- 24 minutes ago
The Beta Chose Her Son Over Mine
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:01Serena, is this how you raise our pup?
00:04Top line, in her careful handwriting.
00:07I'm alive! And you let her write like I'm dead!
00:11And threw the bundle of wildflowers onto the stone table.
00:14I didn't teach her that. She wrote it herself.
00:17Lucian clenched his jaw, grabbed the journal like he was going to tear it apart.
00:21He stared at Nora's handwriting for a long moment, then set it back down.
00:24He had no idea.
00:26This wasn't even close to the first time Nora had written him dead.
00:29Ever since he took fallen packmates widow Lyra and her son to the honor quarter,
00:33this man had stopped existing in our pup's world.
00:36The honor quarter, the section of our pack, reserved for the families of fallen pack members.
00:40Pack law granted Lucian, as beta, the duty of overseeing her welfare.
00:44But he had gone too far.
00:46I didn't say anything. Just watched him.
00:48Cold. Nora heard the noise and came out of her room.
00:51She had on her worn sleeping furs.
00:53Stayed behind me. No running up to call him dad.
00:56No crying from his rage.
00:57She just looked at Lucian with calm.
01:00Lucian's breath caught.
01:01All that rage seemed to lodge in his throat.
01:04Pushed down his temper.
01:06And pulled a wrapped bundle from his pack.
01:09Nora, come here.
01:10Dad passed the traitor's post today.
01:13Got you the shift training kit you've been asking for.
01:16Your first guided shift is next moon cycle, isn't it?
01:24That training kit Nora had pressed her face against the traitor's display case to stare at it for three moons.
01:30Lucian always said next time.
01:32In pack law, a pup's first shift must be guided by her dad.
01:35Without his presence, the shift was not only incomplete, it was dangerous.
01:40Any other day Nora would have howled with joy.
01:42But now, Nora didn't move.
01:49Sighing, Lucian knelt down and held out a hand to her.
01:53His signal stone pulsed.
01:55Reflects.
01:56He grabbed the stone and pressed it.
01:59Lyra, what's wrong?
02:02Lucian, I'm so sorry to call again.
02:04But Kai's wolf sickness flared up.
02:06He's howling for you.
02:08I can't calm him alone.
02:09I stood listening to that tired, familiar routine.
02:12But Lucian's face changed.
02:14No hesitation.
02:16Serena, watch Nara.
02:17Kai's condition is critical.
02:18I have to go.
02:19The door closed.
02:20He said it like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.
02:23He didn't even look back at his daughter.
02:25Nora walked over and looked down at the training kit on the rug.
02:28Then she picked it up and dropped it into the fire pit.
02:31Mom.
02:33Dead dad can't guide a shift, right?
02:35My chest split open.
02:36The pain hit so hard I could barely breathe.
02:39Right.
02:39After Nora fell asleep, I sat alone in the study.
02:43Opened the bottom of my healer's chest.
02:45Inside lay a sealed blood oath scroll.
02:47I am a blood gifted healer.
02:49For Lucian, I had turned down three summons from the Hypax healing council.
02:53But I was done drowning in this.
02:55Fifteen days from now.
02:56The last day to answer the blood oath.
02:58In fifteen days, Nora and I would leave this path.
03:01As if he never existed in our lives at all.
03:07Countdown.
03:08Day ten.
03:08I had just finished a six-hour emergency healing session on a pack warrior.
03:12I dragged myself home.
03:13Our door was open.
03:15I walked in fast.
03:16My blood went cold.
03:17Two wolves were carrying something out of Nora's training room.
03:20Her blood.
03:21Anchor stone.
03:22I had spent a lot to commission that stone for Nora's fifth naming day.
03:25The pack stone carver had etched her name into it during a full moon rite.
03:29It was anchored to our territory's sacred ground.
03:32Nora polished it every morning.
03:34She pressed her palm to it before sleep.
03:36Careful.
03:37Don't chip the edges.
03:38That stone holds a blood reed.
03:43Lucian.
03:44What are you doing?
03:46A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.
03:48Gone fast, replaced with that usual righteousness.
03:50Don't make this harder than it needs to be.
03:53Lyra is moving Kai into new quarters.
03:55The pack healer said having an anchor stone would help stabilize his wolf sickness.
03:59He paused.
04:00Lyra can't commission one her own.
