Watch Wolf King S Luna Mbr: Complete EPS

IndieFlick

Transcript

00:00:00I always felt like I never belonged, not in this pack and definitely not in the family I was placed

00:00:04with.

00:00:05I was orphaned at birth. My mother died giving birth to me, and my father soon after.

00:00:11Alpha Joe handed me off like an unwanted gift to Amma and Vargos.

00:00:15For a while, they treated me like their own.

00:00:18Until I was seven and Amma's belly began to swell with new life.

00:00:23Then the world shifted.

00:00:25The arms that once cradled me grew cold.

00:00:35Narayan! It's five in the damn morning! Get your useless self moving!

00:00:42I closed my eyes and breathed deep. Today was different.

00:00:45Tonight, under the moonlight, my dormant wolf gene will awaken and I'll finally become a full-fledged werewolf.

00:00:51Once I shift, I can leave Amma's house and start saving to finally get out of Kragnan.

00:00:55A small, secret smile tugged at my lips.

00:00:57I'd been waiting for this moment my whole life.

00:01:00I rose stiffly from my pile of clothes.

00:01:02There she was, leaning over the railing like a queen surveying her dirty peasant.

00:01:07Sorry.

00:01:09Sorry? You should be.

00:01:11Living off our kindness all these years.

00:01:14The least you could do is pick up more slack.

00:01:16It's the weekend.

00:01:17I swallowed the bitter rage clawing up my throat.

00:01:19More slack?

00:01:20What more could I possibly do that wasn't already dumped on my shoulders?

00:01:24I clenched my fists until my knuckles shook.

00:01:27Just a few more hours, I reminded myself.

00:01:30I woke Levian to get his laundry.

00:01:32He shoved two overflowing baskets into my arms and threw a duvet at the back of my head before slamming

00:01:37the door.

00:01:38Downstairs, Amma was sipping coffee and reading a fashion magazine.

00:01:40The washing machine's broken.

00:01:42Peter can fix it later.

00:01:43Take the laundry down to the river bend and wash it by hand.

00:01:46Oh, and grab your father's and my laundry too.

00:01:49I tripped and grabbed the counter, accidentally knocking a plate to the floor.

00:01:54Amma's palm collided with my face, knocking me backwards into the fridge.

00:01:59I saw stars and tears spilled from my eyes.

00:02:03You stupid little bitch!

00:02:05That was a vintage plate!

00:02:07Sorry doesn't fix your stupidity!

00:02:10Useless girl!

00:02:11You're nothing but a migraine!

00:02:12I stayed silent, letting the insults rain down until she stormed off.

00:02:18Then I heaved the heavy bags onto my back and stumbled toward the river bend,

00:02:23where there was less chance of anyone seeing me like this.

00:02:29By the time I made it back, the sun was retreating.

00:02:32I heard Alpha Joe's voice inside.

00:02:34I pushed open the door, and every head at the dining table turned toward me.

00:02:38Amma sweetly told a lie, saying that I went to wash clothes by the river because I complained

00:02:42the washing machine hadn't gotten them clean enough.

00:02:45Narin, I've been waiting for you.

00:02:46It's custom for the Alpha to bless you on your birthday,

00:02:49and pray that Irina's spirit sees you through your transformation from man to beast.

00:02:54I blinked.

00:02:55Stunned.

00:02:56I took a single spoonful of pasta at dinner.

00:02:58My parents hadn't.

00:02:59Suddenly, heat exploded under my skin.

00:03:02I doubled over, gasping.

00:03:03Get out.

00:03:04I took a deep breath through the pain and stumbled out the door.

00:03:07The storm howled, and rain pounded down.

00:03:10My bones snapped and elongated painfully slow, my spine twisting at odd angles.

00:03:15I laid there crying, powerless.

00:03:20After an eternity, the pain faded, and I staggered up panting.

00:03:25I looked down, and my white fur shimmered under the rain,

00:03:29with champagne-hued, burnished golden tips.

00:03:32I howled wildly to the red moon, brimming with happiness,

00:03:35and turned back toward the others.

00:03:37I wouldn't stare.

00:03:38They froze and stared as if I had two heads,

00:03:41then flinched when I stepped forward.

00:03:42In a puddle, I saw my huge reflection with a third eye on my forehead,

00:03:46black socket and golden iris,

00:03:48and my main eyes blazing red.

00:03:51Darkness swallowed me whole.

00:03:52Three years later, there were no windows or clocks,

00:03:54no way to tell day from night.

00:03:56Tobias' boots echoed through the rotten corridor.

00:03:58He tossed a tray beside me.

00:04:00Oh, you still ain't dead yet?

00:04:01You're one strong little bitch.

00:04:02It's been three years, can you believe it?

00:04:03This pit stinks worse than a rotting sewer.

00:04:05Last time I'm coming down here, mark my word.

00:04:08Three years.

00:04:08The words slithered into my mind like a poison dagger, but I felt nothing.

00:04:12Had it really been that long?

00:04:13I stared up at the cracked ceiling,

00:04:15tracing the spiderweb of fractures again and again.

00:04:18Every split had been memorized long ago.

00:04:20I had been rotting in this dungeon long enough for the ceiling to become more familiar than faces I once

00:04:24loved.

00:04:25They tried to get rid of me, but my cursed body healed relentlessly.

00:04:28They turned to silver,

00:04:30searing it into my flesh and leaving a map of scars.

00:04:32Joe was the worst.

00:04:34He peeled my skin back layer by layer,

00:04:36probing for the monster he swore lurked beneath.

00:04:38He would let me shriek until my lips cracked and my stomach twisted,

00:04:42then dangle a single drop of water in front of me.

00:04:45Shift.

00:04:46Show me what you really are.

00:04:47But I was too weak to summon the beast he so feared.

00:04:50I had screamed for death,

00:04:52begged for it in hoary sobs,

00:04:54but even death found me repulsive,

00:04:56leaving me trapped in this decaying shell.

00:04:59When I turned my head and saw the tray,

00:05:01a jolt struck my half-dead nerves.

00:05:03The cell door was in jaw, unlocked.

00:05:06Tobias, lazy.

00:05:08Careless.

00:05:09Tobias hadn't locked it.

00:05:11A strange, foreign sensation stirred in my hollow chest.

00:05:14Hope.

00:05:15But I crushed it hard.

00:05:17Even if I escaped, where would I go in this state?

00:05:20Skin stretched over brittle bones,

00:05:22not even remembering my own face.

00:05:24I clenched my jaw.

00:05:26If I must die, then let it be under the sky,

00:05:28with the wind on my skin and the stars bearing witness.

00:05:31Not rotting away nameless in this tomb.

00:05:35I forced my skeletal frame to move and dragged myself across the threshold.

00:05:39I didn't remember how I stumbled through the night,

00:05:41only the scent, honeysuckle and sun-warmed cedar,

00:05:44cutting through the rot like a blade.

00:05:46Then a pair of warm arms caught my crumbling body.

00:05:49When my eyes fluttered open again,

00:05:51there was no cracked ceiling.

00:05:53Above me were intricate carvings kissed with gold and silver,

00:05:56a chandelier glowing softly.

00:05:58The bed beneath me was impossibly soft,

00:06:00silk curtains swaying at its corners.

00:06:02Was I dead?

00:06:03Was this heaven or hell dressed in beautiful lies?

00:06:06I tried to move but my limbs trembled violently.

00:06:08My hands were clean and pale, nearly translucent.

00:06:11I was dressed in a large hoodie.

00:06:13The grime I'd worn like a second skin was gone.

00:06:16You're awake.

00:06:17I flinched and snapped my gaze toward the voice.

00:06:20He was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen.

00:06:23He stood at the foot of the bed,

00:06:25arms crossed over a broad chest,

00:06:27warm brown eyes framed by thick, dark lashes.

00:06:30How are you feeling?

00:06:32That voice was like thunder wrapped in silk.

00:06:35I wanted to speak, but only a weak gasp escaped.

00:06:39When he reached out a hand,

00:06:41I threw my arms up to shield my face,

00:06:43bracing for the blow I knew would come.

00:06:46I don't want to hurt you.

00:06:50I would never hurt you, Imsirelli.

00:06:55I peeked through my arms.

00:06:57He had lowered his hand and wore a sad smile.

00:07:00He introduced himself as Sargas,

00:07:03the ruthless, untouchable Lycan king.

00:07:07He said I was in the palace of Karagnir,

00:07:10that he had found me on snow wolf territory.

00:07:13This had to be a hallucination.

00:07:15How could someone as broken as I am be in the palace?

00:07:18In the king's bed.

00:07:20I tried to pinch myself awake,

00:07:22but there was no flesh to grip.

00:07:24So I scooted toward the edge,

00:07:27intending to fall and wake up.

00:07:28The next second,

00:07:30I crashed into a solid chest.

00:07:32His heartbeat thudded against my ear.

00:07:34I looked up into those warm eyes

00:07:36that could melt the fiercest ice.

00:07:38But warmth was always a lie.

00:07:40I pushed weakly,

00:07:41but he simply laid me back on the bed.

00:07:44Then he pulled out a phone

00:07:45and issued a steady command.

00:07:48Royal physician.

00:07:50My room.

00:07:52He was summoning an entire medical team.

00:07:55This is all my fault.

00:07:57I'm sorry I didn't find you soon.

00:08:00He dropped his head onto my lap,

00:08:02his broad shoulders trembling slightly.

00:08:04I froze.

00:08:06Why would a king grieve over me?

00:08:09A knock sounded,

00:08:10and a group in teal scrubs filed in,

00:08:13bowing in unison.

00:08:14That was what they called him.

00:08:16Supreme Alpha.

00:08:18And I sat there,

00:08:19trembling,

00:08:20utterly bewildered.

00:08:21What the actual fuck was happening?

00:08:23They wanted to examine me.

00:08:25I curled into a ball,

00:08:26pressing my palms over my ears,

00:08:28rocking back and forth.

00:08:29Don't touch me.

00:08:30Please, no.

00:08:31The man called Sarja sat on the edge of the bed,

00:08:33his voice low.

00:08:34I promise you,

00:08:35M'serely,

00:08:36nobody here is going to support you.

00:08:39They won't touch you in any way you're uncomfortable with.

00:08:42I swear on my title

00:08:43and my life.

00:08:45I looked at him.

00:08:46There was a burning sincerity in those eyes.

00:08:52Slowly,

00:08:52my hands slid down from my ears.

00:08:56I nodded.

00:08:58The physician Maravec approached cautiously,

00:09:00like handling a frightened fawn.

00:09:02He measured my vitals,

00:09:04my height and weight,

00:09:05his brown deepening.

00:09:06When he gestured for me to open my mouth,

00:09:09a foul stretch filled the room,

00:09:10and I saw Sargas' knuckles turn white.

00:09:13They asked questions,

00:09:14and I answered with nods,

00:09:16shakes,

00:09:16or fingers.

00:09:18Three.

00:09:18Three years since I last spoke.

00:09:21Twenty-one.

00:09:22I was twenty-one.

00:09:24Finally,

00:09:24they handed me a notepad and pen

00:09:26to write my name.

00:09:27My hand trembled so badly

00:09:28the letters came out crooked.

00:09:31Nino?

00:09:32Or maybe Maka?

00:09:34The physician guessed twice

00:09:35and was wrong both times.

00:09:38Sargas impatiently snatched the note

00:09:40and squinted at it.

00:09:41Noreen.

00:09:43I nodded.

00:09:46Noreen.

00:09:48He pronounced that name like a sacred vow.

00:09:52Everyone left,

00:09:53and the door clicked shut behind them.

00:09:55Silence wrapped around me again.

00:09:57My oldest best friend.

00:09:58I looked around the massive room.

00:10:00High vaulted ceilings.

00:10:02Polished stone walls.

00:10:04A bed big enough for five.

00:10:05It was too surreal.

00:10:06I was in the Lycan king's palace.

00:10:08In his bed.

00:10:10Under his care.

00:10:11Why?

00:10:12What did he want?

00:10:13No one ever gave without wanting something in return.

00:10:16Especially not for someone like me.

00:10:19A knock came,

00:10:20and a dark-haired woman entered,

00:10:21fox-like eyes smiling.

00:10:23She introduced herself as Hazmik,

00:10:24my lady in waiting.

00:10:26She brought an iPad and a wireless bell.

00:10:28Would you like to stay resting in bed?

00:10:29Or would you love to watch the sun?

00:10:32It's beautiful from the balcony.

00:10:33The sun.

00:10:34That word struck me like a jolt to the chest.

00:10:37I pointed weakly toward the window.

00:10:40She smiled and helped me up,

00:10:42letting me lean on her as we shuffled step by step

00:10:44towards the large glass doors.

00:10:46The door slid open,

00:10:47and sunlight flood in.

00:10:49The first ray hit my face.

00:10:51I froze.

00:10:53The warmth was so foreigner it almost hurt.

00:10:55I closed my eyes and breathed it in,

00:10:58letting it soak into my bones.

00:11:00I had forgotten.

00:11:01I had forgotten how the sun felt.

00:11:04Hazmik helped me sink into a giant beanbag

00:11:06that swallowed me whole.

00:11:07The sky was a tender blue,

00:11:10clouds drifting slowly.

00:11:11A breeze kissed my matted hair.

00:11:13I don't know how long I sat there.

00:11:15Maybe I fell asleep.

00:11:16When I opened my eyes again,

00:11:18the sky was painted amber and rose gold,

00:11:20a wool blanket wrapped around me.

00:11:23Then I met those warm brown eyes,

00:11:25Sargis standing by the railing,

00:11:27silently watching me.

00:11:28You seem so comfortable sleeping.

00:11:30I didn't have the heart to disturb you.

00:11:32It's getting windy.

00:11:34I should get you inside so you don't catch a cold.

00:11:38Before I could react,

00:11:40I was weightless in his arms.

00:11:42My face pressed against his chest,

00:11:45his steady heartbeat thudding in my ear.

00:11:48I froze,

00:11:50but he just smiled,

00:11:52as if carrying women was part of his daily routine.

00:11:59He laid me back on the bed,

00:12:01tucked the duvet around me,

00:12:02and then turned for the door,

00:12:06leaving my heart hammering like a drum.

00:12:09The door clicked shut behind him.

00:12:12I curled up alone in that too soft bed,

00:12:15my heart still pounding.

00:12:16When he carried me back from the balcony,

00:12:18his arms had been steady as stone,

00:12:20as if I weighed nothing.

00:12:21I burrowed deeper into his hoodie.

00:12:24That scent,

00:12:25cedar and honeysuckle,

00:12:27had soaked into the fabric.

