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00:00Every year, when the first snow fell, Cain would lose his memory and go back to the time when he
00:06hated me most.
00:08He would smash my medicine cabinets, burn my formulas, and lock me in the underground kellen until I passed out
00:14on my knees,
00:16surrounded by cold air and the bitter scent of silver powder.
00:19All for Leah, the woman he protected like something sacred.
00:24But every time the inner wolf shivered in the snow until it nearly broke,
00:27At Cain would remember again and pull me into his arms.
00:31Aelin, I'm sorry. I forgot who you were again.
00:35I believed him for five years.
00:37Because five years ago, during the Winter Full Moon Hunt, At Cain was poisoned by Wolf Boss and nearly lost
00:43his inner wolf.
00:44None of the healers in Moonstone Pack could save him.
00:46I was the one who went to the northern border and made a deal with Maeve.
00:49This is a deal.
00:54The price was simple.
00:56For five years, I would use my own blood to brew Cain's medicine.
01:01Every dose would weaken my inner wolf.
01:03And every dose would make it harder for me to leave him.
01:07When the five years were over, if Cain truly chose me and married me, the deal would end.
01:13If he still refused me, Maeve would take every bit of love and every memory I had of him.
01:20I always thought that if I could just make it to the fifth year, he would finally get better.
01:24Until tonight.
01:30Cain, how much longer are you going to keep this act up?
01:33Memory loss?
01:34Please.
01:35Only that stupid she-wolf Eilina would believe it.
01:39Every year, she kneels in the snow and begs us to help you remember.
01:42Like you are actually going to make her your Luna.
01:46The first snow is next week, right?
01:49Are you going to pretend you don't know her again?
01:51How many years has it been now?
01:53Cain's voice cut through the crack in the door.
01:55Colder than the snow outside.
01:57Five.
01:58But that is far from enough.
02:08He sat at the head of the table.
02:11During the winter full moon hunt five years ago,
02:15Leia lost her sense of smell after drinking the medicine Eilina gave her.
02:18Eiline turned her into a broken she-wolf.
02:22She should spend the rest of her life paying for that.
02:27Everything Leia suffered, I will make Eiline pay back a hundred times over.
02:35The room broke into laughter.
02:37But her hand was badly frostbitten the last time you locked her in the cellar.
02:41If you do it again, she may not even be able to sort herbs anymore.
02:47Cain, let it go.
02:48It doesn't matter whether I ever get my sense of smell back.
02:51As long as I can stay by your side.
02:54That is enough.
02:57Since when do you get to tell me what to do?
03:00Sharps scattered across the floor.
03:01Standing outside the door, I suddenly felt ridiculous.
03:06So there had never been any memory loss.
03:09No lingering damage from Walfi.
03:12The cellar, the snow, the apologies, the embraces.
03:16All of it had been a punishment he staged with his own two hands.
03:20In my heart, I called Maeva's name.
03:23Black mist rose from my palm.
03:25Maeve's lazy voice sounded beside my ear.
03:29Little healer, there are still five days left.
03:31Calling me now?
03:33Finally having regrets?
03:34I looked through the crack in the door at Cain's cold profile.
03:38In five days, the deal ends.
03:41Take away every ounce of love I have for Cain.
03:44Maeve fell silent for a moment.
03:46Are you sure?
03:47Back then, you traded ten years of your life just to keep these five years.
03:52Inside the hall, at Cain gave a cold laugh.
03:55Her.
03:56Worthy of being my Luna.
03:59I'm sure.
04:06Just then, my message stone flared wildly.
04:17The last bit of warmth drained from my body.
04:22Noah was my only younger brother.
04:24After our parents died in the border war, I was the one who raised that pup in Moonstone Pack.
04:29He had been born with a weak inner wolf.
04:31Every winter, his lips would turn blue and his fingers would go cold as snow.
04:35When I reached the infirmary, Noah was already lying on a stone bed.
04:39The inner wolf beside him flickered in out, like a flame about to die.
04:48We are still missing heart of white wolf's bait.
04:51White wolf bone grew in the northern herb fields of Moonstone Pack.
04:54Ordinary wolf bait was poison to werewolves.
04:56But the heart of white wolf bait could steady a failing inner wolf.
05:00The herb was precious and dangerous.
05:02No one could harvest it without the alpha's permission.
05:03Which meant I had to beg Cain.
05:07How long does he have?
05:09The healer looked at Noah, then, and at the faint little wolf shadow beside him.
05:13If the medicine arrives before dusk tomorrow, he still has a chance.
05:16If it comes late...
05:22Sister...
05:23Is it snowing again?
05:27No.
05:29Not yet.
05:30You just have to sleep.
05:32I will bring the medicine back.
05:34Noah tried to smile.
05:36But even that seemed to hurt.
05:38Don't fight with Alpha Cain for me.
05:41The words almost broke me.
05:46I swear, I'll save you.
05:48Then I rushed out of the infirmary with a list in hand and nearly ran straight into At Cain.
06:01The familiar scent of cedar washed over me.
06:06Once, I had craved that scent more than anything.
06:09Every time, he remembered he would hold me like this and make me think I had finally waited long enough
06:15for love.
06:15Now it only made me sick.
06:21Sign it.
06:25Leah came out from behind him.
06:29Aelin, is something wrong with Noah again?
06:31She glanced at the list.
06:33White?
06:34Wolfbud heart?
06:35That must be expensive.
06:37Haven't you been in charge of the medicine room all these years?
06:40How can you not even afford the herb that might save your brother?
06:48Several pack members looked at me differently at once.
06:51Did she steal the herbs?
06:54No wonder Leah always said she was rotten inside.
06:57She hurt Leah and still dares to run the medicine room.
07:00Disgusting.
07:01I looked at Cain.
07:03He knew better than anyone that I had never taken a single herb for myself.
07:07Leah didn't mean it.
07:09Aelin, don't embarrass her in public.
07:12I almost laughed.
07:14Leah, you'd better shut your mouth or I swear I'll slap that face of yours raw.
07:21Apologize to Leah.
07:26What if I say no?
07:28Then I won't sign off on the application.
07:31I could barely believe what I had just heard.
07:34My brother was in critical condition.
07:36And At Cain still wanted me to apologize to Atlea before he would sign.
07:40How absurd.
07:42Cain, don't be angry.
07:44I still have some calming medicine.
07:46It cannot cure a collapsing inner wolf.
07:49But it might make Noah suffer a little less.
07:51The next second, the bowl tilted.
07:54Scalding liquid poured straight over the back of my right hand.
07:56I suck in a sharp breath and flung her away on instinct.
07:59Leah screamed and fell to the floor.
08:03Aelin, I was only trying to help.
08:06Why did you push me?
08:08The air around At Cain dropped to ice.
08:12Aelin.
08:12I lifted my blistering hand to explain.
08:15Your brother is dying.
08:17I understand that you are desperate.
08:20But Leah owes you nothing.
08:22Owes me nothing?
08:23One sentence from her had ruined five years of my life.
08:26One tear from her could make him force me to kneel in the snow.
08:30Apologize to Atlea.
08:31For one second, I wanted to tear her pale mask from her face and make every wolf see the poison
08:37underneath.
08:40But At Noah was lying in the infirmary, and his inner wolf could not wait for my pride.
