- 38 minutes ago
The Mute Luna's Revenge
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Short filmTranscript
00:00To save a dying rogue named Ryder, I used a life-binding spell to tie our lives together.
00:05The price was my voice. Unless he chooses me as his mate, the curse will drain my life away.
00:10Then came his birthday banquet. Everyone assumed he'd choose me, even I believed it.
00:18You're the only one worthy of me.
00:20What about the mute girl?
00:21Her? Don't even put her in the same sentence as you.
00:24I pressed my hand over my mouth. The pain hit me like a blade to the chest.
00:28My wolf screamed. The life-binding spell tightened around my throat like a rope.
00:33And I couldn't breathe. She was getting weaker. So was I.
00:36The life-binding spell. It was feeding on me. That was the price of saving Ryder.
00:41The mute girl. That is what they called me. He had no idea I lost my voice for him.
00:46Are you sure about this? Accepting a mate bond with the northern alpha?
00:49If you leave, he'll be devastated. He'll find out eventually.
00:53The faster the better. I just wanted out of here. Alive or dead, I didn't care anymore.
00:58I gathered everything Ryder ever gave me. Jewels. All of it. I was going to give it back.
01:03A gemstone ring. Silver earrings. A pearl necklace. Every single piece engraved in the
01:09same elegant cursive. Ryder and Evelyn. His name. And mine. He'd given them to me when we
01:15first returned to the pack together. This is too much. I can't accept this. I signed frantically.
01:22You deserve the best.
01:24He clasped the pearl necklace around my neck before I could stop him. In the mirror, he
01:29looked so stunning. So gentle. My heart wouldn't slow down. Back then, I thought it meant something.
01:35I thought it meant, I choose you. But now he'd thrown me away. His words echoing. That lowly
01:41mute. He'd chosen Freya. And soon, the spell I cast to save him would finish off what was
01:46left of me. Dead girls don't need jewelry. I carried the jewelry box down the hallway.
01:51Whispers trailed behind me. Why didn't the alpha pick her? She's way prettier than Freya.
01:57Doesn't matter how pretty you are if you can't even speak. Then arrow. It grazed my ear and
02:02sliced across my cheek. Blood ran down my face instantly. Another inch and I'd have been dead.
02:07The jewelry box hit the ground. The pearl necklace snapped apart. Pearls scattered everywhere.
02:13Like tears rolling across stone. I dropped to my knees ignoring the gash on my face and started
02:19collecting them one by one. That is when I saw it. The arrow. Engraved on the shaft. In that same
02:25elegant cursive. Ryder and Freya. Identical to my jewelry. Just with a different name where mine
02:31used to be. My chest caved in. I had to press my hand to the floor just to keep from
02:36collapsing.
02:36Then someone stepped on my fingers. Oh sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.
02:45I'll make it up to you. Freya crouched down bow still in hand. Her red heels were still on my
02:50fingers. My wolf went feral. I opened my mouth. The pain nearly split me in two. But not a single
02:55sound came out. Blood soaked through my hand. Oops. Didn't see you down there. She stepped back.
03:01Finally. Why didn't you say something? Oh right. I forgot. You can't. She picked up one of the pearls
03:09turning it over with a look of pure disgust. This necklace is ugly. The pearls are so small. So dull.
03:18Just like you. She grabbed my hand and pulled it up. Right where she'd crushed it. The wound split
03:23back open. Blood dripped onto the ground. I heard you saved Ryder's life. Is that true? Here.
03:32Consider this your compensation. Once I'm the alpha's mate, you can be my handmaiden. I don't mind
03:38being friends with you. She moved to clasp it on me. I shoved her away. I didn't want her
03:43compensation. I didn't want her friendship. We struggled and my blood smeared across her dress.
03:50Freya laughed. Then she let go. The bracelet slipped from her fingers and fell over the cliff's edge.
03:56Evelyn! What did you do? Ryder gave me that as an engagement gift. Even if you didn't want it,
04:02how could you just-
04:03Liar. I turned to walk away.
04:05Stop!
04:06Ryder was standing right behind me, looking down at me like I was something he'd scraped off his shoe.
04:11Where do you think you're going? What did you do to Freya? Why is there blood all over her?
04:17Not her. It's me. That's my blood. I opened my mouth to explain, and then remembered. I had no
04:23voice. I was just the mute girl. I signed desperately, hands shaking. Ryder didn't even look at me. He
04:30walked straight past me to Freya and pulled her into his arms. You're bleeding. Where? What happened?