00:12:28I hated to admit it reminded me of something distant called safety.

00:12:33Outside,

00:12:34moonlight silvered the gardens.

00:12:35I stared at it,

00:12:37asking myself over and over,

00:12:39who was I to be held in a king's hands?

00:12:43The answer came as cold as moonlight.

00:12:46I was not worthy.

00:12:47The physician Maravec's words echoed in my head.

00:12:50Severe malnutrition,

00:12:52dehydration,

00:12:53post-traumatic stress.

00:12:54My teeth had rotted from neglect.

00:12:56If I were human,

00:12:57he had said,

00:12:58I would already be dead.

00:13:00It was the cursed wolf blood that had kept me alive.

00:13:03The blood that made me a monster.

00:13:06I touched the crescent and spiral mark on my forehead.

00:13:09It always throbbed faintly.

00:13:10I closed my eyes,

00:13:12trying to piece together what that man,

00:13:14Sargis,

00:13:14could possibly see in me.

00:13:16A mute ghost.

00:13:17A skeletal wreck.

00:13:19A three-eyed abomination.

00:13:21Sooner or later,

00:13:22he would see the truth

00:13:23and throw me back into the abyss.

00:13:25Thirty sunrises and sunsets passed.

00:13:27I was trapped in this gilded dream,

00:13:29receiving IV drips,

00:13:30dental repairs,

00:13:31nutritional supplements day after day.

00:13:33Flesh slowly returned to my frame,

00:13:34and my skin grew less translucent.

00:13:36Hazmack became my shadow.

00:13:37She never pushed,

00:13:38never overstepped,

00:13:39simply offering a hand when needed.

00:13:40She reminded me of something I had never possessed,

00:13:42a sister.

00:13:43And Sargis slept on the sofa,

00:13:45every single day.

00:13:46Whenever I woke,

00:13:47he was either reading

00:13:47or watching me like a puzzle he couldn't solve.

00:13:50His gaze was too intense,

00:13:51and I could never meet it.

00:13:52I woke earlier than usual today.

00:13:54Dawn had not yet broken,

00:13:55and the room was empty.

00:13:55I didn't want to wait for Hazmack

00:13:56to help me with everything like a parasite.

00:13:58I pulled the IV needle out,

00:13:59wincing at the sting,

00:14:00but I didn't stop.

00:14:01The bathroom was gilded magnificence.

00:14:03The mirror showed a face still pale,

00:14:04but no longer hollow-eyed.

00:14:06I stared at the brand on my forehead,

00:14:07trying to recall when it appeared,

00:14:09but memory offered only black holes.

00:14:10I picked up scissors

00:14:11and began cutting away the matted knots.

00:14:13Platinum strands fell around my feet,

00:14:15snip after snip,

00:14:16until my head felt as light

00:14:17as if three years of weight had been lifted.

00:14:19Hot water poured from the shower head,

00:14:20steam billowing.

00:14:21I closed my eyes

00:14:22and let the stream wash over

00:14:23of every inch of skin.

00:14:23It was the first time

00:14:24I truly bathed myself.

00:14:25The scent of soap

00:14:26drowned out the memory of rot.

00:14:27I touched every inch of skin,

00:14:28as if getting to know my body

00:14:29for the first time.

00:14:30After the shower wrapped in a blue robe,

00:14:31I found myself standing

00:14:32before the mirror again.

00:14:34I took a deep breath

00:14:34and let the robe fall.

00:14:36Then I saw them scars,

00:14:37covering my body

00:14:38like dried-up riverbeds.

00:14:39The most horrifying one

00:14:40snaked from my lower abdomen

00:14:41to just beneath my left breast.

00:14:42The skin was tight and shiny,

00:14:44as if it still had a pulsacy.

00:14:45Joe.

00:14:45He had dragged

00:14:46a silver-coated blade

00:14:47up my stomach,

00:14:48slow as if savoring a delicacy.

00:14:50The sizzle of silver on flesh.

00:14:52The iron tang of blood.

00:14:54His humming.

00:14:54My screams.

00:14:56The door burst open.

00:14:57Sargas rushed in,

00:14:58then froze.

00:14:59His gaze landed on me

00:14:59for only a heartbeat

00:15:00before jerking away

00:15:01as if scolded,

00:15:02the back of his neck

00:15:03flushing red.

00:15:05I saw her body,

00:15:06which made me uncontrollably

00:15:07think of some

00:15:08blush-endearing images.

00:15:10I'm sorry.

00:15:11I didn't think

00:15:12before barging in.

00:15:13Your heartbeat.

00:15:14I thought shit.

00:15:15I'm so sorry.

00:15:16Are you okay?

00:15:17Why are you crying?

00:15:17Only then did I realize

00:15:18I was curled naked

00:15:19on the floor,

00:15:20tears streaming down my face.

00:15:22I scrambled

00:15:23to pull the robe around me,

00:15:24heart-hammering.

00:15:25He kept his back to me,

00:15:26shoulders rigid.

00:15:27Put some clothes on.

00:15:28I'll be outside.

00:15:29He practically fled.

00:15:35I sat there for a moment,

00:15:36then pulled on another

00:15:37of his white shirt

00:15:38and burrowed under the covers.

00:15:39He stood by the window

00:15:40for a long time

00:15:41before slowly returning.

00:15:42I lay in bed

00:15:43with my back to him.

00:15:44His voice came from behind

00:15:45low and careful

00:15:46like taming a deer

00:15:46ready to bolt.

00:15:47You've been cooped up

00:15:48in here for a month.

00:15:48If you want,

00:15:49we can stroll through

00:15:50the palace gardens.

00:15:51The lilies just bloomed.

00:15:52Maravik says you can start

00:15:53on solid foods.

00:15:53I didn't respond.

00:15:54He held out the tablet

00:15:55and asked if there was

00:15:56anything I craved.

00:15:57I stared at the flowing screen

00:15:59as if it were

00:15:59an alien artifact.

00:16:00But eventually,

00:16:01I took it.

00:16:02He showed me how it worked.

00:16:03His fingers careful

00:16:04never to touch mine.

00:16:06I typed,

00:16:06then turned the screen

00:16:07toward him.

00:16:08What do you mean?

00:16:08What do I want?

00:16:09I snatched it back,

00:16:10typed furiously,

00:16:11and flipped it again.

00:16:12I need answers.

00:16:14Why was I brought here?

00:16:15Why am I in your bed?

00:16:16Why all this excessive care?

00:16:17Why waste resources

00:16:18on someone you don't even know?

00:16:20He fell silent.

00:16:21The air grew heavy as red.

00:16:22That's because

00:16:23you're my mate,

00:16:24Cyreli.

00:16:26Mate?

00:16:26Me?

00:16:27His?

00:16:27The eternally bound

00:16:28soul deep lichen mate

00:16:29cursed by Irina?

00:16:31Absurd.

00:16:32I was a three-eyed monster.

00:16:34He couldn't be serious.

00:16:35There had to be a mistake.

00:16:37A defective thing

00:16:38cast aside by everyone.

00:16:39He couldn't be serious.

00:16:40This had to be

00:16:41another cruel trap.

00:16:42I couldn't believe him.

00:16:43The moment he saw

00:16:44my true form,

00:16:45he would revile me

00:16:46like everyone else.

00:16:47I had to leave.

00:16:48Before he discovered the truth,

00:16:49before those gentle looks

00:16:50turned to disgust,

00:16:51I had to escape.

00:16:52But I was too weak right now.

00:16:53I needed time

00:16:53to regain my strength,

00:16:54to earn his trust,

00:16:55to find an opening.

00:16:56The garden.

00:16:57He mentioned the garden.

00:16:58There had to be

00:16:58a way out from there.

00:16:59I forced my breathing

00:17:00to steady,

00:17:00picked up the tablet,

00:17:01and typed my reply

00:17:02one letter at a time.

00:17:03Banana.

00:17:04He stared for a full

00:17:05three seconds.

00:17:06Then his handsome face

00:17:07split into a smile

00:17:08I had never seen.

00:17:10Pure, bright,

00:17:11utterly relieved.

00:17:12The freshest bananas

00:17:13should be immediately

00:17:14brought to my quarters.

00:17:15Soon,

00:17:15Hazmeek rushed in

00:17:16with an armload of bananas,

00:17:18her eyes glistening.

00:17:19She peeled one

00:17:20and offered it to me

00:17:21with a joy

00:17:22as if I had just asked

00:17:23for the crown itself.

00:17:24I took the first bite.

00:17:25The sweetness exploded

00:17:27on my tongue,

00:17:28foreign and overwhelming.

00:17:29I couldn't remember

00:17:30bananas ever tasting

00:17:31this good.

00:17:32One after another,

00:17:33I couldn't stop.

00:17:35I heard his low chuckle.

00:17:37You're going to turn

00:17:38into a banana

00:17:38at this rate.

00:17:39I paused,

00:17:41looked up at him,

00:17:42and gave him

00:17:42the faintest,

00:17:43most unexpected eye roll.

00:17:45His laughter

00:17:46grew louder.

00:17:47In that moment,

00:17:49something cold

00:17:50in my chest

00:17:51seemed to crack.

00:17:54I'm so rarely

00:17:54meant my beloved

00:17:55in old Kragnook.

00:17:57He said it

00:17:58with such tenderness

00:17:59that I had to look away.

00:18:01I didn't deserve

00:18:01to be looked at like that.

00:18:03After the bananas

00:18:03were gone,

00:18:04he sat quietly

00:18:05on the sofa

00:18:05and told me

00:18:06about Irina's curse.

00:18:07How lichens

00:18:08were punished

00:18:08for their arrogance,

00:18:09bound eternally

00:18:10to one person,

00:18:11heart and soul

00:18:12intertwined until death.

00:18:13I don't care

00:18:14about the curse.

00:18:14All I know

00:18:15is that when I found you,

00:18:16here,

00:18:17he pointed to his chest,

00:18:19the place that had been

00:18:20empty for 23 years,

00:18:21suddenly felt full.

00:18:23I clutched the sheets.

00:18:26His words were honeyed,

00:18:28but I had tasted

00:18:29too much poison

00:18:30wrapped in honey.

00:18:32I picked up the tablet

00:18:33and typed

00:18:34with trembling fingers.

00:18:36I don't want

00:18:37to be your mate.

00:18:38His smile

00:18:39didn't disappear.

00:18:40It just softened

00:18:40into something sad,

00:18:42like a flame

00:18:42dampened by rain.

00:18:43I know,

00:18:44and I won't force

00:18:45anything on you,

00:18:45Noreen,

00:18:46ever.

00:18:47But I also won't

00:18:48lie to you.

00:18:48You're not just

00:18:49anyone to me.

00:18:50You're the only one

00:18:50that's ever silenced

00:18:51the monster inside me.

00:18:57He left

00:18:57after those words,

00:18:59leaving me alone

00:18:59with the silence.

00:19:00I looked toward the balcony.

00:19:02The sky was vast,

00:19:03and I was in a cage.

00:19:05No,

00:19:06I would be

00:19:06no one's prisoner anymore.

00:19:08I would grow strong,

00:19:09exact my revenge,

00:19:10and then be truly free.

00:19:12I walked to the balcony,

00:19:14slid the door open,

00:19:15and cold wind

00:19:16and hit my face.

00:19:18I stared at the abyss

00:19:19beyond the railing.

00:19:20One step,

00:19:21and all the pain

00:19:22would end.

00:19:23I climbed onto the railing

00:19:24and spread my arms.

00:19:27Noreen!

00:19:28Please don't do that!

00:19:29I whipped my head around,

00:19:31my foot slipped,

00:19:32then the world flipped,

00:19:33and I fell into the void.

00:19:34A hand clamped

00:19:35around my wrist.

00:19:36I dangled in midair,

00:19:37looking up to see Sargas

00:19:38half over the railing,

00:19:39one hand gripping the edge,

00:19:40the other holding me

00:19:41with desperate strength.

00:19:42His face was contorted

00:19:43with strain,

00:19:43veins bulging,

00:19:44but what burned in his eyes

00:19:45was not anger.

00:19:46It was pure,

00:19:46unadultated terror.

00:19:47Hold on, Noreen!

00:19:48Just hold on!

00:19:50With a guttural roar,

00:19:51he hauled us both

00:19:51back over the railing

00:19:52inch by agonizing inch.

00:19:53We tumbled onto

00:19:54the cold tiles.

00:19:55I sprawled across his chest,

00:19:58his heart hummering

00:19:59wildly against my ear.

00:20:00He sat up,

00:20:01gripping my shoulders,

00:20:02his voice raw and shaking.

00:20:03Are you okay?

00:20:03I know I'll never fully understand

00:20:05what you've been through,

00:20:05but taking your life

00:20:06is not an option.

00:20:07Do you hear me?

00:20:08If something is too heavy for you,

00:20:09let me carry it.

00:20:10I'll burn this entire world

00:20:11to ashes for you.

00:20:12Just say the word.

00:20:13You have no idea

00:20:14the power you hold over me,

00:20:15Imsirelli.

00:20:16Please,

00:20:17don't ever try to do that again.

00:20:18I froze.

00:20:20He was kneeling before me,

00:20:21the supreme Lycan king,

00:20:23his voice laced

00:20:24with raw pleading.

00:20:25Not anger,

00:20:26not reproach,

00:20:27fear.

00:20:28Fear of losing me.

00:20:30I looked down

00:20:31and saw the wound

00:20:32from the IV

00:20:32still bleeding on my hand.

00:20:35He followed my gaze

00:20:37and then gently

00:20:38lifted my hand.

00:20:39Let me help you clean this.

00:20:41He fetched the first aid kit

00:20:42and knelt on one knee

00:20:44at my feet.

00:20:44His touch was exquisitely careful,

00:20:47as if I were the most

00:20:48fragile porcelain on earth.

00:20:50I watched his profile,

00:20:51which seemed almost reverent.

00:20:58Something hard inside my chest

00:21:00quietly gave way.

00:21:01He applied a bandage,

00:21:02then stood and fetched a steam mop.

00:21:04My eyes widened

00:21:05as the Lycan king

00:21:05rolled up his sleeves

00:21:06and began personally

00:21:07cleaning the blood off the floor.

00:21:08His forearms flexed

00:21:09with each movement,

00:21:10veins tracing intricate paths.

00:21:11I tore my gaze away,

00:21:12cheeks burning.

00:21:13Damn it,

00:21:13what was I thinking?

00:21:14This man had just saved my life,

00:21:15and I was oogling his arms?

00:21:17I buried myself

00:21:18under the covers

00:21:19in feigned sleep.

00:21:20The hum of the steam mop

00:21:22was an odd lullaby.