08:46At Leah enforced the words out, one by one.
08:50Sorry.
08:52At last, Cain stamped the order, signed it, and threw it to his baiter.
08:57This is the last time.
08:59I took the order and lowered my voice.
09:02There would never be another time.
09:06The white wolf-bode heart had to be brewed within three hours of being picked.
09:10The healer said that as long as it arrived before dusk, Noah still had a chance.
09:13I waited outside the infirmary from afternoon until dark.
09:17Every set of footsteps made me think the wolves from the herb field had finally arrived.
09:20But At Noah's inner wolf had turned almost transparent,
09:23and still the guards from the northern herb field had not come.
09:27Noah, hold on a little longer.
09:29I sent message after message to Cain as if I had gone mad.
09:33The first went unanswered.
09:35The tenth went unanswered.
09:37On the ninety-ninth try, the stone finally lit up.
09:40But it was the pack Vita who answered.
09:45Aelin, the alpha cannot come right now.
09:47I nearly broke apart.
09:48Where is the heart of white wolf, Pate?
09:50The order is signed, why has it not been sent?
09:52The beta was silent for a moment.
09:53Leah is on the top terrace of the council hall.
09:55She says the pack has been calling her a broken she-wolf, and she does not want to live.
09:58The alpha is trying to talk her down.
10:00My mind buzzed.
10:01Noah was waiting for the medicine.
10:03Leah had trapped every wolf with a few tears.
10:12Aelin, if the medicine is not here soon,
10:16his inner wolf will fade before nightfall.
10:19I ran out of the infirmary and pushed through the snow toward the council hall.
10:26The top terrace was crowded with wolves from the pack.
10:30Leah was half over the railing, sobbing like her heart had been ripped out.
10:36The beta stood nearby with the box containing the heart of white wolf, Pate.
10:39The moment I saw the box, I lunged for it.
10:41Give it to me!
10:42But the second my fingers touched it, two guards slammed me down into the snow.
10:47Aileen, have you not caused enough chaos?
10:50Noah is dying!
10:52Give me the medicine!
10:53Please!
10:56Kane, I really cannot take this anymore.
10:58Every wolf says I am pretending, but I truly cannot smell anything!
11:02I can barely remember what my own wolf smells like.
11:07Aileen, admit in front of every wolf that you gave Leah the wrong medicine and ruined her sense of smell.
11:12I stared at him in disbelief.
11:14You know it was not me!
11:15I only know Leah's about to jump.
11:18Would it kill you to just admit you're wrong?
11:20From the direction of the infirmary came the sharp, frantic toll of a bell.
11:24The warning bell for a dying inner wolf.
11:27My whole body went cold.
11:29The bell rang again.
11:31Each sound like it was tearing Noah away from me.
11:34Say it.
11:36If Leah does not come down, you are not getting that medicine.
11:42Five years ago, during the winter full moon hunt, everything had fallen into chaos.
11:46Leah suddenly collapsed from poison.
11:48I gave her the calming medicine I always carried with me.
11:50There had been nothing wrong with that medicine.
11:52But when Leah woke up, she said I had given her the wrong dose and destroyed her sense of smell.
11:59From that day on, I became the sinner of Moonstone Pack.
12:04Someone pointed a message stone at me.
12:06The entire pack could see.
12:10Kneeling in the snow, I said word by word.
12:13It was me.
12:16I gave Leah the wrong medicine and destroyed her sense of smell.
12:20I am the sinner of Moonstone Pack.
12:23A flash of triumph crossed at Leah's eyes.
12:26She put on her little act for a long time before At Kane finally carried her down from the terrace.
12:32I snatched the medicine box and stumbled back toward the infirmary.
12:35The snow was too heavy.
12:37I fell several times.
12:39My knees split open.
12:40My palms were bloody.
12:43Still, I did not dare loosen my grip on the box.
12:46When I rushed into the infirmary, the healer was already standing at the door.
12:49The medicine is here!
12:50Save him!
12:53Too late.
12:54Noah lay still on the stone bed.
12:56The inner wolf beside him had gone completely dark.
12:59The healer's voice broke.
13:01Ten minutes.
13:02That was all.
13:09Ten minutes.
13:11The ten minutes Leah had wasted.
13:14The ten minutes Kane had spent forcing me to confess.
13:19My brother was dead.
13:28My message stone lit up again.
13:31Kane's voice came through.
13:32Leah has calmed down.
13:34About Noah, I will compensate you.
13:36Compensate me?
13:37With what?
13:38Could he give At-Noah back the ten minutes he lost?
13:43Could he pull my brother's inner wolf out of the dark and put it back into his body?
13:48Aileen, you should sit down.
13:49I could not sit.
13:50If I sat down, I was afraid I would never stand again.
13:53Tomorrow night is the full moon.
13:54Come to Moonlight Square.
13:55I have something important to say to you.
13:56Only then did I remember.
13:58Tomorrow night would be the fifth time he recovered his memory and prepared to propose to me.
14:02In every past year, I had waited for that night like a starving wolf waiting for spring.
14:06I had imagined him kneeling under the full moon, placing the lunar ring on my finger,
14:09and telling every wolf that I was not a sinner.
14:12Now At-Noah's body lay cold in front of me.
14:13Kane, At-Noah is dead.
14:15For a long moment, there was only silence.
14:19I know.
14:20I said I will compensate you.
14:21Don't make this harder than it has to be.
14:22I looked at Noah's face and answered softly.
14:25Fine.
14:27Between us, there would never be another chance.
14:29I would make Kane pay for every stolen minute, every lie, and every breath Noah never got to take.
14:37I buried Noah in the cedar woods at the edge of Moonstone Pack.
14:41Our parents were buried there, too.
14:44Snow quickly covered the freshly turned earth.
14:46I knelt in front of the grave and wiped the headstone clean with frozen fingers.
14:50Noah, I'm sorry.
14:51I failed to save you.
14:53I spun around.
14:55Maeve stood beneath the trees, her black cloak brushing the snow.
14:58His inner wolf has not fully faded yet.
15:01A pup who dies from wolf spirit collapse leaves behind a brief remnant.
15:04Other wolves cannot see it.
15:05I can.
15:06I nearly lunge toward her.
15:08Can you save him?
15:09I can hold that last remnant in place for now.
15:11But that is not the same as bringing him back.
15:13For that, you need a better apothetary workshop.
15:16Rarer herbs.
15:17And power greater than the alpha of Moonstone Pack.
15:20Ely, the alpha king of the northern werewolf kingdom, is looking for a healer.
15:24He has suffered from silver poisoning for seven years, and the royal healers can no longer control his inner wolf.
15:29If you can save him, you can earn a place in the royal apothetary workshop.
15:33The northern werewolf kingdom was made up of many packs.
15:35Moonstone Pack was only one pack under the kingdom's rule.
15:38Cain could rule Moonstone Pack with one word, but in front of the alpha king, he was just one alpha
15:42among many.
15:43I'll go.
15:44Go, little healer.
15:45Let that foolish alpha see what he has truly lost.
15:52The next day, I did not go to Moonlight Square.
15:54I stayed in the cedar fields and kept watch beside Noah's grave.
15:57Cain's beta came with guards, looking uneasy.
15:59Elyne, the alpha has been waiting for you.
16:01The whole pack is gathered at Moonlight Square tonight.