04:36That's not her blood. It's mine. Freya melted into his chest, soft and helpless, while he dabbed at
04:42her with his handkerchief. Her hands were flawless. Diamond-tipped nails catching the light. I'm fine.
04:47Don't be too hard on Evelyn. It's just... your bracelet. She accidentally knocked it off the
04:53cliff. It's such a shame. Go get it back. Oh, it's fine. It's such a long drop. Don't put Evelyn
05:01through that. Ryder pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. Let her go.
05:05Her wolf is built for climbing. It's nothing for her. My wolf was barely holding on because of the
05:11life-binding spell. But I wasn't about to let anyone know that. Fine. I'll go.
05:17I climbed down. The wound on my hand tore wider with every grip. Blood painted the rocks red.
05:23The air at the bottom was brutal. Cold that cut straight through me. I couldn't stop shaking.
05:30Branches clawed at my skin the whole way down. I was a wreck, but my heart had gone numb long
05:35before
05:35my body did. The bracelet was caught at the top of a tree. I hung off the rock face with
05:40one hand and
05:41reached for it. The stone crumbled. I dropped. I caught a vine. Barely. I hauled myself back
05:47up, dragged myself over the edge, and held the bracelet out to Freya. But he was a second too
06:02late. Four hands missed each other in the air. As I fell I heard him screaming my name. Raw desperate,
06:08like something in him was breaking. Funny, I thought. This is the same cliff. This was where
06:14I'd found him. He'd been hunted by his enemies and gone over the edge. I tracked the blood
06:19down the rock face. Me and my wolf and carried him up, inch by inch. Back then, I had no
06:25idea
06:25he was the heir to the southern kingdom. He was covered in blood. Ice cold. His body slowly
06:30giving up. I fed him herbs. Built a fire. Nothing worked. It was a full moon that night, so I
06:37looked
06:38up at it and prayed. I'll give anything. Whatever it takes. Just let him live. The life-binding spell
06:45answered. Before I even understood what was happening, Ryder had grabbed my hand, pulled
06:51me under him, his body pinning mine. Three days and three nights later, he opened his eyes.
06:58What's your name? No voice. I signed it to him. He held my hand still, then pulled me in and
07:03held me close. Come home with me. I'll take care of you now. The pack threw a celebration
07:08for his return. He clasped the pearl necklace around my neck himself, took my hand, walked
07:14me into the banquet as the alpha's heir, and didn't let go. Who is she? She's gorgeous.
07:19Shame she's a mute. Nobody knows where she came from. Probably nothing. Ryder probably just
07:23likes the way she looks. The words stung like needles, every single one, but Ryder tightened
07:29his grip on my hand. You're my partner tonight. Stay by my side, and no one will dare touch
07:35you. When I opened my eyes, I was in a bed. My hands were wrapped in bandages. Ryder was
07:40sitting beside me, finishing the last knot. Why aren't your wounds healing? And why can't
07:47I feel your wolf? Because I'm dying, unless you choose me as your mate. I don't know what
07:53came over me. I just started signing. All of it. Everything. Ryder didn't even look up.
07:57When you're healed, go apologize to Freya. For what? I didn't do anything wrong. I'm
08:02not apologizing for anything. I turned away from him. Evelyn, you've gone too far. Yes,
08:09she pushed you, but she's going to be Luna. Our future Luna. Whatever happened, you had
08:12no right to hurt her. Seven days. You'll copy the pack law books. One hundred times. Consider
08:18it your punishment for disrespecting the future Luna. Every letter I wrote bled through
08:22the page. My wounds never closed, the ink and the blood soaked into each other. Staining
08:27everything red. Seven days later, Ryder's men came and collected the stack of pages. I
08:32passed out from blood loss the moment they left. When I opened my eyes, the sky was full
08:37of moon lanterns. Moon lanterns. The waymates in our pack declared their devotion. Silver
08:43light floating up into the dark. I stared at the glow through the window. The paper lanterns
08:48drifted upward. Every one of them carrying words written in a hand I recognized. Mine.
08:53Who lit them? Ryder. The alpha's hair. Could he be trying to tell me something?
08:58I forced myself upright and ran toward the light. Outside Ryder's palace, he and Freya stood side
09:04by side, watching the lanterns rise together. He looked down at her, smiled, soft and private.
09:10The kind of smile meant only for her. Then his eyes drifted over and found me. The smile disappeared.
09:15I spun around and ran. Stumbling, not looking where I was going. I didn't realize I was crying
09:21until I tasted salt. At the edge of the path one of the lanterns had fallen. Half buried
09:26in the mud and the grass. I picked it up and held it against my chest. Maybe it is time
09:31to go.