00:21:24After a while,

00:21:25I heard him set it down

00:21:27and quietly settle back

00:21:28onto the sofa.

00:21:30I didn't sleep that night.

00:21:32Not from fear,

00:21:33but from a strange,

00:21:34unnameable flutter.

00:21:35He said I had power over him.

00:21:38But what power

00:21:39could a broken, mute wreck

00:21:40like me possibly hold?

00:21:43Two months passed.

00:21:44My body recovered rapidly.

00:21:46I could keep down

00:21:47most solid foods

00:21:48and had even gained

00:21:49a little weight

00:21:49in my cheeks.

00:21:50But my wolf remained dormant.

00:21:52Maravek said it would

00:21:53take a few more months.

00:21:55I didn't plan

00:21:55to wait that long.

00:21:56I had to leave.

00:21:57Sargish's tenderness

00:21:58was a net drawing tighter

00:21:59each day,

00:22:00and I feared drowning in it.

00:22:01I couldn't.

00:22:02I had a revenge to fulfill.

00:22:03Today,

00:22:04the opportunity came.

00:22:06I picked up the pablet

00:22:07and typed,

00:22:08I remember you once offered

00:22:09to take me to the garden.

00:22:10Does that offer still stand?

00:22:12He read the screen,

00:22:13and his lips curved slowly

00:22:15into a smile

00:22:16that could melt ice.

00:22:17Of course it does.

00:22:20Sargish's smile

00:22:21bloomed like the first

00:22:22breath of spring.

00:22:24He led me through

00:22:25the palace corridors,

00:22:27and I stepped into

00:22:28the moving iron box

00:22:29called an elevator

00:22:30for the first time.

00:22:31When the floor trembled,

00:22:33fear gripped my throat.

00:22:34I threw myself

00:22:35into his arms,

00:22:36clinging to his waist.

00:22:38His chest rumbled.

00:22:39He was laughing.

00:22:40This way,

00:22:41Lady Koala.

00:22:43I followed him

00:22:44past towering columnists.

00:22:45Two obsidian-carved

00:22:46lichen thrones

00:22:47loomed at the far end.

00:22:48The ceiling stole my breath,

00:22:50and guards stood

00:22:51like statues.

00:22:52For the first time,

00:22:53I understood

00:22:54with absolute clarity

00:22:55he was a king.

00:22:57This is the palace ballroom.

00:22:58We host royal events,

00:23:00meetings, celebrations,

00:23:01and official matters here.

00:23:02I stared at the thrones,

00:23:04my skin pricking.

00:23:05He could snap my neck

00:23:06with a flick of my wrist.

00:23:07Yet I slept in his bed,

00:23:08wore his clothes,

00:23:09ate his candy.

00:23:10The thought of escape

00:23:11blotting my mind

00:23:12like a thorn.

00:23:12Guards pushed open

00:23:13a heavy oak and iron door,

00:23:15and sunlight spilled in

00:23:16like it had been

00:23:16waiting for centuries.

00:23:17I saw a black luxury car

00:23:19parked in the courtyard.

00:23:21Sargish opened the door

00:23:22for me himself.

00:23:25I got in,

00:23:26and he slid in beside me.

00:23:29Here.

00:23:30You can munch on it

00:23:31while we make our way there.

00:23:32I took it,

00:23:33tore it open,

00:23:34and shoved a handful

00:23:36into my mouth.

00:23:37The sweetness

00:23:38melted on my tongue.

00:23:40He kept watching me.

00:23:41When I looked up,

00:23:42he quickly averted his eyes

00:23:44and pretended

00:23:45to study the scenery.

00:23:46The garden was called

00:23:47Velaryad,

00:23:48an arched stone gate

00:23:49twilled with vines,

00:23:50the scent thick

00:23:51as a liquid dream.

00:23:52I stepped in

00:23:53and was swallowed by blooms,

00:23:54birds of paradise,

00:23:55bleeding hearts,

00:23:56ghost orchids,

00:23:57and a bush of silver roses.

00:23:58They're called

00:23:59moonlit etel roses.

00:24:00They grow nowhere else

00:24:01in the world.

00:24:02They're used in every

00:24:02major royal event,

00:24:04mating ceremonies,

00:24:05coronations,

00:24:06presentations of heirs,

00:24:08even funeral rites.

00:24:09I crouched before the roses,

00:24:11afraid to touch them.

00:24:12The petals were true silver,

00:24:14like melted starlight

00:24:15trapped in delicate folds.

00:24:17I didn't know how long

00:24:18I crouched there

00:24:18until my legs cramped.

00:24:19When I stood,

00:24:20I saw Sargish sitting

00:24:21cross-segged on a hanging chair,

00:24:22hand his head,

00:24:23grinning without guard.

00:24:24This has always been

00:24:24my favorite place to escape,

00:24:26even when I was a kid.

00:24:27Whenever I had a fight

00:24:28with my parents

00:24:28or just needed to disappear,

00:24:29I came here...

00:24:30I listened,

00:24:30and the corner of my lips

00:24:31twicked upward

00:24:31against my will.

00:24:32I wiped it away immediately.

00:24:33I had no business

00:24:34smiling at him.

00:24:36You're so beautiful.

00:24:38Has anyone ever told you that?

00:24:40I froze.

00:24:41No one.

00:24:42Never.

00:24:43Something warm and dangerous

00:24:44swelled in my chest.

00:24:45I had to crush it.

00:24:47I shot to my feet,

00:24:48desperate to flee

00:24:49this tender trap.

00:24:50My heel caught

00:24:51the fountain's edge,

00:24:52and I tilted backward,

00:24:54arms banded around my waist

00:24:56and pulled me

00:24:56against a solid chest.

00:24:58I looked up in panic,

00:25:00just as his face

00:25:01angled down.

00:25:03Our lips touched.

00:25:05Then memory surged

00:25:06like black tide,

00:25:07Joe's hands,

00:25:08Joe's laughter,

00:25:09Joe's weight

00:25:09pinning me down.

00:25:10I screamed and

00:25:11shoved him away,

00:25:12collapsing to the ground,

00:25:13scrubbing frantically

00:25:14at my lips.

00:25:15I heard myself

00:25:16begging hoarskily,

00:25:18but the name I cried

00:25:19was Joe's.

00:25:20I finally came to

00:25:21the first thing I registered

00:25:22was pain.

00:25:23A dull, burning throb

00:25:24echoed in my bones

00:25:25as if my entire body

00:25:27remembered every bruise.

00:25:28The second thing I noticed

00:25:29was a warm, solid arm

00:25:31draped over my waist,

00:25:32and another tucked

00:25:33beneath my head,

00:25:34gently pinning both my wrists.

00:25:35The third thing

00:25:36was the heat.

00:25:37A comforting,

00:25:38enveloping warmth

00:25:39that seemed to seep

00:25:39into my skin.

00:25:41How good he smelled,

00:25:42and how perfectly

00:25:43his body molded

00:25:44around mine.

00:25:45And the last thing

00:25:45that made me freeze

00:25:46was a poke,

00:25:47right on my lap.

00:25:49No!

00:25:49No, no, no!

00:25:50I twisted,

00:25:51kicked, and squirmed

00:25:52until I managed

00:25:53to slide out

00:25:53from under him

00:25:54and tumble off the bed.

00:25:55I scrambled backward

00:25:56like a startled deer

00:25:57until my back

00:25:58hit the nightstand.

00:26:00You're finally awake.

00:26:03Why the fuck

00:26:04were you in bed with me?

00:26:05You were having a nightmare,

00:26:06thrashing and clawing

00:26:07at yourself.

00:26:08I tried to wake you up,

00:26:09but you wouldn't stop,

00:26:10so I held you

00:26:11all night.

00:26:12I stared at him.

00:26:13That made sense.

00:26:14But why wasn't I scared?

00:26:15It was like my body

00:26:16knew this alpha

00:26:17wouldn't hurt me,

00:26:18but my brain

00:26:19was struggling

00:26:19to keep up.

00:26:20Are you reading my mind?

00:26:22You're not insane.

00:26:23You were simply

00:26:23thinking out loud.

00:26:24A scream tore

00:26:25from my throat again,

00:26:26and then I heard it.

00:26:27My voice.

00:26:29Trembling,

00:26:29I pressed a hand

00:26:30to my throat,

00:26:31disbelieving.

00:26:32A soft gasp

00:26:33escaped me.

00:26:34Tears welled

00:26:34in my eyes.

00:26:36So this,

00:26:38this is how I sound?

00:26:40I didn't even remember anymore.

00:26:44The memories came crashing into me.

00:26:46The palace,

00:26:47the garden,

00:26:47the kiss,

00:26:48and Joe.

00:26:49My chest caved in.

00:26:51I closed my eyes

00:26:52and inhaled deeply,

00:26:53but the weight of that memory

00:26:54pulled me under.

00:26:56The kiss reminded me of Joe.

00:26:58I couldn't breathe.

00:26:59I dropped my gaze

00:27:01to my hands.

00:27:01There was torn skin

00:27:02beneath my nails.

00:27:04He wasn't lying.

00:27:05Sargus had protected me

00:27:06from myself.

00:27:07Again.

00:27:09Good morning.

00:27:12Do you want to use

00:27:13the bathroom first

00:27:13or should I?

00:27:14I shuffled toward

00:27:15the walk-in closet

00:27:16and grabbed one of his

00:27:17black shirts

00:27:18and a pair of shorts.

00:27:19Wearing his clothes

00:27:20felt normal now.

00:27:21I stepped back

00:27:22into the room.

00:27:22He was sitting

00:27:23at the edge of the bed,

00:27:24phone in hand.

00:27:25Inside the bathroom,

00:27:26I caught my reflection,

00:27:28angry red lines

00:27:28across my arms

00:27:29and collarbone.

00:27:30I had done that

00:27:31to myself.

00:27:32I realized

00:27:33I was growing comfortable

00:27:34here with him.

00:27:35That scared me

00:27:36more than anything.

00:27:37I wasn't staying forever.

00:27:39I'd kill Joe.

00:27:40I stepped out

00:27:41of the bathroom,

00:27:42drawn by the scent

00:27:43of heaven.

00:27:44Sargus stood

00:27:45behind the island counter,

00:27:47fussing with a skillet,

00:27:48plating eggs,

00:27:49sausages,

00:27:50bacon, pancakes.

00:27:51He could cook?

00:27:54Come take your seat.

00:27:55I obeyed immediately.

00:27:56He placed a full plate

00:27:58in front of me.

00:27:59I picked up the fork

00:28:00and deg in.

00:28:01A moan slipped out

00:28:02without warning.

00:28:03How is it?

00:28:04I haven't cooked

00:28:05in a while,

00:28:05so I might be

00:28:06a little rusty.

00:28:07I flashed him

00:28:07a thumbs up.

00:28:08He grinned

00:28:09and served himself

00:28:10a plate.

00:28:10We ate in silence.

00:28:12Once the meal was done,

00:28:13I rose to grab

00:28:14the dishes.

00:28:15He intercepted me.

00:28:16I can do it.

00:28:18I absolutely do not

00:28:20doubt your capability,

00:28:21but allow me to do

00:28:22these little things.

00:28:23You don't ever have

00:28:24to lift a finger.

00:28:25I looked away quickly.

00:28:27There was something

00:28:27disarming about

00:28:28the way he spoke.

00:28:29He was gentle

00:28:30and I didn't know

00:28:31how to handle gentle.

00:28:33I wandered back

00:28:34to the living space

00:28:35and collapsed

00:28:35onto the sofa.

00:28:37Minutes later,

00:28:38he approached.

00:28:39Here.

00:28:40He held out a bowl

00:28:41filled with brightly

00:28:42colored candies

00:28:43and sour gummies.

00:28:44I took it with both hands.

00:28:46You don't ever have

00:28:47to thank me

00:28:47for things like this.

00:28:48It's my pleasure.

00:28:50Then he turned

00:28:51and walked away.

00:28:54I stared after him

00:28:58and didn't know

00:28:59what to think

00:28:59about him anymore.

00:29:16Time had passed.

00:29:17Two and a half months

00:29:18since everything changed.

00:29:20Since I screamed

00:29:21and found my voice.

00:29:22Sargis and I

00:29:23were in a much better place now.

00:29:24Not perfect,

00:29:25but closer.

00:29:26I spoke with him freely

00:29:28when I wanted to,

00:29:29quietly when I didn't.

00:29:30He never pushed.

00:29:31I'd started leaving

00:29:32the palace, too.

00:29:33With Hasmik,

00:29:34she became something

00:29:35close to a friend.

00:29:36She taught me games,

00:29:38painted my nails,

00:29:39let me braid her hair.

00:29:41What kind of man

00:29:42do you like?

00:29:42I had no answer.

00:29:44But she told me

00:29:44she and Lupercus

00:29:45were mated.

00:29:46I couldn't believe it.

00:29:47That tall,

00:29:47brooding wall of muscle?

00:29:49Him?

00:29:49Hasmik burst into laughter,

00:29:50but it was true.

00:29:52Physically,

00:29:52I was changing, too.

00:29:53I'd gained weight,

00:29:54healthy weight.

00:29:55My hips had begun

00:29:56to round,

00:29:56my cheeks filled out,

00:29:57my hair grew thicker

00:29:58and longer,

00:29:59but I hadn't stopped

00:30:00searching for a way out.

00:30:01Notebooks hidden

00:30:02behind the wardrobe

00:30:02were filled with sketches

00:30:03of palace maps,

00:30:04blind spots in guard rotations,

00:30:06tunnel theories,

00:30:07but I still hadn't

00:30:08found a way out.

00:30:09I'm tired of seeing you

00:30:10in his clothes.

00:30:11You're getting thicker now

00:30:11and your boobs are starting

00:30:12to fill out,

00:30:13but you're still dressing

00:30:13like a malnourished librarian.

00:30:14You need your own clothes.

00:30:15Dresses, shoes, undies,

00:30:17sexy ones.

00:30:18The door swung open

00:30:19and in walked Sargis.

00:30:22Good.

00:30:23You're here.

00:30:24Your mate is filling out.

00:30:25It's a crime she doesn't

00:30:26have decent underwear.

00:30:27I'm taking her shopping.

00:30:28You're what?

00:30:29She needs a wardrobe overhaul.

00:30:31Your card.

00:30:32Now.

00:30:32Sargis looked between us.

00:30:34Then he groaned.

00:30:36For the goddess' sake,

00:30:38fine.

00:30:39He shoved his black card

00:30:41into her hand.

00:30:42Hasmik kissed his cheek.

00:30:44Good boy.

