Alpha baby Choose me Full
Watch the full short drama with English subtitles. CEO, billionaire, revenge, betrayal — complete story in one video.
#shortdrama #ceodrama #drama #revenge #fullmovie #englishsub #reelshort #dramabox #miniseries #love #betrayal #drama2026
Watch the full short drama with English subtitles. CEO, billionaire, revenge, betrayal — complete story in one video.
#shortdrama #ceodrama #drama #revenge #fullmovie #englishsub #reelshort #dramabox #miniseries #love #betrayal #drama2026
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Inside the Moonspring Birthing House, a woman lay on a wooden bed,
00:04groaning in agony as she gave birth.
00:05The woman clenched her fists and pushed hard.
00:08A baby's cry rang out.
00:09The 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,
00:28like 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?
00:45My mother trembled as she cried.
00:47Koli Darkhan!
00:49I froze.
00:50Koli Darkhorn, Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack
00:52and the most powerful werewolf lord in the Northern Territory.
00:55Rumor had it he was cold-blooded and ruthless.
00:57He even hung Trader's bones in the snowy forest as a warning to others.
01:00Lowering her voice, my mother said,
01:03Your 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
01:14and 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,
01:24he 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 Moon Howell Hall,
02:20wolf 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 Dark Harp sat upon his throne.
02:31Short hair rests upon his black battle cloak,
02:33and 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,
03:06and 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, taken 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,
03:27he must be entered into the blood registry.
03:30Cole cut his fingertip,
03:31and a drop of blood fell onto the blood oath stone.
03:34Silver light exploded outward.
03:36A line of text appeared green 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.
04:10Why?
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,
04:20his forehead rest against my chest,
04:21and the silver moon blood mark was gradually warming.
04:24Because he only recognizes you.
04:27I was confined to the coldest side chamber in Silvermoon Castle.
04:31They called it a side chamber,
04:33but it was larger than the elder's house back in the hunting village.
04:36Silver wolf pelts hung from the stone walls,
04:39blue 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,
05:08the 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, the 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, Cole 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.
06:46She smiled at me.
06:48Ella, you really did bring him to Cole.
06:55A chill swept through me.
06:57She hadn't been running for her life.
06:59This had all been intentional.
07:00Cecily's voice drifted from the blood mist.
07:02Take good care of him for me.
07:05When I return, I'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.
07:30Once Cole acknowledged Leo's bloodline,
07:33she'd come 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,
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.
08:13Three more gentle pads,
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?
08:29By holding a baby,
08:30not interrogating a prisoner.
08:31He looked at me coldly.
08:33I met his eyes without flinching.
08:36A 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,
08:43even 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.
09:14Of course I wanted to leave.
09:17But 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
09:30just 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
09:45to 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
09:56for a long moment.
09:58Are you telling me
09:58how to do my job?
09:59I'm reminding you
10:00not to be stupid.
10:02This time,
10:03even Milena
10:03lowered her head.
10:04Cole stepped closer.
10:06His scent carried
10:07the cold,
10:08metallic edge
10:08of a snowy night.
10:10Ella,
10:11didn't anyone
10:12in that border-hunting village
10:13teach you
10:14to lower your head
10:15when speaking
10:16to the Silver Moon Alpha?
10:18Holding Leo in my arms,
10:20I didn't retreat
10:21even a single step.
10:24They did.
10:25Then why don't you?
10:28Because if I lower my head,
10:30no one will be left
10:31to protect him.
10:32For a brief moment,
10:34something in Cole's eyes
10:35deepened.
10:36That night,
10:37Leo developed a fever.
10:39Not an ordinary fever.
10:41The moon mark
10:42on his forehead
10:43burned as if it had
10:44been set on fire.
10:45His tiny body
10:46curled up beneath
10:47the blanket,
10:48soft whimpers
10:48escaping his throat
10:49like a distressed wolf pup.
10:51I carried him
10:52to the door.
10:54Get a priest!
10:55The wolf guard
10:56standing watch
10:57hesitated.
10:58The Alpha ordered
10:59that no one is to leave
11:00without permission.
11:01I slammed my foot
11:02against 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
11:10arrived at the same time.
11:13Melina took one look
11:14at Leo,
11:15and all color
11:16drained from her face.
11:17His moon mark
11:18awakened too early.
11:22Cole's expression
11:23hardened.
11:24What does that mean?
11:25The silver moon bloodline
11:27inside him
11:27is too powerful.
11:29He's too young
11:30to withstand it.
11:31He needs someone
11:32with the same bloodline
11:33to stabilize him.
11:35Cole reached out
11:36to take the child.
11:37The moment Leo
11:38touched his fingertips,
11:39silver light exploded.
11:41His cries turned sharp
11:42and piercing
11:43as though he were
11:44being torn apart.
11:45Terrified,
11:46I snatched Leo
11:47back into my arms.
11:48Don't touch him!
11:50Cole's hand froze
11:51in midair.
11:51Melina spoke urgently.
11:53My lord,
11:54your bloodline
11:55is too powerful.
11:56It's overwhelming him.
11:57We need someone
11:57he trusts
11:58to act as a buffer.
11:59Cole looked at me.
12:01My heart sank.
12:02Me?
12:02Leo recognizes
12:03your scent.
12:05Hold him
12:05while I channel
12:06the bloodline power
12:07into you.
12:07Then you'll pass it
12:08on to soothe him.
12:09I knew it was
12:10going to hurt.
12:11But Leo's cries
12:12had already grown weak
12:13from exhaustion
12:14and his tiny hand
12:15still 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
12:24through my veins.
12:26It shot up my arm
12:27and into my shoulder
12:28like countless tiny blades
12:30scraping against my bones.
12:31Pain darkened my vision
12:33but I held Leo tightly
12:35and kept soothing him
12:36over and over.
12:38Leo, 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
12:47burning sensation
12:48flared at the back
12:49of my neck.
12:51Melina gasped.
12:52Her moon mark!
12:54I 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
13:02moon mark.
13:03There's a bloodline seal
13:04on her.
13:05Cole's eyes
13:06instantly 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
13:14was weak,
13:15that I would never
13:16become a powerful wolf.
13:17She told me
13:18not to compete,
13:20not to fight,
13:21not to stand out.
13:23So I hadn't been
13:24born 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,
13:42I did it for your own good.