04:02Nora can just lend it to Kai for a while.
04:03I listened to his logic and almost laughed.
04:06Use your own pup's anchor stone to help another woman, son.
04:09I believed he never once thought to ask Nora.
04:11I pulled out my memory mirror and pressed it to the scene.
04:14What are you recording for?
04:19Evidence.
04:20This stone was Nora's.
04:23Transferring it outside our bloodline without consent gives me the right to record this.
04:33Serena, when did you become this cold?
04:35That is Zayn's son.
04:37Zayn died saving my life.
04:39It's just a stone.
04:40You're really gonna be this petty about it?
04:45There.
04:46That covers the commission cost.
04:49Go have the carver make Nora a smaller one.
04:56I stood in Nora's empty training room and felt the air leave my lungs.
05:01Nora came home from her lessons not long after.
05:07The place where the stone had sat for years was empty.
05:10Nora didn't cry, even didn't ask where it went.
05:12She walked back to her room, picked up her journal, and opened it to a new page.
05:17She picked up her quill and wrote carefully.
05:19Title.
05:20My dead dad took my blood anchor stone with me.
05:22I stood in the doorway watching my pup's thin shoulders, eyes burning.
05:27A projection from Lyra.
05:29In the image, Kai sat beside the blood anchor stone, grinning wide.
05:33Zayn watching over us from above.
05:35Kai finally has a stone to call his own.
05:37Thank you to our dearest Beta Lucian, for giving us the strength to keep going.
05:43I stared at that image for a long time, then opened my healer's ledger.
05:46Transferred the full bond payment on the new house in the other pack's territory.
05:53Right after the transfer, Lucian sent a message.
05:57Once Kai is stable, I'll take Nora to the mid-season gathering next week to make it up to her.
06:02Stop teaching her to hold grudges.
06:03I looked at the words make it up and felt nothing but contempt.
06:07No reply.
06:07He didn't know.
06:09There was no next week.
06:14Countdown.
06:14Day 3.
06:15Hodei was the pack's annual pup gifting ceremony.
06:18Once a year, every pup was brought before the pack elders to have their gifts assessed,
06:22and recorded in the pack's bloodline registry.
06:24A pup whose gift was formally recognized gained standing in the pack.
06:28Their names were inscribed beside their abilities for all to see.
06:31For a pup like Nora, who carried a rare double bloodline, this was everything.
06:36I sat beside her and held her small, sweaty hand.
06:39My chest ached.
06:40I knew he wasn't coming.
06:42A pup's always hope.
06:43Nora whispered.
06:44Mom.
06:44Dad promised he would be here for my gifting.
06:47I said nothing.
06:48Just held her hand tighter.
06:49Ten minutes before the ceremony began, my signal stone pulsed.
06:54Lucian.
06:54The rogue patrol ran long.
06:56I can't get away.
06:57Tell Nora.
06:57I am sorry.
06:58Same excuse.
06:59Same broken promise.
07:00I turned the stone face down on my lap.
07:03Didn't tell Nora.
07:04Probably held up at the rogue pack.
07:06The ceremony moved along.
07:07Now, we record the gift of our most remarkable pup this season.
07:12Nora's hand tightened around my fingers.
07:14The gift to be registered.
07:16It was Nora.
07:16She had bled for months to draw that form out of herself without Lucian.
07:20Every training session, every bruise, every night she collapsed from exhaustion.
07:24I built toward that one image.
07:26Mom.
07:27That's mine.
07:28I smiled and began to nudge her toward the elder's dais.
07:31Please welcome the gifted pup, Kai Hayes.
07:34Nora's face froze.
07:35Bottom of the projection, the name read Kai Hayes, not Nora Cole.
07:39Her shift form, someone else's name.
07:43Nora stood there, mouth open.
07:46No sound coming out.
07:47Why is that girl standing?
07:48They called Kai.
07:49Nora heard.
07:50She sat back down.
07:51Head dropped.
07:53I clenched my fist and walked straight to the family seating area.
07:58Lyra was standing, adjusting Kai's collar, smiling.
08:01Lyra!
08:02Stop right there!
08:03She looked up, smiled still on.
08:06Oh, Serena.
08:07You're here too.
08:09That shift form is my daughter's!
08:11Why does your son have his name on it?
08:14Serena, don't be upset.
08:16Lucian handled this himself.