00:30:45The only person

00:30:46you're allowed to splurge on

00:30:47is Noreen,

00:30:48not yourself.

00:30:50Crystal clear, my king.

00:30:51She looped her arm

00:30:51through mine,

00:30:52practically dragging me

00:30:53toward the door

00:30:53while I stumbled along,

00:30:54half horrified,

00:30:55half terrified.

00:30:56If she comes back

00:30:57with those hideous shades

00:30:58of yours,

00:30:58I'll personally exile you,

00:31:00Hasmik.

00:31:00Hasmik, and I went shopping.

00:31:02She drove.

00:31:02I sat in the passenger seat.

00:31:04The gates creaked shut

00:31:05behind us.

00:31:05Am I sure I should be doing this?

00:31:06Going out like this?

00:31:08Babe, I'm more than sure.

00:31:10And besides,

00:31:11I waited months for this.

00:31:12Don't rob me

00:31:13of my girl's day fantasy.

00:31:14I gave her a small smile.

00:31:17But my insides

00:31:19were knotted with anxiety.

00:31:22The road wound

00:31:23through towering sycamars

00:31:24and golden fields.

00:31:26Thirty minutes later,

00:31:27we reached the main gate.

00:31:28It opened.

00:31:30This was the first time

00:31:31I'd stepped into

00:31:32the outside world.

00:31:33People, no,

00:31:34beings were everywhere.

00:31:35Furred, scaled, winged.

00:31:37I felt like a ghost.

00:31:40The main city

00:31:41is practically a circus.

00:31:42She parked and dragged me

00:31:44into the first shop.

00:31:45Red lace.

00:31:46The scent of perfume

00:31:47hit me.

00:31:49Lace, satin, silk.

00:31:51I froze.

00:31:52It's not your style.

00:31:53That's the point.

00:31:54You've been wearing

00:31:55Sargis' hoodies.

00:31:56This is your awakening arc.

00:31:58My what?

00:31:59She kept handing me sets.

00:32:01Some tame,

00:32:01some scandalous.

00:32:02I tried on a deep green set.

00:32:04The soft fabric

00:32:05hugged my skin.

00:32:06Not too revealing.

00:32:07That one?

00:32:08That's the one.

00:32:09You look like you could

00:32:09kill a man

00:32:10and then write a love letter

00:32:11on his grave.

00:32:12I smiled faintly.

00:32:13Then my gaze drifted lower

00:32:14and I saw them.

00:32:15The scars.

00:32:16Long, silvery reminders

00:32:17slashed across my hips

00:32:18and the sides of my stomach

00:32:19like brands.

00:32:20The scars.

00:32:21They make it hard

00:32:21to see anything else.

00:32:22Those scars?

00:32:24That's armor, Noreen.

00:32:25That's survival.

00:32:27You don't hide them.

00:32:28You wear them

00:32:29like a goddamn crown.

00:32:30I wanted to believe her.

00:32:32But believing is easy

00:32:34when you're not the one

00:32:34living inside the body

00:32:35that remembers every scream.

00:32:37We moved on after that.

00:32:39Shoes, jewelry, dresses.

00:32:41At a street-side cafe

00:32:42I barely touched my food

00:32:44but I nodded along

00:32:45to Hazmic's banter.

00:32:47By the time the sun

00:32:48began to dip

00:32:49our arms were full of bags.

00:32:52Lubricus,

00:32:52she stepped away to answer

00:32:53motioning for me to stay.

00:32:55I stared at the exit.

00:32:57The streets were crowded

00:32:58pulsing with energy.

00:32:59It would be impossible

00:33:00to track someone

00:33:01through that maze.

00:33:02My heart pounded.

00:33:04I hated myself

00:33:05for thinking it

00:33:05but the need for vengeance

00:33:07wouldn't let go.

00:33:08I moved,

00:33:08slowly at first,

00:33:10pretending to browse

00:33:10a rack near the door.

00:33:12Then I slipped

00:33:13through the crowd

00:33:14like mist.

00:33:16Hazmic was still

00:33:16on the phone.

00:33:17He turned away.

00:33:19I ran.

00:33:21I moved like smoke,

00:33:23weaving through clusters

00:33:24of shoppers,

00:33:24ducking into crowds.

00:33:25I looped around

00:33:26the block twice,

00:33:27letting bodies mask my scent.

00:33:28My memory flicked back

00:33:29to the turns we'd taken,

00:33:30right on Temple Avenue,

00:33:31two blocks north.

00:33:31Then a side road

00:33:32called Moon's Hollow,

00:33:33past the bakery

00:33:34with the strawberry bread,

00:33:34left at the bronze statue

00:33:36of the feathered chimera.

00:33:37I followed the map

00:33:37I'd stitched into my mind.

00:33:38My lungs burned,

00:33:39but I didn't stop.

00:33:40Not until I turned

00:33:41a final corner

00:33:42and found myself

00:33:43on a quieter street.

00:33:44There in the shadow

00:33:45of a crumbling tower,

00:33:46I leaned against the wall,

00:33:47panting.

00:33:48A weight crushed my chest,

00:33:49but vengeance

00:33:50had waited long enough.

00:33:51I didn't know

00:33:51where I was going.

00:33:52I only knew I was going

00:33:53to the snow wolf pack,

00:33:54to Joe.

00:33:54The streets of the city

00:33:55felt like a different world.

00:33:57People in clusters,

00:33:58merchants yelling,

00:33:59neon signs blinking.

00:34:00The snow wolf pack?

00:34:01A woman barely looked up

00:34:02from her phone

00:34:03and pointed south.

00:34:04That's hours away

00:34:05on foot, girl.

00:34:06You'll need transport.

00:34:07I nodded and kept walking.

00:34:08I had no money,

00:34:09no phone,

00:34:09no plant.

00:34:10I ducked into alleyways

00:34:11to breathe.

00:34:13When my legs went numb,

00:34:14I found a fountain

00:34:14at the edge of a plaza

00:34:15and collapsed beside it.

00:34:16The water shimmered

00:34:17like crystal

00:34:18under the city lights.

00:34:19I dipped my hands

00:34:20into drink.

00:34:21My reflection stared back,

00:34:23wild-eyed.

00:34:24What the hell

00:34:24was I doing?

00:34:25I hadn't thought this through.

00:34:27I'd romanticized vengeance,

00:34:28but I hadn't considered

00:34:30the logistics.

00:34:31The crowds had started thinning.

00:34:33Daylight had bled

00:34:33out of the sky.

00:34:34Most people had places to go.

00:34:36Homes,

00:34:36packs,

00:34:37families.

00:34:38I had nothing.

00:34:40The city suddenly felt

00:34:41like a mouth

00:34:42about to swallow me whole.

00:34:45I curled onto a bench,

00:34:47hugging my knees.

00:34:51Maybe I'd made a mistake.

00:34:54I eventually stumbled

00:34:55onto a bench by a bus stop,

00:34:57half limping and half dragging

00:34:58my body across the concrete.

00:34:59My knees buckled

00:35:00the moment I sat.

00:35:01My legs trembled

00:35:02from hours of walking

00:35:03with no direction.

00:35:04Goddess,

00:35:04what was I thinking?

00:35:05My lungs ached

00:35:06with every breath.

00:35:07My head throbbed.

00:35:08I was utterly spent.

00:35:09I was so stupid.

00:35:11I had made a split-second decision

00:35:12based on wanting to be free,

00:35:13to take control of my life,

00:35:15only to realize

00:35:15it wasn't as easy

00:35:16as I had made it sound

00:35:17in my head.

00:35:18Now I was stuck,

00:35:19exhausted,

00:35:19cold,

00:35:20and lost in a city

00:35:20I barely knew.

00:35:21I missed him.

00:35:22I hated how fast

00:35:23that thought came,

00:35:24how much it hurt.

00:35:24But I missed his gaze,

00:35:25his quiet presence,

00:35:26the way he made me

00:35:27feel seen and safe.

00:35:28I wanted to go back,

00:35:29to the steady hum

00:35:30of the corridors,

00:35:31to the scent of lavender

00:35:31on my pillows,

00:35:32to the quiet safety

00:35:33of knowing Hazmic

00:35:34would always be

00:35:34two steps behind me.

00:35:36But I didn't know how.

00:35:36No, I wanted revenge.

00:35:38That was the truth of it,

00:35:39wasn't it?

00:35:39No matter how much

00:35:40I missed the comfort

00:35:41of the palace,

00:35:42I couldn't pretend

00:35:42it would make everything right.

00:35:44It wouldn't undo

00:35:45what happened to me,

00:35:46wouldn't erase the nights

00:35:47I screamed into my pillow,

00:35:48or the way my body

00:35:49still flinched.

00:35:50The palace could offer peace,

00:35:52but not justice.

00:35:53And I was starving

00:35:54for justice.

00:35:54But what had I even

00:35:55been thinking?

00:35:56That I could just show up

00:35:57at the snow wolf pack

00:35:58and kill Joe

00:35:58with my bare hands?

00:35:59That vengeance

00:36:00would be waiting for me

00:36:01like a gift wrapped in fury?

00:36:02I had been so blinded

00:36:03by rage and hurt

00:36:04that I forgot

00:36:05I was just one girl,

00:36:06with scars still healing

00:36:07and barely enough strength

00:36:08to hold herself upright.

00:36:09But I couldn't let it go.

00:36:11I couldn't move on.

00:36:11Not while he was still out there,

00:36:13breathing freely,

00:36:14laughing,

00:36:14living a life untouched

00:36:15by the horror

00:36:16he inflicted on me.

00:36:17He ruined my life.

00:36:18He destroyed pieces of me

00:36:19I would never get back.

00:36:19I needed to look into his eyes

00:36:21and watch him realize

00:36:22I had survived.

00:36:23But right now,

00:36:24I was helpless.

00:36:25I curled on the bench,

00:36:26arms tucked tight

00:36:27into my chest,

00:36:28rocking gently

00:36:29as the night deepened

00:36:30and the city blurred around me.

00:36:32One minute I was asleep.

00:36:33The next I was in the air,

00:36:35hauled,

00:36:36like a sack of grain.

00:36:38Hey!

00:36:39Put me down!

00:36:40The man didn't flinch.

00:36:41His arms were like steel.

00:36:42I was dumped

00:36:43into the backseat of a car.

00:36:44This is kidnapping!

00:36:45He slid into the driver's seat

00:36:47and locked the doors.

00:36:48I'm sorry,

00:36:49your gracious majesty.

00:36:50Please pardon my caveman behavior.

00:36:51I need to get you back to the palace

00:36:52as soon as possible.

00:36:53His majesty is not in a good state of mind.

00:36:55Oh,

00:36:55so I wasn't being kidnapped.

00:36:57They found me so fast.

00:36:58I thought I was clever,

00:36:59blending in.

00:37:00I was being taken back to the palace.

00:37:01I pressed my forehead

00:37:02against the cool window.

00:37:03I hadn't even lasted

00:37:04a full day out here.

00:37:05I was such a fool.

00:37:07But worse,

00:37:07I was ashamed of how relieved

00:37:08I was that they came for me.

00:37:15And soon,

00:37:16to him.

00:37:17To the man whose anger

00:37:19might just burn hotter

00:37:20than the fire

00:37:21I carried in my own soul.

00:37:23As the car drew closer

00:37:24to the palace,

00:37:25anxiety coiled tighter

00:37:26in my chest.

00:37:27He was going to be furious.

00:37:28I deserved it.

00:37:29Sargas had been nothing

00:37:30but kind and patient.

00:37:31He gave me space,

00:37:32shielded me from a world

00:37:33I wasn't ready to face.

00:37:34And what did I do in return?

00:37:35Stop the car.

00:37:36I shouted.

00:37:37Stop the car.

00:37:37I didn't think I could face him.

00:37:38Ma'am?

00:37:39Now.

00:37:41The tire screeched

00:37:42as the vehicle jerked to a halt.

00:37:44Open the door.

00:37:45I can't.

00:37:46His majesty gave strict...

00:37:48Well, from what I've been told,

00:37:49I am her majesty.

00:37:50So doesn't that give me

00:37:51the authority

00:37:51to override a damn door lock?

00:37:53The lock disengaged.

00:37:54I stared at him,

00:37:55stunned that it worked.

00:37:55I threw the door open

00:37:56and the night air

00:37:57slapped me in the face.

00:37:58I didn't care.

00:37:59A deafening roar

00:38:00split the silence.

00:38:01A car came flying into view.

00:38:02Tires skidded sideways

00:38:03and slammed to a halt

00:38:04just inches from me.

00:38:05The driver sang open so hard

00:38:07it slammed against the frame

00:38:08with a metallic crack.

00:38:09And then he was there.

00:38:10Sargus.

00:38:10I'd never seen him so disheveled.

00:38:12His jacket hung off one shoulder.

00:38:14His shirt half unbuttoned.

00:38:15He moved closer.

00:38:16Fuck.

00:38:17The moment his boots

00:38:18hit the pavement,

00:38:19he didn't stop.

00:38:21I was frozen where I stood.

00:38:23Wind tugging at my hair.

00:38:25Eyes wide with fear.

00:38:27He closed the distance

00:38:28until we were mere inches apart.

00:38:30He wrapped me in his arms.

00:38:32My body went rigid in surprise.

00:38:34Then I sagged against him.

00:38:36He buried his face in my hair.

00:38:38Breathed me in.

00:38:39You're okay.

00:38:40Did anyone hurt you?

00:38:41Did you eat?

00:38:43You...

00:38:43His voice cracked.

00:38:44We'll talk when we get home.

00:38:46I nodded slowly.

00:38:48He pulled off his jacket

00:38:49and wrapped it around my shoulders.

00:38:51He guided me to his car.

00:38:55Neither of us spoke

00:38:56during the drive back.

00:38:58He glanced at me more times

00:38:59than he should.

00:39:00Just to make sure

00:39:01I was still there.

00:39:02The palace gate loomed

00:39:04under the dark sky.

00:39:05He parked

00:39:06and we made our way up the steps

00:39:07and into the private elevator.

00:39:08I looked everywhere but at him.

00:39:10The doors opened

00:39:11and he led me to the room.

00:39:13The door closed behind them

00:39:14with a soft click.

00:39:15I stood in the middle of the room,

00:39:16still wrapped in his jacket.

00:39:20Why, Nareen?

00:39:21Why did you run?

00:39:23Do you have any idea

00:39:25what you put me through?

00:39:28I didn't ask you

00:39:29to worry about me.

00:39:30I'm not a child.

00:39:32You can't keep me

00:39:33locked in here

00:39:34like a prisoner.

00:39:36I wasn't keeping you here.