09:32On the morning of Ryder's birthday banquet, the pack's artist was finishing my portrait,
09:37the one being sent to the northern alpha. I handed my gift for Ryder to one of the servants
09:42and asked her to deliver it ahead of me. What is this? Moonstone?
09:46Not just any moonstone. This one had been blessed by the moon goddess herself. Legend said that
09:52whoever received it would love you without wavering. Always. I'd found it the same day I heard about
09:57Ryder and Freya's engagement. After the portrait was done, I made my way to the banquet hall and
10:02walked in just as someone called my name. Ryder's voice cut right through the room.
10:07Evelyn's stunning. Any of you would be lucky to have her as a mate.
10:10A pathetic mute from nowhere. Worthy of an alpha. Not a chance.
10:15I kept my face perfectly still. Raised my glass. Signed a toast in his direction. Nobody knew what
10:21it cost me. My wolf went silent inside me. Too much pain to make a sound. Just like me. When
10:27the
10:27dancing started, I slipped away. I just needed a corner somewhere. Somewhere I could fall apart
10:33without an audience. Freya stepped in front of me. The moonstone pendant around her neck caught the
10:37light. Nice moonstone. You gave this to Ryder, didn't you? I tried to go around her. She stepped
10:43on my hem. Are you deaf now too? Or just still mute? Moonstone is for mates. You don't get to
10:51give
10:52him something like that. You never did. If he hadn't met me, he would already be dead. I signed
10:57it slow and clear so she wouldn't miss it. What, you're calling me a liar? You're seriously
11:02gonna stand there and insult me? She swung her hand at my face. She slipped. I walked away fast
11:08and ran straight into Ryder. He blocked my path. What happened now? Why'd you always have to start
11:19something? I was done. Today, I was going to tell him today. I'm your mate. Me, not Freya. I'm
11:28really started signing when someone came sprinting into the hall. The moon goddess answered our
11:33prayers. She sent her blessing for our alpha and his luna. Who? Ryder and Freya, of course.
11:39Is there more? What else did the oracle say? Actually, Evelyn was mentioned too. The oracle
11:46said she'll find her own alpha. Her own alpha who? I'm the only alpha in this pack. Who exactly is
11:52she supposed to choose? I left him standing there, furious, and walked toward the old oak at the edge
11:57of the courtyard. Up in its branches sat the treehouse. Ryder had built it himself right
12:01after I first came to the pack. This is yours, my little mute. Your own place. No one gets in
12:06but
12:06you. Now Freya was inside, lounging with a bowl of fruit in her lap. Not bad in here. When I'm
12:12Luna,
12:12I'll have Ryder build me one too. I reached up to pull her out. Ryder grabbed my wrist.
12:17Evelyn, what are you doing now? Is this still about the oracle? Do you actually want to be my mate?
12:23Then say it. I couldn't say anything. I never could. I pulled free, went to the corner,
12:28and came back with an axe and a saw. Evelyn, what are you- I started tearing the treehouse down.
12:35Stop! Freya is still in there! Have you lost your mind? He shoved me out of the way. My hand
12:41caught a
12:42jagged splinter of wood. Blood welled up immediately, running down my fingers. Ryder didn't see it. He went
12:48straight to Freya, both arms around her before she even hit the ground. Are you hurt? I was so scared.
12:55You are so selfish, Evelyn. So what, you're just jealous of Freya? That's what this is?
13:01Evelyn, when did you become like this? I picked the axe back up.
13:06Enough! I didn't stop.
13:09Not until the last board came down.
13:12The treehouse was gone.
13:14That night, my wolf cried until morning.
13:17The next day, the artist came to find me.
13:19The portrait is finished. Take a look, and I'll send it to the Alpha.
13:23If he's too busy-
13:24The whole pack had been consumed by wedding preparations.
13:27Everywhere I went, it was the same two names.
13:29Ryder and Freya.
13:30Perfect together.
13:31The future Alpha and his Luna.
13:33I was carrying the portrait back when Freya appeared in front of me.
13:37Let me see.
13:37She pulled it out before I could stop her.
13:39In the painting, I wore a white dress.
13:41The northern royal crest was stamped in the corner, she said.
13:44Ah, so that's what's happening.
13:46You're going north.
13:48A political match.
13:50You could have just said so.
13:51She even poured me tea herself.
13:53The north isn't bad, you know.
