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988528	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	4/2/25, 11:43 PM	1712522044	1743655381		442		1064888797913661	1	1.5812017393103E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165910155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326270	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435457060_1210766433226708_1880908999393713707_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hexzBfJATyMAb5ivHVQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfC9tljwB5SHzRlrwqrBPf71QHr_NlYDuaHHZksjlhVHRg&oe=6618E489	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434561399_386577947534107_6873605036794591822_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NkdH10aHzRYAb7rdsPs&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAiHyTPb-iCXeRsgj4IXa5O8VGLFl2VA0kKAGnf6ZF_9Q&oe=6618B916			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988498	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/3/25, 8:52 AM	1712522044	1746280354		442		468759688909465	1	1.4557546553711E+15		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419168180155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922076_26020242234241797_2889841262972408798_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4OHRXU0lmfEAb5LYdju&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAx89mE_gioGWXl1NKGVmIZwYvD2o7yFGP1bRMULNYUWw&oe=6618E036	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435967927_1066767851049317_1561946203436222314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLTJ8jF7JRUAb4T3rzH&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDq6FihTQl4xETzeJ-SPDAtzReTyFyCSi_V68SWSZX3tw&oe=6618DCCC			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988475	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/3/25, 1:46 PM	1712522044	1746297982		442		7434829139966600	1	7.3807998513955E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	412249035602001		0	Nail art love			120207402718040143		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1712338830	4.12249035602E+14	Nail art love	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434745851_785748056817044_6626358822012241441_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z9EivQWjGYoAb4FUnRm&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYRsQQKQ83OaYFyafW118sSJhDpE6IYTAwdv2LIDJhSA&oe=6618C724	person_profile	0	Nail art love	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434666920_345361734727622_5635245191817044358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FqtzsHEE8-UAb47AEIg&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBv9IkPkQHhVptK328Zak4kZbOzmxt0FFve27UlV9Je-Q&oe=6618BF16			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Nail art love		1016	https://facebook.com/61551664676182	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988444	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	2/20/25, 3:33 AM	1712522043	1740043983		442		331138973307717	1	9.6375083199348E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208241876120581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712411962	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435398200_946658150466134_4639558866968666748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ff5HMG3O5OsAb6L-7iv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkxJx6T_eHZhJAf05vM9DwENOz58nUakvaMSH09Q9lQg&oe=6618E316	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435465406_283745124672829_7796444578608282352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ZEDDJKpW2wAb5hHhyB&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALYSdkueG7VwdeG-B7NEGQxBScJP8qgSuga2osNzM9Cw&oe=6618E7BC			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988705	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/3/25, 3:40 PM	1712522046	1746304818		442		1747617105765813	1	7.0785608589083E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	118526244676341		0	Bauer Auction Service			120208286061570049		LIVE AUCTION Jim Trigg Estate, Lerna ,IL	INTERESTED		NONE	event	LIVE AUCTION Jim Trigg Estate, Lerna ,IL	Live Auction Jim Trigg Estate Live – – No Buyer’s Premium – – Public Auction 510 Lincoln Street, Lerna, IL Sunday, May 19th 2024 – 9:00 A.M. Ford Expedition – Ford Ranger – Camper – Snow Plow – Trailers 2007 Ford Expedition, 4×4, Good Rubber, 191k Miles; 2000 Ford Ranger Edge, 4WD, Automatic Needs Engine Work (As Is); 30’ Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch Camper Trailer Yellowstone Country Club Older Camper Needs Water Heater and It Is Ready for the Season; 8’ Western Snow Plow; Several Homemade Pull Type Trailers, Most Will Not Have Titles, 4’ x 8’ Single Axle, 4’ x 5’ Single Axle, 7’ x 10’ Single Axle, Chevrolet Box Van Cargo Trailer; J.D. Utility Tractor – – 3pt. Equipment – – Mowers – – L&G – – Wood Stove J.D. 401 Industrial/Utility Tractor, 3pt., 6’ Hyd. Bucket Front Loader; 3pt. Little Rhino 8’ Blade; 3pt. PTO Post Auger; 3pt. 4’ Disk; 3pt. 6’ Cultivator; Older Rack/Hay Wagon; U.S. Stove Co. Outdoor Wood Burning Stove; Hyd. Log Splitter; Gravely 8102 Lawn Tractor w/ Kohler Engine; Cub Cadet 1330 Lawn Tractor w/ 38” Deck; 12 Volt Sprayers; Wheelbarrows; 5 Bar Flex Harrow; Lawn Mower Jacks; Poulan Pro Rear Tire Garden Tiller; Husqvarna Chainsaw; Vinyl Fence; Black Powder Guns – – Reloading – – Camping – – Safe 10 Black Powder/Muzzle Loading Guns inc/ Rifles, Double Barrel Shotgun, Single Shot Pistols, .31cal Revolver; Powder Horns & Flasks; German Hunting Sword; Pocket & Sheath Knives; Crossbow; Holsters; Reloading Dies, Press; Case Trimmer; Holsters & Gun Belts; Burris Binoculars; Patch Knives; Slings; Sentinel Digital Combination Safe; Steel Key Lock Gun Cabinet; Deer Antlers; Electric Smoker; Camp Cooking Tripod; Cast Iron Camp Cookware; Large Marine Igloo Cooler; Deer Stand; Camping & Fishing Supplies; Stage Coach Gun Cart; Steel Targets Rail Road – – Guitars – – Music – – Man Cave Nice Gibson & Fender Guitars; Fender Acoustasonic-30 Guitar Amp; Live 6 Guitar Amp; Stereo; Pioneer Speakers; Guitar Case; Harmonicas; Microphones; Rail Road Switch Arm; 13’ Rail Road Arm Post; Rail Road Signs; Cast Iron Tractor Seat; Custom Wood Boxes & Trunks; Adirondack Chair; Snow Sled; Twin Size Sports Car Bed w/ New Mattress; Toy & Model Cars & Trucks; Johnny Cash Memorabilia; Drum Sticks; Record Albums; CD’s; Beer Sings; Older Garage Refrigerator; Belt Buckles; Construction Toys; Tire Ash Trays; Canes & Walking Sticks; Motorcycle Seats & Parts; Signs; Man Cave Decorations & Signs; Tools – – Garage & Shop Plunder – – & More 2 Rolls of Kemlite Wall Paneling; Ladders; Ramps; Battery Charger; Generators; Barrel Cart; Truck Boxes; Tool Boxes; Saw Horses; Engine Hoist/Cherry Picker; Fuel Cans; Older Car Parts; Ryobi Thickness Planer; Wood Working Tools; Poultry Wire; Lumber; Cabinet Drawers; LP Shop Heater; Strip Sander; Shop Vac; Compound Miter Saw; Pedestal Grinder; Shop & Garage Cabinets & Shelves; Hardware; Portable Air Compressor; Machinist Tools; Craftsman Tripod; 3 Wagon Loads of Garage & Shop Plunder Jim Trigg Estate, Age 74 Nancy Trigg, Seller	https://www.facebook.com/events/731604535752115/		1712181043	1.1852624467634E+14	Bauer Auction Service	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592519_1891398121378653_6333326535254774624_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FJmbIjHTJRUAb55lQXy&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDcHEGwQTC1KyCF8Vb9Rsg3mwS1Wu44erCo-Dcy40n1Zg&oe=6618E13B	person_profile	0					0	3	Live Auction<br /> <br /> Jim Trigg Estate <br /> <br /> Live – – No Buyer’s Premium – – Public Auction<br /> <br /> 510 Lincoln Street, Lerna, IL<br /> <br /> Sunday, May 19th 2024 – 9:00 A.M.