13:44I had heard those words
13:45for twenty-four 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 Cecilia know
14:24about this?
14:25My 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 I had
14:33a 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 dependent
14:43on me.
14:43I looked at my mother
14:45and asked one word
14:46at a time.
14:47You believed
14:48everything she told you.
14:50When she said
14:51I should claim the 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 opened
15:05her 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 one sentence
15:23written on it.
15:24Before the next full moon,
15:26I will come for my son.
15:29I tightened my hold
15:31on 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 and me
15:43into the silver wolf tower.
15:44The entire silver moon territory
15:46was talking about it.
15:47A low-ranked she-wolf
15:48from the borderlands
15:49had somehow moved
15:50into the alpha's inner tower
15:51with a child
15:52of the silver moon bloodline.
15:54Trouble arrived
15:54on the very first day.
15:56The visitor was Lydia
15:57of the White Feather Pack.
15:59She was the alliance bride
16:00the elders had chosen
16:01for Cole.
16:02Dressed in a snow-white gown
16:04and followed by six attendants,
16:06she walked in
16:06without sparing me
16:07so much as a glance.
16:09I heard the child
16:10is wary of strangers.
16:12She looked toward Leo's cradle.
16:13I came to see him.
16:14I stepped in front of the cradle.
16:16He just fell asleep.
16:17Lydia smiled gently,
16:18but her words
16:19were sharp as needles.
16:20Miss Ella,
16:21you're only looking
16:21after Leo temporarily.
16:23Don't forget your place.
16:24I remember my place
16:25perfectly well.
16:26I said,
16:28his mother dumped him on me,
16:29his father won't let me leave,
16:31and now you're here
16:32reminding me
16:32not to think too highly
16:33of myself.
16:34One of the attendants snapped.
16:35How dare you?
16:36Miss Lydia will be
16:37the future Luna
16:37of the Silvermoon Territory.
16:39I nodded.
16:39Then she can start
16:40giving me orders
16:41when she actually becomes one.
16:43For a moment,
16:44Lydia's composure cracked.
16:46She walked to the cradle
16:47and reached down
16:48to pick up Leo.
16:49I didn't stop her.
16:50The instant her fingertips
16:51brushed the swaddling cloth,
16:53Leo's eyes flew open.
16:55A low growl,
16:56startlingly wolfish
16:57for an infant,
16:57rumbled from his throat.
16:59In the next second,
17:00a burst of silver light
17:01threw Lydia backward.
17:02She staggered three-step.
17:06A crescent-shaped burn
17:08appearing across
17:08the back of her hand.
17:10The attendants
17:10cried out in alarm.
17:12Miss Lydia!
17:13Leo turned his head
17:13toward me instead.
17:15His little mouth trembled,
17:16and he began
17:17to cry miserably.
17:19I quickly scooped him up.
17:21The moment he settled
17:22into my arms,
17:23he quieted down.
17:25Footsteps sounded
17:26from the doorway.
17:27Cole had arrived.
17:28Lydia's eyes
17:28immediately reddened.
17:29Cole, Leo rejects me
17:30because this woman
17:31taught him to.
17:32Cole glanced
17:33at her injured hand.
17:34Leo isn't even
17:35seven days old.
17:36He can't understand
17:37a single word.
17:37Lydia's expression
17:38darkened.
17:39Then Cole added,
17:40Without my permission,
17:41don't touch him again.
17:46I'm your alliance bride.
17:48That was the final blow
17:50to her composure.
17:51That was only
17:52the Elder's proposal.
17:53The White Feather Pack
17:55has already prepared
17:56the betrothal gifts!
17:57Then send them back.
17:58At last,
17:59resentment surfed openly
18:01in Lydia's eyes.
18:02As she passed by me,
18:03she lowered her voice
18:04and said,
18:05Ella,
18:06you can't protect it.
18:08Cecil has already
18:09sold the information
18:10to the Dark Moon Rebels.
18:12The entire Northern Territory
18:14knows now
18:14that the Silver Moon Alpha
18:16has an heir.
18:17I held Leo in my arms,
18:19my heart sinking.
18:20That alone was enough.
18:21There was no need
18:22for some ancient temple
18:23or a complicated prophecy.
18:25Leo was just
18:26a newborn child.
18:27But because he was Cole's son,
18:29people already wanted
18:30to take him,
18:31use him,
18:31or kill him.
18:32That night,
18:33Cole convened a council
18:34of his commanders.
18:36Originally,
18:36I wasn't allowed to attend.
18:38I stood at the doorway
18:39with Leo in my arms.
18:41You're discussing his life.
18:42Why shouldn't I be
18:43allowed to hear it?
18:45Cole glanced at me.
18:46Come in.
18:47Inside the council chamber
18:48sat seven Wolfguard commanders,
18:51three priests,
18:52and several elders.
18:53One of them frowned.
18:55My lord,
18:57this is a military council.
18:59Cole replied calmly.
19:01She stays.
19:02The Dark Moon Rebels
19:04were gathering along
19:04the northern border,
19:05and Sicily was traveling
19:07with Varro.
19:09One elder proposed
19:11sending Leo
19:12to the Sanctuary
19:13Curie of the Sacred Spring,
19:15where the priests
19:15could take custody of him.
19:17I asked coldly,
19:18custody
19:19or confinement?
19:21Every eye in the room
19:22turned toward me.
19:23I continued,
19:24the moment you move him
19:25out of the Silver Wolf Tower,
19:26you'll be tossing meat
19:27into a pack of starving wolves.
19:29An elder from the
19:30White Feather Pack
19:31frowned.
19:31Your words are too harsh.
19:34I looked at him.
19:36What you're proposing
19:37is even uglier.
19:38He slammed a hand
19:39onto the table.
19:40Your borderland girl.
19:42Leo suddenly started crying.
19:44The moon mark
19:45on his forehead
19:46flared to life.
19:47Frost instantly spread
19:49across the entire
19:50council table.
19:52The White Feather Elder's hand
19:54froze solid
19:55against the tabletop.
19:56Cole made no move
19:58to help him.
19:59He merely looked down
20:00at Leo,
20:01his voice noticeably softer.
20:03Let go.
20:08Leo, of course,
20:09couldn't understand him.
20:11He only cried harder.
20:13I sighed.