16:03You cannot be absent.
16:04Tell him Noah is buried today.
16:06If he still has a heart, he should know why I am not going.
16:08The beta's eyes flickered with guilt, but the guards still stepped forward and forced me up.
16:12Moonlight Square was covered in white roses.
16:14The full moon hung between stone pillars.
16:16The elders and pack members stood on both sides of the square.
16:20I had seen this scene four times before.
16:23Every time, I had cried and thought I had finally reached the end of my waiting.
16:27His eyes full of practiced tenderness.
16:28Elyne, you have suffered these past few years.
16:30Once I am completely free of the memory loss, I will marry you and make you the Luna of Moonstone
16:33Pack.
16:36I looked at the ring and felt nothing but absurdity.
16:40The wolves around us began to whisper, as if I should be grateful enough to crawl toward him.
16:45After everything she did to Lea, the alpha is still willing to marry her.
16:48I raised my hand and slapped the ring away.
16:50It rolled into the white rose petals.
16:57Elyne, what are you doing?
17:01Before I could answer, hurried footsteps burst in from outside the square.
17:05Alpha!
17:06Something happened in the cedar woods!
17:07Wolves are digging up Noah's grave!
17:10The next second, I ran out of the square like a madwoman.
17:13The roses, the elders, the gasps of the pack.
17:15I left all of it behind.
17:17The snow night was too dark.
17:18The cedar woods looked like a shadow ready to swallow wolves whole.
17:22I fell once, stones cutting into my palms, then scrambled up and kept running.
17:27Only one thought remained.
17:28Do not touch him.
17:31Noah was already dead.
17:32He was already lying so quietly beneath the snow.
17:35Why couldn't they let him rest?
17:37When I reached the cedar woods, the grave had already been dug open.
17:41Fresh soil was scattered everywhere.
17:42The headstone lay toppled in the snow.
17:45Noah's name trampled until it was almost unreadable.
17:52You admitted it yourself.
17:54You hurt Leah.
17:55Why should your brother be buried in Moonstone Pack?
17:57I threw myself to the ground in front of the ruined grave and tried to gather the mud and snow
18:00with my bare hands.
18:01Don't touch him.
18:02My voice shook so that it barely sounded like mine.
18:05He never hurt anyone!
18:06He only wanted to live!
18:16His face changed the moment he saw the ruined grave.
18:18All of you, get away from there!
18:22But it was too late.
18:25The headstone was broken.
18:27The grave was ruined.
18:28The last bit of peace Noah had was crushed into the snow and mud.
18:35Aelin, I will handle this.
18:38Handle it?
18:39When Noah died, you said you would compensate me.
18:41Now his grave has been dug up and you say you will handle it.
18:44Cain, do you think if you say it calmly enough, other wolves' deaths stop counting as deaths?
18:48Maeve's voice rang in my ear.
18:50The five years are over.
18:52Aileen, do you still want to love him?
18:54I looked at Cain.
18:55At the shattered snow.
18:56At Noah's open grave.
18:58Then, suddenly, I became calm.
19:00No.
19:01Take away the part of me that loves him.
19:04Black mist rose from my palm.
19:06Pain exploded through my chest, then vanished all at once.
19:10When I looked at him again, he was nothing more than a strange male wolf.
19:13He seemed to realize something.
19:14Panic flashed across his face as he grabbed my hand.
19:16Aelin, where are you going?
19:20Somewhere you cannot reach me.
19:22Maeve took my hand.
19:24Before the black mist swallowed the cedar woods, I heard At Cain scream my name for the first time.
19:29Aileen!
19:31But his voice could no longer catch me.
19:35When the black mist faded, only the wreckage of the cedar woods remained.
19:39Cain wanted to chase Aileen, but Leah threw herself into his arms, sobbing that she was afraid.
19:43Cain, don't leave me here.
19:45Those wolves looked at me like they wanted to blame me.
19:47I am scared.
19:48His eyes stayed fixed on the place where Aileen had disappeared.
19:51For a few seconds, he almost pushed Leah away.
19:55But Leah clutched his sleeve with shaking fingers.
19:58You promised you would protect me.
20:03He still walked Leah back to her room.
20:09Cain, are we doing the usual today?
20:11First snow is almost here.
20:13Should we send a listen back to the underground caliph?
20:16Then Leah wrapped her arms around his from behind.
20:21Yes.
20:23Aileen was just throwing a tantrum.
20:25She had nowhere to go.
20:28Her brother was dead.
20:29Her parents were dead.
20:32In Moonstone Pack, she had no one left but me.
20:35As long as he brought her back to the cellar, she would be like every other time.
20:40Crying and shivering in the snow.
20:42Waiting for him to remember.
20:44He did not yet understand that the wolf who once waited for him had already died beside Noah's ruined grave.
20:53Two hours later, the guards returned.
20:56Alpha, Miss Aileen is gone.
21:00Cain lifted his eyes.
21:03His voice was cold enough to frighten wolves.
21:06I knew she left last night.
21:09I asked you to find out where she is now.
21:13We searched the apothetry, the cellar, the cedar woods, and her room.
21:20Her medicine chest is gone.
21:22The ledgers are gone.
21:25Even the things she left for Noah are gone.
21:28The cup in At-Cain's hand smattered.
21:30Fragments cut into his palm.
21:32Blood dripped onto the floor.
21:34He did not seem to feel it.
21:37Cain, maybe that witch is hiding her.
21:40Aileen loves you so much, she would not truly leave.
21:45The lunar ring Aileen had knocked away.
21:48Still lay among the wilted white roses in Moonlight Square.
21:52He suddenly remembered the way she had looked at him before she left.
21:56Calm.
21:58Strange.
21:59As if he was a male wolf who had nothing to do with her anymore.
22:05Search again.
22:07Search every abandoned den.
22:09Every border cabin.
22:11Every old herb path she ever used.
22:14Yes, Alpha.
22:15Leia tightened her fingers around her moonstone pendant.
22:19Cain.
22:20She only wants you to panic.
22:22Don't let her win.
22:25Not another word.
22:27Don't test my patience.
22:31That night, At-Cain went to the underground cellar.
22:35For five years, every time he lost his memory, he had ordered the guards to lock Aileen there.
22:40He had never truly looked at that place before.
22:44The moment the door opened, cold, damp air mixed with the scent of herbs rushed toward him.
22:49The walls were covered in formulas.
22:52Treatments for silver wounds.
22:54Antidotes for wolf bag.
22:55Medicines to stabilize pups in a wolf's.
22:57And the special stabilizing medicine made only for him.
23:00Beside every formula, was a date and an ingredient note.
23:04Year 1.
23:05Three drops of Aileen's fingertip blood.
23:07Year 2.
23:07Half a cup of blood from Aileen's wrist.
23:09Year 3.
23:10Wolf's fight backlash worsened.
23:11Aileen unconscious for two days.
23:13Year 4.
23:13Silver injury and right hand worsened.
23:15No further contact with cold poison herbs recommended.
23:17Year 5.
23:19Lifespan damage severely.
23:21Blood infusion still required.
23:23Cain's hands began to shake.
23:25He had not known.
23:26Or maybe he had never wanted to know.
23:29The guard behind him lowered his head.
23:32Alpha.
23:33Should I call the pack healer?
