guards
42:44lay scattered
42:44across the
42:45floor.
42:45The
42:46priest's
42:46silver
42:46formation
42:47had been
42:47stained
42:48and shattered
42:48by blood.
42:49The cradle
42:50was empty.
42:51Only
42:52Leo's
42:52soft
42:52blanket
42:53remained,
42:53torn at
42:54one corner,
42:55laying on
42:55the ground.
42:56It was
42:57Cecily!
42:58She used
42:59her own
42:59blood to
43:00bypass Leo's
43:01sensing bond.
43:05The
43:05Dark
43:05Moon
43:06Rebels are
43:06heading toward
43:07the Ice
43:07Lake!
43:13Ice
43:14Lake lay
43:14at the
43:14far edge
43:15of the
43:15Northern
43:15Territory.
43:16Beyond it
43:17was Dark
43:17Moon
43:17Wolf
43:17Territory.
43:18Cole
43:19didn't say
43:19a word.
43:19He
43:20lowered his
43:21head and
43:21sniffed the
43:21blanket.
43:22The next
43:22instant,
43:23the giant
43:23wolf burst
43:24into the
43:24snowstorm.
43:25I mounted
43:26a snow
43:26stab brought
43:26by the
43:27wolf
43:27guards and
43:28chased
43:28after him.
43:28At
43:29Ice Lake,
43:29the
43:29blizzard
43:30nearly
43:30erased
43:31all
43:31visibility.
43:32On a
43:32black
43:32altar
43:33in the
43:33distance,
43:34Cecily
43:34stood
43:34holding
43:35Leo,
43:35her
43:35hair
43:36disseveled
43:36like she
43:36had
43:37gone
43:37mad.
43:38Raro
43:38stood
43:38beside
43:39her
43:39with
43:39Dark
43:40Moon
43:40Wolf
43:40soldiers
43:40behind
43:41him.
43:41Leo's
43:42cries
43:42were already
43:43hoarse.
43:43It felt
43:44like my
43:44chest
43:44had been
43:44torn
43:45open.
43:45Cecily!
43:46She
43:46turned
43:47and saw
43:47me,
43:48her
43:48smile
43:48twisted.
43:50You
43:50got here
43:51fast.
43:51I walked
43:52toward her
43:52step by
43:53step.
43:54Give
43:54me the
43:54child.
43:55Why
43:56would
43:56I?
43:56She
43:57clutched
43:57Leo
43:57tighter.
43:59He's
43:59my
43:59son.
44:00You
44:00gave
44:00birth
44:01to
44:01him,
44:01but
44:02you
44:02never
44:02loved
44:02him.
44:03Her
44:03expression
44:04changed
44:04instantly.
44:05Varo
44:05let out
44:05a
44:06cold
44:06laugh.
44:07Enough
44:07talk,
44:08hand
44:08over
44:08the
44:08child.
44:09The
44:09Silver
44:09Moon
44:10territory
44:10will
44:10fall
44:11into
44:11chaos.
44:12Without
44:12an
44:12heir,
44:13Cole's
44:13line
44:14ends
44:14and
44:15the
44:15North
44:15will
44:15eventually
44:16be
44:16mine.
44:17Only
44:17then
44:17did
44:17I
44:18understand.
44:19Cecily
44:19had never
44:19come here
44:20to be
44:20a
44:20mother.
44:21She
44:21was
44:21using
44:22Leo
44:22as
44:22a
44:22bargaining
44:22chip
44:23for
44:23her
44:23escape
44:23Ruth.
44:24She
44:25looked
44:25at
44:25Cole,
44:25fear
44:26and
44:26hatred
44:26mixing
44:27in
44:27her
44:27eyes.
44:28I
44:28just
44:28want
44:28to
44:29live!
44:29Why
44:30are
44:30all
44:30of
44:30you
44:31forcing
44:31me?
44:32I
44:32said
44:32coldly,
44:33nobody
44:33forced
44:34you
44:34to
44:34abandon
44:41Cicely
44:42screamed.
44:43Leo
44:43cried
44:44even
44:44harder,
44:45terrified
44:46by
44:46her
44:46voice.
44:47Cole
44:47stepped
44:47forward.
44:48Varro
44:48immediately
44:49pressed a
44:49blade
44:50against
44:50the
44:50edge
44:50of
44:50Leo's
44:51swaddling
44:51cloth.
44:52One
44:52more
44:52step
44:52and
44:53your
44:53son
44:53bleeds.
44:54Cole
44:54stopped.
44:55I
44:55saw
44:55his
44:55hand
44:56tremble.