20:16You can't comfort a baby
20:18with the same voice
20:19you used to interrogate
20:20prisoners.
20:21Gore fell silent.
20:22I lifted Leo
20:22and gently patted his back.
20:24There there.
20:25I know.
20:27You don't like him.
20:28The frost
20:29gradually retreated.
20:30The White Feather Elder
20:31awkwardly yanked his hand free.
20:33Cole swept his gaze
20:35across the room.
20:36From this day forward,
20:38no one is permitted
20:39to approach Leo
20:40under the pretense
20:41of caring for him.
20:44Anyone who disobeys
20:45will be treated
20:46as a traitor.
20:47This time,
20:48no one dared object.
20:49In the middle of the night,
20:51Leo started crying again.
20:53The wet nurse
20:53couldn't soothe him.
20:55The priests
20:56couldn't soothe him.
20:57Even I couldn't soothe him
20:59while holding him.
21:00After examining him,
21:02Melina turned to Cole
21:03with a complicated expression.
21:05Leo needs comfort
21:06from a matching wolf form.
21:07Cole, he frowned.
21:08Explain.
21:11He needs to sleep
21:12against your wolf form.
21:14The room fell silent.
21:16I looked at Cole.
21:18Cole looked at me.
21:19After a long pause,
21:21I fought back a smile.
21:22My lord,
21:24maybe you should shift.
21:25Of course,
21:26Cole refused.
21:27He was the Silver Moon Alpha,
21:29the most powerful
21:30werewolf ruler
21:31in the Northern Territory.
21:33Asking him to turn
21:34into a giant wolf
21:35so a baby
21:36could use him
21:36as a mattress.
21:38It was harder
21:39than asking him
21:40to admit defeat
21:41in public.
21:42In the end,
21:42Cole walked to the center
21:43of the thick rug
21:44with a dark expression.
21:45A flash of silver light
21:46filled the room.
21:47A massive black and silver wolf
21:49appeared before me.
21:50His shoulders were as high
21:51as a small hill,
21:52silver fur cascading
21:53to the floor,
21:53while dark gold wolf eyes
21:54stared at me coldly.
21:56I carried Leo over.
21:57The moment Leo caught his scent,
21:59he stopped crying.
22:00His tiny hand even reached up
22:02and grabbed the tip
22:03of the giant wolf's ear.
22:05Cole's entire body
22:06went rigid.
22:06I bit back a laugh.
22:08Don't move.
22:09He just calmed down.
22:10The giant wolf glared at me.
22:12I gently laid out
22:13between his front paws.
22:15Curled against the warm fur,
22:17the little one
22:17quickly fell asleep.
22:19That night
22:20became the most peaceful sleep
22:21Leo had had
22:22since the day he was born.
22:25The next morning,
22:26Leo woke up
22:27clutching a small tuft
22:28of silver fur.
22:29I glanced at the patch
22:30near Kaur Temple,
22:31which seemed noticeably thinner.
22:33You shed.
22:34Kaur expression darkened.
22:36Be quiet.
22:37I tucked the tuft of fur
22:39into a small cloth pouch.
22:41If he cries
22:41when you're not around,
22:42maybe this will work.
22:43After a brief silence,
22:44Kaur said,
22:45He's not a puppy.
22:47But you looked a lot
22:48like one last night.
22:49Outside the door,
22:50the wolf guard suddenly erupted
22:51into a fit of coughing.
22:53Those peaceful days
22:54didn't last long.
22:55On the day of the
22:56Moonspring Blessing Ceremony,
22:57the elders demanded
22:59that Leo publicly receive
23:00the Bloodline Blessing
23:01to prove he was
23:02the future heir
23:03of the Silver Moon Pack.
23:05Cole originally intended
23:06to refuse.
23:07I said instead,
23:08We're going.
23:09He looked at me.
23:09Do you realize
23:10how many eyes
23:10will be on him?
23:11I do.
23:12Holding Leo in my arms,
23:13I continued.
23:15But he can't stay hidden
23:16in the tower forever.
23:20The people who want
23:21to hurt him
23:22will reveal themselves
23:23sooner or later.
23:24So we brought Leo
23:25to the Moonspring
23:25high platform.
23:26A fierce snowstorm
23:28swept across the ceremony
23:29that day.
23:30The banners of the various
23:31wolf packs snapped
23:32loudly in the wind.
23:34I stood beside Cole
23:35with Leo in my arms.
23:37Countless eyes settled on me.
23:39Some were filled
23:40with contempt.
23:41Some with scrutiny.
23:43Some with jealousy.
23:44And some with naked greed.
23:47Leo's Bloodline is noble,
23:48but his mother's background
23:50remains uncertain.
23:51If Cecily returns,
23:53then according to the ancient laws,
23:54she has the right
23:55to reclaim her child.
23:55She abandoned him
23:56the moment she gave birth.
23:57What right does she have
23:58to take him back?
23:59She is still his birth mother.
24:01At that moment,
24:02the sky suddenly darkened.
24:04A black raven fell onto
24:06the center of the high platform
24:07and burst into a pool of blood.
24:09A figure emerged
24:10from the swirling blood mist.
24:12It was Cecily.
24:13Her gaze settled on Leo
24:15in my arms,
24:15and she smiled gently.
24:17Sister, give me back my child.
24:21The entire platform
24:22erupted into chaos.
24:24Wolf guards drew their blaves.
24:26The priests formed
24:27protective circles.
24:29People hurriedly backed away.
24:31Only I remained where I was,
24:33holding Leo
24:34and staring at Selina's figure
24:35in the blood mist.
24:36She wore her red cloak,
24:38and her complexion
24:40looked even better
24:41than when she had left.
24:44She didn't look like
24:45a mother on the run.
24:47She looked like a hunter
24:49returning to claim her prize.
24:51I asked.
24:55You still remember
24:57he's your child?
24:58Cecily's eyes
24:59locked onto Leo,
25:00shining with an
25:01unsettling intensity.
25:02Of course.
25:03I gave birth to him.
25:05You abandoned him
25:06the moment he was born
25:06and dumped him on me.
25:08Ella,
25:08I didn't have a choice.
25:10You've always been
25:11stronger than me.
25:12You could handle it.
25:14That phrase again.
25:15You could handle it.