23:35Your hand is still bleeding.
23:37Cain looked at his own palm.
23:38Then at the old blood notes on the wall.
23:40No.
23:42His voice was rough.
23:44This blood is nothing.
23:45Compared with what Aileen had fed him for five winters.
23:47It was not even enough to stain one medicine bowl.
23:50He stepped deeper into the cellar.
23:51And every line on the wall looked like an accusation.
23:57A wooden chest sat in the corner.
23:59Inside was a lunar gown.
24:02The stitches were delicate.
24:04Aileen had sewed it by hand.
24:05Beside it was a small bottle of medicine.
24:08Two words were written on the glass.
24:11Wedding night.
24:12Cain remembered.
24:13That year, after he recovered,
24:15Aileen had shown him the bottle
24:16and said that after the full moon proposal,
24:18they could place it in the square
24:19to soothe his damaged inner wolf.
24:20I tested it three times.
24:22It will not hurt you.
24:24On our wedding night,
24:25your inner wolf will sleep peacefully.
24:27In front of half the pack,
24:29At Cain had thrown the bottle into the snow.
24:34A healer who hurts wolves
24:36wants to prepare medicine for my wedding night?
24:37Do you hear yourself?
24:39At the time,
24:40Aileen's flesh had to get her feindly plans.
24:42Still.
24:42She had to crouch in
24:43and picked up the broken pieces of her.
24:45It's okay.
24:47When you are better,
24:48I will make another one.
24:52The old scene tore through him
24:55with a pain he had no right to call grief.
24:57His fingers brushed the lunar gown
24:59and a thin needle fell from the folded fabric.
25:01There was dried blood on the needle tip.
25:04She had bled for the gown too.
25:06Aileen,
25:08how much did you hide from me?
25:10No one answered.
25:11Only the cold Selen held his voice
25:13and threw it back at him.
25:17Then Cain's message stone lit up.
25:20The same male wolf sent him an image.
25:22Cain,
25:22we're finished.
25:23That night in the council hall
25:24when we talked about you faking the memory loss,
25:26I think Aileen heard everything.
25:27In the image,
25:28Aileen stood outside the door,
25:29her face white as paper.
25:31The medicine bowl fell from her hand
25:32and shattered on the floor.
25:33Then she turned and left.
25:35Cain stared at the image,
25:36frozen in place.
25:38She had known everything.
25:41That the memory loss had been fake for five years.
25:44That every punishment had been done
25:45while he was fully aware.
25:47That he had never planned to marry her.
25:48The message stone slipped from his hand.
25:51Surrounded by medicine formulas,
25:53Cain crouched down
25:53and finally let out a broken,
25:55strangled breath.
25:56But in the underground cellar,
25:58there was no wolf left to answer him.
26:01The young wolf's message stone
26:02kept flashing with new words.
26:04Alpha,
26:04should we destroy the recording?
26:05If the elders see it,
26:06Moonstone Pack will be humiliated.
26:08Cain slowly lifted his head.
26:10His eyes were bloodshot.
26:11No,
26:13that's impossible.
26:14His hands shook violently
26:15as he sprung to his feet
26:16and rushed toward the door.
26:18I have to find Eileen!
26:22Maeve brought me to the royal capital at dawn.
26:24The capital of the northern werewolf kingdom
26:26stood beneath the snow mountains.
26:28Moonstone Pack was only one pack
26:29under the kingdom's rule.
26:30And the alpha king on the throne
26:32ruled every northern pack.
26:33Maeve placed a small black box in my hand.
26:35The last trace of Noah's inner wolf is inside.
26:37I kept it from fading for you.
26:38Whether he wakes again
26:39depends on you.
26:44Do not thank me too soon.
26:46Alpha King Eli is not easy to serve.
26:47His silver poisoning
26:48has dragged on for seven years.
26:50The royal healers
26:51have been replaced three times.
26:53A royal guard stopped us
26:54before the gate.
26:56Name and purpose.
26:57A healer for your dying king.
26:59Unless
26:59the royal critfurs
27:00burying another alpha
27:01before spring.
27:03He glanced at me.
27:04Then at the black box in my hand.
27:06Follow me.
27:07Do not touch anything
27:08without permission.
27:12I followed him
27:13into the royal apothory workshop.
27:15Chaos filled the room.
27:17Healers argued over old formulas.
27:18At the center of it all
27:19the alpha king
27:20was chained to a stone seat.
27:21The next second
27:22his eyes opened.
27:23Our gazes met.
27:27Eli was young
27:28with black hair
27:29and gray eyes.
27:30Silver poison marks
27:31crawled along the side of his neck.
27:32When his inner wolf
27:33went for all
27:33the killing pressure
27:34in the room
27:34became almost unbearable.
27:36Several royal healers
27:36stood pale faced
27:37holding all the wrong medicines.
27:38Old silver poisoning
27:39could not be treated
27:40with a harsh suppressive draught.
27:42That would only force
27:43his inner wolf to lash out.
27:44I stepped up
27:45to the medicine table.
27:46Chose white wolf
27:46fad leaf
27:47cedar root
27:48and black thistle seed.
27:49Then cut open my finger nip
27:50and let three drops
27:51of blood fell in.
27:51Who is this she-wolf?
27:53Who gave her permission
27:54to touch the king's medicine?
27:56I ignored him.
27:58Another healer
27:59reached out to stop me.
28:00If his majesty dies
28:02after drinking your medicine
28:03can you bear that crime?
28:06If he drinks yours
28:08he will not last
28:08until sunset.
28:10The room went silent.
28:12When the medicine
28:12finished brewing
28:13I carried it to Eli.
28:15A low, rough wolf growl
28:17rolled from his throat.
28:18The guards drew their blades.
28:20I stopped in front of him.
28:22If you kill me now
28:23you will lose control
28:24completely tonight.
28:26Drink this
28:26and you might at least
28:28survive the night asleep.
28:30Eli stared at me.
28:32After a few breaths
28:33he lowered his head
28:34and drank.
28:35The silver markings
28:36faded little by will.
28:37The chains stopped shaking.
28:39The room fell dead silent.
28:41Eli leaned back
28:41against the stone seat
28:42his voice horny.
28:44Name?
28:45Island.
28:46Which pack?
28:48Moonstone pack.
28:50Something shifted
28:50in his eyes.
28:54Eli looked at me
28:55for a long moment.
28:56Cain's future Luna?
28:58Almost.
28:59Once.
29:01Not anymore.
29:02He ordered the guards
29:03to unlock his chains.
29:05Give her an apothetory workshop.
29:07The best one in the capital.
29:08The royal healers
29:09looked displeased
29:10but none of them
29:10dared object.
29:11Eli swept a car
29:12a calm glance over them.
29:13Anyone who disagrees
29:14can bring me medicine
29:15that works better than hers.
29:17I had just been led
29:18into my new workshop
29:19when hurried footsteps
29:20sounded outside.
29:23Your Majesty!
29:24The Alpha of Moonstone Pack
29:25requests an audience.
29:27The next moment
29:28he burst into the workshop.
29:30After just one night
29:31his eyes were bloodshot
29:32like he had searched
29:33through the snow for hours.
29:34The moment he saw me
29:35he almost lunged forward.
29:37Alan!
29:38I stepped back
29:39and pressed a small herb knife
29:40to his throat.
