00:00On the day of the bonding ceremony, the favored lady that Alpha Alaric kept at his estate lodge miscarried.
00:06Without a thought for me, who hadn't yet stepped onto the sacred moon right altar, he rode off at once.
00:12When he came back, I gave him two choices.
00:15Either drive that favored lady away or I reject the mate bond.
00:19He was silent for a long time.
00:29Alara, that favored lady is just someone I keep for amusement.
00:35How could she even be compared to you?
00:38After that, the cracks between us slowly healed, and our relationship remained as before.
00:43Three months later, I was with Child, and he left for the battlefield.
00:47I thought he'd return once the fighting was done, but I waited a year, two years.
00:52By the third year, I took my daughter and went to the northern garrison keep myself.
00:58On the road, I saved a pregnant lady from the rogues.
01:01Then she let us rest in her carriage.
01:05The lady thanked me endlessly.
01:10Thank you for saving me.
01:27Just as I was envying their closeness and devotion, the carriage curtain was flung open, and a tall man pulled
01:34the lady into a tight embrace.
01:41Thank the moon goddess, you're alright. You're alright.
01:43I froze where I stood.
01:45That voice. That face.
01:48This was my alpha.
01:50It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over my heart, extinguishing every trace of excitement
01:57and joy.
01:59In my panic, I covered my face with a veil, grabbed my daughter, and tried to slip out of the
02:04carriage, but Alaric stopped me.
02:08He pressed a hand to his chest in salute.
02:12Thank you for saving my luna, miss.
02:15If anything had happened to her, I don't think I could have gone on living.
02:19Why don't you come back with us?
02:21You may take your pick of gold and treasure.
02:24A sharp, piercing pain shot through my heart.
02:27The mate I had once been with day and night not only failed to recognize me, but thanked me for
02:32saving his favored lady.
02:36Then what was I?
02:39I all but fled, clutching my daughter.
02:45But what if, what if there was some misunderstanding?
02:49Clinging to a sliver of hope, I brought my daughter to the garrison keep.
02:54Our alpha lord?
02:56He and his luna are deeply in love.
03:00Ever since the border campaign began, he's kept her by his side.
03:06Even her luna's impristration was held right here in the garrison keep.
03:11Always?
03:12By his side?
03:14A luna's impression in the garrison keep?
03:16Then what were all those days and nights I spent alone, guarding the royal city, caring for my pup and
03:22his aging mother, drowning in endless longing.
03:27I couldn't stop my whole body from shaking.
03:29I fought to hold back the heat in my eyes.
03:35Fortunately, the old woman tending the fire wasn't paying me much attention.
03:39As she added wood to the flames, she said,
03:43You must be from out of town, miss.
03:46Everyone in the garrison knows the alpha lord and his luna are devoted to each other.
03:53They've already got to little ones.
03:58Another kitchen woman leaned in close, her eyes full of wariness.
04:03That's right.
04:05The alpha lord and his luna.
04:08Countless girls have tried to scheme their way into sleeping with the alpha lord over the years.
04:14And he's rejected every single one.
04:17With that, she cast a veiled glance at my pup as if implying something.
04:24That guarded look pierced my heart.
04:26The truth was right in front of me.
04:28I could deceive myself no longer.
04:32In every sealed letter that came month after month,
04:35Alaric had professed that he remained faithful to our bond.
04:39That he thought of me and our child constantly.
04:42He told me to wait, wait a little longer.
04:45He'd be back soon.
04:47But I missed him so desperately.
04:49I spent over a month getting everything in order,
04:52then rode without rest to the northern garrison keep.
04:55Hoping to surprise him.
04:59The sound of hooves came from outside the garrison.
05:08Passing garrison members called out their greetings.
05:18Thank the moon goddess, the luna is safe.
05:21The alpha lord was worried sick.
05:24Rosamund looked at Alaric with touching gratitude,
05:26then said softly to the garrison members,
05:30I was saved thanks to a woman.