<br /> <br /> Ford Expedition – Ford Ranger – Camper – Snow Plow – Trailers<br /> <br /> 2007 Ford Expedition, 4×4, Good Rubber, 191k Miles; 2000 Ford Ranger Edge, 4WD, Automatic Needs Engine Work (As Is); 30’ Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch Camper Trailer Yellowstone Country Club Older Camper Needs Water Heater and It Is Ready for the Season; 8’ Western Snow Plow; Several Homemade Pull Type Trailers, Most Will Not Have Titles, 4’ x 8’ Single Axle, 4’ x 5’ Single Axle, 7’ x 10’ Single Axle, Chevrolet Box Van Cargo Trailer;<br /> <br /> J.D. Utility Tractor – – 3pt. Equipment – – Mowers – – L&amp;G – – Wood Stove<br /> <br /> J.D. 401 Industrial/Utility Tractor, 3pt., 6’ Hyd. Bucket Front Loader; 3pt. Little Rhino 8’ Blade; 3pt. PTO Post Auger; 3pt. 4’ Disk; 3pt. 6’ Cultivator; Older Rack/Hay Wagon; U.S. Stove Co. Outdoor Wood Burning Stove; Hyd. Log Splitter; Gravely 8102 Lawn Tractor w/ Kohler Engine; Cub Cadet 1330 Lawn Tractor w/ 38” Deck; 12 Volt Sprayers; Wheelbarrows; 5 Bar Flex Harrow; Lawn Mower Jacks; Poulan Pro Rear Tire Garden Tiller; Husqvarna Chainsaw; Vinyl Fence; <br /> <br /> Black Powder Guns – – Reloading – – Camping – – Safe<br /> <br /> 10 Black Powder/Muzzle Loading Guns inc/ Rifles, Double Barrel Shotgun, Single Shot Pistols, .31cal Revolver; Powder Horns &amp; Flasks; German Hunting Sword; Pocket &amp; Sheath Knives; Crossbow; Holsters; Reloading Dies, Press; Case Trimmer; Holsters &amp; Gun Belts; Burris Binoculars; Patch Knives; Slings; Sentinel Digital Combination Safe; Steel Key Lock Gun Cabinet; Deer Antlers; Electric Smoker; Camp Cooking Tripod; Cast Iron Camp Cookware; Large Marine Igloo Cooler; Deer Stand; Camping &amp; Fishing Supplies; Stage Coach Gun Cart; Steel Targets<br /> <br /> Rail Road – – Guitars – – Music – – Man Cave<br /> <br /> Nice Gibson &amp; Fender Guitars; Fender Acoustasonic-30 Guitar Amp; Live 6 Guitar Amp; Stereo; Pioneer Speakers; Guitar Case; Harmonicas; Microphones; Rail Road Switch Arm; 13’ Rail Road Arm Post; Rail Road Signs; Cast Iron Tractor Seat; Custom Wood Boxes &amp; Trunks; Adirondack Chair; Snow Sled; Twin Size Sports Car Bed w/ New Mattress; Toy &amp; Model Cars &amp; Trucks; Johnny Cash Memorabilia; Drum Sticks; Record Albums; CD’s; Beer Sings; Older Garage Refrigerator; Belt Buckles; Construction Toys; Tire Ash Trays; Canes &amp; Walking Sticks; Motorcycle Seats &amp; Parts; Signs; Man Cave Decorations &amp; Signs;<br /> <br /> Tools – – Garage &amp; Shop Plunder – – &amp; More<br /> <br /> 2 Rolls of Kemlite Wall Paneling; Ladders; Ramps; Battery Charger; Generators; Barrel Cart; Truck Boxes; Tool Boxes; Saw Horses; Engine Hoist/Cherry Picker; Fuel Cans; Older Car Parts; Ryobi Thickness Planer; Wood Working Tools; Poultry Wire; Lumber; Cabinet Drawers; LP Shop Heater; Strip Sander; Shop Vac; Compound Miter Saw; Pedestal Grinder; Shop &amp; Garage Cabinets &amp; Shelves; Hardware; Portable Air Compressor; Machinist Tools; Craftsman Tripod; 3 Wagon Loads of Garage &amp; Shop Plunder<br /> <br /> Jim Trigg Estate, Age 74<br /> <br /> Nancy Trigg, Seller		Bauer Auction Service		583	https://facebook.com/AuctionBauer	0		EVENT_RSVP						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988730	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/22/25, 6:03 PM	1712522046	1750633423		442		7211722455548997	1	1.4664909439432E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063848550257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3 to defeat evil🔥		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056544	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434605656_419874240585565_8831728975399670590_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s9ciB15Jqv0Ab6A2fuF&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBFaU2Qu27YPGtBz6Lk2GJeLcv0mFV2y83LXOE014_yKA&oe=6618DA60	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565648_329443819746459_6697213341475881961_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jGb7cb__PRgAb4OFiGu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfC3HtLgJeDFRAwd6X5pHP1Yrv88TXLzmv-nfbh7l7QUDg&oe=6618E958			0	3	We&#039;ve brought the trailer to life!💁‍♂️ Do you have strategic skills?😏		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988485	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/24/25, 11:56 AM	1712522044	1750784174		442		936493444846842	1	2.0278664542667E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419169720155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436118102_3588457931415580_2197013368018586215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KmHrNjQpYfsAb6-afC4&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCGdiGnW8LtB55CGpze8NcvgLrljV_TLFeS36FuF_7f0A&oe=6618C62A	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434841722_374223625585496_8059407283685938333_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W3oDwEGHHVgAb6P876s&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYEYqABKlVc2LyeVhQESbAfg2gyRE58E8nMSkNAx5RLQ&oe=6618E6DA			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988608	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988614	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924819		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988631	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988333	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988334	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988834	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924827		442		25103877849227772		1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610660599670		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634664	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434385781_754750006429048_9077005728782961464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hZjCo9P1BdgAb78IFLx&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfQrN9pjj-BW6SzE000wOsuSP2KadaRhr2ZvM2ndWfaA&oe=6618D475	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988439	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	2/9/25, 12:33 PM	1712522043	1739126015		442		2628684357305841	1	4.1876205078268E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208929451170763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3 SLG👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415765	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901057_384986494376607_5458026624075640632_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zRKS_FgBGagAb4XWYTr&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7YVs2KrnpjM8nLJvcYaAaTG8jnIEDjnfEB7xJXAL-ag&oe=6618C20C	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436121201_968345394839579_7669395637489847401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MXYLn5FZg1QAb7NtwUU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAU7MUN4yZ_4RNACZzAPpqaLOjYR3FDvC7nwEYPWenVJg&oe=6618C59D			0	3	Only 1% of all players have beaten this level. <br /> Will you give it a try?👍		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989011	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924855		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989270	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924860		442		3834675340190303	9	9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129603620072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432702462_425101310188887_2598698780206365414_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KhKhGuwyBUAAb6x9h4M&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBycYGx7kRargdRA0fpMbqFXO_3Cb9xNdgXLFQKCPwLvQ&oe=6618DC3C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432779714_787262129988708_8637584001846006548_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=daKn6AvHHkwAb41yeGM&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCFV3MjyjdCte4L_5u1WtnPEY52MUl6kzoEM_NAqCbRlQ&oe=6618C594			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1Fup4-_7vBbS3zDED7r-h67xQ8HDmmZSsaTZBpWgIJDuP4bGY8J0YC3IaOy5YXUNpg1U2eqY9bmMwcyu04ykLV16RgUQ1hdg8mg9m7aUi0jwFkb0qpKd9zArV4SDsk2fptRyE880la1yCDEBFAYA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