29:41Take one more step.
29:42And I will make sure
29:43you cannot shift
29:44for three days.
29:47Come back with me.
29:48The royal guards
29:49moved at once
29:49blades half on
29:50but Eli raised one hand
29:51and stopped them.
29:52He seemed to want to see
29:53whether I still needed
29:54anyone to stand in front of me.
29:55I did not lower the knife.
29:59When Cain said it
30:00his voice was so horsey
30:01it sounded as if fear
30:02had finally found him overnight.
30:04Maeve had taken
30:05everything cleanly.
30:06All that love
30:07all that pain
30:08all those snowy nights
30:09spent waiting for him
30:10to turn back.
30:11They felt like they belonged
30:12to some other she-wolf.
30:13Back where?
30:14Cain's throat bobbed.
30:15Back to Moonstone Pack.
30:16I will rebuild
30:17Noah's grave.
30:18I will punish the wolves
30:19who dug it up.
30:19If you want a new
30:20apothetory workshop
30:21I will give you one.
30:22If you want the lunar position
30:23I will give you that too.
30:24Cain, everything you are
30:26offering me now
30:27is something I no longer want.
30:29Still angry with me aren't you?
30:30Punish me however you want.
30:32Just come back with me.
30:34Why should she go back with you?
30:36All the gods bowed their heads.
30:38Your majesty.
30:39Cain's expression changed.
30:40No matter how arrogant he was
30:42he did not dare cause a scene
30:43in front of the Alpha King.
30:45Eli came to stand beside Mae
30:46his gaze falling on the lunar ring
30:48in Cain's hand.
30:49The lunar ring of Moonstone Pack?
30:51Cain clenched his jaw.
30:53This is between Aileen and me.
30:54She is a royal healer now.
30:56Her affairs are under
30:57the royal court's protection.
30:58Anger pressed behind Cain's eyes.
31:03Your majesty.
31:04She was once my future Luna.
31:06Was she?
31:08I lowered the knife.
31:10Almost.
31:12Then she was not.
31:16Leah entered with several she-wolves
31:18from Moonstone Pack supporting her.
31:19Her face was pale.
31:20Her eyes red.
31:21The moment she saw me
31:22she looked like she had suffered
31:24some unimaginable wrong.
31:26Aileen!
31:26So this is where you ran?
31:27Was ruining my sense of smell
31:29not enough?
31:29Now you want to trick the Alpha King
31:31into protecting you too?
31:32Leah.
31:33Why are you here?
31:36Your majesty.
31:37Please do not trust this she-wolf.
31:39Five years ago
31:39during the winter full moon hunt
31:40she fed me the wrong medicine
31:41and left me unable
31:42to smell anything ever again.
31:43She knows exactly
31:44how to play the victim.
31:45She is even better
31:46at wrapping mails
31:47around her finger.
31:48She saved you
31:49only so she could worm
31:50her way to your side.
31:51Once you trust her
31:52she will hurt you
31:54the way she hurt me.
31:56Cain looked at me
31:57pain flashing in his eyes.
31:58Aileen.
31:59Leah is not well.
32:00Whatever happened between you two
32:01can be discussed
32:02back in Moonstone Park.
32:03How wonderful.
32:04How familiar.
32:05Even after I had reached
32:06the royal capital
32:07even after I had just
32:09saved the Alpha King
32:10as long as Leah cried
32:11he would still protect her first.
32:14Seeing him stand
32:15in front of her
32:15Leah's eyes flashed
32:17with triumph.
32:20Leah lifted her face
32:22her voice even softer.
32:23Aileen.
32:24As long as you admit
32:25to his majesty
32:25that you gave me
32:26the wrong medicine
32:27I can let it go.
32:28Stop deceiving people.
32:29Alright?
32:32Cain grabbed my wrist.
32:34Aileen.
32:34That's enough.
32:35His voice was sharp
32:36with anger
32:37and with pain for her.
32:38She has been unable
32:40to smell for five years.
32:42Why do you still
32:43have to push her?
32:44I looked down
32:45at his hand around my wrist
32:46and my eyes went cold.
32:48Let go.
32:50Cain stiffened.
32:52Eli lifted his eyes.
32:54The next second
32:54a royal guard's blade
32:55was pressed to Cain's shoulder.
32:57Cain had no choice
32:58but to release me.
33:00I shook out my aching wrist
33:01and turned to Eli.
33:02Your majesty
33:03since Leah claims
33:04I destroyed her sense of smell
33:05let the royal court test her.
33:06Leah's face turned white.
33:08Test what?
33:08Moonstone Pack already tested me!
33:10Eli's voice was calm.
33:11The royal court
33:11does not pass judgment
33:12based on Moonstone Pack's tears.
33:14Leah's fingers tightened
33:15around her moonstone pendant
33:16so hard her knuckles
33:18turned white.
33:18For the first time
33:19no one rushed to hold her
33:20before she fell.
33:22A judgment witch
33:22was brought in quickly.
33:27The first black wood box
33:28was placed in front of Leah.
33:33The judgment witch
33:34asked Leah the first question.
33:35Tell us what is inside.
33:37Leah bit her lip.
33:39I cannot smell it.
33:41The witch lifted the lid.
33:43Inside was treated
33:44hot of white wolf bite.
33:45The royal healers
33:46began to murmur.
33:47A she-wolf
33:48who has lost her sense of smell
33:49would not avoid wolf bite
33:51before the box was opened.
33:52Leah rushed to explain.
33:53I am just afraid of wolf bite!
33:56A second box
33:57was brought forward.
33:58Inside were fragments
33:59of the medicine bottle
34:00from the winter full moon hunt
34:01five years ago.
34:02The witch turned
34:03the fragments over.
34:04There are two sets
34:05of fingerprints.
34:06Aelens are on the mouth
34:07of the bottle.
34:08Leah's are on the stopper.
34:09The inside of the stopper
34:10contains silver powder residue.
34:15Bring the old healer.
34:18He was the healer
34:19who had diagnosed Leah
34:20back then.
34:21Under the pressure
34:22of the royal court
34:23he dropped to his knees
34:24trembling so badly
34:25he could barely speak.
34:26Leah never lost
34:26her sense of smell.
34:27She made me write
34:28a false diagnosis.
34:30She said Alpha Cain
34:30would protect her.
34:32You're lying!
34:33Slowly Cain turned
34:34his head toward Leah.
34:36In his eyes
34:36something finally
34:37began to collapse.
34:42I handed a set
34:43of herb ledgers
34:44to Eli.
34:45Your majesty
34:45I request a formal trial
34:47against Moonstone Pack.
34:50No!
34:50You cannot do that!
34:52This is Moonstone Pack's
34:53internal matter!
34:55Eli did not look at her.
34:56He took the ledgers
34:57from my hand
34:58and turned the first page.
34:59The blood marks
35:00beside several formulas
35:01were still dark.
35:03These are yours?
35:04Every formula.
35:05Every adjustment.
35:06Every note written
35:07after the cellar punishments.
35:08Cain's fingers trembled.
35:09Cellar punishments?
35:11Did you forget those two?
35:12His face turned even paler.
35:14Leah crawled closer
35:15to him in panic.
35:16Cain!
35:16Don't listen to her!
35:17She hates me!
35:18She wants revenge!