08:18I didn't know anything about it.
08:20But honestly, Serena, does it matter whose gift it is?
08:24What matters is who Lucian wants to put on a pedestal.
08:28Your pup can train until she bleeds, and it doesn't change the fact that Lucian doesn't care about you two.
08:34You can be as angry as you want.
08:36Nothing changes.
08:37I looked at her face and slapped her.
08:39You have no shame.
08:41Lyra's head snapped to the side.
08:43She cried out.
08:44I grabbed her arm to drag her to the elders.
08:46Someone shoved me hard from the side.
08:48I stumbled back several steps and hit a stone bench with my lower back.
08:52I looked up.
08:53Lucian.
08:54He had Lyra and Kai behind him.
08:56Lucian, it hurts so much.
08:58Don't blame Serena.
08:59It's my fault.
09:00I shouldn't have let Kai accept this registration.
09:04Serena, what is wrong with you?
09:06You look completely unsinged right now.
09:09Lucian, Nora trained for months for that gift.
09:12You registered her shift from under Kai's name.
09:14Nora can rely on me.
09:15Kai grew up without a father.
09:17He needs this recognition to find his place in the pack.
09:20Zane died saving me.
09:21I helped his son.
09:23What's the problem?
09:25You're impossible!
09:27Impossible.
09:27My daughter's gift was stolen.
09:29Her months of blood and exhaustion were handed to another child.
09:32I went to set it right, and her own father shoved me to the ground for another woman.
09:37I closed my mouth.
09:41Nora stood there, mouth open.
09:43No sound coming out.
09:44Why is that girl standing?
09:45They called Kai.
09:47Nora heard.
09:48She sat back down.
09:49Head dropped.
09:51I clenched my fist and walked straight to the family seating area.
09:55Lyra was standing, adjusting Kai's collar, smiling.
09:59Lyra!
09:59Stop right there!
10:01She looked up, smiled still on.
10:03Oh, Serena.
10:05You're here too.
10:07That ship form is my daughter's!
10:09Why does your son have his name on it?
10:12Serena, don't be upset.
10:14Lucian handled this himself.
10:16I didn't know anything about it.
10:18But honestly, Serena, does it matter whose gift it is?
10:22What matters is who Lucian wants to put on a pedestal.
10:26Your pup can train until she bleeds, and it doesn't change the fact that Lucian doesn't care about you two.
10:31You can be as angry as you want.
10:33Nothing changes.
10:34I looked at her face and slapped her.
10:36You have no shame.
10:38Lyra's head snapped to the side.
10:40She cried out.
10:41I grabbed her arm to drag her to the others.
10:44Someone shoved me hard from the side.
10:46I stumbled back several steps and hit a stone bench with my lower back.
10:50I looked up.
10:51Lucian.
10:51He had Lyra and Kai behind him.
10:54Lucian, it hurts so much.
10:56Don't blame Serena.
10:57It's my fault.
10:58I shouldn't have let Kai accept this registration.
11:02Serena, what is wrong with you?
11:04You look completely unsinged right now.
11:06Lucian, Nora trained for months for that gift.
11:09You registered her shift from under Kai's name.
11:11Nora can rely on me.
11:13Kai grew up without a father.
11:15He needs this recognition to find his place in the pack.
11:17Zane died saving me.
11:19I helped his son.
11:20What's the problem?
11:23You're impossible!
11:24Impossible.
11:25My daughter's gift was stolen.
11:27Her months of blood and exhaustion were handed to another child.
11:30I went to set it right, and her own father shoved me to the ground for another woman.
11:35I closed my mouth.
11:38Kai is here today because of his wonderful godfather, Beta Lucian Cole.
11:43He has been more than family to us.
11:47Mom?
11:48A voice behind me.
11:49I turned.
11:50Nora stood a few feet away.
11:52Nora.
11:53I reached for her.
11:55Nora stepped back.
11:58Mom, let's go.
12:00Nora's face was tight.
12:02Holding back tears, she refused to let fall.
12:05No more fighting.
12:07There was no point arguing with a man who had chosen to be blind.
12:10Back home, Nora sat in her room for a long time.
12:14Then she opened her journal and wrote a new entry.
12:17Dad gave away my innate gift to someone else.
12:21I moved our departure two days earlier.
12:24I could not stay in this pack one moment longer than I had to.