44:56The
44:56silver
44:57moon
44:57alpha,
44:57who
44:58had
44:58never
44:58once
44:58bowed
44:58his
44:59head,
44:59found
44:59his
45:00fatal
45:00weakness
45:00seized
45:01for
45:01the
45:01very
45:01first
45:01time.
45:05I
45:05slowly
45:06lowered
45:06my
45:06short
45:06blade.
45:08Cicely,
45:08what
45:08do
45:09you
45:09want?
45:09She
45:09stared
45:09at
45:10me.
45:10I
45:10want
45:10Cole
45:10to
45:11acknowledge
45:11me
45:11as
45:11Leo's
45:12mother.
45:13I
45:13want
45:13to
45:13become
45:13the
45:14mistress
45:14of
45:14the
45:14silver
45:14moon
45:15territory.
45:16I
45:16want
45:16everyone
45:16to
45:17know
45:17I
45:17didn't
45:17lose
45:17to
45:18you.
45:18I
45:18looked
45:18at
45:19her.
45:19You
45:19never
45:19lost
45:20me.
45:21She
45:21froze.
45:22I
45:22said,
45:23from
45:23the
45:24beginning,
45:24how
45:24much
45:25did
45:25I
45:25even
45:25keep
45:25from
45:25giving
45:26you?
45:27Clothes,
45:27food,
45:28mother,
45:29even
45:29my
45:29moon
45:29mark,
45:30I
45:30gave
45:30it
45:30all
45:30to
45:30you.
45:31But
45:31it
45:31was
45:31never
45:32enough.
45:33Because
45:33what
45:33you
45:33wanted
45:34was
45:34never
45:34what
45:34I
45:35had.
45:36What
45:36you
45:36wanted
45:37was
45:37someone
45:37else
45:38to
45:38take
45:38responsibility
45:39for
45:39your
45:39life.
45:40Cecily's
45:41face
45:41turned
45:41paler
45:42and
45:42paler.
45:43But
45:43this
45:43time,
45:44it
45:44doesn't
45:44work.
45:46I
45:46met
45:46her
45:47eyes.
45:47Leo
45:48isn't
45:48your
45:48escape
45:48route.
45:49He's
45:49a
45:49child
45:50who
45:50feels
45:50pain,
45:51who
45:52cries,
45:52who
45:53is
45:53afraid.
45:59crying
46:00and
46:00grabbing
46:00toward
46:00me.
46:01He
46:01couldn't
46:02speak.
46:03But
46:04I
46:04knew
46:04he
46:05was
46:05looking
46:05for
46:06me.
46:08I
46:08lunged
46:08forward.
46:10Varro
46:10reacted
46:10instantly,
46:11swinging
46:12his
46:12blade
46:12down.
46:13Coley
46:13transformed
46:14into a
46:14black
46:14and
46:14silver
46:15giant
46:15wolf
46:15and
46:16slammed
46:16into
46:16Vargo,
46:17knocking
46:17him
46:17away.
46:18The
46:18two
46:18wolves
46:19tore
46:19into
46:19each
46:20other
46:20across
46:20the
46:20ice,
46:21the
46:21frozen
46:21surface
46:22cracking
46:22in
46:22widening
46:23fractures.
46:24Cecily
46:24stumbled
46:24backward
46:25while
46:25holding
46:25Leo,
46:26slipping
46:26toward a
46:27widening
46:27crack
46:27in
46:27the
46:27ice.
46:28I
46:28threw
46:28myself
46:29forward
46:29and
46:29grabbed
46:30Leo's
46:30swiddling.
46:31Cecily
46:32clung
46:32tightly,
46:32refusing
46:33to let
46:33go.
46:33He's
46:34mine!
46:35You
46:35don't
46:35deserve
46:36him!
46:36The
46:37swaddle
46:37tore.
46:38Leo
46:38slipped
46:39from her
46:39arms.
46:39I
46:40caught
46:40him
46:40at
46:40once,
46:41but
46:41the
46:41force
46:42carried
46:42me
46:42toward
46:42the
46:43breaking
46:43ice.
46:45Coe
46:45turned
46:45back
46:45and
46:45saw
46:46it.
46:46His
46:47beast
46:47pupils
46:47contracted
46:48sharply.
46:50He
46:51abandoned
46:51Varro
46:52and
46:52lunged
46:52forward,
46:53buying
46:53down
46:54on
46:54my
46:54cloak.
46:58The
46:59ice
46:59gave
46:59way
46:59completely.
47:01Cecily
47:01screamed
47:02as she
47:02fell,
47:03still
47:03reaching
47:04for
47:04Leo.