00:39:39I was protecting you.

00:39:42Protecting me?

00:39:43I didn't ask

00:39:44for your protection.

00:39:46I'm your mate!

00:39:47It's my responsibility

00:39:49to care you go again

00:39:50with that mate bullshit.

00:39:53I don't believe in it.

00:39:56I'm not responsive to it.

00:39:59I've never felt it.

00:40:01The only thing

00:40:01I've ever felt

00:40:02towards you

00:40:03is gratitude.

00:40:08Nareen.

00:40:09No.

00:40:10Let me finish.

00:40:14Lupercus cleared his throat.

00:40:19We shouldn't be here.

00:40:21They quietly stood

00:40:22and left.

00:40:23The door closed

00:40:24behind them.

00:40:34I never asked you

00:40:35to save me.

00:40:36You did all of that

00:40:37on your own.

00:40:38I'm grateful.

00:40:41But that doesn't mean

00:40:42you get to dictate

00:40:43how I live my life.

00:40:49I never did this

00:40:50because I expected

00:40:51something back.

00:40:57Then stop acting

00:40:59like I owe you something!

00:41:02My words hit him.

00:41:04His body locked up.

00:41:05He stared at me

00:41:06in disbelief.

00:41:08You say you're my mate,

00:41:10but I never felt it, Sargas.

00:41:12No strings pulled

00:41:13at my soul.

00:41:15No magic tethered

00:41:16me to you.

00:41:17He nodded slowly,

00:41:19biting the inside

00:41:19of his cheek.

00:41:20His hands trembled

00:41:21at his sides.

00:41:24You've been kind,

00:41:26yes,

00:41:27but caring isn't

00:41:28suffocating someone.

00:41:31Caring isn't

00:41:32making decisions

00:41:33for me

00:41:33and watching me

00:41:35like I'm a ticking bomb.

00:41:38I don't know.

00:41:42Narian.

00:41:44You know what

00:41:45hurts the most?

00:41:46I almost believed

00:41:47you were different.

00:41:48But all this time,

00:41:50I know you've just

00:41:51been waiting for me

00:41:52to become something

00:41:53I'm not.

00:42:04You think because

00:42:05you gave me

00:42:06a soft bed

00:42:07and fed me

00:42:10and gave me

00:42:10your attention

00:42:11that I owe you

00:42:12my heart?

00:42:14You want to claim me

00:42:16like some prize

00:42:17you've won?

00:42:18He staggered

00:42:19back a step,

00:42:20unable to breathe.

00:42:21All he could do

00:42:21was stare at me

00:42:22like I'd just

00:42:23torn him in half.

00:42:32Fuck!

00:42:33Narain!

00:42:34He grabbed a vase

00:42:34off the table

00:42:35and hurled it

00:42:35across the room.

00:42:43It shattered

00:42:44into a thousand

00:42:45sharp pieces

00:42:45against the wall,

00:42:47but it still

00:42:48didn't quiet

00:42:48the storm

00:42:49in his chest.

00:42:51You're right.

00:42:52I don't have

00:42:53any right

00:42:53to keep you here.

00:42:56I don't have

00:42:57the right

00:42:58to hope

00:42:58for something

00:42:59that clearly

00:43:00isn't there.

00:43:01He swore again,

00:43:02grabbing the edge

00:43:03of the table.

00:43:04You've got no idea

00:43:05what it's like

00:43:06devoting yourself

00:43:07to someone.

00:43:09I stayed up nights

00:43:10wondering if I was

00:43:11doing enough,

00:43:12if I was enough.

00:43:13But none of it

00:43:14mattered to you,

00:43:15did it?

00:43:18I looked away.

00:43:23You want to go?

00:43:24Then go.

00:43:26I won't stop you.

00:43:27You say you're not

00:43:29mine,

00:43:29I hear you.

00:43:31All I wanted

00:43:32was your happiness.

00:43:34If it doesn't lie

00:43:35in me,

00:43:36then so be it.

00:43:37I set you free.

00:43:39You don't owe me

00:43:40anything.

00:43:42Take what you need.

00:43:44Clothes,

00:43:45money,

00:43:45whatever.

00:43:47Just

00:43:49leave before

00:43:50I start begging

00:43:51you to stay.

00:43:52Because if I do,

00:43:54and you still

00:43:55walk away,

00:43:56I don't know

00:43:57if I'll recover

00:43:57from that.

00:43:59He turned away,

00:44:01unable to face me.

00:44:02Just go.

00:44:03I wasn't prepared

00:44:05for the sorrow

00:44:05reflected in his eyes.

00:44:07It wasn't a volatile

00:44:08pain that demanded

00:44:09attention.

00:44:10It was a quiet

00:44:11anguish that seemed

00:44:12to seep from his

00:44:13very soul.

00:44:14I never meant

00:44:15to hurt him.

00:44:15I didn't throw

00:44:16his kindness

00:44:17back in his face

00:44:18because I believed

00:44:18it was insincere.

00:44:20I did it because

00:44:21deep down I feared

00:44:22it might actually

00:44:23be genuine.

00:44:26I was used

00:44:27to striking first,

00:44:29pushing people

00:44:30away before they

00:44:30could draw me

00:44:31too close.

00:44:32Striking out

00:44:33before I could

00:44:34be hurt.

00:44:35When he reached

00:44:36for me.

00:44:37When he took

00:44:38off his jacket

00:44:39and draped it

00:44:40over my shoulders

00:44:41and asked softly

00:44:42if I was okay.

00:44:44Panic flooded me.

00:44:46How could someone

00:44:48be so kind?

00:44:51It felt like a lie.

00:44:53I pushed him away

00:44:54to protect myself.

00:44:56To cling to the belief

00:44:57that he was just

00:44:58like the others.

00:45:00Untrustworthy.

00:45:01Indifferent.

00:45:03How could a man

00:45:04like Sargas

00:45:04care this deeply

00:45:05for someone like me?

00:45:07The mate bond?

00:45:09But I didn't feel it.

00:45:11All I felt

00:45:12was gratitude.

00:45:13Should I leave?

00:45:14That had always

00:45:15been the plan.

00:45:16To get out

00:45:17and find joy.

00:45:18To look the monster

00:45:19in the eye

00:45:19and kill him.

00:45:20And yet,

00:45:21I hesitated.

00:45:24The choice

00:45:25was in my hands now.

00:45:26Sargas had given it

00:45:27to me without resistance.

00:45:30I was finally free.

00:45:33So why did my chest ache

00:45:35when I thought

00:45:36of walking away?

00:45:37Maybe it was the way

00:45:39he was retreating.

00:45:40The way his broad shoulders,

00:45:42now slumped like the weight

00:45:44of the world,

00:45:45had finally crushed him.

00:45:47Or the way his eyes

00:45:48had dulled.

00:45:50Or the pain

00:45:51radiating off him

00:45:52like a storm,

00:45:53soaking the room.

00:45:54But whatever it was,

00:45:56it did something to me.

00:45:59It reached into

00:46:00that steel vault

00:46:01I'd buried my heart in

00:46:02and twisted.

00:46:04I stood there,

00:46:05frozen.

00:46:07Watching him walk away

00:46:08felt like watching

00:46:09something irreversible

00:46:10happen.

00:46:11And for the first time

00:46:12in a long time,

00:46:14I didn't feel fear.

00:46:17I wanted to comfort him.

00:46:20I opened my mouth

00:46:22to speak.

00:46:22nothing sharp

00:46:24or guarded

00:46:25or meant to protect me

00:46:26from imagined betrayals.

00:46:29But before I could say

00:46:30a single word,

00:46:31he turned back.

00:46:33If you have any request

00:46:35or anything you want

00:46:36to take along,

00:46:39ask anybody

00:46:40and you'll be given.

00:46:44Then he walked

00:46:45out of the room.

00:46:47And I just stood there,

00:46:49staring at the door.

00:46:51I waited for him

00:46:52all through the night.

00:46:55Not a single blink

00:46:56of sleep

00:46:57touched my eyes.

00:47:00I sat on the bed,

00:47:02hugging my knees,

00:47:03staring at the door.

00:47:05But he never came.

00:47:06This was the first time

00:47:08he had stayed away

00:47:08for this long.

00:47:10The first time

00:47:12he didn't sleep in here.

00:47:14did he deserve

00:47:15what I said?

00:47:16No.

00:47:18No.

00:47:20Especially when

00:47:21I hadn't meant it.

00:47:23I just

00:47:24didn't know

00:47:25how to not lash out

00:47:26when I felt scared.

00:47:28Didn't know

00:47:29how to let good things in

00:47:30without suspecting

00:47:31the worst.

00:47:32I reached for the tablet

00:47:33on the bedside table.

00:47:35I remembered him

00:47:37showing me

00:47:37how to contact him

00:47:38through it,

00:47:39just in case.

00:47:41I opened the message app.

00:47:43My fingers hovered

00:47:44above the keys.

00:47:46I'm sorry.

00:47:47Please come back.

00:47:49That's what every piece

00:47:50of me was screaming.

00:47:53But wouldn't that

00:47:54make me selfish?

00:47:57After everything I said?

00:48:02I dropped the tablet

00:48:03and buried my face

00:48:04in my hands.

00:48:07I didn't know

00:48:08how to fix this.

00:48:12A knock sounded

00:48:13on the door.

00:48:14My heart leaped.

00:48:16It's me, Nareen.

00:48:18Then crashed.

00:48:20Lupercus.

00:48:21I didn't expect him.

00:48:23I slid off the bed

00:48:24and padded to the door.

00:48:28I hesitated,

00:48:29then opened it slowly.

00:48:36Can I come in?

00:48:37I nodded.

00:48:39He stepped inside.

00:48:41I'm here to pick you up.

00:48:43His Royal Highness

00:48:44has made accommodation

00:48:45arrangements for you

00:48:46outside the palace.

00:48:49There's also a sum of money

00:48:50deposited in an account

00:48:51under your name.

00:48:53My heart twisted.

00:48:55He made plans

00:48:57for me already?

00:48:59After I threw his heart

00:49:01to the ground

00:49:01and stomped on it?

00:49:03I...

00:49:05I...

00:49:07I'm not going anywhere.

00:49:10You aren't?

00:49:12I don't want to leave anymore.

00:49:20Where's Sargas?

00:49:22I want to talk to him.

00:49:24I'm sorry.

00:49:26I can't reveal

00:49:27His Majesty's whereabouts.

00:49:31He's...

00:49:31not in a good

00:49:33state of mind

00:49:33at the moment.

00:49:37Please,

00:49:38Lupercus.

00:49:41Let's assume

00:49:42I do take you to him.

00:49:44What would you do?

00:49:46Or say?

00:49:51Do you suddenly believe

00:49:53in the mate bond now?

00:49:54His words hit me.

00:49:56What would I say?

00:49:57I'm sorry?

00:49:59And then what?

00:50:01I don't know.

00:50:02I don't know what I'd say.

00:50:06But I don't want him

00:50:08hurting because of me.

00:50:09You need to make a choice,

00:50:10Noreen.

00:50:11I can't take you to see him

00:50:13if you don't even know

00:50:14what you want.

00:50:15Don't give him hope

00:50:16if you know you'll never

00:50:17be able to see yourself

00:50:18with him.

00:50:20His words pierced

00:50:21through every layer

00:50:22of denial I had built.

00:50:24He wasn't being cruel,

00:50:26just honest.

00:50:28And the truth was,

00:50:30everything he said

00:50:31was right.

00:50:33I know the concept

00:50:34of mate doesn't

00:50:35make sense to you.

00:50:36That's okay.

00:50:42Only Lycans

00:50:43truly understand it.

00:50:46to be tethered

00:50:46to someone.

00:50:48It's like feeling

00:50:49something awaken

00:50:50in your bones

00:50:51and your blood.

00:50:54As though you were

00:50:55incomplete your entire life

00:50:57and never knew it

00:50:59until that moment.

00:51:05I stared at him.

00:51:13Sargas is my cousin.

00:51:16We grew up together.

00:51:19One thing he wouldn't

00:51:20shut up about.

00:51:21The concept of mating.

00:51:23He searched for years.

00:51:27Each time he came back

00:51:29empty-handed,

00:51:30a part of him faded.

00:51:34Five years, Nareen.

00:51:37Five years of quiet misery.

00:51:42Until he found you.

00:51:53I have never seen him happier.

00:52:02Something about the way

00:52:03he said it

00:52:04twisted something

00:52:05in my chest.

00:52:07If you really get to know

00:52:08Sargis,

00:52:10if you

00:52:10let yourself

00:52:11be open-minded,

00:52:13even just a little,

00:52:15you'll see that he's

00:52:16gentle

00:52:18and full of love

00:52:21and everything

00:52:22he's done for you

00:52:23since the day

00:52:24you were brought here.

00:52:27Isn't that proof enough

00:52:28that he cares about you?

00:52:36The seventh day.

00:52:37Seven long,

00:52:39agonizing days

00:52:39and still

00:52:40no sign of Sargis.

00:52:42The loneliness

00:52:43had crept into me

00:52:44like a slow-acting poison,

00:52:46curling its way

00:52:47through my chest

00:52:47until it sat heavy

00:52:48on my lungs.

00:52:49I never knew

00:52:50loneliness could hurt

00:52:51like this.

00:52:52I used to build

00:52:53my world around silence.

00:52:55I used to pride myself

00:52:56on not needing anyone.

00:52:58But now it felt

00:52:59different.

00:53:00The silence

00:53:01didn't feel safe anymore.

00:53:02It felt like a punishment.

00:53:05I curled up

00:53:06tighter on the bed,

00:53:07wrapping his shirt

00:53:08tighter around me.

00:53:14It still smelled

00:53:16like him.

00:53:18Hasmik had left me

00:53:19a book.

00:53:20I finally cracked it open

00:53:22out of sheer desperation

00:53:24for distraction.

00:53:25The cover was spicy,

00:53:27but the story

00:53:28was gripping.

00:53:29The enemies-to-lovers

00:53:30trope was more

00:53:31than just spicy.

00:53:32It was intense,

00:53:33chaotic,

00:53:34and real.

00:53:35The heroine

00:53:35lashed out

00:53:36in fear and distrust,

00:53:37only to realize

00:53:38she was falling in love

00:53:39without even meaning to.

00:53:41It felt so familiar,

00:53:42like Sargis and me.

00:53:44I found a folded-down page

00:53:46with a line.

00:53:48I hated him so much

00:53:50I couldn't breathe.

00:53:52I loved him so much

00:53:54I didn't know how to.

00:53:56Then their first kiss came.