12:32The day before we left.
12:34I took Nora to the pack market to gather last supplies for the journey.
12:38Nora held my hand.
12:39She stopped outside a food stall.
12:41I followed her gaze through the crowd.
12:43Lucian.
12:44He was carefully cutting a piece of roasted meat.
12:47Blowing on it to cool it.
12:48Feeding it to Kai.
12:49Lyra sat beside him, smiling like she had everything.
12:52One happy family.
12:54I watched it and almost wanted to laugh.
12:56This was what his emergencies always looked like.
12:58Mom, isn't Dad supposed to be on patrol?
13:00A lie caught in the open.
13:03Ridiculous.
13:03And pathetic.
13:04I let out a cold laugh and turned to leave with Nora.
13:07Then a war horn split the air.
13:09A second later, the market's outer wall exploded inward.
13:13Rose.
13:13A full raiding path.
13:15Pouring through the breach in the stone.
13:17People screamed and surged toward the inner gates.
13:23Nora!
13:23I shouted and grabbed for her hand on instinct.
13:27But the crowd was wild.
13:28No direction.
13:29My hand was empty.
13:31By the time I got back up, smoke from the burning stalls had spread across the market square.
13:35I searched through the crowd.
13:38I searched through the crowd.
13:38Through the black smoke I spotted Nora.
13:39She had fallen behind an overturned cart.
13:42Blocked by a collapsed market frame.
13:44Then a figure broke through the smoke.
13:46Lucian.
13:47He was moving fast.
13:48Blade drawn.
13:49Cutting a path through the fleeing crowd.
13:51He saw Nora.
13:52He saw his pup trapped behind the cart.
13:54From the other side came Lyra's scream.
13:58Lucian!
13:59Help!
14:00Kai is pinned under a fallen beam!
14:05Lucian went rigid.
14:06He turned back.
14:07Eyes locking on his own pup.
14:09Just feet away.
14:10Don't move!
14:11Daddy's getting Kai out first then coming back for you!
14:14And I watched him.
14:16And run toward another woman and her child.
14:18He pulled Kai free.
14:19And pushed Lyra toward the inner gates.
14:22In the worst moment of my life.
14:24He left his own pup behind.
14:25I watched.
14:26Bit through my lip until I tasted blood.
14:28He left her with a promise to come back.
14:30In the rolling smoke.
14:32Nora watched the direction Lucian disappeared.
14:35Her small body completely still.
14:36She stopped crying.
14:38Stopped calling out.
14:39Slowly she let the hand covering her nose drop.
14:42Let the smoke fill her lungs.
14:44A tear slid down her cheek.
14:46Mom.
14:47Dad went to save someone else.
14:49Pack Law says a father protects his pup above all others.
14:52But I don't have a father anymore.
14:54So the law doesn't count for me.
14:56Those words broke through my last wall.
14:58Nora!
15:02Mom's here!
15:05I grabbed a healer's kit from the rack and started on Nora myself.
15:11After a long while.
15:12I finally stepped outside and collapsed onto a bench.
15:16I pressed my hand to my chest.
15:18Found the thread of the mate bond still there.
15:20Faint and fraying.
15:22I closed my eyes.
15:23And I severed it.
15:24Pain hit like a blade through the ribs.
15:26But I didn't make a sound.
15:28Lucian.
15:28You have lost us for good.
15:33Two hours later.
15:34Lucian ran into the healing tent soaked in sweat.
15:38Face smeared with ash.
15:40Serena!
15:40What happened?
15:41How is Nora?
15:43Lucian!
15:44My head hurts so much!
15:47Kai won't stop crying!
15:49He's asking for you!
15:51Please go check on him first!
15:54Let me go!
15:55My pup is in there!
15:58Every time she cried, Lucian gave in.
16:00But this time...
16:10Nora...
16:11Nora...
16:12Serena, due to smoke damage combined with severe shock to the blood bond, her wolf voice is gone.
16:17She cannot produce a howl.
16:19No!
16:19She cannot shift.
16:21No!
16:21No!
16:22No!
16:22No!
16:23No!
16:28No!
16:28Healer.
16:29What did you just say?
16:32My pup never stops howling.
16:34She sings in her sleep.
16:35Why is this happening?
16:37It's all my fault!
16:39Oh no!
16:43The healer didn't answer him.
16:45Just patted my shoulder.