05:32She spotted me outside the tent and her eyes lit up.
05:42Under the gaze of everyone, I gave a desolate smile.
05:48Slowly, I removed my veil.
05:53Alaric's arm around Rosamund tightened,
05:55a flash of disbelief crossing his eyes.
05:58But the next second, his composure returned.
06:01Rosamund's suspicious gaze darted between me and Alaric.
06:05After a moment, she ventured.
06:08My lord, do you know each other?
06:12Before Alaric could answer, I declared loudly.
06:15How could we not?
06:17Al-Alaric is my mate from the royal city!
06:20He's my daughter's father!
06:24The crowd erupted in an uproar,
06:27but Alaric only frowned.
06:30Alara, why must you go this far?
06:33He dismounted and lifted Rosamund down,
06:36a flicker of disgust in his eyes.
06:41She's the one I was pre-matched with as a child.
06:46But I never loved her.
06:48I never imagined she'd drug me while I was unconscious,
06:51and even keep my child a secret.
06:55I stared in disbelief, doubting my own ears.
06:59Malicious whispers surged around me like a tide.
07:03Ugh, doing something like that,
07:05and then daring to show up at the garrison.
07:10Disgusting.
07:12There's another war coming.
07:15Who knows what she's plotting by coming here now?
07:19Get that woman and her bastard out of here!
07:29Even the kindly old woman from earlier changed her face.
07:33She snatched back the candy she'd just given my daughter
07:36and spat at us viciously.
07:38I covered my daughter's ears,
07:40tears falling uselessly as I shook my head.
07:44That's true! That's not how it is!
07:48Alaric is my mate!
07:51The only response was even louder mockery.
07:54Before I finished speaking, my eyes flashed gold.
07:57My nails cracked, claws pushing through my fingertips.
08:01My wolf couldn't hold back anymore.
08:03I let out a low snarl toward Alaric.
08:06Alaric whipped around, eyes flashing with alarm.
08:09He stepped forward and his alpha command crashed down.
08:13Wither!
08:14My wolf was forced back inside, claws retracted.
08:18Gold faded from my eyes.
08:20I collapsed to my knees, trembling.
08:24Enough!
08:25He turned to a guard.
08:27Put them in a village nearby.
08:28Then he carefully guided Rosamond by the waist toward the tent,
08:32without so much as a glance in my direction.
08:35My daughter and I were driven to the village by that guard-like livestock.
08:40The run-down thatched hut was freezing.
08:43My pup cried and cried.
08:47He's a bad alpha!
08:49Mama, let's go home!
08:51I held back my tears and comforted my daughter.
08:55Alright.
08:56Since he doesn't want us,
08:58then we don't want him either.
08:59It felt as if a gaping hole had been torn in my chest,
09:03but my daughter was my only solace.
09:05I shifted into my wolf form,
09:07about to let out a howl signal.
09:09Then the door burst open and a guard forced me to my knees.
09:14Behave yourself.
09:19The alpha lord wants to see you.
09:21In the carriage on the way to the alpha lord's keep.
09:24They deliberately drove at breakneck speed,
09:27hurling curses the entire way.
09:30As my daughter and I stumbled down from the carriage,
09:33I heard two clear voices call out.
09:36Daddy!
09:40I looked up.
09:41Two children who resembled Alaric were circling around him,
09:44while Rosamund stood to one side,
09:47smiling as they played.
09:50The very picture of devoted to each other,
09:53certified by the entire garrison.
09:57Feeling my daughter's grip tighten on my hand,
10:00my heart ached with bitterness.
10:02I had always painted Alaric as a fearless hero to my daughter,
10:06an alpha lord who,
10:07though stationed at the border,
10:09never stopped thinking of his mate and child.
10:14But now,
10:15my daughter and I were outsiders
10:16peering into Alaric's happy life,
10:19watching their family of four revel
10:21in each other's warmth.
10:23That warmth was never mine.
10:27A tickle rose in my throat
10:29and I coughed violently.