00:54:01That image,

00:54:02lips breezing together

00:54:04like an apology

00:54:05and a promise,

00:54:06dragged my memory

00:54:07back to that night.

00:54:09The fountain.

00:54:12I didn't even realize

00:54:13I was smiling,

00:54:15or that I was kicking

00:54:16my feet in the air,

00:54:18like some hopeless romantic.

00:54:20And then it got spicier.

00:54:23And as I read,

00:54:28I imagined it was us.

00:54:31Sargis and me.

00:54:33Should I stop?

00:54:35His breath scorched my skin.

00:54:37I shook my head

00:54:38because I didn't want to stop.

00:54:40He kissed my neck

00:54:41as if he wanted

00:54:42to bite it down.

00:54:43My fingers sank into his hair,

00:54:46gripping him

00:54:46like grasping

00:54:47the only driftwood.

00:54:48His fingers unbuttoned

00:54:49my buttons.

00:54:50One.

00:54:51Two.

00:54:52It wasn't him guiding me.

00:54:54It was me.

00:54:55My legs wrapped

00:54:56around his waist.

00:54:57At that moment,

00:54:58I wasn't bearing anything.

00:55:00I was taking something.

00:55:02He held my earlope

00:55:03and I trembled all over.

00:55:04Then I kissed him.

00:55:05It was my own initiative.

00:55:06His mouth has the taste I love,

00:55:07sweet, hot, and addictive.

00:55:08I crumpled the bedsheet

00:55:09and he held my hand

00:55:10as if he wanted

00:55:11to sink down with me.

00:55:12At that moment,

00:55:12I was no longer a ruin.

00:55:14It was the fire he ignited.

00:55:15The thought was so jarring

00:55:17that I nearly dropped the book.

00:55:20My skin went hot.

00:55:23I snapped it shut

00:55:24like it had bitten me.

00:55:31I threw it across the room

00:55:32and buried my face

00:55:33into the throw pillow,

00:55:35groaning.

00:55:36Why was my brain like this?

00:55:41The silence pressed in again.

00:55:46Slowly,

00:55:47my thoughts faded

00:55:48and I drifted into sleep.

00:55:50I didn't know

00:55:51how long I'd been out,

00:55:53but a shadow fell over me.

00:55:59I stirred gruggily,

00:56:01blinking against the haze of sleep.

00:56:05His figure was retreating.

00:56:07My body moved

00:56:08before I could think.

00:56:11I grabbed his hand.

00:56:18Sargas.

00:56:19He turned.

00:56:21And when his eyes

00:56:23met mine,

00:56:24my heart ached.

00:56:25He looked exhausted.

00:56:28Dark shadows under his eyes,

00:56:30tangled hair,

00:56:31wrinkled shirt,

00:56:33stubble on his jaw.

00:56:37His eyes were guarded,

00:56:38like he'd locked the real Sargas

00:56:40somewhere deep inside himself.

00:56:46I looked away,

00:56:48as shame crawled up my throat

00:56:50like a vine.

00:56:57I'm sorry.

00:57:05It's fine, Noreen.

00:57:07It's all good.

00:57:08No, it's not all good.

00:57:10You have no idea

00:57:12how guilty I feel

00:57:13for everything I said.

00:57:14I didn't mean all of it,

00:57:16at least not the way I said it.

00:57:19If you're only here

00:57:20because you feel guilty,

00:57:21you don't have to.

00:57:24You were just being honest.

00:57:26That's okay.

00:57:28No.

00:57:29I'm not staying

00:57:30because I feel bad.

00:57:32I'm staying because

00:57:34I want to.

00:57:37But I need you to understand

00:57:39that I'm not an easy person

00:57:40to be with.

00:57:41I had a pretty messed up child.

00:57:43It left scars.

00:57:44Deep ones.

00:57:46That kind of trauma

00:57:47doesn't just go away

00:57:48when someone shows up

00:57:49with kind eyes

00:57:50and good intentions.

00:57:51I lost my parents

00:57:52as soon as I was born.

00:57:54I was raised by PAC members.

00:57:56At first,

00:57:56they were kind

00:57:57until I turned seven.

00:57:59They had a child

00:58:00of their own

00:58:01and suddenly

00:58:02I wasn't part

00:58:03of the family anymore.

00:58:04I became a servant

00:58:05in their home.

00:58:07And then...

00:58:09And then...

00:58:12I spent three years

00:58:13in a dungeon.

00:58:14Total darkness.

00:58:15Alone.

00:58:18Tortured beyond imagination.

00:58:26I'm telling you this

00:58:28not so you'll pity me.

00:58:30I hope it helps you

00:58:31understand me.

00:58:34Even just a little.

00:58:35I don't know

00:58:36how to love Sargas.

00:58:38I don't know

00:58:39how to let myself

00:58:40be cared for

00:58:41without feeling the need

00:58:43to give something back.

00:58:44All this time

00:58:46I've been here

00:58:46I felt grateful.

00:58:48But also

00:58:49like a parasite.

00:58:53Narian.

00:58:56No, please

00:58:57let me finish.

00:58:59I know everything

00:59:00you've done

00:59:00you did because

00:59:01you wanted to.

00:59:02You don't expect

00:59:03anything in return.

00:59:04But I can't help

00:59:05how I feel.

00:59:06I feel indebted.

00:59:08Like I'm just

00:59:09taking and taking

00:59:11without ever being able

00:59:12to give anything

00:59:13meaningful back.

00:59:14But the past few months

00:59:15have been the most

00:59:16wonderful of my life.

00:59:17And that safety

00:59:18has made me realize

00:59:19something else.

00:59:20I still have demons.

00:59:21Still have so much pain

00:59:23buried inside me.

00:59:24And that pain

00:59:25has kept me from

00:59:26wanting to accept happiness.

00:59:27From believing

00:59:28I even deserve it.

00:59:31And that's why I ran.

00:59:33Not because of you.

00:59:35Not because I wanted

00:59:37to hurt you.

00:59:39But because I needed

00:59:40to confront my past

00:59:42if I ever wanted

00:59:43to move forward.

00:59:45As for the mate bond

00:59:46it's true.

00:59:47I don't feel it.

00:59:49At least

00:59:50not the way

00:59:50I'm supposed to.

00:59:52But Lubricus

00:59:53explained things.

00:59:55I'm sorry

00:59:56for hurting you Sargas.

00:59:58You didn't deserve that.

00:59:59You're a wonderful man.

01:00:01But I'm not ready

01:00:02to be in something romantic.

01:00:03Not yet.

01:00:04I just

01:00:05I don't think

01:00:06I'm in a place

01:00:07where I can give someone

01:00:08what they deserve

01:00:09without working on myself.

01:00:10But

01:00:10if you're willing to wait

01:00:12to be patient

01:00:13and stay beside me

01:00:14not because you're

01:00:15hoping I'll change

01:00:16or that I'll fall in love

01:00:17with you overnight

01:00:18but because you see me

01:00:19and you want to

01:00:20help me figure out

01:00:21who I am

01:00:22and what I want

01:00:22then I'd like that.

01:00:24I'd really like that.

01:00:25When I finally looked

01:00:26at him again

01:00:27his expression

01:00:28had completely changed.

01:00:30He was smiling.

01:00:32Not that

01:00:33half-hearted

01:00:34broken smile.

01:00:36A real one.

01:00:39I understand.

01:00:40And I mean that

01:00:41picture too.

01:00:43Thank you for trusting me

01:00:44enough to open up.

01:00:47I know it wasn't easy.

01:00:50I'm going to go

01:00:51take a shower.

01:00:51He smiled

01:00:52then made his way

01:00:53to the bathroom.

01:00:55The door clipped

01:00:56shut behind him.

01:00:58I stood in the room

01:00:59my heartbeat steadier.

01:01:01There was still

01:01:01a long way

01:01:02to go between us.

01:01:04But at least

01:01:05I hadn't lost him.

01:01:06The loud thud

01:01:07of the bedroom door

01:01:08crashing open

01:01:09jolted me out of sleep.

01:01:10I sat up so fast

01:01:11the world spun.

01:01:13Hasmik stood in the doorway

01:01:14like a vengeful

01:01:15goddess of war.

01:01:16Her eyes cut

01:01:17straight through me.

01:01:19Hasmik.

01:01:22You fucking bitch.

01:01:25I winced.

01:01:26I knew I deserved it.

01:01:27What you did

01:01:28was fucked up.

01:01:29Really fucked up.

01:01:32I know.

01:01:33Let me finish.

01:01:34I was so scared.

01:01:35I have never been

01:01:36that terrified in my life.

01:01:37My mind raced

01:01:38through every terrible

01:01:39possibility but

01:01:41I'm sorry.

01:01:42I forgive you.

01:01:43Her words hit me hard

01:01:44not because I doubted them

01:01:45but because I knew

01:01:46I didn't deserve them.

01:01:47I don't know what

01:01:48you were thinking

01:01:48but I hope you found

01:01:49whatever clarity

01:01:50you were chasing.

01:01:51I'm just glad you're safe.

01:01:53I'm truly grateful

01:01:54for you Hasmik.

01:01:55You're like a real sister

01:01:56I never expected

01:01:57but truly needed.

01:01:59I missed you too.

01:02:02Oh my god.

01:02:03I didn't miss the way

01:02:04her spine straightened

01:02:05or how her pupils

01:02:07dilated slightly in alarm.

01:02:08What?

01:02:09What is it?

01:02:11Anika just arrived

01:02:12at the palace.

01:02:14And who might that be?

01:02:15Sargas and her.

01:02:17They used to fool around.

01:02:19A lot.

01:02:20They were fuckmates.

01:02:21Hearing that Sargas

01:02:22had a fuckmate

01:02:22who was currently

01:02:23in the palace

01:02:24scraped something raw

01:02:25inside me

01:02:26though I didn't know

01:02:27how to feel.

01:02:28It wasn't as if

01:02:28I'd expected celibity

01:02:29especially not from

01:02:31a leakin king.

01:02:32Sex was casual here

01:02:33almost ritualistic

01:02:34among alphas

01:02:35and warriors

01:02:36but still

01:02:36there was this tang

01:02:38in my chest.

01:02:39Like the taste of blood

01:02:40when you've bitten

01:02:40your own tongue

01:02:41but pretend it doesn't sting.

01:02:42I wasn't jealous

01:02:43I don't think.

01:02:44I had no claim on Sargas.

01:02:46Not truly.

01:02:47Not yet.

01:02:47But something inside me

01:02:48recoiled at the idea

01:02:49of him with another.

01:02:50Was she beautiful?

01:02:51Dominant?

01:02:52Submissive?

01:02:52Did he care?

01:02:53Or was she just another blur

01:02:54in a long line of bodies

01:02:55used to silence

01:02:56the beast inside him?

01:02:57I tried not to care.

01:02:58God I tried.

01:02:59But I did.

01:03:00And that terrified me.

01:03:01Don't worry Narain.

01:03:02She might be here

01:03:03on diplomatic matters.

01:03:04Sometimes she represents

01:03:05her brother at summits

01:03:06and visitations.

01:03:07Her words were meant to soothe

01:03:08but they barely skimmed

01:03:09the surface of the storm

01:03:10inside me.

01:03:10I gave a small nod

01:03:11or maybe it was a hum.

01:03:13I couldn't tell.

01:03:13The door burst open.

01:03:14A woman stepped into the room

01:03:16like she owned the palace.

01:03:17She had the kind of beauty

01:03:18that punched the air

01:03:18from one's lungs.

01:03:19Her dark brown hair

01:03:20flowed behind her

01:03:21like a cape.

01:03:22I observed silently.

01:03:24She wore a soft pastel gown

01:03:25that hugged her curves.

01:03:26Why she's on his bed

01:03:27and more importantly

01:03:29why she's wearing his clothes.

01:03:31Princess Royal.

01:03:33To what do we owe

01:03:34this unexpected visit?

01:03:36Answer the damn question.

01:03:38I saw the way Hazmic

01:03:39clenched her fists.

01:03:40I half expected her

01:03:41to spit a retorque back

01:03:42but instead she drew

01:03:43in a sharp breath.

01:03:44Both women turned

01:03:45toward the door.

01:03:46Sargas and Lupercus

01:03:47burst into the room.

01:03:48Sargas looked like

01:03:49he'd run the whole palace

01:03:50down to get here.

01:03:51Onika.

01:03:51She stalked across the room

01:03:52swaying her hips sexually

01:03:53her heels clicking

01:03:54like the toll of a bell.

01:03:56She grabbed his face

01:03:57with both hands

01:03:57and kissed him

01:03:58right on the lip.

01:03:59My heart didn't just sink.

01:04:01It crashed.

01:04:01Like a mirror thrown

01:04:03from a hundred stories high.

01:04:04I closed my eyes

01:04:05and turned my back

01:04:06not wanting to see anymore.

01:04:07What the fuck was that for Anika?

01:04:09What?

01:04:09Don't you miss me?

01:04:10He didn't answer

01:04:11and when his eyes

01:04:12flicked toward me

01:04:13I had already turned away

01:04:14retreating into myself again.

01:04:16I missed you

01:04:17and came to surprise you

01:04:18but instead

01:04:19I found another woman

01:04:20in your bed.

01:04:21So who's the slut?

01:04:22She is not a slut.

01:04:24The woman you're referring to

01:04:25is my mate.

01:04:26Anika stared at me

01:04:27then she burst out laughing.

01:04:29You joke too much.

01:04:31I know she's just another body

01:04:32to warm your bed.

01:04:33Sargas stepped toward her

01:04:34with enough heat in his eyes

01:04:36to melt through steel.

01:04:37Your diplomatic status

01:04:38buys you patience

01:04:39not the right to disrespect

01:04:41my mate in my home.

01:04:42One more word

01:04:43and the guards

01:04:44will escort you out.

01:04:46You wouldn't.

01:04:48Try me.

01:04:49Anika huffed

01:04:50and flipped her hair

01:04:51as she stalked out

01:04:52followed by Lupercus

01:04:54while Hasmik gave me

01:04:55the faintest smile

01:04:56and slipped away.

01:04:58The room was left

01:04:59with just me

01:05:00and Sargas.

01:05:02Silence settled

01:05:03like thick fog.

01:05:04I didn't know

01:05:05she was coming.

01:05:06I swear it Noreen

01:05:07I would have shielded you

01:05:08from this shit

01:05:08if I'd had even a hint.

01:05:10I said nothing.

01:05:12I didn't kiss her back.

01:05:14I hope you trust me enough

01:05:15to know that's not

01:05:16who I am anymore.

01:05:17Not with you in the picture.

01:05:18I'm not mad.

01:05:19You're not?

01:05:20No.