16:46I walked silently into the inner chamber.
16:49No crying.
16:50No red eyes.
16:52Serena, hit me, scream at me, whatever you need
16:57I didn't know the rogues would breach so fast, I thought I had time
17:01No accusation, no yelling
17:05Nothing left to say, Lucien was shut out
17:10Lucien pressed his palm flat against the window, mouthing her name over and over
17:15Nora didn't cry, she looked at him for two seconds, turned her head
17:19The blood bond between a pup and her father, severed at last
17:28Pack duty, he was needed back immediately to file the rogue breach report
17:33Lucien had to leave, Lyra scrambled after him
17:36The second he was gone, I moved fast
17:40Cancelled every record tied to this pack
17:43Midnight, I carried Nora out through the eastern border gate
17:46Nora walked beside me once we cleared the tree line
17:49Watching the territory lights fade behind us
17:51The farewell was done
17:58Dawn, Lucien had been up all night finishing his report
18:01He ran back to the healing tent
18:10No US, just a healer collecting used dressings
18:14Where are they?
18:15Where is my maids and my pup?
18:18Serena took her daughter out at midnight
18:21You're too late, Lucien
18:29The mother-daughter's sleeping furs by the hearth were gone
18:33The matching clay cups on the stone table were gone
18:37The herbs drying on the window ledge had been cleared away
18:40Belonging to me and Nora was gone
18:42He walked into Nora's room
18:43Nothing left
18:44Number one thing
18:46On the floor where the blood anchor stone used to sit
18:48In the middle of those four worn marks
18:50Lay a small journal
18:51Nora's journal
18:56Lucien dropped to his knees and grabbed it
18:58Six words scratched into the cover
19:01Father's death log
19:02Lucien opened to the first page
19:04Neat, careful handwriting
19:05Day one
19:06Auntie Lyra called
19:07Dad left
19:08No one was there when I tried on my training kit
19:11Dad was killed in battle
19:12Lucien's eyes went red
19:14He remembered screaming at Serena
19:16Throwing the training kit on the floor
19:18Slamming the door without once looking back at his daughter
19:22He turned to the second page
19:24Day five
19:25Pack family witness day
19:27Every other father came
19:28I waited a long time
19:30Dad died at the widow's quarter next door
19:33Third page
19:35Day 925
19:37The anchor stone in my room was taken away
19:40Mom spent a lot to get it for me
19:41His love went with it
19:43Lucien's hands cramped
19:45He turned page after page
19:46Every page was a debt he owed
19:48A blade he had put in his own pup's hands
19:51And used to cut her open
19:52He reached the last entry
19:54The ink was blurred
19:55Clearly hit by something wet
19:56There was a rogue attack at the market
19:58Dad said right
19:59He went to save God
20:01I watched him carry someone else out through the swamp
20:03Today
20:03Dad turned to ash completely
20:05Ghosts don't come back to save anyone
20:13He stayed on his knees in the empty room for a long time
20:18Then he got up and started sending messages to everyone
20:21My mentor
20:22My mentor
20:22My cohort sisters
20:23Anyone who might know where we went
20:25First message
20:26My fellow senior healer
20:28Please
20:29Where did Serena go?
20:31Lucien
20:31Serena accepted a post in another pack
20:34Where is confidential?
20:36She asked me not to say
20:37Message ended
20:38He sent word to her closest friend
20:40The reply came fast
20:42Get lost
20:43A piece of filth
20:44Nora can't howl now
20:45Do you understand what that means?
20:47Contact me again
20:48And I will bring this before the pack
20:50Elders myself
20:51Lucien rode to the eastern gate of me
20:53Pulled the night watch records from the crossing wall
20:55On the memory mirrors projection
20:57Me, Nora, on my hip
20:59One pack on my back
21:00Passing through the gate at midnight
21:02Nora had her face pressed into my shoulder
21:05From the moment we entered
21:06Until we disappeared into the dark
21:07She never once looked back
21:09No hesitation
21:10He understood now
21:12We were gone for good
21:14That evening
21:15Lucien came back to the empty house
21:17He had barely sat down
21:18When the entry mark was pressed from outside
21:25Lucien
21:26I made your favorite stew
21:28I'm here to take care of you
21:30Lucien looked at her face
21:31He used to see sadness and helplessness written there
21:34Now his stomach turned
21:39Lyra saw Lucien was quiet
21:41Lucien
21:42Don't be so hard on yourself
21:44Nora made it out, didn't she?