13:55A little rough around the edges, but he's still an Alpha.
13:58I reached to take the portrait back.
14:00Ryder walked in.
14:01What's that?
14:02Let me see.
14:03The moment he unrolled it, Freya lifted her wine glass.
14:06Red wine splashed across the portrait.
14:09Spread, bled through the paper until my face was gone.
14:12Oh no.
14:13I'm so sorry.
14:14I didn't mean to.
14:15What happened?
14:16I think Evelyn didn't want you to see it.
14:18I gripped what was left of the portrait.
14:20I didn't explain.
14:21There was no point.
14:22He was never going to believe me anyway.
14:24I walked out.
14:25Behind me, Ryder's voice followed.
14:27Next time the portrait is done, bring it straight to me.
14:30Don't go through anyone else.
14:31At some point, while I wasn't looking, someone rebuilt the treehouse.
14:34New wood, moon goddess totems carved into the window frames.
14:38A string of silver bells hanging over the door.
14:40People noticed.
14:41He still cares about her.
14:43Why else would he rebuild it?
14:45But I never went back inside.
14:47Some things break in a way that can't be undone.
14:49That was the day I saw his portrait for the first time.
14:52The northern lord dot tall, cold-faced.
14:54A scar running down the left side of his jaw.
14:56The people up north, they're brutal.
14:59They fight like animals.
15:02That lord has killed men with his bare hands.
15:04Freya made sure to find me in the crowd.
15:06North is filthy, rough, savage, and they love breaking women down.
15:11Evelyn, think you'll survive the first month?
15:13Laughter rippled around us.
15:14What's that look for?
15:15A mute with no name, no family.
15:17And you still have the nerve to have an attitude.
15:19A girl like you getting an alpha at all is a gift.
15:21You should be grateful.
15:22I slapped her across the face.
15:25You hit me?
15:27I grabbed the wine off the table.
15:29Poured it straight into her mouth.
15:31Freya screamed.
15:35Ryder!
15:35Ryder burst through the doors.
15:37Evelyn!
15:39What is wrong with you?
15:41Freya collapsed into him, trembling.
15:43I was just worried about her.
15:45About what might happen to her up north.
15:48And she attacked me.
15:50Ryder's eyes went cold when they found mine.
15:53Apologize.
15:53I didn't move.
15:55I said apologize!
15:57Right then the artist came rushing in, breathless.
15:59Alpha!
16:00The new portrait.
16:01It's ready.
16:02Please, if you could just come and...
16:05Not now.
16:06Ryder turned and walked away.
16:08I left with the portrait.
16:09His voice caught me at the door.
16:11Flat, almost bored.
16:13I think I've been letting you get away with too much lately.
16:15Stop going after Freya.
16:16I didn't look back.
16:18Christmas came quietly.
16:19The pack glittered with lights and music.
16:21Everyone had somewhere to be.
16:22I sat alone by the fire.
16:24The life-binding spell was pulling harder now.
16:27I could feel it, slow and steady.
16:29Like something draining out of me, my hands wouldn't get warm.
16:31Every Christmas before this one, Ryder would find me.
16:34Why are you always so cold, my little mute?
16:38From now on, I'll warm your hands through every winter.
16:42But tonight, he was probably with Freya.
16:45A knock at the door.
16:46I didn't move.
16:47Hey, it's me.
16:48Open up.
16:49I brought your Christmas present.
16:51Evelyn, I'm sorry.
16:52I should have told you about the engagement.
16:54You shouldn't have found out the way you did.
16:55But the pack needs her family's backing.
16:57My father lost everything because he ran out of allies.
16:59I watched it happen.
16:59I can't let that happen to me.
17:00Freya can give me what I need.
17:02I have to marry her.
17:04But you're different.
17:06You've always been different to me.
17:07You know that.
17:08Different.
17:09Not mate.
17:10Evelyn, don't shut me out.
17:12Just not tonight.
17:14I opened the door.
17:15Ryder blinked.
17:16Then his whole face shifted.
17:18That warm, relieved smile.
17:20You forgave me.
17:22I knew you weren't actually mad.
17:23He reached out to touch me.
17:25I stepped back, pressed a gift box into his arms.
17:28The Christmas present I'd meant to give Freya.
17:30Then I closed the door.
17:31A long silence on the other side.
17:33Finally, quiet, almost to himself.
17:36Good night, my little mute.
17:39The next morning, I put on the wedding dress.
17:41I climbed into the carriage.
17:43The handmaiden lowered my veil.
17:45Miss Evelyn, are you sure you don't want to tell the alpha?