01:05:22I'm just

01:05:23I don't know

01:05:23what I'm feeling

01:05:24I just

01:05:25hate how it made me feel

01:05:27seeing that.

01:05:29Do you want me

01:05:30to ask her to leave?

01:05:32Can you?

01:05:33I'm the supreme alpha

01:05:34of this kingdom.

01:05:35There's not much

01:05:36I can't do.

01:05:36No.

01:05:37That'll just make it worse.

01:05:39Politically.

01:05:39For you.

01:05:40I didn't realize

01:05:41how tightly

01:05:41I'd been holding myself together

01:05:43until I leaned my head

01:05:44against him

01:05:44and it felt

01:05:45right.

01:05:46His shoulder was broad

01:05:47and warm.

01:05:48I didn't understand it

01:05:49fully this instinct

01:05:50and pull

01:05:51but I followed it anyway.

01:05:53It wasn't even about

01:05:54the kiss

01:05:54not entirely.

01:05:56It was about

01:05:57how easily

01:05:58she'd touched him.

01:05:59I hadn't earned

01:06:00the right to feel this way.

01:06:02We weren't bound yet.

01:06:04Hadn't exchanged vows

01:06:06or promises.

01:06:08She's really pretty.

01:06:10Noreen.

01:06:11It's not a competition

01:06:12and even if it was

01:06:13I wouldn't win.

01:06:15I'm not like her.

01:06:17I'm not loud

01:06:17or sharp

01:06:18or confident.

01:06:18I just

01:06:20exist

01:06:21quietly.

01:06:21You don't have to be like her.

01:06:23But you were with her.

01:06:24I fucked her, Noreen.

01:06:26That's not the same

01:06:27as what I have with you.

01:06:28Resting my head against him

01:06:29I looked at this

01:06:30infuriating

01:06:31loyal

01:06:31complex man

01:06:32who wouldn't want him.

01:06:33I was only with her

01:06:34because it was

01:06:35temporary and convenient

01:06:36until we each found

01:06:37what we truly wanted.

01:06:38You don't owe me

01:06:39an explanation.

01:06:40You're an adult.

01:06:40I'm not angry

01:06:41just surprised

01:06:42and it reminded me

01:06:43how little I actually

01:06:44know about you.

01:06:45Then ask.

01:06:46I don't know what to ask.

01:06:48When I'm not working

01:06:49which is rare

01:06:50I like to travel alone

01:06:51sometimes to see the world

01:06:52without the weight of a crown.

01:06:53I blinked.

01:06:54It was hard to imagine him

01:06:55as anything but the supreme alpha.

01:06:56I dabble in sports

01:06:57like basketball and swimming

01:06:58and I love to cook.

01:06:59Submerging in water

01:07:00feels peaceful and untouchable

01:07:01and my three-pointer

01:07:02is pretty good.

01:07:02You?

01:07:04Love to cook?

01:07:05Careful.

01:07:05You're underestimating me.

01:07:06At night Sargas turned over

01:07:08on the sofa.

01:07:09He thought I was asleep.

01:07:10I wasn't.

01:07:10My eyes were closed

01:07:11but every sense was tuned to him.

01:07:13The creak of leather

01:07:13his breathing

01:07:14and his scent of cedar

01:07:15and honeysuckle

01:07:15soaked into his shirt

01:07:16I was wearing

01:07:17filling every inch of air.

01:07:18I couldn't escape it

01:07:19and didn't want to.

01:07:20A flash crossed my mind.

01:07:22Him in the kitchen

01:07:23sleeves rolled up

01:07:24muscles moving

01:07:25as he chopped vegetables.

01:07:28I imagined those hands on me

01:07:31fingertips tracing down

01:07:32my collarbone inch by inch.

01:07:36My breathing changed.

01:07:38I bit my lip

01:07:39and buried my face

01:07:39in the pillow

01:07:40knowing I shouldn't

01:07:41be thinking this

01:07:42when my body still

01:07:43remembered the pain

01:07:44but Sargas wasn't Joe.

01:07:45That thought was a small flame

01:07:47burning a hole

01:07:48through my chest.

01:07:49The next morning

01:07:50after I showered

01:07:51the scent of food

01:07:52drifted from the kitchen.

01:07:53Sargas was cooking.

01:07:54I watched him pull out

01:07:55wagyu tenderloin,

01:07:55garlic, fresh herbs

01:07:56and truffle butter

01:07:57to prepare an elaborate breakfast.

01:07:59He began with a palate cleanser.

01:08:00Cucumber juice,

01:08:01elderflower

01:08:01and mint syrup

01:08:02in a tiny ceramic spoon

01:08:03topped with an edible flower petal.

01:08:05The main dish

01:08:05was black truffle wagyu steak

01:08:07with bone marrow glaze

01:08:09seared in a dry skillet

01:08:10and basted with garlic,

01:08:12herbs and truffle butter.

01:08:13He turned roasted bone marrow

01:08:15into a creamy glaze

01:08:16and poured it over the steak.

01:08:18Is there a banquet?

01:08:20Thankfully, no.

01:08:20I'm making breakfast.

01:08:22For us.

01:08:23Is there anything

01:08:24I can help with?

01:08:25Yeah.

01:08:26I need you to keep

01:08:26turning this batter.

01:08:27The third course

01:08:28was flaky croissants

01:08:29topped with goat cheese,

01:08:30truffle oil,

01:08:30herbs,

01:08:31pomegranate seeds,

01:08:32candied walnuts

01:08:33and honey infused with thyme.

01:08:35You know,

01:08:35you do have clothes

01:08:36of your own now.

01:08:37I noticed the closet

01:08:39had been rearranged,

01:08:40but maybe I'm just used

01:08:41to your clothes.

01:08:42They feel comfortable.

01:08:43I felt his gaze travel over me

01:08:46and saw him quickly turn away.

01:08:48But I pretended not to notice.

01:08:50We moved around the kitchen

01:08:52in an unspoken rhythm,

01:08:54handing off utensils,

01:08:56stealing glances.

01:08:57It felt natural.

01:08:58The dining table was a canvas

01:09:00of colors and scents.

01:09:02His eyes lit up.

01:09:04It was our first formal meal

01:09:05together using the dining table.

01:09:10How do you cook this well?

01:09:12I have my secrets.

01:09:14We washed the dishes together.

01:09:16She hummed softly

01:09:17under her breath,

01:09:18and I found myself

01:09:19humming along.

01:09:21I have something to do later,

01:09:23so I'll leave first.

01:09:25But actually,

01:09:26I went to Onika's room.

01:09:28I'd had enough.

01:09:29Explain, Sargis.

01:09:31Your subjects refuse to talk.

01:09:32As I already explained,

01:09:34Onika,

01:09:34the woman you met is my mate,

01:09:35and you will treat her

01:09:36and all my subjects

01:09:37with respect.

01:09:39You say she's your mate,

01:09:40but I smell no mark of claim

01:09:41on either of you,

01:09:42so no,

01:09:43I don't believe that nonsense.

01:09:44Whether or not you believe

01:09:45she's my mate

01:09:45doesn't change the fact

01:09:46that she is.

01:09:47An unmated male

01:09:48is still fair game, Sargis.

01:09:51I didn't come for my brother.

01:09:52I came for you.

01:09:54It's been so long

01:09:55since someone fucked me so hard

01:09:56my legs trembled.

01:09:59You won't dismiss my bond

01:10:00with my mate for your fantasies.

01:10:01Stay away from what's not yours,

01:10:03or you're finished here.

01:10:04Fine.

01:10:04I'll behave for now,

01:10:05but I'm staying for a month.

01:10:06Karagni is beautiful

01:10:07this time of year.

01:10:08Onika,

01:10:09when we agreed to be

01:10:10each other's sexual partners,

01:10:11we made a clear boundary

01:10:12that it was only that,

01:10:13a temporary outlet.

01:10:14We agreed to part ways

01:10:15once we found our mates.

01:10:16I found mine,

01:10:17so you need to move on.

01:10:18I never wanted to be bound

01:10:19to someone I didn't choose,

01:10:20unlike you,

01:10:20who worships lifelong belonging,

01:10:22a philosophy I never agreed with.

01:10:23Why should I accept a stranger

01:10:24because of some ancient curse?

01:10:26I'd rather die alone.

01:10:27Look at my brother.

01:10:27His mate has emaculated him

01:10:28into a shadow

01:10:29of his former alpha self.

01:10:30You don't need to tell me any of this.

01:10:31Your opinions on the bond,

01:10:32your brother's mate,

01:10:33your own fears,

01:10:33that's your path to walk.

01:10:34It has nothing to do with me.

01:10:36Well, that's sad.

01:10:37Came here hoping to convince you otherwise,

01:10:38to propose that we become chosen mates,

01:10:40that we take what we had,

01:10:41what we were,

01:10:41and make it permanent.

01:10:42That will never happen,

01:10:43not in this life or the next.

01:10:44I would rather die

01:10:45than leave Nareen.

01:10:46Give me one month.

01:10:47If I can't get you into bed by then,

01:10:48I'll drop it.

01:10:49But if I do,

01:10:51you'll see the bond

01:10:51is just hormones

01:10:52and ancient magic.

01:10:53I'm not playing this game with you.

01:10:54This ends now.

01:10:55You need to leave.

01:10:56You can't do that,

01:10:57Sargis,

01:10:58unless you want to offend my brother

01:10:59and start a diplomatic war.

01:11:00After all,

01:11:01I'm here under his protection,

01:11:02as his official assistant.

01:11:04Would be a shame

01:11:04if your kingdom

01:11:05suddenly lost trade privileges

01:11:06with the east,

01:11:07wouldn't it?

01:11:08If you so much as breathe

01:11:09near my mate again,

01:11:10I will take that risk.

01:11:12I will go to war with your brother,

01:11:14burn the treaties,

01:11:14and let the gods bear witness

01:11:15to what I do,

01:11:16if it means getting you

01:11:18the hell out of here.

01:11:18The next morning,

01:11:20Sargis had already left.

01:11:21Matters in the southern borders

01:11:22needed his oversight.

01:11:23He said he'd return by midday.

01:11:24I was alone.

01:11:25The silence pressed in slowly,

01:11:27like fog.

01:11:27I wandered through the sweet barefoot,

01:11:29dragging my fingers along

01:11:30the velvet edges of the furniture,

01:11:31trying to chase away

01:11:32the restlessness creeping

01:11:33into my bones.

01:11:34I tried not to think about his ex,

01:11:35the beautiful, poised woman

01:11:36who still haunted the palace halls

01:11:38like a ghost

01:11:38with a history tied to his body.

01:11:40But I believed him.

01:11:41That was the scary part.

01:11:42I had begun to trust Sargis,

01:11:44tentatively and quietly.

01:11:45He earned my trust

01:11:46by shielding me,

01:11:47sitting with me in silence,

01:11:48and never pressuring me

01:11:49to be anything other than myself.

01:11:50I was his mate.

01:11:52No doubt about that,

01:11:53even if I still didn't fully understand

01:11:55what it meant for me.

01:11:56My thoughts turned to Joe

01:11:57and the pack that was called mine.

01:11:59Were they still the same?

01:12:01Had anything changed?

01:12:02Were they building families,

01:12:04laughing in the places

01:12:04where I had once cried,

01:12:06content to forget the girl

01:12:07they left to rot?

01:12:08But maybe I didn't need

01:12:09to pursue Joe.

01:12:10Not now.

01:12:11Maybe what I needed

01:12:12more than anything

01:12:13was peace.

01:12:16Peace with myself.

01:12:19Peace with the shattered pieces

01:12:20of my life.

01:12:21I let Hazmut talk me

01:12:23into breakfast,

01:12:24maybe because of her hopeful smile

01:12:25or simply because I was tired

01:12:26of hiding in the dark.

01:12:27At the head of an intimidating

01:12:28obsidian dining table,

01:12:30I felt like prey among lycans,

01:12:32especially with Sargis'

01:12:33mountain of a father

01:12:34sitting at the far end.

01:12:35Annika lounged across from him,

01:12:36faking disinterest,

01:12:37but watching everything.

01:12:39I stood awkwardly,

01:12:40wringing my fingers,

01:12:41unsure whether to sit,

01:12:42wait,

01:12:42or run back to my room.

01:12:44Good morning, sir.

01:12:45And good morning to you too, ma'am.

01:12:47The pressure of their stares

01:12:48made me want to sink

01:12:49through the marble floor.

01:12:50You don't even know

01:12:51how to act properly

01:12:52like a queen.

01:12:53I lowered my gaze

01:12:54intentionally.

01:12:55Straighten your spine,

01:12:56square your shoulders,

01:12:57lift your chin.

01:12:58My body obeyed

01:12:59without thought,

01:13:00snapping into place

01:13:01like an overtrained puppet.

01:13:02Hazmun wrapped

01:13:03her warm arms around me,

01:13:04guided me to a seat

01:13:05near Onika,

01:13:06and sat beside me

01:13:07like a shield.

01:13:08Give her a break, auntie.

01:13:09She's still new

01:13:10to all of this.

01:13:11That's all she's done

01:13:13since she arrived.

01:13:14Catch a break?

01:13:17The room grew colder.

01:13:19I could feel

01:13:20Onika's gaze

01:13:21sliding over me

01:13:22like oil.

01:13:23Your Highness,

01:13:24I know I shouldn't interfere

01:13:25in matters of the throne,

01:13:26but looking at her,

01:13:27she's clearly unfit

01:13:27to be queen.

01:13:28She doesn't know

01:13:29proper court etiquette.

01:13:30She doesn't bear

01:13:30the mark of a mate

01:13:31or the crown of a queen,

01:13:32and should a real threat arises,

01:13:34she'd be your greatest liability.

01:13:35Her voice was calm,

01:13:36almost pitying,

01:13:37but the venom beneath it

01:13:38was unmistakable.

01:13:39I swallowed hard

01:13:40and clenched my fingers

01:13:41tightly in my lap.

01:13:42I didn't know what to say.

01:13:43I didn't know

01:13:45how to defend myself

01:13:45in a world that had already

01:13:46decided I didn't belong.

01:13:48Onika,

01:13:49I may be retired,

01:13:50but like you said,

01:13:50you shouldn't interfere

01:13:51in matters that don't concern you.

01:13:53And regardless of your opinion,

01:13:54she is my son's mate.

01:13:55That makes her

01:13:55the future queen

01:13:56of this kingdom.

01:13:57My eyes sting,

01:13:58sharp and unexpected.

01:13:59I hadn't even spoken,

01:14:00and yet someone stood up for me.

01:14:01I felt Hazmic's hand

01:14:02slip into mine

01:14:03under the table.