21:47You saved Kai
21:51Zane would be grateful
21:56I thought I was helping
21:58Was I?
22:00Get away from me!
22:08Lucien
22:10Why did you push me?
22:15All he could see was Nora closing her eyes in the smoke
22:18A few days later he rode to the honor quarter
22:21He had been covering Lyra's upkeep for months
22:25He didn't announce himself
22:27He knew the entry mark
22:29Voices inside
22:30A man's voice
22:32Laughing
22:33Lyra on the bench
22:34With a man he didn't recognize
22:36On the table between them
22:38Stacks of gold coins
22:45Lucien's quarterly stipend
22:46The upkeep allowance he had been sending every moon cycle
22:52When is that idiot beta finally going to take you as his mate?
22:56The wolf sickness act is getting old
22:58You have to fake it every single time
23:01Take me as his mate?
23:03Why bother?
23:04His mate left
23:04He's drowning in guilt
23:06If I push for a bond right now it'll backfire
23:08As long as Zane's name holds I keep the tears ready
23:11He's my permanent gold source
23:13You're cold
23:14The rogue attack was serious and you still made him save your pup first
23:18Heard his actual pup lost her voice?
23:20That little brat should have choked in the smoke
23:22She had it coming
23:22Her mother always walking around like she's above everyone
23:25Lucien's a fool
23:27I said two words about Kai being scared and he left his own pup behind
23:30A male like that deserves to lose everything
23:36Every word shredded what was left of Lucien's dignity
23:39The wolf sickness was fake
23:41All the helplessness was a performance
23:43Everything he had believed was noble
23:45And right had just been a mark getting bled dry
23:47Lucien stood outside shaking
23:49He thought about carrying Nora's anchor stone out for these people
23:52About registering Nora's gift under Kai's name at the gifting ceremony
23:56About turning his back on his pup in the smoke
23:58About Nora's dead eyes watching him go
24:00He could barely stand
24:01The old hymn would have kicked the door in
24:03Not this time
24:04He went completely still
24:05Stepped back from the door
24:07Rode straight to the pack law keeper
24:09I want to file a formal complaint
24:10Fraud
24:11Falsified illness records
24:13Someone has been collecting pack resource under false pretense
24:16After he left the law keeper
24:18Lucien went back to the pack records chamber
24:20He opened the ledgers and spent all night pulling together three years of transfers
24:24Messages
24:25And falsified healer reports
24:27He cut off every escape route Lyra had
24:29And destroyed his own standing doing it
24:31When it was done
24:32Lucien stood alone in the dark chamber
24:34He raised his hand
24:35And struck himself
24:36Ten times
24:37Hard
24:38His lips split
24:39His cheeks swelled
24:40He couldn't feel any of it
24:43Three days later
24:44The pack held its annual honors assembly
24:47The great hall was full
24:48Every elder
24:49Every ranked member
24:50Every family with a fallen warrior
24:51The hall hadn't been this full in years
24:53Lyra sat in the front row
24:55In the seat reserved for honored widows
24:57Today she was to speak on behalf of the fallen members' families
25:00And receive the pack's annual condolence tribute
25:03A large sum
25:04Set aside from the communal stores
25:06Her face was arranged into grief
25:08Her eyes couldn't quite hide what was underneath
25:10We now call Beta Lucien Cole
25:12To present the condolence tribute
25:14To Lyra Hayes
25:15The hall gave a slow, respectful acknowledgement
25:17Lucien walked to the front step by step
25:20He did not pick up the tribute pouch
25:22Lyra stood, composed
25:23And moved toward the dais
25:25She had her speech ready
25:26Her tears were ready
25:27Lucien swept the hall
25:29I do have something for Lyra Hayes today
25:31But it is not a gift
25:33A projection filled the air above the assignment
25:35Lyra's voice, clear and cold
25:37Echoed through the great hall
25:38Take me as his mate
25:40Why bother?
25:41A male like that deserves to lose everything
25:43All the vicious words Lucien heard that day
25:45Became solid evidence
25:48The moment the projection sounded
25:50The hall went dead silent
25:51Then erupted
25:52Pack members turned on Lyra
25:54Where she stood
25:55The air in the hall changed completely
25:57No!