988508	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/3/25, 12:44 PM	1712522044	1748972691		442		339897142416421	1	7.6149925262853E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419167880155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435906348_903689698108156_704486821177568529_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-hFLq3DYHq4Ab6_Yo9f&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCEVzUC6iooe7mWD-3MAMp-EfJE5rzxZ-jbQviQZxVeEg&oe=6618CE33	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434831984_751761997041307_4551358567051246058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ddj0CqmYTyAAb7DJLDu&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAb_F2j7GzBLI5TXPiE4Zex4Fxno7Z4OVPx5KXO2Ywddw&oe=6618C080			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989163	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		1586684128755174		1.1941545053017E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	109973985488101		0	Onlinehol			120206321853200276		onlinehol.com	Shop now		NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lnFb3qhZ-ckAb6EeYov&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOH4mDqcCmiad0p9Sjbd2fdWwkEbh8tm3LqAHuCmy4qQ&oe=6618EC1A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kO7kbfHVawAAb6rMs8-&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCrC3L9smXwvBhWX4VrIExUjahdXPJbpcNxFyDN7Dlxg&oe=6618C631			0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It&#039;s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.		Onlinehol		18	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	0		SHOP_NOW						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989246	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924864		442		386175144291762	10	3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129606090072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444176_1461245937803618_2351619017030877039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mPD6iKsAY4sAb6o_nkq&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAsBOFNzSNNLrGq-LB4AfqYROzScjgfgRHusMl1idAFDg&oe=6618C0E1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431912497_1422363348403095_1160456603151060584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Uk3vSIKgRW4Ab6jSFIb&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCwJ-GAKnLxHHXCVTO7lXyiRc_j6s3qzRnT-JiO0agF0A&oe=6618CD70			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3HZp_6aECEmwhdqZ3hynI5Fs3G163thytu9pZEeSpZeeT2_eE0GNDweHjRZP7Q3XtMugjakMI1SrkiT4su8hqAXQjVgWgB6sd1-Sn_8cBxitIKVA8ePKH7u1n9L-IjJklzg-zKlDWZizxYIfgVzcdiYSg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989248	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924864		442		421008276955238		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593150072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542818	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431222967_856180349647967_6950546054463824558_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sl_seSZ0l04Ab4DcEEW&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAfOIkUaTVxT76hWrBb5N_xUUz54jRcyctQDEEIgTxokg&oe=6618C663	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431195461_412213498023750_3809643012679232514_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVK39V1K3MkAb4NOtIr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCn2ACdSd-BxXcyG4hprZ4rBdhbBJTWEAKmC4D4sJLbww&oe=6618C60B			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2I8HDmA_jw7TCN4DTE0KwheXODmiD6YiJ8UOU0ZRFAB0PtIzGt8mKk40SZAk7vhkFI0Nq35cBzTxvacq895IQVFIyhi86f7AUpCOvdawANXvIgdWvRuHq3x7XcQ6IFgKPG-j1iA8gBdLq3nfiwob6FAvA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989285	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		734174078698425	4	7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120206954903530256		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1710433120	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432749323_3603536746630424_5387550006119167335_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UTKU9zcqdjMAb6g8GHa&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2yi4nMJ95PwSHfykqYXAbgd5S77EwWIce6jpR_3ySOQ&oe=6618BA3B	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433057000_788509666480211_605598316307431490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0E0qPKvu8H4Ab4zYWry&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPkeUu8jkpDSsZ8nUzncXFdPKifPR8XSuALlgpO2mBrg&oe=6618D660			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989289	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		1152081639489094	1	3.8246678344209E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	135327806501995		0	Ward's Outfitters llc/mx			6569434887255		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/wardsoutfitters_llc_mx		1710420240	1.35327806502E+14	Ward's Outfitters llc/mx	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431487575_954138002733941_2651300127074897675_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=REAw5FR3ZwUAb5dN5hu&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCPq_Lp0lxTddf9hmT9HPDNOBQI-lr-KpfnzQZItGMldA&oe=6618CF8F	person_profile	0	Ward's Outfitters LLC / MX	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431447162_1442002426436290_7253951098980381931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7eFBYvFbXkgAb5DbmDi&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAwrqbzEdJicN5en2OojY__0aqKELyBW1I4hl2t4_N91A&oe=6618EA78			0	3	Now booking 2024-2025. Arizona and Old Mexico. <br /> #hunting #coues #muledeer #desertsheep #gouldsturkey #Javelina #Archery #riflehunting #crossbow		Ward's Outfitters llc/mx		5528	https://facebook.com/wardsoutfitters	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989307	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989338	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989354	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924870		442		370751069136092	1	9.3470331818078E+14		1710140400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207575996730127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr10&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956242	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432049138_731012869138725_5954585650042261466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wr_UANE7-YYAb4GhtZl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZIoMD3D0LiaILzUIQT1wkQ5NVfzTRCeYpWk8n-BAfjQ&oe=6618C543	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989381	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		1179991743409978	4	7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120207120209950715		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709289005	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428687357_769783661720131_7301324727341968366_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cJMhDwxOpO4Ab5a55sV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjETioQ3OORmYlcX_oFyiJZJ7AZnfdGmbGPh2uyV9tgw&oe=6618C107	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429470056_1106213233739513_2596385279901333661_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TbIiRt43xCkAb7zYzI1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkyedOA4j1AXYM5j1551zfayzunKXlqzXKK0FaI4vreg&oe=6618CB0B			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989382	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		1496268887598011		7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120205836772290634		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709288673	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429579093_1360109098011759_4109474163216333547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzoXCJqaZRYAb69eXDV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBeklCqK6nEyI_6ivsOzYRvYPFakU_jyXFg7sV-2dZ-ug&oe=6618D447	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430952391_957794115760510_8441011754437371685_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KxvW1MIXhFIAb6AtvPa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKrNHkvbKmM3UytiXOC_IcDpvGEUbLIGW3Qp3BQWcs1A&oe=6618C398			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989386	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		408970121800109		3.9029571028666E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120205553667330727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010869		1708670502	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428613985_285235354389308_1755750585622662603_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oOGotf0E-eAAb7SgtIy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDEeeb4xqcjYrivr3z7-1CphKBwTfSyHVHwshF4gJTo9w&oe=6618D712	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1708588800		View Edit Delete