35:18For once
35:19Cain did not immediately
35:20reach for her.
35:21That hesitation
35:22made Leah truly afraid.
35:25Eli closed the ledger.
35:26The royal court
35:26will hold trial
35:27in three days.
35:28Moonstone Pack,
35:28elders, healers,
35:29guards and every wolf
35:30involved will be summoned.
35:31Yes, your majesty!
35:32Leah shook her head wildly.
35:33No!
35:34I did nothing wrong!
35:35I only suffered!
35:37I stepped closer
35:38and looked down at her.
35:39Then you should be glad
35:40a true victim
35:41has nothing to fear
35:42from a trial.
35:44Leah's lips parted
35:45but no sound came out.
35:50The royal court
35:51held the trial
35:52three days later.
35:54Wolves from every pack
35:55under the northern
35:56werewolf kingdom
35:57came to watch.
35:58The elders,
35:59healers and guards
36:00of Moonstone Pack
36:01were brought to the capital.
36:03So were the wolves
36:04who had dug up
36:04Noah's grave.
36:05Leah knelt
36:06in the center of the court.
36:08The mark from my slap
36:09had not yet faded
36:10from her face.
36:12Eli sat on the throne,
36:14expression cold.
36:17Proceed.
36:18The first piece of evidence
36:19was the medicine bottle
36:20from the winter
36:21full moon hunt
36:21five years ago.
36:22The royal witch
36:23proved before everyone
36:24that the calming medicine
36:25inside the bottle
36:26was not flawed.
36:27What had caused
36:27Leah's brief reaction
36:28was the silver powder
36:29later smeared
36:29onto the inner side
36:30of the stopper.
36:31That silver powder
36:32was not mine.
36:35Leah had placed
36:36it there herself.
36:37The second piece
36:38of evidence
36:38was the old
36:39healer's false diagnosis.
36:42He admitted
36:43in his own words
36:43that Leah
36:44had never lost
36:45her sense of smell.
36:46She ordered me
36:47to write
36:47that Aelin
36:47destroyed her senses.
36:48She said
36:49if I refused
36:49Alpha Cain
36:50would never
36:50let me practice
36:51medicine again.
36:53You took
36:54my medicine
36:55for five years!
36:56Now you betray me!
36:59the court erupted
37:01in low murmurs.
37:03Eli's fingers
37:04tapped the armrest
37:04once.
37:06The hall
37:06went silent.
37:09Continue.
37:10I stood beside
37:10the evidence table
37:11and watched Leah
37:12look around
37:12for someone
37:13to save her.
37:14This time
37:15every path
37:16was blocked.
37:20The third piece
37:21of evidence
37:21was the apothecary
37:22ledger.
37:24For five years
37:25the formulas
37:26Leah had submitted
37:27to the kingdom's
37:27healer selections
37:28had all contained
37:29my handwriting
37:29at the core.
37:30Every formula
37:31carried traces
37:32of my blood
37:33as the key ingredient
37:34and my own
37:35competition sample
37:36had been switched
37:37by Cain's beta.
37:40When the beta
37:41was dragged forward
37:41he could barely
37:42look at me.
37:43It was the Alpha's order.
37:45He said Leah
37:46needed a reputation
37:47and Eileen owed her.
37:48The court
37:49fell silent.
37:50Cain stood below
37:51the throne
37:51his face assin.
37:53He had already
37:53heard the truth once
37:54but only now
37:55with every piece
37:55of evidence
37:56laid out before
37:56the royal court
37:57did he truly understand
37:58what kind of wolf
37:59he had protected
38:00for five years.
38:00It wasn't me
38:01Eileen framed me
38:02she has the Alpha King
38:04wrapped around her finger
38:04now of course
38:05she wants me dead.
38:06I walked toward her
38:07step by step.
38:09Leah you say
38:10I climbed into
38:11the Alpha King's favor
38:11and who was it
38:12five years ago
38:13who used a few tears
38:14to make Cain
38:14hand over my formulas
38:15to you?
38:15Leah's lips trembled.
38:16You say I destroyed
38:17your sense of smell
38:18but for five years
38:19you could smell
38:19the cedar on Cain
38:20you could smell
38:20Heart of White Wolfard
38:21you could smell
38:22every bottle of medicine
38:23you stole from me.
38:24You lost nothing.
38:25I lost my hand
38:26I lost my medicine room
38:27I lost five years
38:29and I lost Noah.
38:33Leah finally broke.
38:35She crawled toward Cain.
38:36Cain I only did it
38:37because I loved you so much
38:38if I had not done it
38:39why would you have
38:39kept protecting me?
38:40Eileen had everything
38:41she had talent
38:42she had your promise
38:43she was going to become Luna
38:44I only had you!
38:45Cain lowered his gaze to her.
38:48Once
38:48whenever she cried like that
38:49he would have picked her up.
38:51This time
38:52he stepped back.
38:56Noah's death
38:57Noah's inner wolf
38:58was collapsing.
39:00That day
39:00all he needed
39:01was the heart
39:01of White Wolfspot.
39:03The harvesting order
39:04had already been signed
39:05but Alpha Cain
39:06kept it at the
39:07Council Hall Terrace.
39:09By the time
39:10the medicine arrived
39:11it was ten minutes
39:12too late.
39:13As the Alpha
39:14of a pack
39:17you withheld
39:17life-saving medicine
39:18and forced a healer
39:20to confess publicly
39:22resulting in the death
39:23of a pup.
39:24Do you admit it?
39:27After a long time
39:28he said hoarsely
39:29I admit it.
39:31The moment the words fell
39:32gasps erupted
39:32throughout the pack.
39:33What?
39:34He ignored a living
39:34breathing person
39:35just because of
39:35a she-wolf's tears?
39:36He doesn't deserve
39:37to be an Alpha
39:37that's too cruel
39:38I can't believe an Alpha
39:39would do something like that.
39:40Everyone looked at Cain
39:41with disgust in their eyes.
39:42I did not look at Cain.
39:44Everything that happened
39:45was Cain's punishment.
39:50Eli then looked
39:51at the young wolves
39:52being held by the guards.
39:55And the grave?
39:58Leah hinted at it.
39:59She said Aline ruined
40:00her sense of smell
40:01yet her brother
40:01still got to be buried
40:02in Moonstone Pack.
40:03She said it was ununfair.
40:04She never told us
40:05to dig up the grave.
40:06I did not!
40:07A guard presented
40:08a message stone.
40:09Leah's soft voice
40:10echoed from inside it.
40:11As long as Noah
40:12is buried in the cedar woods
40:13Aelin will always think
40:14she still has a home.
40:15After what she did to me
40:16why should she still have a home?
40:17The proof landed.
40:19Leah collapsed to the floor.
40:21Werewolves revered
40:22the Moon Goddess
40:22and they revered the dead.
40:24Digging up a grave
40:25was one of the deepest
40:26insult salts imaginable.
40:29Leah,
40:30for fabricating an injury,
40:31slandering a royal healer,
40:32stealing formulas
40:33and inciting the
40:34desecration of a grave
40:35you will be stripped
40:35of pack membership
40:36and sent to the
40:37border labor grounds.
40:38You will never return
40:39to the capital.
40:42No!
40:43Cain, save me!
40:44You said you would
40:45always protect me!