25:17Which was why
25:18everyone handed me
25:19the knife and expected
25:20me to drive it
25:21into my own heart.
25:22My voice turned cold.
25:23I'm not your shield.
25:24Cecily looked toward Cole,
25:27her tone softening.
25:29Core,
25:30I know you hate me
25:31for deceiving you.
25:32But Leo is our child.
25:34Are you really going
25:35to let an outsider
25:36hold him while
25:37standing between us?
25:38You don't deserve
25:39to say his name.
25:40The smile on Cecily's
25:41face stiffened.
25:42Whatever mistakes
25:43that Cecily made,
25:45she is still
25:46the birth mother.
25:47According to the
25:47ancient laws,
25:48she has the right
25:49to petition the
25:50Moonspring for
25:51a recognition ryle.
25:53Then I understood.
25:54This so-called
25:55blessing ceremony
25:56had been paving the way
25:57for Cecile all along.
25:58You don't have to accept.
26:00The white feather elder
26:01scoffed.
26:02Is the silver moon
26:03alpha afraid?
26:05Whispers immediately
26:06spread through the crowd.
26:08I looked down at Leo.
26:09He was still too young
26:10to understand schemes
26:11and manipulation.
26:13But Cecily had
26:14given birth to him.
26:15The pull of blood
26:15could not simply
26:16be erased.
26:17I raised my head.
26:18Fine.
26:19Collet frowned.
26:21Ella.
26:22I didn't look at him.
26:23My eyes stayed fixed
26:24on Cecily.
26:25But I have one condition.
26:29If Leo doesn't recognize you,
26:31you'll admit before everyone
26:33that you willingly
26:34abandoned him.
26:35Cecily smiled.
26:36And if he does recognize me,
26:38I tightened my hold on Leo.
26:42I'll hand him over to you.
26:45I'll hand him over to you.
26:45Cole immediately grabbed my wrist.
26:46Lowering my voice,
26:47I said,
26:48I won't lose.
26:50What makes you so certain?
26:52I looked at Leo in my arms.
26:55Because she's never held him.
26:57The moonspring recognition
27:00reet began.
27:01The sacred spring transformed
27:02into a silver mirror.
27:04On the opposite side
27:06stood at Cecily's blood shadow.
27:08Her hand outstretched toward Leo.
27:10Come to mommy, sweetheart.
27:12Leo opened his dark gold eyes
27:15and looked at her quietly.
27:16The entire crowd held its breath.
27:20His tiny hand tritched.
27:22A victorious smile
27:24spread across Cecily's face.
27:26Then,
27:26in the very next instant,
27:28Leo turned away.
27:29He grabbed my collar
27:31with all his strength
27:32and buried his face
27:33against my chest.
27:34The mirrored surface
27:35of the sacred spring
27:36shattered
27:36with a thunderous crack.
27:38Melina's voice
27:39trembled with excitement.
27:41The moonspring
27:42has acknowledged
27:42the guardian bond
27:43between Miss Ella and Leo.
27:46Blood cannot be changed,
27:48but Leo has made his choice.
27:49Cecily's expression twisted.
27:51Impossible!
27:52I gave birth to him!
27:54I looked at her,
27:54but he's afraid of you.
27:56The words hit her
27:57like a slap across the face.
27:59Ella,
28:00do you think you've won?
28:03Cecily glared at me
28:04with naked hatred.
28:07I'll come back myself.
28:08And when I do,
28:09I'll take back my child,
28:11along with everything you owe me.
28:13The blood mist dispersed.
28:15The white feather elder
28:16tried to slip away
28:18amid the confusion.
28:19Cole lifted a hand.
28:20The wolf guards
28:21immediately surrounded him.
28:24Cole's voice
28:24was as cold
28:25as falling snow.
28:26The white feather pack
28:27collude with Cecily.
28:29Detain him.
28:30The white feather elder
28:31shouted angrily,
28:32You have no proof!
28:34I bend down and picked up
28:35a lens of red thread
28:37left behind
28:37by the black raven.
28:39Stamped on the end
28:40of the thread
28:40was the feather sigil
28:42of the white feather pack.
28:45Now you do.
28:47Silence fell over the entire platform.
28:50But I felt no relief.
28:52Because I knew Cecily
28:54would never let this end here.
28:56She had already lost her child once.
28:59The next time,
29:00she wouldn't try to persuade him.
29:03She would come to take him by force.
29:08Cecily came back
29:09far sooner than anyone expected.
29:10There was no moon that night.
29:12I was changing Leo's swaddling cloth
29:14when a warhorn
29:15suddenly sounded in the distance.
29:16Firelight blazed
29:17beyond the silver wolf tower
29:18and a maid came running in
29:20screaming,
29:21The dark moon rebels
29:21had breached the outer wall!
29:23I scooped at Leo
29:24into my arms
29:25and grabbed the short dagger
29:26Cole had given me.
29:27Where's Cole?
29:28The alpha is fighting
29:29at the north wall.
29:30My heart sank.
29:31The rebels had chosen
29:32to attack the inner tower
29:33while he was occupied elsewhere.
29:35Their goal wasn't victory.
29:37It was at Leo.
29:38Melina rushed in
29:39and shoved a silver talism
29:40into my hand.
29:41Come with me.
29:42There's a secret passage
29:43beneath the tower.
29:44We had barely reached the staircase
29:45when the wall exploded inward.
29:47Three wolf soldiers
29:48in black armor
29:49charged through the breach,
29:50their eyes glowing blood red.
29:51I thrust Leo
29:52into the maid's arms
29:53and drew my dagger.
29:54I didn't know
29:55noble swordmanship.
29:56I only knew the survival tricks
29:57taught in a border hunting village.
29:59Avoid the throat.
30:00Get inside the ribs.
30:02Drive the blade
30:02where the flesh is soft.
30:04The first wolf soldier
30:04screamed and crashed
30:05into the stone wall.
30:07The second lunged
30:07toward the maid.
30:09Leo suddenly started crying.
30:12Silver light erupted.
30:13The wolf soldier
30:14was thrown backward
30:15as if struck
30:16by a battering ram.
30:20The third seized my hair
30:22and slammed me hard
30:23onto the floor.
30:23Planting a boot on my wrist,
30:25he grinned viciously.
30:25Ceci said you were
30:26pathetically weak.
30:27I grin at my teeth.