989392	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	747021958709347		0	Music City Archery			6535603657907		musiccityarchery.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YozVptWq-EAb7u4wUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjh4c1yeFRe_c5Wzkwk5QzMOMvPzPAVISuJD6yUDMzeA&oe=6618CB07	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hdnvroK8iOwAb6Iunqq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5Z4AMsUsF0L3d0ByWy8PaLpPhMKXy8TQxL-DMWEqGkw&oe=6618B834			0	3			Music City Archery		2563	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	0		LEARN_MORE						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989488	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		435744842237737	1	2.5116596877985E+16		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412547320779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/website-womens-apparel/products/suede-shawl-vest?utm_source={{campaign.name}}		1712252276	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562429_1455596778666524_7484599176160372525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcNbUdqkPAwAb5g9ZOj&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa9y9IkSCGW6aRQT6jUHLiqIvavr5dnCNMlnqq2QTqHw&oe=6618C161	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554538_319836154108520_7370353962761140925_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uPjKPVv310EAb4aEITE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcPI5hH-bhnq36FtgszzixtOfxavLDuTYY3c28zmNBag&oe=6618B753			0	3	New for 2024! Shop Now!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989586	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		382648641264229	1	2.6585226476452E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	236465846212444		0	Matt Holt			120207374083950143					NONE	video					1712281948	2.3646584621244E+14	Matt Holt	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434023462_310843115362369_904732306274263582_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KZCsc_zTeyYAb75P_Zd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBBg8LhuqLbRCQxMTbBIZTJ0wugdAuHAcQOdfnvYhgzAQ&oe=6618CF46	person_profile	0	Matt Holt	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027407_1530699100823570_9176461083134879854_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EiAE_3GmyCkAb5FAzdI&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDecWdbihGOPZE1aZ6dj9PUh1fDaxf3XBNe4n6MQ5tG5Q&oe=6618B828			0	3			Matt Holt		73	https://facebook.com/matt.holt.7161	0								1712214000		View Edit Delete
989956	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522063	1734924882		442		3304682006491041	1	4.4284611817342E+14		1710486000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120206853852240751		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1709891274	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429581234_1099310164730363_1086504078742655591_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HkxV9hhRZBwAb5NDOj_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_l20nQs_rHx4bL0477IV0hBvKpKLJHUIc4XYDOKYKEw&oe=6618EE61	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428698205_1132546604423467_736375551921548533_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WQ4cHBe9ycQAb4Pxgr_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBOmJD-O9IZAeaa_v4xN5CIm2d6ytR2DxLou6qIG2K0og&oe=6618DE80			0	3	How many kingdoms can you conquer?		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989628	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989680	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		436439805421865	1	7.9328777618471E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100309942247444		0	Jim Burnworth Safaris			120207184635240746					NONE	multi_images					1712051506	1.0030994224744E+14	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434469026_916767763556533_7120148809680053746_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NNjeKk0KABcAb4J5uCR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAIMcBCxGomIDbaQsG5Nt1UX0ypt9i3UuhGPosd57ycww&oe=6618E210	person_profile	0	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565679_741792871277749_6103769200346240319_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P1KF2AoZ0scAb74eykR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA-b-A0Ok7VdBgxwNkstWExgJ2Rr43IRSGlNUqRntssWA&oe=6618DD54			0	3	LOOKING 4 BOWHUNTERS.<br /> <br /> 👉 Ready to embark on an unforgettable bowhunting adventure in Africa with the legendary Jim Burnworth? We&#039;re looking for 4 passionate bowhunters to join us this summer, starting June 4th and running through September 6th.<br /> <br /> 🎙️ But here&#039;s the kicker: no matter where you are in your archery journey, Jim will be there to help you grow. Whether you&#039;re a seasoned pro or just starting out, his expert guidance and coaching will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience. Plus, Jim will be hosting exclusive podcast sessions during your stay, sharing his expertise and stories from the field, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure.<br /> <br /> 💥 And here&#039;s some exciting news: Jim has seven camps! So if you have that friend who isn&#039;t a bowhunter, we can put a crossbow in his hand or he can bring his rifle along. Everyone is welcome to join the adventure!<br /> <br /> 💰 Packages start at just $5500 for a full 7 days of hunting, including accommodation, meals, personalized instruction from Jim Burnworth himself, access to his podcast sessions, and the option for crossbow or rifle hunting.<br /> <br /> Interested? Feel free to PM me or visit our website to leave your contact info. Let&#039;s make memories and share the campfire stories together! 🏕️ #JimBurnworthSafaris #BowhuntingAdventure #AfricaHunting #LegendaryExperience		Jim Burnworth Safaris		1487	https://facebook.com/jimburnworthsafaris	0								1712041200		View Edit Delete
989690	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1453236398935536	1	7.1528112067888E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120209434187330204		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793044	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408174_1565261874260511_4025092499777447010_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmH-46lZTTcAb65Nm73&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC7FEfD4ajXuDH3lFXR2Vs0Uot5kDmlwUszy_SIYM54VQ&oe=6618B8C3	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434572827_425152456687611_8811684751803242023_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zXCUROMSqVcAb7eJJur&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBmoOMdMPsGVR-SVJHOEK3lHJco0OpL6ruRdw1_XMUZyg&oe=6618BC33			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989694	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		740144878250816		2.6379384830331E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120208155064180049		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792806	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880249_1123969372061510_2373872357163987180_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcz0S9qsUIUAb48GgBJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC-YpRiz52vszjSZqP-Z5p5gpQ0Y1H4MdIVg50CnjC5sQ&oe=6618E699	