25:58That recording is false
26:00Lucien listen to me
26:01I was threatened
26:02That man forced me to say those things
26:04The hall doors opened
26:05Lyra Hayes
26:07You are formally charged with fraud against the pack
26:09Falsification of illness records
26:11And deliberate manipulation of a ranked Beta
26:13To breach his sworn duty to his blood pup
26:16Iron binding pups locked around her wrists
26:19Every mask she had worn collapsed at once
26:22Lucien
26:22Don't stand there playing the honorable male now
26:24Did I force you to leave your pup behind?
26:26You left your own pup in that smoke yourself
26:28You will never wash that off
26:32Every word landed exactly where it was meant to
26:35She was right
26:36Lyra was just an outsider
26:37A predator who found a mark
26:39The one who handed the weapon to her
26:40The one who used it on his own pup
26:42That was him
26:43Lyra was dragged out of the hall
26:45Her pack standing was stripped on the spot
26:47Her name removed from the honor quarter records
26:49Kai
26:50With his mother facing formal charges
26:52And his wolf sickness confirmed as never having existed
26:54Was taken into pack ward care
26:56The assembly ended without ceremony
26:58Lucien stood alone in the emptying hall
27:00He slowly removed his Beta insignia
27:02And pinned it from his chest
27:04He walked to the senior elder
27:05Bowed deep
27:06Placed the insignia in her hands
27:08I don't deserve to hold this rank anymore
27:10Stripped of every title
27:11Every standing
27:12Every piece of his identity
27:14Lucien walked out of the great hall
27:16Carrying one thing only
27:17The need to find us
27:19And face what he had done
27:22Two years later
27:23A pack territory near the southern coast
27:25Inside the largest gathering hall in the region
27:28I was leading a cross pack healing council
27:30Good morning everyone
27:31Thank you for being here
27:33He the willed the Smenstraits
27:35Senior healers from seven territories
27:37Filled the hall
27:39The council ended to a standing acknowledgement
27:41From every healer in the room
27:43Nobody in that hall knew that two years ago
27:45I had walked out of a territory with nothing
27:47In the very last row
27:49Lucien sat with a beard grown out
27:51Two years of searching
27:52He had crossed half the known territories
27:54Spent everything he had
27:56Taken labor work and supply runs to keep moving
27:59He had aged a decade
28:02He didn't dare approach
28:04Turned and left before I could see him
28:07Late afternoon
28:09Outside, a pup training ground
28:11On the edge of the territory
28:12Lucien's eyes burned
28:14The shadows that used to live in her face were gone
28:16He couldn't stop himself
28:18Nora!
28:20Nora!
28:21Dad's here!
28:24He reached out
28:25Wanting to hold the daughter he had missed every single day
28:28Nora stopped
28:30Lucien reached for her through the blood bond on instinct
28:33Nothing
28:34No frequency
28:35No pull
28:36No trace of his own blood in her at all
28:40Only pure unfamiliarity
28:42Like looking at someone she had never seen before
28:46There is a stranger approaching me
28:53The tutor stepped forward immediately
28:55Placing herself between Nora and Lucien
28:57What do you want?
29:00Our pup says she doesn't know you
29:02Step back now or I call the law keepers
29:10Lucien froze
29:13He watched his daughter's hands as she signed
29:18The hands that used to press against the anchor stone every morning
29:21Those hands now only spoke in silence
29:24And what they said was
29:26I don't know him
29:27The cruelest punishment wasn't hatred
29:30It was being erased completely
29:32But Lucien understood now what the healer had not been able to explain two years ago
29:37Nora wasn't silent because she couldn't howl
29:40She had found the bond thread herself
29:42The one connecting her blood to his
29:44And she had cut it
29:46A pup who severs her own blood bond to her father
29:49The healer said it was impossible
29:51No pup had the will for it
29:53Nora had
30:01Can you put some distance between this male and my daughter?
30:04He's frightened her
30:06Serena
30:09Lyra
30:10Lyra is gone
30:12I know what I did
30:14I know all of it
30:15Let me make it right
30:16Please
30:18Even if you just let me watch from a distance
30:30Sometimes a missed chance meant a farewell forever
30:35I know all of it
30:35I know all of it
30:36I know all of it
30:36I know all of it
30:36I know all of it
30:36I know all of it
30:36I know all of it
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