47:05I
47:05held
47:06the
47:06child
47:06tightly
47:06and
47:07kicked
47:07her
47:07hand
47:07away.
47:08This
47:09time,
47:09I
47:09won't
47:10let
47:10you
47:10take
47:10anything
47:11from
47:11me
47:11again.
47:16Cecily
47:17plunged
47:17into
47:18the
47:18black
47:18water.
47:21Varro
47:22tried
47:22to
47:23escape,
47:23but
47:23Cole
47:24crushed
47:24his
47:25throat
47:25with
47:25a
47:25single
47:26claw
47:26strike.
47:27The
47:27blizzard
47:28finally
47:28stopped.
47:29I
47:30knelt
47:30on
47:30the
47:30ice,
47:31holding
47:32Leo,
47:32my
47:33hands
47:33shaking
47:34so
47:34badly
47:34I
47:34could
47:35barely
47:35keep
47:35him
47:35in
47:36my
47:36arms.
47:37His
47:38face
47:38was
47:38red
47:38from
47:39crying,
47:39but
47:40the
47:40moment
47:40he
47:41was
47:41in
47:41my
47:41embrace,
47:42his
47:42cries
47:43slowly
47:43faded.
47:46Cole
47:47shifted
47:47back
47:48into
47:48human
47:48form.
47:49His
47:49arm
47:49was
47:50mangled
47:50and
47:50blooded
47:51from
47:51Varro's
47:52bite.
47:53Does
47:54it
47:54hurt?
47:56It's
47:57fine.
47:57Leo
47:58suddenly
47:58grabbed
47:59his
47:59injured
47:59finger.
48:00Cole
48:00stiffened,
48:01but
48:02forced
48:02himself
48:02not
48:03to
48:03pull
48:03away.
48:06I
48:07looked
48:07at
48:07him.
48:08You
48:08can
48:08say
48:09it
48:09hurts
48:09now.
48:10You
48:10don't
48:11have
48:11to
48:11be
48:11the
48:11alpha
48:11with
48:12me.
48:12He
48:13stayed
48:13silent
48:13for
48:14a
48:14long
48:14time.
48:15It
48:15hurts.
48:16And
48:17then
48:17at
48:17Leo
48:17smiled.
48:18It
48:19was
48:19the
48:19first
48:19real
48:19smile
48:20since
48:20he
48:20was
48:21born.
48:21Light,
48:22soft,
48:23like
48:23the
48:23first
48:24beam
48:24of
48:24sunlight
48:24rising
48:25at
48:25the
48:25edge
48:25of
48:26a
48:26frozen
48:26world.
48:29Cecily
48:30didn't
48:30die.
48:30She
48:31was
48:31swept
48:31ashore
48:31by
48:32the
48:32icy
48:32undercurrent
48:33of
48:33the
48:33lake.
48:33By
48:33the
48:34time
48:34she
48:34was
48:34pulled
48:34out
48:34her
48:35wolf
48:35mark
48:35had
48:41portation
48:41arrayas.
48:42No
48:42one
48:42left
48:43to
48:43carry
48:43her
48:43burdens
48:43for
48:44her.
48:44The
48:44White
48:45Feather
48:45Wolf
48:45Clan
48:46was
48:46stripped
48:46of
48:46its
48:46border
48:47garrison
48:47for
48:48colluding
48:48with
48:48the
48:48rebels.
48:49The
48:49Dark
48:50Moon
48:50insurgents
48:50were
48:51expelled
48:51from
48:51the
48:52north.
48:52I
48:53returned
48:53to
48:53the
48:53border
48:54hunting
48:54village
48:54with
48:55Leo
48:55and
48:55carved
48:56my
48:56mother's
48:56name
48:56into
48:57a
48:57white
48:57stone
48:58grave
48:58myself.
48:59I
48:59didn't
49:00forgive
49:00everything
49:00she
49:01had
49:01done,
49:01but
49:02I
49:02accepted
49:02her
49:03final
49:03apology.
49:04After
49:05we
49:05returned
49:05to
49:05the
49:05Silver
49:06Moon
49:06territory,
49:07Cola
49:07started
49:08learning
49:08how
49:08to
49:08be
49:08a
49:09father.
49:09The
49:09first
49:10time
49:10he
49:10changed
49:10Leo's
49:11swaddle,
49:11he
49:12managed
49:12to
49:12shut
49:12both
49:13of
49:13the
49:13baby's
49:13legs
49:14into
49:14the
49:14same
49:14opening.
49:15I
49:16stared
49:16for
49:16a
49:16long
49:16moment.
49:17Are
49:18you
49:18swaddling
49:18a
49:18baby
49:19or
49:19binding
49:19a
49:20prisoner?