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433960855_766001378588604_2861986521618719237_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3wOM7bo-kssAb4dOTKC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwiww3_FfGPFTYLsL-Ti-amWmVJfk-JF5LYc6YCACI6w&oe=6618EBA0			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989722	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1125513215240159	1	8.4535833093853E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206829171340257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711598214	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434215893_1113643969839796_7807742451255371640_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eBXv5QHW7y0Ab7IRis8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDoHjCII5jVQwyZW-Pa_X9Jp_lZPpn4ishJD0BiK27pXA&oe=6618E7BA	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434203273_1160640518185605_3920470166629187477_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VLaBEo42Z4kAb49EfAi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8X8lQ9FQ4wyyqskNhn4c4wfXdDquPQkq8eejvki7_Qw&oe=6618E7F0			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989861	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924903		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989829	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		312262724866894	2	2.4636338971607E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206549331750257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711009573	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433754060_2502048926647147_4044600079487018602_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S_ukINWx5XUAb5E3B8E&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpTaHs8GyJUnwweNCBpJkhNCiCFQe7IdoRgs5XvepL4w&oe=6618BCC0	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433695924_1516161695612463_3675449276895505751_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qvShAvCAeZsAb5UHQhl&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIR8EyRNFYWaUISeXPKLLqV95o_N8Iess3yeliqrip6A&oe=6618D46D			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989876	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989893	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		368124392726895		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588580072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431180503_271377769245704_5273886051282060781_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G_CyUCUTWeUAb4McXkH&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfApa4JeYsy9gMTBHOMcgkt8u-TpNq9HNdFnnAZNlYD6mA&oe=6618D9D4	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431435898_3471018953118890_2739422780997407060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3rYtLQ1ZetMAb6vOuQA&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDnDrrbZsBT0dxeiSJ1eOkpg3lDLmQErVhmT_PKqitS5A&oe=6618C0B6			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0IZV2pwxus_XUj8UkhRS2zABhZ77PV96q35QjWUpcmoG4EBMHls5Y6H3U3uuXLPL7sP04LIKo9-642MYKxkEf4qf1rCGqYsrHVzAXRYS8BqJ6RN1y1rriAc525KdOrJ9gghNUGimJYIlqH9J-m06cql9w" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989904	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		461304269570077		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129586530072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542807	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432397013_708333988163126_1866695117248052536_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BT8vadq-KskAb6czc9o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB6yVlRDkHn1rOnm3LLHSVJ6OD6mI-ilraOl_IvtnkNtg&oe=6618B94C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432447920_3629071277333995_4548284713454927828_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2ojPZ_p5HWIAb7Zi-l5&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAGT_GIi4qnfC5bRoGq5HrLhhajw4Xn-4vmVZHShN0Emg&oe=6618E397			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1sV-Cf4sPYmg69e0yCwyuSFgAsFUe-i4OBBWddj0x7xFJwkedoXXbo3XdeBXwOJKnOF4YCRbgKMj5jJQrE2iDMJwNWoYy9Ib2Fcd5wUOzhOgvSKYkooOHnveXLgNPsF6RkkZ90iPUxvGfV7dS7WlgnsbQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989953	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924916		442		370751069136092	1	9.3470331818078E+14		1710140400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207575996730127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr10&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956242	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432049138_731012869138725_5954585650042261466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wr_UANE7-YYAb4GhtZl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZIoMD3D0LiaILzUIQT1wkQ5NVfzTRCeYpWk8n-BAfjQ&oe=6618C543	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989961	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15		1710313200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108124922119098		0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients			120206777282770285		itunes.apple.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_4-ysIOAQboAb7P2gMp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfACtucShkxUAJuzuQ3HpmJlUr17Jk4ympW_VVYqLrZyLw&oe=6618DAA0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UaCaHDRYBdYAb50MU1l&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDds2NAVpnIW6ljvQ-up9E_-Y4uFF4SozY1NK9H14zjKQ&oe=6618DB96			0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲		Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients		1743	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709452800		View Edit Delete
988545	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	2/21/25, 9:21 AM	1712522044	1740151317		442		442117091647281	1	1.5580553449292E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	127033936186		0	Deer & Deer Hunting			6593438923110					NONE	video	#101: WHY THE KING BUCK ISN’T #1 with Johnny King | Deer Talk Now Podcast				1712323583	127033936186	Deer & Deer Hunting	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904951_407987481849498_2362577683414692566_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jt9uaWUDhr8Ab5mzNmS&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBiHj1ug4EwhmfpkwOrRpAAqxGarPY1NVBPrM-zwg0Usg&oe=6618D8FE	person_profile	0	Deer & Deer Hunting	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436140917_1088772419042243_2119547909078030429_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cOHzORNg2usAb6zrhDY&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlNACxAZSkCSOGQbnga_eORrTl8gLVURcZ3SMpf5Z3ZQ&oe=6618D41D			0	3	If you&#039;ve heard of the Johnny King Buck, you know that he was denied the No. 1 world-record typical title due to a Boone &amp; Crockett scorer deeming the right G-3 as an abnormal point, despite numerous other scorers agreeing the rack was a 6x6 typical grossing more than 215 inches. 🦌 In this podcast, we get on the phone with Johnny King to discuss the day he bagged this massive buck almost 20 years ago, what happened during the scoring process, and why the biggest typical ever lost a spot in the record books. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TenPointCrossbows">TenPoint Crossbow Technologies</a>		Deer & Deer Hunting		774138	https://facebook.com/deerhuntingmag	0								1712300400		View Edit Delete
989184	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924919		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989185	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924919		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989190	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924919		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