17:49I shook my head.
17:50Outside, Ryder's voice rang out.
17:51Move out.
17:52He was the one escorting the wedding convoy.
17:55He just didn't know yet.
17:56The bride he was escorting was me.
17:58Where's Evelyn?
18:00Still asleep, my lord.
18:02A pause.
18:03Keep it down, then.
18:04Don't wake her.
18:05The carriage rolled forward.
18:07Through the curtain, his voice drifted in.
18:08No stops on the road.
18:09I want to get back fast.
18:12Evelyn's waiting for me.
18:13My wolf let out a small, broken sound.
18:15She was too weak now for anything more.
18:18Days later, the northern border.
18:19Howling tore across the snowfields.
18:21The northern lord had come to meet us himself.
18:23Bring the bride out.
18:24The handmaidens whispered behind me.
18:27Rude.
18:28Making her come to him.
18:29I didn't mind.
18:30I pulled back the curtain myself.
18:32Stepped down into the snow.
18:34And then two arms lifted me clean off the ground.
18:36The wind pulled my veil back.
18:38From somewhere behind us, Ryder's voice cracked wide open.
18:50The northern lord held me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
18:55I'm Kieran.
18:56In the portrait, he'd looked severe.
18:58Harsh.
18:58In person, he was devastating.
19:01You're even more beautiful than the painting.
19:03He said.
19:04Before I could respond, hoof beats.
19:07Ryder was coming.
19:08Fast.
19:08Like he'd lost his mind.
19:10Evelyn!
19:11Why did you tell me?
19:12Why did no one say anything?
19:14Kieran's brow creased.
19:17Who is that?
19:19Why does he keep chasing you?
19:21I signed.
19:22I can't speak.
19:23He looked at my throat, studied it.
19:25You weren't born this way.
19:26That's a curse.
19:28Don't worry.
19:29I'll pray to the moon goddess.
19:31I'll find a way to fix it.
19:32Behind us, Ryder kept coming.
19:34Evelyn!
19:35Come back!
19:37You can't leave me like this!
19:39Kieran spoke low, close to my ear.
19:41One more step and he crosses into northern territory.
19:44Stop him.
19:45I reached up and took Kieran's bow.
19:48Drew released.
19:49The arrow buried itself in the snow directly in front of Ryder's horse.
19:53The horse reared.
19:54Ryder was thrown.
19:55Landed hard in the snow.
19:56He looked up at me.
19:57Eyes red.
19:58Voice completely gone.
19:59Evelyn!
20:01You lied to me!
20:02How could you?
20:03You never forgave me, did you?
20:05How could you just stand there and let me escort you to him?
20:08Is your heart really that cold?
20:10I looked away.
20:11I didn't look back.
20:12A Ryder came galloping up behind Ryder.
20:17Alpha!
20:18Please!
20:19Ryder tore the reins away and came at me.
20:22Northern guards moved to block him.
20:24Stop!
20:25You are in northern territory!
20:27Get off me!
20:29Get off me!
20:30I need to see Evelyn!
20:32They dragged him back.
20:33Forced him into the carriage.
20:35I watched all of it without moving.
20:37Kieran looked down at me.
20:39Hard to watch.
20:40I shook my head.
20:42He smiled quiet warm.
20:43He pressed his lips to my forehead.
20:45He reached into his coat and pulled out a necklace.
20:47Then don't look at him anymore.
20:49A silver moonstone, catching the winter light.
20:51My breath stopped.
20:53That was my moonstone.
20:54The one I'd given Ryder.
20:55The one Freya had taken.
20:57Kieran fastened it around my neck.
20:59Do you like it?
20:59I came through the south a while back.
21:02Undercover with a trade amsasy.
21:03He said simply.
21:04I saw a woman throw it off a cliff.
21:06She kept screaming your name while she did it.
21:08So I climbed down and got it.
21:10Something that precious shouldn't be thrown away.
21:12My eyes burned.
21:13This was the first time.
21:14The first time anyone had looked after something of mine like it mattered.
21:18Kieran took my hand.
21:19No one touches you anymore.
21:21The north protects its own.
21:23My wolf pressed herself gently toward him.
21:26For the first time in so long, she felt safe.
21:28I smiled.
21:29A real one.
21:30I let him fasten the moonstone around my neck.
21:33And didn't look south again.
21:34Ryder returned to the south.
21:36The wedding went ahead as planned.
21:38The whole pack celebrated Dot.
21:40But he was somewhere else the entire time.