30:28Then she remembered wrong.
30:29I drove my knee
30:30into his grain,
30:31grabbed a shattered silver lamp
30:32and plunged it into his eye.
30:33Blood splattered
30:34across my face.
30:35Even a weak wolf
30:36from the Borderlands
30:36knows this.
30:37The prey that talks too much
30:38dies first.
30:39The secret passage
30:40had already been blocked
30:40by falling rubble.
30:41Outside,
30:42the sound of approaching footsteps
30:43grew closer and closer.
30:44I strapped at Leo securely
30:45against my chest
30:46and prepared to jump
30:47from the tower window.
30:48Then I heard Cole's voice
30:48behind me.
30:49Ella.
30:51I turned around.
30:53Cole stood beside
30:54the shattered wall.
30:55His black battle armor
30:56was drenched in blood.
30:57None of it was his.
30:58His eyes had partially shifted,
31:00dark gold swirling
31:01with savage fury.
31:02When he saw the bruised
31:03finger marks around my neck,
31:05his expression turned
31:06utterly cold.
31:07In the next instant,
31:08a wolf's tower
31:08shattered the snow
31:09piled atop the tower.
31:10Cole shifted into a massive
31:11black and silver wolf
31:12and charged back
31:13into the battle.
31:14This wasn't the wolf form
31:15that comforted Leo.
31:17This was the silver moon alpha
31:19of the battlefield,
31:20armor split beneath his claws,
31:22throats shattered
31:23between his fangs.
31:25No one who approached
31:27the silver wolf tower
31:28walked away alive.
31:29By dawn,
31:30the dark moon rebels
31:31had retreated,
31:32but they had taken
31:33my mother with them.
31:34She had been imprisoned
31:35in the outer tower.
31:36Before withdrawing,
31:38the rebels abducted her
31:39and left behind
31:40only a black bone token.
31:41Carved into it
31:42were Cecele's words,
31:43Trade Ella for her.
31:44I stared at the message.
31:46Surprisingly,
31:47it didn't hurt
31:47as much as I thought
31:48it would.
31:49My mother had sacrificed
31:50me for Cecily.
31:51And now Cecily
31:52had taken her for herself.
31:54It felt like a circle
31:55of retribution
31:55finally closing.
31:57I'll send people
31:57to rescue her.
31:58I shook my head.
31:59They want me.
31:59They won't kill her easily.
32:01You want to go?
32:03I want to end this.
32:06No.
32:07You're staying here.
32:08Holding Leo,
32:09I looked at the
32:10scorched tower walls.
32:14They're after me.
32:15If I keep hiding behind you,
32:17more people will die
32:18in my place.
32:19Cole's jaw tightened.
32:21You've never been
32:21trained for war.
32:22I survived 24 years
32:23on the border.
32:24I looked directly at him.
32:26Cole,
32:26I'm not your weakness.
32:27I'm someone who can
32:29stand beside you
32:29and tear out
32:30an enemy's throat.
32:35He stared at me
32:36for a long time
32:36without speaking.
32:37That evening,
32:38as the sun set,
32:39Cole personally taught me
32:40how to hold a blade.
32:41Not the elegant techniques
32:43favored by nobles.
32:44The shortest,
32:45fastest,
32:45most ruthless ways
32:46to kill.
32:47He stood behind me.
32:48One hand wrapped
32:49around my wrist,
32:50his voice low
32:51beside my ear.
32:52Don't watch the blade.
32:54Watch the enemy's shoulders.
32:55The moment the shoulders move,
32:57you'll already know
32:58where the strike is coming from.
32:59I followed his instruction.
33:01One slice opened
33:03the wooden target's throat.
33:06Good.
33:07Leo,
33:08lying in the cradle nearby,
33:10suddenly made a small sound.
33:12Cole immediately released me,
33:14as if he'd been caught
33:15doing something.
33:15I noticed the brief stiffness
33:17that flashed across his face
33:19and couldn't help laughing.
33:22My lord,
33:22are you afraid of him?
33:24He should be asleep.
33:25He's only a few days old.
33:27Even a few days old,
33:28he shouldn't be looking around
33:29at everything.
33:29I went anyway.
33:31Just not alone.
33:33Cole brought 12
33:34of his most elite wolfguards,
33:36while Melina inscribed
33:38concealment runes on me
33:39to hide my scent.
33:41Leo remained
33:42in the Silver Wolf Tower
33:43under the protection
33:44of three squads of wolfguards
33:46and a circle of priests.
33:47The dark moon camp
33:48was hidden beneath a cliff
33:49in a forest of black pines.
33:51At the center of the camp
33:53stood a black altar.
33:54My mother was bound
33:55to a wooden post,
33:56her face pale and lifeless.
33:59Cecily stood before her.
34:01Hidden in the shadows,
34:02I heard my mother
34:04ask through tears,
34:05Cecily,
34:07what are you trying to do?
34:10That's your child.
34:12A child.
34:14Do you still think
34:15I gave birth to him
34:16because I wanted
34:17to be a mother?
34:19Cecily ran her fingers
34:21over the wolf bones
34:22arranged on the altar.
34:23I got pregnant
34:24because I wanted
34:25to become the mistress
34:26of the Silver Moon Territory.
34:30But Cole never intended
34:31to marry me.
34:32If he found out
34:33I deceived him,
34:34he would have killed me!
34:36So I needed Ella.
34:40My fingernails dug
34:41into my palms.
34:43Cecily continued.
34:44She's always been stupid.
34:47You told her
34:48to give things up.
34:49And she gave them up.
34:50You told her to endure.
34:51And she endured.
34:53She's the easiest person
34:54in the world to use.
34:56My mother wept.
34:57She's your sister.
34:58Cecily slapped her
34:59across the face.
35:00Sister?
35:01What gives her the right
35:02to be my sister?
35:03How could someone
35:04who never fought for anything
35:05always have people
35:06protecting her?
35:07My mother broke down
35:09completely.
35:10I was wrong.
35:11I never should have made her
35:12give everything up for you.
35:14Cecily snurred.
35:15It's a little late
35:16for that now.
35:17She drew a pale bone knife.
35:20Call her.
35:21My mother shook her head
35:22through her tears.
35:23I already sent a letter
35:24telling her not to come.
35:26Cecily's expression
35:27turned cold in an instant.