10:32It was a lung affliction I developed
10:34from working myself to the bone for
10:36over a month to come find Alaric
10:38at the northern garrison keep.
10:40Hearing my coughing,
10:42four pairs of eyes turned toward me in unison.
10:46Rosamond put on a face of concern.
10:51My lord,
10:52this young lady has been traveling for days.
10:56Why don't I take her to rest for a while first?
11:01Alaric gave her an approving look and mused.
11:05Fine.
11:06The two boys are here anyway.
11:08They can play with the kid for a bit.
11:12I wanted to refuse.
11:14I didn't want to be separated from my daughter.
11:17But Rosamond dug her fingers into my hand
11:19and dragged me to a small courtyard.
11:25I know who you are.
11:29Alara.
11:30The sole survivor of the Silverfane pack.
11:35When you forced Alaric's to choose you back then,
11:37did you ever imagine you'd end up like this?
11:41My eyes went wide as I cried out.
11:44You're that favored lady!
11:47It was true that Alaric and I
11:49had been pre-matched since childhood.
11:51Our scent had been confirmed
11:53as a match by the elders when we were young.
11:56Later, the Silverfane pack was annihilated
11:58by a rival pack,
12:00leaving me the only survivor.
12:01When I was being bullied,
12:03it was Alaric who stepped forward to protect me.
12:07The whip marks,
12:08the blade scars,
12:09the brands on his back,
12:11all taken for me.
12:12He had saved my life,
12:13so even after learning he kept a favored lady,
12:16I hadn't said much.
12:18But he should never have abandoned me
12:20on the day of our bonding ceremony,
12:23walking out on me in front of everyone.
12:26Making me the laughingstock
12:27of the entire royal city.
12:29So it was you.
12:33It was you all along.
12:36I murmured,
12:37tears sliding down my cheeks.
12:40So Alaric's true choice had always been her.
12:43But why couldn't he have been honest with me?
12:47Instead,
12:48he kept me dangling with sealed letters
12:50every month while in each other's arms
12:52with Rosamund at the Garrison Keep.
12:54How did he write those letters
12:56overflowing with devotion with composure?
13:01A burning pain slashed across my cheek.
13:04Rosamund's claws raked my face
13:06and knocked me to the ground.
13:08Rosamund wiped her hand with a handkerchief,
13:10her face full of contempt.
13:13Favored lady.
13:14Alima,
13:15open your eyes.
13:16Who's the one who doesn't belong
13:18in polite company now?
13:19Someone drag this wretch inside.
13:21I want her to see every last trace
13:24of the Alpha Lords and my diversion.
13:27Inside the room,
13:28Rosamund dragged you
13:30behind a heavy wall tapestry
13:31and bound my wrists
13:32to the wooden frame behind it.
13:39Now watch closely, Atalora.
13:42This is what belonging to him looks like.
13:44The door opened.
13:46Alaric's scent reached me first.
13:48My wolf surged forward,
13:50clawing for control.
13:51She wanted to shift.
13:57Mine.
14:00He's ours.
14:02I clenched my fists
14:03and fought her down.
14:17He crossed the room into strides
14:19and pulled Rosamund against him,
14:20burying his face in her neck,
14:23inhaling deeply.
14:24I missed you.
14:28Rosamund's hands slid up his chest.
14:32She tilted her head back,
14:34exposing her throat.
14:36And her eyes flicked toward the tapestry.
14:42toward me.
14:47A slow, wicked smile.
14:51Then Alaric's mouth was on hers,
14:54hungry.
14:57I heard fabric tear.
15:00Rosamund gasped,
15:02fingers tangling in his hair.
15:12He lifted her onto the bed.
15:15He lifted her onto the bed.
15:15The wooden frame groaned beneath them.
15:17Every creak,
15:18every breath,
15:19every moan.
15:20They cut through me like silver.
15:23My wolf held.
15:30I bit through my lip.
15:32Blood filled my mouth.
15:34I refused to let a single sound escape.
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