988431	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	1/15/25, 3:46 PM	1712522043	1736955960		442		412154818218753	1	1.2189695124204E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207232024580257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712416202	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434866062_1983161965412910_6179217325277698525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oeOcv4im0GYAb4OSNR2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDpiL0B7qE93ui9lUgR4mPMig9eAhL7eHiseGu975OsuQ&oe=6618DBC5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434858282_403935295817098_5417337463985912632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kflHMvTDxXsAb4hSaM_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCwsHGQpVO7ul627VR3ZP8tEwryfJbwBSCLJub50Rto4g&oe=6618BF4A			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988837	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522047	1734924922		442		1210574553242329		1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610564442070		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711615408	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433117931_1080355769709969_7119524042535481774_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KPgeeCLR9oQAb7r-nSD&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAywr5d9fvyyDX7gH3ogP28BRbDfgFuDY80YVk6uQ_DrQ&oe=6618C5CD	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
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989183	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924922		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989389	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522052	1734924922		442		1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	747021958709347		0	Music City Archery			6535603657907		musiccityarchery.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YozVptWq-EAb7u4wUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjh4c1yeFRe_c5Wzkwk5QzMOMvPzPAVISuJD6yUDMzeA&oe=6618CB07	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hdnvroK8iOwAb6Iunqq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5Z4AMsUsF0L3d0ByWy8PaLpPhMKXy8TQxL-DMWEqGkw&oe=6618B834			0	3			Music City Archery		2563	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	0		LEARN_MORE						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989479	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522054	1734924922		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988481	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/1/25, 8:52 PM	1712522044	1746150724		442		899110698569459	1	7.2547447579548E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169640155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436035257_901841738407194_7711667380692730888_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hso3h_C_aNUAb7SJ6se&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAdWx8E4tUQzMPpaDZ9rTaz3kVOy5-nOT30szFl-KWr-A&oe=6618BC6C	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922235_1900721430365697_1554284382112412190_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Dcx8rlggUQ4Ab4n4RS8&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAo7BCSnp9QdHSW5kZy_XHkKeN77NwU5PT4pN-NFTeg9w&oe=6618EE4A			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988442	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	1/19/25, 12:24 AM	1712522043	1737246245		442		342335471665365	1	7.7868359779949E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208242188090581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712413154	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422581675_1057517755345665_4535567090608587478_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P7uaj2wT-scAb6zAqqF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCkY5oj37LA9Tb9Ph8j3umFYLd0-vUDuNw4-kBEDmgzLQ&oe=6618C949	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435237342_452848627166212_905310603419151659_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3HBzDMNfsYIAb5DjAWy&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgDfTOWpGW7wW-3xVc0UU7EKFzfrAIstSUjzmXMMY9tg&oe=6618CE82			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988500	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	7/6/25, 4:53 PM	1712522044	1751838822		442		958749282411786	1	4.4977597414227E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167860155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326284	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434468888_3690261634575632_6401908243475390104_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UfNL8zZbT5AAb4TR4bE&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDKWeFKg1K1NQF8v6mo0NDBD7eL1ZApBDTQh8XmfpJPjg&oe=6618C2A3	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434020943_779277654154148_2662673391048663058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ClXYASgKatEAb5IpIGr&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBBYTwzmpRs9sXOfl02r4mi0MqE7Q6M-Run2Dci4QFLMA&oe=6618EA59			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989387	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	7/6/25, 4:53 PM	1712522052	1751838823		442		1370234130284615	4	6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120204753429410543			Send message		NONE	video					1707430720	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417687471_410355871449120_2957787888866240036_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sL7613t9RnMAb7Z7Xg5&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCd5rO7pIJe8MWVjC2oWOPVYfNWtcYV7rDUHJJYO1mK7w&oe=6618E850	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417451779_906784554459943_6966683229011060754_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T0TMIjO-ji8Ab6zQCZz&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDJLbHqfcx7LWKg3da3MR9O0Vtxx00cWLKi2fBmdEYH2A&oe=6618BF8B			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		MESSAGE_PAGE						1707379200		View Edit Delete
988504	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	7/7/25, 9:45 AM	1712522044	1751899531		442		3647639688884593	1	9.5678975931644E+14		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168340155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326286	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435957913_930248478801308_2031386260841533956_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JUidukb9R38Ab5PDhaa&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDpH0yLHunDtwgVlYi_g_SSHMFmNEroGKW7n_p4vqyqww&oe=6618EA0E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436120890_339816871956035_1414577630003480584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pAoQxzXlWpEAb66yIss&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDu4VyMH4qeYPI3PpUYnx-Ftrjl49lZq9_IcMkUBW-QwQ&oe=6618E14B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988521	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/9/25, 12:22 AM	1712522044	1749446524		442		269858109533341	1	1.364591494249E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165620155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326269	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435479633_409925998407769_2998626673035912586_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b4E7yjwGVXMAb6wXU2C&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAs6-NQCeKJKokHt3qdUIgim8l5SIZYhZZ8_8RVm_glrA&oe=6618C5C9	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435538348_942597447527529_5930432389628865560_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i6pWuSFwVe0Ab6ynVMT&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDCXwOlXU5AJugdigC6oYL7h3K4T-IlXff1JWbHPsLQRg&oe=6618DEFB			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988512	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/20/25, 7:10 AM	1712522044	1747743037		442		389315900695178	1	9.6297964197587E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167610155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922861_277392808749491_6542146539746627498_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h1dw5nHo6mAAb6Orzir&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAjirCT55hHD-0hjJqo8qc8JnZuxNWCNy-ZE-XFW-lavQ&oe=6618DA0F	