35:29Then you're useless.
35:31The bone knife rose.
35:33I couldn't hold back
35:34any longer.
35:35Cecily!
35:36I charged out of hiding.
35:38She looked at me
35:39without the slightest surprise.
35:41You really came.
35:43At that same instant,
35:44blood-red formations
35:45ignited throughout
35:47the black pine forest.
35:48Cole and the wolf guards
35:49were cut off
35:50outside the barrier.
35:51Cecily had never
35:52wanted my mother.
35:53She wanted me.
35:55Dark markings
35:55of the blood formation
35:56coiled around my ankles.
35:58Cecily walked toward me,
36:00madness blazing in her eyes.
36:01Do you know
36:02what I've always hated
36:03most about you?
36:05I looked at her coldly.
36:06That I didn't die
36:08cleaning up
36:08one of the disasters
36:09you created?
36:10Her expression twisted.
36:12I hate that you
36:14always act so clear-headed.
36:15What gives you
36:16the right to be
36:17the sane one?
36:17You should have kept
36:18taking responsibility
36:20for me,
36:20just like you always did!
36:22I drove my blade
36:23toward her,
36:24but she dodged.
36:25Her bone knife
36:26whisked across
36:27of my arm.
36:28Blood dripped
36:28onto the formation,
36:29and the silver light
36:31suddenly flared.
36:33Cecily's eyes
36:34lit up
36:34with manic joy.
36:36Just as I thought.
36:38Your blood
36:39can still stabilize
36:40the silver moon bloodline.
36:42As long as I have you,
36:44Leo will obey me.
36:48Outside the barrier,
36:49Cole shifted
36:50into his wolf form
36:51and slammed violently
36:52against the seal.
36:53Cecily glanced at him,
36:54smiling even more triumphantly.
36:56Cole,
36:56you're getting anxious too?
36:57I thought you were supposed
36:59to be cold-blooded.
37:00Cole's voice came out
37:01like it was being
37:01grounded.
37:02If you touch her,
37:03I'll wipe your entire
37:04bloodline off this world.
37:06No graves,
37:06no remnants.
37:07Cecily grabbed my wrist
37:08and tried to force
37:09my blood onto the altar.
37:11At that moment,
37:12my mother suddenly
37:13threw herself forward
37:14and knocked Cecily aside.
37:16The bone knife
37:16stabbed into my mother's abdomen.
37:18My mind went blank.
37:20Mother!
37:21She collapsed
37:21into my arms,
37:22blood quickly soaking
37:23through her clothes.
37:24Trembling,
37:25she reached into her chest
37:26and pulled out
37:27a frost-colored
37:28bone pendant,
37:29pressing it
37:30into my paw.
37:30Your father left this for you.
37:32I never should have hidden it.
37:34Ella,
37:34you're not weak.
37:35It was your mother
37:36who was wrong.
37:37Give me the pendant!
37:38Cecily screamed and lunged.
37:40I clenched it tightly
37:41in my hand.
37:41The next instant,
37:42a felt as a fire
37:43had erupted
37:43at the back of my neck.
37:44The seal that had bound me
37:46for 24 years shattered.
37:47Silver-white frost pattern
37:48spread from my neck
37:49down to my wrist
37:49and the blood formation
37:50backfired violently,
37:51blasting Cecius backward.
37:53Cole broke through the barrier
37:54and rushed to my side.
37:55My mother raised a trembling hand
37:56trying to touch my face,
37:58but she couldn't reach it.
37:59Don't live for anyone else anymore.
38:01Her hand fell.
38:02Cecily crawled up from the ground,
38:04hair disheveled, laughing.
38:06Good.
38:07She deserved to die
38:08a long time ago.
38:09I rose to my feet,
38:10gripping the short blade.
38:11Frostlight gathered along the blade,
38:13shimmering silver.
38:14For the first time,
38:15Cecily's face showed fear.
38:17Ella,
38:18what are you going to do?
38:19Step by step,
38:20I walked toward her.
38:21You said I was useful,
38:22didn't you?
38:23I lifted the blade,
38:24but I'm not useful anymore.
38:28I didn't kill Cecily.
38:30Not because I softened,
38:31because Cole stopped me.
38:34His hand closed around the blade,
38:36blood dripping down
38:37the silver runes
38:38etched along his skin.
38:39She can't die yet.
38:41Let go.
38:42The Darkmoon rebels
38:44are still out there.
38:46If she's alive,
38:47we can force Varro
38:49to show himself.
38:50I don't care!
38:51I do!
38:53Cole looked at me,
38:55his gaze as deep
38:56and heavy
38:57as a dark sea at night.
38:59Ella,
38:59I won't let you trade
39:00Leo's life
39:01for a moment of satisfaction.
39:03Leo,
39:04that name made my hand hesitate.
39:07Cecily lay on the ground
39:08and suddenly laughed.
39:11Look at you,
39:12little sister.
39:13You're still tied down
39:14by a child.
39:16Cole stomped down
39:17on her wrist.
39:18A sharp crack of bone
39:19echoed through the hall.
39:21Cecily screamed,
39:22One more word
39:24and I'll break
39:25the other hand.
39:27She finally went silent.
39:30We took her back
39:31to Moonhall Hall
39:32as a prisoner,
39:33along with my mother's body.
39:37That night,
39:38I stayed by Leo's side
39:39and by my mother's coffin.
39:42Before dawn,
39:44Cole entered
39:45and placed a white cloak
39:46in my hands.
39:47In the Northern Territory,
39:49funerals are held in white.
39:53He set an old record file
39:54in front of me.
39:56My father's name
39:57was written inside.
40:00He had been
40:00the strongest border guard
40:02in the Silver Moon Territory,
40:04killed by Dark Moon rebels
40:06while protecting pups.
40:07My mother had sealed
40:08my Moon Mark
40:09because she feared
40:10I would be targeted
40:10after awakening.
40:11And she also feared
40:12Cecile's jealousy,
40:14so she raised us
40:15in hiding
40:15under false identities.
40:18I closed my eyes.
40:20Everything suddenly
40:21made sense.
40:22My mother favored Cecily
40:24because of guilt.
40:27She sealed my power
40:29because of fear.
40:32But no matter the reason,
40:34I was always
40:35the one sacrificed.