21:42Ryder.
21:43Hey.
21:43It's your wedding day.
21:45When the vows ended, the handmaiden lifted the veil.
21:48His voice came out barely above a whisper.
21:51Evelyn.
21:52Then he blinked.
21:53Freya was standing in front of him.
21:55Her face went tight.
21:57Ryder.
21:59Whose name did you just say?
22:02He stared at her.
22:03You know, didn't you?
22:06You know Evelyn was the one going north.
22:09So what if I did?
22:11You're the one who drove her away.
22:13You know that, right?
22:14She was in love with you.
22:16And you used that.
22:17Let me get close to you on purpose.
22:20You let her watch.
22:20You let her hurt.
22:22And now you want to act heartbroken?
22:24Shut up.
22:26You're such a hypocrite.
22:28You've nothing.
22:31You said she was special.
22:35But you never once chose her.
22:37You don't even know why she lost her voice.
22:40You don't deserve a single thing she gave you.
22:44Ryder's hand connected with her face.
22:47Freya stumbled back.
22:48Hit the vase behind her.
22:49It shattered.
22:51A shard caught her throat, Dot.
22:53Ryder froze.
22:54Freya?
22:55She pressed her hand to her neck.
22:56Sank to the floor, Dot.
22:59And in that same moment, a red thread snapped.
23:02Their mate, Bond.
23:03Gondot Ryder stood completely still.
23:05Then he saw it, rising from the broken thread.
23:07A marking he recognized.
23:09Curling ancient script.
23:11The life-binding spell.
23:12Impossible.
23:13Why is there a life-binding spell?
23:16His hand started shaking.
23:18Everything hit him at once.
23:20Evelyn.
23:20Silent Evelyn bleeding.
23:22Always bleeding.
23:23Evelyn getting weaker and weaker.
23:25Wounds that never healed.
23:26He finally understood.
23:28The person who had saved him.
23:29All those years ago it was always her.
23:31He dropped to his knees, and the sound that came out of him wasn't even a word.
23:36Evelyn!
23:38Across the border, I jolted awake, searing pain, right through the center of my chest.
23:43I looked at my wrist.
23:44The red thread was gone.
23:45He knew.
23:46The life-binding spell had nothing left to hold to.
23:49It came loose all at once.
23:51My life started draining fast.
23:53Dot Kieran caught me before I hit the ground, but it was too late for that.
23:57What's happening?
23:58Get the physician!
23:59Now!
24:02I'd been living on borrowed time for so long.
24:05Kieran grabbed my hands and wouldn't let go.
24:08No.
24:08I'm not letting you go, Evelyn.
24:11My vision was going dark.
24:12Look at me.
24:14Do you hear me?
24:15But his voice, somehow, came through clearer than anything.
24:18I love you.
24:20Not out of pity.
24:22Not out of guilt.
24:23I love you.
24:25From the moment I first saw you.
24:28Evelyn.
24:30Will you be my mate?
24:34Silver light flooded the room.
24:36A new red thread wrapped itself around my wrist, warm and certain.
24:40Heat rushed into my throat.
24:41Strength I hadn't felt in years flooded back through my body.
24:44My wolf threw her head back and howled long and full and free.
24:48I opened my mouth.
24:52Kieran.
24:52He pulled me in, eyes wet, and held on dot so that was what the moon goddess meant.
24:57Her own alpha.
25:02I kissed him.
25:06Yes.
25:07One year later.
25:08The Northern Palace.
25:09At the The Great Banquet Table.
25:11Ryder bent over a defeat treaty and signed his name.
25:13He looked hollowed out.
25:14Pale.
25:15Silent like something vital had been removed from him.
25:18When it was done, he spoke quietly.
25:20Kian.
25:23I want to see Evelyn.
25:24Just once.
25:26I'll ask her.
25:27In the garden, I sat in the afternoon light in a long dress.
25:31Two small children tumbled around me.
25:33Mama, tell the wolf god's story again.
25:36I laughed and smoothed their hair.
25:39The handmaiden leaned close.
25:40My lady.
25:41Will you see him?
25:42I shook my head.
25:44No.
25:45I have everything I need right here.
25:48Down the far corridor, Ryder stood without moving.
25:51He watched me.
25:52Watched my children.
25:53Watched the smile on my face.
25:55For a long time, he didn't move dot then.
25:58Slowly.
25:58He closed his eyes.
26:00Nothing left on his face but pain dot.
26:02But it didn't matter anymore.
26:03Because I was going to be happy dot for the rest of my life.
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