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435921489_776715980765308_5585685040265305441_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8YOcGYAjp4AAb755d_2&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfe3_v1Nd392igAHhfXnIZbielp5k9tIQ2sgrMkGYwxA&oe=6618E594			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988523	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/9/25, 9:48 AM	1712522044	1749480508		442		374975405532220	1	9.2834095544689E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165830155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326260	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007253_716551453886328_4981822175114547257_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EKFi8tdV3fQAb6-_P3X&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBURi9XnJWbUFcJaHuVIo4SZblXJoWDrEloZTE7u956hQ&oe=6618C107	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435900506_277776688711573_8062250983569275075_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zjq0oqYaHh4Ab5ZiG_Y&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDx0la1JR4k5ADYl55VQjGBy6f6qnxVgu_oE-3p379j0A&oe=6618ED1B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988532	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	4/7/25, 9:25 AM	1712522044	1744035910		442		1148215586325436	1	4.2990210608191E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419166050155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938500_2087680958262106_8640955742166336438_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zu8PLatuwk4Ab5g1HrZ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1vsJ3nD2TvHaztCTlVWRyi_F-Knznrp-Z_qexUftA8A&oe=6618CBF7	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434022437_3287186068257150_7052415827563881303_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Dp6WJS_bB1oAb6eJvak&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDuEh4f1x6P7Geh68iHIHgwcstlysYPanfnz6T_J1QaPQ&oe=6618BA92			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
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988389	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924815		442		352207010583266	1	1.2728151603028E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233050155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488795	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358471_806009891384209_2684266132372405924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AOizY8XMCj0Ab5Oq4yf&_nc_oc=AdhOrnSNaTV9XV8fDx1UQipIphN7_vRBH-iAvDA9CRykamtaVhOMugz2X4llnftsfGaSq9yTnkIazs5o3DqDpncC&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAO_wNoPpGtN6yF3kOXhUhJZdSK4CfiLxwnyrGhSq3clQ&oe=6618E33B	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436105833_1140365634066366_3952715177158861981_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qDJiJxq6PUkAb53MC7K&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDmi1Xdx2N8eJD6e8in30fBsd_PQ7Wy7vllL_eYx1B-Fg&oe=6618B80A			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988597	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924816		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988443	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924817		442		342335471665365	1	7.7868359779949E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208242188090581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712413154	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422581675_1057517755345665_4535567090608587478_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P7uaj2wT-scAb6zAqqF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCkY5oj37LA9Tb9Ph8j3umFYLd0-vUDuNw4-kBEDmgzLQ&oe=6618C949	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435237342_452848627166212_905310603419151659_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3HBzDMNfsYIAb5DjAWy&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgDfTOWpGW7wW-3xVc0UU7EKFzfrAIstSUjzmXMMY9tg&oe=6618CE82			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988445	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924818		442		331138973307717	1	9.6375083199348E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208241876120581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712411962	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435398200_946658150466134_4639558866968666748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ff5HMG3O5OsAb6L-7iv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkxJx6T_eHZhJAf05vM9DwENOz58nUakvaMSH09Q9lQg&oe=6618E316	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435465406_283745124672829_7796444578608282352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ZEDDJKpW2wAb5hHhyB&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALYSdkueG7VwdeG-B7NEGQxBScJP8qgSuga2osNzM9Cw&oe=6618E7BC			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988699	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924818		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988701	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924818		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988637	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988450	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924818		442		2750321835116318	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988639	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988625	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988600	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988627	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988612	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988602	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924818		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988452	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924820		442		436018145671777		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988454	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924820		442		796955955664590		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988456	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924820		442		963925402069015		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988458	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924821		442		3695950993999707		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988460	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924821		442		710449667686816	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988465	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924821		442		1685213162011578		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988467	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924821		442		2468928393294959		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988469	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924821		442		729542565883347		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