40:36After the funeral,
40:38Cole took me to the dungeon
40:39to see Cecily.
40:41She was bound in silver chains,
40:43pale-faced,
40:44but her eyes still refused to yield.
40:46I asked her,
40:47Did you ever,
40:49even once,
40:50think of Leo as your child?
40:54For a brief moment,
40:56her expression went blank.
40:57Then she laughed.
40:59What use is a child?
41:02Only the weak use children
41:04to prove they're loved.
41:08I see.
41:10See what?
41:13That you don't deserve
41:14to hear him ask
41:16when he grows up
41:18why his birth mother
41:20didn't want him.
41:22Cecily's expression
41:23finally changed.
41:24I turned to leave.
41:26Ella!
41:27You think Cole
41:28really loves you?
41:29He just needs you
41:30to stabilize the child.
41:31You and I are the same.
41:32We're both just tools!
41:34We're different.
41:35When I protect Leo,
41:36I at least know
41:37he can feel pain.
41:38You only know
41:39he's useful.
41:40When I left the dungeon,
41:41Cole was waiting outside.
41:44Do you need me
41:45because Leo needs me?
41:47He didn't answer
41:48right away.
41:49My heart went cold.
41:51At first, yes.
41:52Later, no.
41:54Then what is it now?
41:55Cole looked at me
41:55like he was facing
41:56a confession
41:57harder than any war.
41:58Later,
41:59I realized something.
42:00When you walk
42:01into the snowstorm,
42:02you never once think
42:03about who might
42:03come to save you.
42:04Ella,
42:04I want to be
42:05the one who comes.
42:07I froze.
42:09But you don't need saving.
42:11So I want to stand
42:12beside you instead.
42:14I didn't know
42:15how to respond.
42:16At that moment,
42:17urgent bells rang out
42:18from the direction
42:19of the Silver Wolf Tower.
42:20Melina rushed
42:21into the corridor,
42:22her face pale.
42:24The dungeon's
42:25been breached.
42:26Cecily has been rescued
42:27by the Dark Moon Rebels.
42:28And Leo is gone too.
42:31In that moment,
42:32I couldn't hear
42:33anything at all.
42:34All I saw was
42:35Cole's eyes
42:35shifting into beast form.
42:37The next second,
42:38he transformed
42:38into a massive wolf
42:39and charged out
42:40of Moonhall Hall.
42:41The Silver Wolf Tower
42:42was in ruins.
42:43Guards lay scattered
42:44across the floor.
42:46The priest's silver formation
42:47had been stained
42:48and shattered by blood.
42:49The cradle was empty.
42:51Only Leo's
42:52soft blanket remained,
42:53torn at one corner,
42:55laying on the ground.
42:56It was Cecily.
42:58She used her own blood
43:00to bypass Leo's
43:01sensing bond.
43:05The Dark Moon Rebels
43:06are heading toward
43:07the Ice Lake.
43:13Ice Lake lay at the far edge
43:15of the Northern Territory.
43:16Beyond it was
43:17Dark Moon Wolf Territory.
43:18Coley didn't say a word.
43:20He lowered his head
43:21and sniffed the blanket.
43:22The next instant,
43:23the giant wolf
43:24burst into the snowstorm.
43:25I mounted a snowstab
43:26brought by the wolf guards
43:27and chased after him.
43:28At Ice Lake,
43:29the blizzard nearly erased
43:31all visibility.
43:32On a black altar
43:33in the distance,
43:34Cecily stood holding Leo,
43:35her hair disseveled
43:36like she had gone mad.
43:38Raro stood beside her
43:39with Dark Moon Wolf
43:40soldiers behind him.
43:41Leo's cries
43:42were already hoarse.
43:43It felt like my chest
43:44had been torn open.
43:45Cecily!
43:46She turned and saw me,
43:48her smile twisted.
43:50You got here fast.
43:51I walked toward her
43:52step by step.
43:53Give me the child.
43:55Why would I?
43:56She clutched Leo tighter.
43:59He's my son.
44:00You gave birth to him,
44:01but you never loved him.
44:03Her expression changed instantly.
44:05Varo let out a cold laugh.
44:07Enough talk,
44:08hand over the child.
44:09The Silver Moon Territory
44:10will fall into chaos.
44:12Without an heir,
44:13Coley's line ends
44:14and the North
44:15will eventually be mine.
44:17Only then did I understand.
44:19Cecily had never come here
44:20to be a mother.
44:20She was using Leo
44:22as a bargaining chip
44:23for her escape route.
44:24She looked at Cole,
44:25fear and hatred
44:26mixing in her eyes.
44:28I just want to live!
44:29Why are all of you
44:31forcing me?
44:32I said coldly,
44:33nobody forced you
44:34to abandon your child.
44:35Nobody forced you
44:37to hurt my mother.
44:38Nobody forced you
44:39to hand your own son
44:40over to rebels.
44:42Cecily screamed.
44:43Shut up!
44:43Leo cried even harder,
44:45terrified by her voice.
44:47Cole stepped forward.
44:48Varro immediately pressed a blade
44:50against the edge
44:50of Leo's swaddling cloth.
44:52One more step
44:52and your son bleeds.
44:54Cole stopped.
44:55I saw his hand tremble.
44:56The Silver Moon Alpha,
44:57who had never once
44:58bowed his head,
44:59found his fatal weakness
45:00seized for the very first time.
45:05I slowly lowered
45:06my short blade.
45:08Cecily,
45:08what do you want?
45:09She stared at me.
45:10I want Cole to acknowledge me
45:11as Leo's mother.
45:13I want to become
45:13the mistress
45:14of the Silver Moon Territory.
45:15I want everyone to know
45:17I didn't lose to you.
45:18I looked at her.
45:19You never lost to me.
45:20She froze.
45:22I said,
45:23from the beginning,
45:24how much did I even
45:25keep from giving you?
45:27Clothes,
45:27food,
45:28mother,
45:29even my moon mark,
45:30I gave it all to you.
45:31But it was never enough.
45:33Because what you wanted
45:34was never what I had.
45:36What you wanted
45:37was someone else
45:38to take responsibility
45:39for your life.
45:40Cecily's face
45:41turned paler and paler.
45:43But this time,
45:44it doesn't work.
45:46I met her eyes.
45:47Leo isn't your escape route.