40:47Cain, Alpha of Moonstone Pack,
40:48for abusing your authority
40:49as Alpha,
40:50switching samples
40:50in the kingdom's healer selection,
40:52withholding live-saving herbs
40:53and allowing your pack
40:53to persecute a healer.
40:54The northern herb fields
40:55of Moonstone Pack
40:56will be placed under
40:56royal court supervision
40:57from this day on.
40:58You are suspended
40:59from your duties
41:00for one year
41:01and will submit
41:02to royal investigation.
41:03The hall erupted.
41:05For a pack Alpha,
41:06losing authority
41:07in the herb fields
41:07was almost the same
41:08as having his pride
41:09stripped from him
41:09in public.
41:10But Cain did not resist.
41:12He only looked at me.
41:13His eyes were full of regret
41:14that had come far too late.
41:19After the trial,
41:20Cain caught up to me
41:20in the royal court corridor.
41:22Aelin!
41:22I stopped.
41:23He stood a few steps away,
41:25his voice so wracky
41:26I could barely hear it.
41:27Noah's death
41:27was my fault.
41:28I looked at him calmly.
41:30Yes.
41:32Your hand was my fault too.
41:35Yes.
41:36And those five years,
41:38I destroyed them.
41:39Yes.
41:40Every word cut back
41:41into him like a blade.
41:44At last,
41:46Cain could not
41:46hold himself up anymore.
41:48He dropped to his knees
41:49in front of me.
41:50What can I do?
41:52He looked up at me
41:52like a wolf
41:53with his spine broken.
41:54Aileen,
41:54tell me what I can do
41:55to make it hurt less for you.
41:57I suddenly remember
41:58kneeling on the cold
41:58a night years ago
41:59when he had carried me
42:00back to the medicine room
42:00through the snow
42:01after I was injured.
42:02Back then,
42:03I had believed
42:03he would always protect me.
42:05Later,
42:06I learned that his tenderness
42:07could be taken back
42:08at any time.
42:10Every embrace
42:11he had ever given me
42:11eventually turned
42:12into a sharper knife.
42:14Once,
42:14I survived
42:15because of those embraces.
42:16I nearly died
42:17trapped inside them too.
42:18Now he knelt there,
42:20finally learning
42:20what pain felt like.
42:21But I did not need him
42:23to suffer for me anymore.
42:24Cain,
42:25you lied to me
42:25for five years.
42:26His tears
42:27hit the stone steps.
42:28I'm sorry.
42:29I bent down
42:30and spoke in a voice
42:31only he could heard.
42:33Now I will let you wait too.
42:35Cain snapped his head up.
42:36I smiled faintly.
42:38Wait until the day you die.
42:40I still will not come back.
42:42The light in his eyes
42:43went out little by little.
42:48Footsteps sounded behind me.
42:50Eli came to my side
42:52and traped a cloak
42:52over my shoulders.
42:55There is news
42:56from the workshop.
42:57Eli's voice softened.
43:00Noah's inner wolf
43:01is responding.
43:02I forgot Cain completely
43:03and lifted my skirts
43:04running for the workshop.
43:05Deep inside
43:06the royal medicine room,
43:07Noah's fingers
43:08moved lightly
43:09in the ice coffin.
43:10The last spark
43:11of Noah's inner wolf
43:12that maybe had preserved
43:13finally glowed again
43:14under the nourishment
43:14of white wolf's bag medicine.
43:16I threw myself
43:17beside the coffin,
43:18tears spilling down
43:19all at once.
43:20Noah!
43:21Noah's lashes trembled.
43:24Slowly,
43:24he opened his eyes.
43:26His voice was very soft.
43:28Sister,
43:28sister!
43:31In that moment,
43:32I finally knew
43:33the snow had truly stopped.
43:34Cain stood outside
43:35the workshop door
43:36and did not take
43:36another step forward.
43:37He watched Noah wake.
43:38He watched Eli stable me.
43:40At last,
43:40he understood.
43:41What I had wanted most
43:42was never his ring.
43:43It was my innocence.
43:44It was Noah.
43:45It was a path
43:46I no longer had to walk
43:47on my knees.
43:48And none of those things
43:49had come from him.
43:51Cain's hand tightened
43:52around the lunar ring
43:53until the silver edge
43:53cut into his palm.
43:55I gave her nothing.
43:57No one answered him.
43:59Inside the workshop,
44:00Noah held my hand
44:01and I did not look back.
44:06Cain returned to Moonstone Pack
44:07under Royal Court escort.
44:09The same council hall
44:10that had once laughed at Eileen
44:12now stood silent as a grave.
44:13A royal invite
44:14puts the sealed order
44:15on the long table.
44:17From today on,
44:18the northern herb fields
44:19of Moonstone Pack
44:20will be supervised
44:21by the royal court.
44:22No harvest,
44:24transfer,
44:24or medicine room entry.
44:26Man proceed
44:26without approval.
44:31Your excellency,
44:33the herb fields
44:33are the foundation
44:34of our pack.
44:35If the royal court
44:36takes them,
44:37how will Moonstone operate?
44:38The envoy's eyes
44:39were cold.
44:40You should have thought
44:41of that before you let
44:42a healer's brother
44:42die for ten minutes
44:43of theater.
44:45No wolf dared
44:46speak again.
44:47Cain stood at the head
44:47of the hall,
44:48but the alpha seat
44:49behind him felt
44:50farther away than ever.
44:51His suspension had begun.
44:53Every pack member
44:54who had once cursed Eileen
44:55as a thief
44:55and Leah's a lacquer
44:56was called forward.
44:57They signed written apologies
44:59under the royal court's seal.
45:02I accused Healer Eileen
45:03of stealing herbs
45:04without evidence.
45:06I called her a sinner
45:07because Leah cried.
45:08I watched her kneel
45:10in the snow
45:11and did nothing.
45:15Each word was written
45:17in ink.
45:18Each name was pressed
45:19under royal seal.
45:21Cain listened
45:22until his face
45:23lost all color.
45:24After sunset,
45:25he walked alone
45:25to the cedar woods.
45:27Noah's empty grave
45:28had been repaired.
45:29Cain knelt before it.
45:31Noah,
45:31I am sorry.
45:33The snow fell quietly.
45:37Leah was sent
45:38to the border labor grounds
45:39before the next snowfall.
45:41There were no
45:42Moonstone pendants there.
45:43No warm rooms
45:44where she could cry
45:45until someone held her.
45:46There was only snow,
45:47mines,
45:48and silver ash
45:49that would never wash clean.
45:52The border guard
45:53removed the last
45:53Moonstone Pack token
45:54from her cloak.
45:55Leah of no pack,
45:56step forward.
45:59No!
46:00I am from Moonstone Pack!
46:01Cain will come for me!
46:02He promised he would
46:02always protect me!
46:03The guard looked bored.
46:05Alpha Cain is suspended
46:06and under investigation.
46:07His promises
46:08do not reach the border.
46:10The labor wolves
46:10around her laughed
46:11without pity.
46:12So this is the famous
46:14broken she-wolf.
46:15She smells silver ash
46:16faster than any of us!
46:18Leah covered her nose
46:19on instinct.
46:20The guard's eyes sharpened.
46:21Careful.
46:22I thought you could not
46:23smell anything.
46:24Leah froze.