49:20He
49:21kept
49:21kicking.
49:22He's
49:22an
49:23infant,
49:23not
49:23an
49:23enemy
49:24soldier.
49:26Enemy
49:26Soldiers
49:27are
49:27easier
49:27to
49:27handle
49:33this.
49:33The
49:34Silver
49:34Moon
49:34Alpha
49:35could
49:35tear
49:35through
49:36Dark
49:36Moon
49:36Rebels
49:36without
49:37mercy.
49:38But
49:38in a
49:39war
49:39council
49:39meeting,
49:40he
49:40could
49:40be
49:40immobilized
49:41by his
49:42own
49:42son
49:42grabbing
49:43his
49:43drawer,
49:43not
49:44daring
49:44to
49:44move
49:45an
49:45inch.
49:46On
49:46Leo's
49:47full
49:47Moon
49:47celebration,
49:48Melina
49:49held a
49:49blessing
49:49ritual
49:50for him
49:50by
49:51the
49:51Moonspring.
49:52By
49:52the
49:52water's
49:53edge,
49:53Coley
49:54stood
49:54beside
49:54me.
49:55Ella.
49:56Yeah?
49:57Stay
49:57in the
49:58Silver
49:58Moon
49:58territory.
50:01Wasn't
50:02I
50:02already
50:02staying?
50:03Not
50:03because
50:03of
50:04Leo.
50:04I
50:05turned
50:05to
50:05look
50:05at
50:06him.
50:06Under
50:07the
50:07moonlight,
50:08his gaze
50:08was far
50:09gentler than
50:09the first
50:10time I
50:10had ever
50:10seen him.
50:11Because
50:11of
50:12me?
50:12He
50:13held
50:13out
50:13his
50:13hand.
50:14In
50:14his
50:15palm
50:15was a
50:15black
50:15and
50:15silver
50:16ring.
50:17Carved
50:17into
50:17it
50:17were
50:18the
50:18silver
50:18moon
50:18and
50:19wolf
50:19signals.
50:20I
50:20won't
50:20ask
50:21you
50:21to
50:21be
50:21my
50:21mate.
50:22I
50:22won't
50:22ask
50:22you
50:22to
50:22stand
50:23beside
50:23a
50:23throne.
50:24I
50:25only
50:25ask
50:25will
50:26you
50:26stay
50:28and
50:28help
50:28me
50:28turn
50:29this
50:29place
50:29into
50:29somewhere
50:30Leo
50:30can
50:30grow
50:30up
50:31safe.
50:31Leo
50:32stirred
50:32in
50:33my
50:33arms
50:33and
50:33slapped
50:34his
50:34tiny
50:34hand
50:35right
50:35onto
50:35the
50:35ring.
50:36As
50:37if
50:37making
50:37the
50:37decision
50:38for
50:38me.
50:39Your
50:39son
50:39already
50:40stamped
50:40it.
50:40How
50:41am
50:41I
50:41supposed
50:41to
50:41refuse?
50:42I
50:42took
50:43the
50:43ring
50:43and
50:43slipped
50:44it
50:44onto
50:44my
50:44finger
50:45myself.
50:47Coley
50:48Darkhorn,
50:48I'm
50:49not
50:49staying
50:49because
50:50I
50:50have
50:50nowhere
50:50else
50:50to
50:51go.
50:52I'm
50:53staying
50:53because
50:53I
50:53chose
50:54this
50:54place.
50:58I
50:59chose
50:59Leo
51:01and
51:02I
51:02chose
51:02you.
51:06Much
51:07later,
51:07all the
51:08northern wolf
51:08clans
51:09knew this.
51:10The
51:10Silver
51:11Moon
51:11Alpha
51:11had
51:12two
51:12weaknesses.
51:13One
51:13was a
51:13pup
51:14born
51:14with
51:14the
51:14Silver
51:15Moon
51:15Mark.
51:16The
51:16other
51:16was
51:16a
51:16Border
51:17Wolf
51:17woman
51:17who
51:17dared
51:18to
51:18walk
51:18into
51:18Moon
51:19Hall
51:19with
51:19a
51:19child
51:19in
51:19her
51:20arms.
51:21And
51:21force
51:21him
51:22to
51:22acknowledge
51:22his
51:22blood
51:23bond.
51:23They
51:23also
51:24knew
51:24this.
51:25Those
51:25two
51:25weaknesses
51:26were
51:26never
51:26his
51:27downfall.
51:28They
51:28were
51:28the
51:28home
51:29he
51:29finally
51:29chose
51:30to
51:30defend.
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