45:49He's a child
45:50who feels pain,
45:51who cries,
45:52who is afraid.
45:54Cecily's grip on Leo
45:55loosened slightly.
45:56In that instant,
45:57Leo suddenly reached out,
45:59crying and grabbing toward me.
46:01He couldn't speak.
46:03But I knew
46:04he was looking for me.
46:07I lunged forward.
46:10Varro reacted instantly,
46:11swinging his blade down.
46:12Coley transformed
46:14into a black and silver
46:15giant wolf
46:15and slammed into Vargo,
46:17knocking him away.
46:18The two wolves
46:19tore into each other
46:20across the ice,
46:21the frozen surface
46:22cracking in widening fractures.
46:24Cecily stumbled backward
46:25while holding Leo,
46:26slipping toward a widening
46:27crack in the ice.
46:28I threw myself forward
46:29and grabbed Leo's swiddling.
46:31Cecily clung tightly,
46:32refusing to let go.
46:33He's mine!
46:35You don't deserve him!
46:36The swaddle tore.
46:38Leo slipped from her arms.
46:39I caught him at once,
46:41but the force carried me
46:42toward the breaking ice.
46:45Coe turned back and saw it.
46:46His beast pupils
46:47contracted sharply.
46:49Hello!
46:50He abandoned Varro
46:52and lunged forward,
46:53buying down on my cloak.
46:58The ice gave way completely.
47:01Cecily screamed as she fell,
47:03still reaching for Leo.
47:04I held the child tightly
47:06and kicked her hand away.
47:08This time,
47:09I won't let you take
47:10anything from me again.
47:16Cecily plunged
47:17into the black water.
47:27The blizzard finally stopped.
47:29I knelt on the ice,
47:31holding Leo,
47:32my hands shaking
47:34so badly
47:34I could barely
47:35keep him in my arms.
47:37His face was red
47:38from crying,
47:39but the moment
47:40he was in my embrace,
47:42his cries slowly faded.
47:46Coe shifted back
47:48into human form.
47:49His arm was mangled
47:50and blooded
47:51from Varro's bite.
47:53Does it hurt?
47:56It's fine.
47:57Leo suddenly grabbed
47:59his injured finger.
48:00Coe stiffened,
48:01but forced himself
48:02not to pull away.
48:06I looked at him.
48:08You can say it hurts now.
48:10You don't have to be
48:11the alpha with me.
48:12He stayed silent
48:13for a long time.
48:15It hurts.
48:16And then at Leo
48:17smiled.
48:18It was the first real smile
48:20since he was born.
48:21Light,
48:22soft,
48:23like the first beam
48:24of sunlight rising
48:25at the edge
48:25of a frozen world.
48:29Thessaly didn't die.
48:31She was swept ashore
48:32by the icy undercurrent
48:33of the lake.
48:33By the time she was pulled out,
48:35her wolf mark had vanished.
48:36She could no longer shift.
48:37Coe didn't kill her.
48:38He exiled her
48:39to the northernmost
48:40frost cliffs.
48:40No teleportation arrayas.
48:42No one left
48:43to carry her burdens
48:43for her.
48:44The White Feather Wolf Clan
48:46was stripped
48:46of its border garrison
48:47for colluding
48:48with the rebels.
48:49The Dark Moon insurgents
48:51were expelled
48:51from the north.
48:52I returned to the border
48:54hunting village
48:54with Leo
48:55and carved my mother's name
48:56into a white stone
48:58grave myself.
48:59I didn't forgive
49:00everything she had done,
49:01but I accepted
49:02her final apology.
49:04After we returned
49:05to the Silver Moon territory,
49:07Cola started learning
49:08how to be a father.
49:09The first time
49:10he changed Leo's swaddle,
49:11he managed to shut
49:12both of the baby's legs
49:14into the same opening.
49:15I stared for a long moment.
49:17Are you swaddling a baby
49:19or binding a prisoner?
49:20He kept kicking.
49:22He's an infant,
49:23not an enemy soldier.
49:26Enemy soldiers
49:26are easier to handle
49:27than him.
49:30After that,
49:31everyone in the north
49:32came to know this.
49:33The Silver Moon Alpha
49:35could tear through
49:36Dark Moon rebels
49:36without mercy.
49:38But in a war council meeting,
49:40he could be immobilized
49:41by his own son
49:42grabbing his drawer,
49:43not daring
49:44to move an inch.
49:46On Leo's
49:47full moon celebration,
49:48Melina held a blessing ritual
49:50for him
49:50by the moon spring.
49:51By the water's edge,
49:53Coley stood beside me.
49:55Ella.
49:56Yeah?
49:57Stay in the Silver Moon territory.
50:01Wasn't I already staying?
50:03Not because of Leo.
50:05I turned to look at him.
50:06Under the moonlight,
50:08his gaze was far gentler
50:09than the first time
50:10I had ever seen him.
50:11Because of me?
50:12He held out his hand.
50:14In his palm
50:15was a black and silver ring.
50:17Carved into it
50:18where the silver moon
50:18and wolf signals.
50:20I won't ask you
50:21to be my mate.
50:22I won't ask you
50:22to stand beside a throne.
50:24I only ask,
50:26will you stay?
50:28And help me turn this place
50:29into somewhere
50:30Leo can grow up safe.
50:32Leo stirred in my arms
50:33and slapped his tiny hand
50:35right onto the ring.
50:36As if making the decision for me.
50:39Your son already stamped it.
50:40How am I supposed to refuse?
50:42I took the ring
50:43and slipped it
50:44onto my finger myself.
50:47Coley Darkhorn,
50:48I'm not staying
50:49because I have nowhere else to go.
50:52I'm staying
50:53because I chose this place.
50:58I chose Leo.
51:01And I chose you.
51:06Much later,
51:07all the northern wolf clans
51:09knew this.
51:10The silver moon alpha
51:11had two weaknesses.
51:13One was a pup
51:14born with the silver moon mark.
51:16The other was a border wolf woman
51:17who dared to walk into moon hall
51:19with a child in her arms
51:21and force him
51:22to acknowledge his blood bond.
51:23They also knew this.
51:25Those two weaknesses
51:26were never his downfall.
51:28They were the home
51:29he finally chose to defend.
51:30For that song,
51:31I was a boner.
51:31After that.
51:31After that.
51:32I'm a fool.
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