46:25No wolf cared.
46:28She cried the entire way,
46:29claiming she had only
46:30loved Cain too much
46:31and that Eileen
46:31had stolen everything
46:32from her.
46:33But on the border,
46:34tears were useless.
46:35A cart of silver-stained ore
46:36was pushed toward her.
46:37Start working.
46:38If you fall,
46:39you get up.
46:39If you cry,
46:40you work while crying.
46:41Leah shook her head wildly.
46:43I am not meant for this,
46:44Cain!
46:45Cain, save me!
46:46The wind swallowed her scream.
46:47For five years,
46:48she had used weakness
46:49as a weapon.
46:50Now weakness
46:50could no longer
46:51buy her mercy.
46:56After Cain returned
46:57to Moonstone Pack,
46:58his suspension took effect.
47:00The royal court
47:01took control
47:02of the northern herb fields
47:03and began reviewing
47:05the medicine room ledgers.
47:06Cain went to the
47:07cedar woods every day.
47:08The last trace
47:09of Noah's inner wolf
47:10had already been taken
47:11by Maeve,
47:12leaving only an empty grave
47:13that had been repaired.
47:15Cain would kneel there
47:15all night.
47:16Later,
47:17he truly began
47:17to lose his memory.
47:19It was not an act anymore.
47:21Every time
47:21the first snow fell,
47:22he would return
47:23to five years ago
47:24and search Moonstone Pack
47:25like a mad wolf.
47:26He would clutch the lunar ring
47:27and ask every wolf
47:28the same question.
47:29Where is Eileen?
47:30Where is my island?
47:35No wolf dared answer.
47:39Without Eileen's medicine,
47:40the wolf-spied damage
47:41inside him
47:42slowly returned.
47:48A royal healer
47:50went to examine him once.
47:53The healer watched Cain
47:55crawl at the cellar door
47:56until his fingers bled.
47:58Eileen is inside.
48:00She must be cold.
48:03Open it.
48:05Alpha Cain,
48:06there is no one inside.
48:08You are lying.
48:09She always waits for me there.
48:15The royal healer
48:16brought back
48:17only one sentence.
48:18He will live,
48:19but he can never be
48:20a complete Alpha again.
48:25When Moonstone Wolves
48:27heard the judgment,
48:28no one dared
48:28call it unfair.
48:32When I heard
48:33what happened to Cain,
48:34I was changing
48:34Noah's medicine.
48:36Noah sat by the window,
48:38still pale,
48:39but his inner wolf
48:40had stabilized.
48:41He looked at me carefully.
48:42Sister,
48:43are you still sad?
48:44I handed him the bowl.
48:47A little.
48:48He lowered his head.
48:50I rubbed his hair.
48:53But not because of Cain.
48:54I was sad for the girl
48:55I used to be.
48:56The one who had waited
48:57in the snow for five years.
48:59Sad for the Alina
49:00who had given away
49:01her life,
49:01her blood,
49:02and her love,
49:03and still believed
49:04a promise would come.
49:07Noah finished the medicine
49:08and grimaced at the bitterness.
49:10Eli's voice came
49:10from the doorway.
49:13Bitter or not,
49:14you still have to drink it.
49:15Noah immediately
49:16sat up straight.
49:17Your Majesty.
49:19Eli walked in
49:20and tossed him
49:21a small pouch
49:21of sweet fruit.
49:23After you finish.
49:28Noah's eyes lit up.
49:29I could not help laughing.
49:31Eli came to my side
49:32and placed a document
49:33on the table.
49:34Appointment as Chief Apithery
49:35of the Royal Court.
49:36I froze.
49:37He looked at me,
49:38a faint smile
49:39in his gray eyes.
49:40The Northern Werewolf
49:41Kingdom needs you.
49:42I opened the document.
49:43The Royal Court's seal
49:44rested at the bottom.
49:45In Moonstone Pack,
49:46I had made so much medicine
49:47yet not a single formula
49:48had ever truly belonged to me.
49:50Now,
49:51through the most formal document
49:52in the kingdom,
49:52the Royal Court declared
49:53to every pack,
49:54Elaine was the Chief Apithery
49:55of the Northern Werewolf Kingdom.
49:57Her formulas belonged to her.
49:59Her achievements belonged to her.
50:01Her name no longer depended
50:03on any alpha's promise.
50:08A few months later,
50:09the Spring Healer Exhibition
50:11was held in the capital.
50:15I stood at the center
50:16of the display
50:17with my newest medicine.
50:18The bottle was named
50:19Snowfall's End.
50:21It could stabilize
50:22a collapsing inner wolf
50:23and repair the damage
50:24left by silver poisoning.
50:25Many pack healers
50:26stood below the platform,
50:28carefully taking notes
50:29as I explained.
50:30Do not suppress
50:31a damaged inner wolf
50:32by force.
50:33First calm the backlash,
50:35then rebuild the bond
50:36between body and wolf spirit.
50:38Chief Apithery,
50:38can this formula be used
50:39on pups born with weak wolves?
50:42With adjustment, yes.
50:44No pup should die
50:45because one pack
50:46controls the herb field.
50:49Eli stood at the back
50:50of the crowd
50:51in his black royal cloak,
50:52watching me quietly.
50:55Only after the exhibition ended
50:57did he walk over.
51:01I turned around.
51:02He took out a ring.
51:07It was not a lunar ring.
51:09The face of the ring
51:10was engraved
51:11with the royal court's herb crest
51:12and the mark of the alpha king.
51:13I do not need an ornament
51:14standing beside my throne.
51:15I need a healer
51:16who can help me
51:17protect this kingdom.
51:18Something moved gently
51:19in my chest.
51:22He did not ask me
51:23to become his possession.
51:25He asked me
51:26to stand with him.
51:27You can refuse.
51:28If you do,
51:29your position
51:30as chief apothetory
51:31is still yours.
51:32The workshop is still yours.
51:34Noah will still stay
51:35in the capital for treatment.
51:37I looked at him
51:38and suddenly smiled.
51:39Your majesty,
51:40do you always propose
51:41like you are issuing
51:42an appointment?
51:43Eli paused.
51:44For once,
51:44the tips of his ears
51:45turned red.
51:46Beside us,
51:47Noah tried so hard
51:47not to laugh
51:48that his shoulders shook.
51:50I held out my hand,
51:51but I accept.
51:54The moment the ring
51:55slid onto my finger,
51:56a bell rang
51:57in the distance.
51:59The spring snow
52:00had stopped.
52:01Sunlight spilled
52:02into the royal apothecary
52:03workshop and lit
52:03the rows of medicine bottles.
52:05Outside the window,
52:06Noah shifted
52:06into a small wolf
52:07for the first time
52:08and stumbled into the snow.
52:09Eli wrapped his arms
52:10around me from behind.
52:12Shall we go home?
52:14I leaned into him
52:15and looked toward
52:16the snow mountains
52:17shining under the sun.
52:19A long time ago,
52:20I thought home
52:20was Moonstone Pack.
52:21I thought home
52:22was Cain's promise,
52:23the one he never
52:24meant to keep.
52:25Now I knew better.
52:26Home was not
52:27something I waited for.
52:28It was something
52:29I took back
52:29with my own hands
52:30after walking
52:31out of the snow.
52:32Yes.
52:33Let's go home.
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