01:14:04She gave it a squeeze.

01:14:05I quickly blinked

01:14:06the tears away.

01:14:07Of course,

01:14:08Rajababa.

01:14:09Pardon my intrusion.

01:14:10Looks like Sargis is here

01:14:11to scoop you up

01:14:12and keep you hidden away.

01:14:14The heavy double doors

01:14:15creaked open behind us.

01:14:17I turned just as Sargis

01:14:18and Lupicus

01:14:19entered the vast dining hall.

01:14:21The moment our eyes met,

01:14:23my chest eased.

01:14:25He made his way

01:14:26straight to me,

01:14:27slipped into the seat

01:14:28beside mine,

01:14:29and without a word,

01:14:31draped his arm

01:14:32across the back

01:14:32of my chair.

01:14:39Are you okay?

01:14:41I nodded,

01:14:42barely,

01:14:43but he understood.

01:14:45It is lovely

01:14:46to finally meet you, dear.

01:14:49It's nice to meet you too, sir.

01:14:51Please,

01:14:51call me Hyrik.

01:14:53I've always wanted a daughter.

01:14:55Sargis,

01:14:55I know you think

01:14:56I'm being harsh,

01:14:57but you've seen how

01:14:58restless the court

01:14:58has grown

01:14:59with the queen's throne

01:15:00empty for nearly seven months.

01:15:03Had it really been

01:15:04seven months

01:15:05since I was brought here?

01:15:06So tell me,

01:15:08is she going to ascend it

01:15:09or not?

01:15:10Suddenly I felt

01:15:10everyone's eyes on me

01:15:11and shrunk back

01:15:12as her words

01:15:13wrapped around my spine

01:15:14like chains.

01:15:15Mother,

01:15:15I told you she's not ready,

01:15:17and this isn't the time

01:15:18for that talk

01:15:18with a diplomat present.

01:15:20Oh, me?

01:15:21Don't mind me.

01:15:21I'm staying out of this.

01:15:23Her smirk said otherwise.

01:15:24We can leave right now

01:15:25if you want to.

01:15:26I glanced around the table.

01:15:28Hasmik smiled.

01:15:29Lupicus seemed detached.

01:15:30Sargis' father

01:15:31stayed neutral,

01:15:32and his mother

01:15:32barely hide her disdain.

01:15:34Could I really just stand

01:15:35and leave this mess?

01:15:36I shook my head slowly.

01:15:38I didn't want to give them

01:15:39that satisfaction.

01:15:39Breakfast ended,

01:15:40thankfully.

01:15:41Sargis held my hand

01:15:42the whole time.

01:15:43Even when I barely

01:15:44touched my food,

01:15:45I just pushed things

01:15:46around my plate.

01:15:47I watched his mother.

01:15:49Aveline was brilliant,

01:15:50cunning,

01:15:50respected,

01:15:51but gentle was not her.

01:15:53She didn't know

01:15:53how to soften her words.

01:15:55If Sargis had found me

01:15:56the traditional way,

01:15:57I would have been sent

01:15:58to the Alpha Magus' wing

01:15:59for a month of seclusion.

01:16:00His mother would have

01:16:01trained me in etiquette.

01:16:02Politics,

01:16:03and the nuances

01:16:04of being mated to a king.

01:16:05That path was never mine.

01:16:07Tradition stopped mattering

01:16:09the moment he pulled me

01:16:10out of that compound,

01:16:11broken and bleeding.

01:16:12They didn't know me.

01:16:13They didn't see what I saw.

01:16:15They didn't see me flinch

01:16:17at raised voices

01:16:17or curl into myself

01:16:19when the memories came.

01:16:20The breakfast was lovely.

01:16:22He stood and left.

01:16:25Onika,

01:16:26I hope you'll finish

01:16:26whatever you came for

01:16:27because this isn't

01:16:28the right time

01:16:28for you to be here.

01:16:31Of course,

01:16:32Rajababa.

01:16:33See you later,

01:16:34Dustys.

01:16:35Have a lovely rest

01:16:36of the day.

01:16:37The tension of the morning

01:16:39faded,

01:16:39leaving only a quiet calm.

01:16:41For the first time

01:16:42in a long while,

01:16:43I felt at peace here.

01:16:45After Sargis left,

01:16:46I went back to the room.

01:16:47Breakfast had shocked me awake.

01:16:48I already knew

01:16:49I didn't fit in,

01:16:50but today showed me

01:16:51just how deep

01:16:51the divide really was.

01:16:52I looked in the mirror.

01:16:54Same girl,

01:16:55same curls,

01:16:55same eyes,

01:16:56but I stood differently now.

01:16:57The subtle slump of my shoulders.

01:16:59Hesitancy.

01:17:00Queen.

01:17:00The word rang in my mind

01:17:02like a bell.

01:17:03Could I really do that?

01:17:04Could I be her?

01:17:05A sharp pulse

01:17:06bloomed on my forehead.

01:17:07My hands strut up instinctively,

01:17:09pressing against

01:17:10the familiar spot

01:17:11of the tattoo.

01:17:12The one I thought

01:17:12was nothing more

01:17:13than a mysterious

01:17:14mark of fate.

01:17:15My knees buckled

01:17:16and I grabbed the dresser.

01:17:17This wasn't a hallucination,

01:17:19the glow was real.

01:17:20Brilliant and alive,

01:17:21etched right across

01:17:22my forehead like a band.

01:17:24Something stirred inside me.

01:17:26My eyes fluttered shut.

01:17:28Then the world exploded.

01:17:29I could hear everything.

01:17:31Cutlerary clicking floors away

01:17:32and faint conversations

01:17:33through the thick palace walls.

01:17:35Red.

01:17:36That same red

01:17:37I'd seen once before.

01:17:38The same red

01:17:39that terrified me

01:17:39that night I first shifted.

01:17:41It was back.

01:17:42I stumbled away

01:17:43from the mirror,

01:17:44one hand covering my mouth.

01:17:46My wolf.

01:17:47She was stirring.

01:17:49No.

01:17:51Awakening.

01:17:53It was past midnight

01:17:55when I finally heard

01:17:56the elevator ding

01:17:56and smelled Sargas

01:17:57coming down the hall.

01:17:59But tonight,

01:18:00beneath his primal scent,

01:18:01I caught a sicky sweetness.

01:18:03Annika and my stomach twisted.

01:18:05His footsteps soft,

01:18:06he eased the door open

01:18:07and slipped into the room,

01:18:08thinking I was asleep.

01:18:09He padded into the closet,

01:18:11clothes rustling,

01:18:12but all I could focus on

01:18:13was her.

01:18:14Her scent lingered

01:18:16in the air between us.

01:18:17He came out of the closet

01:18:19in his soft pajamas

01:18:20and settled onto

01:18:21the leather couch.

01:18:22He picked up the spoon.

01:18:23He liked the food I made,

01:18:24but he still reeked of her.

01:18:26Why had he been with her?

01:18:27Why did her scent

01:18:28cling to him so brazenly

01:18:29and why did it hurt so much?

01:18:31His gaze pulled me

01:18:32from my spiraling thoughts,

01:18:33so I squeezed my eyes shut

01:18:34as he moved closer and closer.

01:18:35You know I know

01:18:36you're awake, right?

01:18:37Shit.

01:18:38Busted.

01:18:38I kept my eyes shut,

01:18:39stubbornly.

01:18:40Noreen,

01:18:41you're a terrible actress.

01:18:42Your eyes are twitching,

01:18:43your breathing is unseavent,

01:18:44and you're clutching the sheet

01:18:44like it insulted your ancestors.

01:18:46I cracked one eye open,

01:18:47and our gaze is locked.

01:18:48I saw him,

01:18:49not just as Sargas the Supreme Alpha,

01:18:51but as mine.

01:18:52I wasn't pretending to sleep,

01:18:54I was trying to,

01:18:55until all the noise you made.

01:18:56Noise?

01:18:57Me?

01:18:57I was careful not to wake you.

01:18:59I needed a quick distraction.

01:19:01My wolf was awake,

01:19:02and he could never find out.

01:19:03You're a little late today.

01:19:05Yeah.

01:19:05Had a lot of things to take care of.

01:19:07Things.

01:19:08Like her?

01:19:09Was Onika one of those things?

01:19:11Hmm.

01:19:13Something happened, though.

01:19:16Onika came to my office,

01:19:20and she tried to force herself on me.

01:19:23What?

01:19:24Nothing happened.

01:19:25I swear, Noreen.

01:19:26I pushed her away.

01:19:27I would never...

01:19:28Why...

01:19:29Why are you telling me that?

01:19:31Because I didn't want there to be

01:19:32any misunderstandings between us.

01:19:35Especially not when it comes to Onika.

01:19:37I stared at him,

01:19:38dazed.

01:19:38Why was he so open and honest

01:19:40when he could have easily lied?

01:19:42For dinner.

01:19:43It was delicious.

01:19:44I swallowed hard.

01:19:45He was giving consistently,

01:19:47patiently,

01:19:48vulnerablesly,

01:19:49and I was still hiding.

01:19:50Still keeping secrets.

01:19:52Sargas.

01:19:53The mate bond.

01:19:55What would happen if,

01:19:56eventually,

01:19:57my wolf awakens?

01:19:58How do I know if what I'm feeling

01:20:00is really mine,

01:20:01or just something

01:20:02the bond wants me to feel?

01:20:04I will always be here.

01:20:05The morning sunlight

01:20:07spilled across the room.

01:20:08I sat at the edge of the bed.

01:20:11My eyes wandered to the sofa.

01:20:13Empty.

01:20:15The blanket neatly folded,

01:20:17like he hadn't even used it.

01:20:20He never made noise

01:20:21when he left in the mornings.

01:20:23Never woke me on purpose.

01:20:27But today,

01:20:28I knew the moment he left.

01:20:30How could I not know?

01:20:33Every shift of his body

01:20:34on that sofa.

01:20:36Every time the leather

01:20:37creaked beneath his weight.

01:20:38Every subtle exhale

01:20:40as he tried and failed

01:20:41to get comfortable.

01:20:43Every little sound

01:20:44stirred me awake.

01:20:46He was a king.

01:20:47And yet,

01:20:49night after night,

01:20:50he surrendered his comfort.

01:20:51Sleeping on a couch

01:20:52far too short for his frame.

01:20:55Curled up like an exile

01:20:56in his own home.

01:20:58All because of me.

01:20:59The tension in his shoulders.

01:21:03The strain in his back.

01:21:06The quiet way he endured it

01:21:09without ever asking for more.

01:21:13The memory of last night

01:21:15tugged at me.

01:21:16How he'd confessed about Onika.

01:21:18How he'd looked so sincere.

01:21:20So careful not to hurt me

01:21:22or spark jealousy.

01:21:24Withers a frisian.

01:21:25Even though I had no claim over him.

01:21:28This bond.

01:21:29This man.

01:21:30The way he cared so freely

01:21:32without expectation.

01:21:35It shook me.

01:21:43Maybe it would have been easier

01:21:45if he were cruel.

01:21:47If he yelled and demanded.

01:21:50But Sargas didn't do any of that.

01:21:55He was one of a kind.

01:21:58I decided to leave the room.

01:22:03I wanted to know more

01:22:04about the kingdom.

01:22:05About Sargas.

01:22:08About who I was supposed to become.

01:22:12I texted Hazmik.

01:22:14She replied quickly.

01:22:15We met in the hallway.

01:22:18Look who finally decided

01:22:19to come out of her shell.

01:22:23We walked side by side.

01:22:25She sighed.

01:22:27I want to apologize.

01:22:29For the breakfast.

01:22:32You were thrown into something

01:22:34you didn't ask for.

01:22:39It wasn't your fault.

01:22:41Then I smelled her.

01:22:43Onika.

01:22:44My face scrunched in disgust.

01:22:47Hazmik's eyes narrowed.

01:22:48She picked up her pace

01:22:50and opened the door

01:22:51with more force than necessary.

01:22:53My heart jumped into my throat.

01:22:55Onika was in Sargas' study.

01:22:56She turned her head slowly.

01:22:59Her gaze landing on Hazmik first.

01:23:01Then on me.

01:23:03Her eyes narrowed.

01:23:06Oh.

01:23:07Did I interrupt a study date?

01:23:13Noreen, don't leave.

01:23:16I can explain.

01:23:21I wasn't going to leave.

01:23:22The very sight of you sickens me.

01:23:25You don't know him like I do.

01:23:27You never will.

01:23:29He's only doing this because of the bond.

01:23:31It messes with your head.

01:23:32So don't delude yourself.

01:23:34Don't pretend he loves you.

01:23:36Because he doesn't.

01:23:38Onika lunged at Hazmik.

01:23:42In a second,

01:23:44she had Hazmik pinned against the wall,

01:23:46digging her claws into her throat.

01:23:49Then Sargas was there.

01:23:51He ripped Onika's hand from Hazmik's throat.

01:23:57Hazmik collapsed to the ground,

01:23:59coughing hard.

01:24:01Never in your life lay your hands

01:24:03on any of my subjects again.

01:24:04This is a royal decree.

01:24:06Effective immediately,

01:24:07you will pack your things

01:24:08and leave the palace.

01:24:09You've repeatedly bypassed protocol,

01:24:12insulted my mate,

01:24:13assaulted my subjects,

01:24:14and undermined my authority as king.

01:24:16No.

01:24:18No, no, no.

01:24:20Surely you wouldn't invoke a royal decree

01:24:22just because she disrespected me first?

01:24:26She dared to address me like an equal!

01:24:29But Sargas didn't back down.

01:24:31Onika stared at him.

01:24:32Then she looked at me.

01:24:33And there it was.

01:24:34Hatred.

01:24:35She screamed,

01:24:36and it made my skin crawl.

01:24:37Her voice was so grating,

01:24:38so abrasive,

01:24:39that I found myself wishing she would just

01:24:41stop speaking.

01:24:42Forever.

01:24:43A pulse throbbed across my forehead.

01:24:45I blinked.

01:24:46She was still ranting,

01:24:48but her mouth was moving.

01:24:49I couldn't hear a thing.

01:24:51Not a single syllable.

01:24:53She paused mid-tirade,

01:24:55blinked in confusion,

01:24:56and brought her hand up to her throat.

01:24:58She opened her mouth again.

01:25:00No sound.

01:25:01She clutched her throat with both hands.

01:25:04Her eyes darted frantically.

01:25:06Sargas thought she was acting.

01:25:14But I could feel her.

01:25:16I could feel her.

01:25:17Behind the door.

01:25:20Even though she was no longer in the room.

01:25:22I could feel like she was still being.

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