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988604	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924821		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988629	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924822		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988510	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924822		442		382881201235075	1	7.5040878382722E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168320155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434558424_3614469848769387_5047262944186986415_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ujyBtYiKtFUAb5YG-wi&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAl-6lBKRcAy-jeie8FQBBCg2B52oZA_7VdRN7uog_TYQ&oe=6618D526	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007508_7206685886108800_7970418204511314465_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VvQeuo4Pwz0Ab7o7fT1&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_6exHN2wLlLCm2TgeUNHu5OuZLfYYZLi_PmzApJmVRg&oe=6618C0B7			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988516	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		971754854280828	1	1.1452442802454E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167710155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326264	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436096764_2055936714788178_2501911458395791645_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egIw-sioD34Ab4hB5oQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCpSpZXhpm2VThQZ_sfs-khT0uRS6Yhfkdom-Irn4e_IQ&oe=6618E0C2	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435926063_985350402946779_1373285003989104575_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oVMUorkvVpoAb4qtqBr&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD8zU79eyvzYL8obw70RABVUqcBXraRSqKTK5MAyZM5Xg&oe=6618D09D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988514	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/16/25, 2:49 PM	1712522044	1747424985		442		736388861942581	1	1.534399537106E+15		1712473200	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167690155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326263	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434652630_407012708629221_7469306964724001722_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hf-p2wXGP0EAb6kYWxM&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBZ2KbsiLNQ3bxW4SdU9cQK1Bo86BMf3pKwFEv8zGRSRw&oe=6618D15D	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435407444_446806734371888_6124742060077081622_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aPtcSQlaZdsAb62u04K&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAs17-dNhZNvpIDAfLPzl1K95UakXfvDe8UHwdUM_aiiQ&oe=6618BAF4			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988542	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	4/3/25, 9:47 PM	1712522044	1743734829		442		2195562437447200	1	2.6919279276393E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165560155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434560139_453640453653351_1627885482373275511_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UWmqgsZ9du8Ab7y7Szd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAZtuwjObD5rdQ68LSL5AQL1xgj6phXwNKfO9f_FgZuQQ&oe=6618E481	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435485210_941941354193132_1302001641811867769_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ytuxGcw6WfwAb6u_K8P&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCq4c0EbRdP5LFBRnpTvnBIsbxboGQGIbqxz_pwn-L0Ag&oe=6618B78B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988547	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/30/25, 4:21 PM	1712522044	1751318513		442		382648641264229	1	2.6585226476452E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	236465846212444		0	Matt Holt			120207374083950143					NONE	video					1712281948	2.3646584621244E+14	Matt Holt	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434023462_310843115362369_904732306274263582_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KZCsc_zTeyYAb75P_Zd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBBg8LhuqLbRCQxMTbBIZTJ0wugdAuHAcQOdfnvYhgzAQ&oe=6618CF46	person_profile	0	Matt Holt	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027407_1530699100823570_9176461083134879854_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EiAE_3GmyCkAb5FAzdI&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDecWdbihGOPZE1aZ6dj9PUh1fDaxf3XBNe4n6MQ5tG5Q&oe=6618B828			0	3			Matt Holt		73	https://facebook.com/matt.holt.7161	0								1712214000		View Edit Delete
988555	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		729862859303671	1	9.4336873082946E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381868700155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247651	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435871294_268780336201714_7090718203150770316_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5OzB05_V1CcAb4_Srzd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALHih1TIvb4hSJHV9oHzzU0rmqkxM9arwtlT-rgBcP5A&oe=6618E5A6	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435725707_3482169868595778_6641576492577955232_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SGqVBH8dGf4Ab6ir_e_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBlcBwT_ThSNh7effFW41ap4gWUHrxyXWlhm5hxXjDjCA&oe=6618D3DD			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988559	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		1548134302400123	1	9.1787296981223E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381871740155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247851	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433947232_783689993825900_4359386558660951353_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZHV4kfhF50oAb6AQtDj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBeMYODWtauZgNuo_PRKsIenExrOuK8o53KO7v-pUcjDg&oe=6618EC54	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024289_1484195795500910_4044385771164008805_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QOVLu2A-t2wAb5mI8SW&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgT2CwyZap7zQPIZkB6DgSf13a6V_8BZvsMU1Mx_A3ug&oe=6618D00F			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988563	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		7351395598275368	1	3.9664564634532E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	121975151162832		0	Slogan Outdoors			120207948019800419		sloganoutdoors.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Slogan Outdoors — Slings — Slogan Outdoors	Home of The Best Slings Made. Period.	https://www.sloganoutdoors.com/slings		1712243466	1.2197515116283E+14	Slogan Outdoors	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434419100_1928776677541124_6768151969189689207_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=13JYY5-SYoIAb7QsNXt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAoPneprwQrJShqNLm5P8tFSk5vf4xJPGo6Ls62C2e2lw&oe=6618E8E5	person_profile	0	Slogan Outdoors	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477388_974326237718802_1621778683233604528_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-iiOW0cZbBMAb7jbuCj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBo7aZggRaZPONp5K1cM4-yu3pOJ_usTSV9jO-6015zTw&oe=6618C441			0	3	Slogan Outdoors Slings stretch to fit comfortably gripping your shoulder under tension, keeping your weapon securely on your shoulder. The elasticity of the material and the unique double strap design allows the outer strap to be stretched over your head and placed on to your opposite shoulder. This move brings you into a 3/4 backpack position, completely securing your weapon. As a shooting sling you can go into multiple positions without making any adjustments to the length of the sling. The sling can also be extended in length to become a front and ready carry sling.<br /> <br /> All our slings are constructed of a high-grade synthetic rubber. This material has a life expectancy of 40+ years without dry rot. This sling is impervious to the weather, quiet, non-slip, shock-absorbing, UV stabilized, and stays flexible to 40 degrees below zero.<br /> <br /> Sling Size Guide:<br /> Deciding whether to choose the Ultraflex Sling or the Long Magnum Sling? This decision should be made by sizing the sling to its intended user. The reason being is ensuring the user has adequate room and comfort, due to our unique double strap system that offers our well known “3/4 backpack position.” <br /> <br /> **The Ultraflex Sling is for users wearing a t-shirt size small, medium, or large.**<br /> <br /> **The Long Magnum Sling is for users wearing a t-shirt size XL, 1X, or 2X.** <br /> <br /> (Note that we have taken layers and heavy clothing into account when we state this sizing guide.)<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sloganoutdoors.com%2Fslings&amp;h=AT0hPHwr9s77xRCUKCh1kDHeHkNRO_c6UQSvukfUxLOoeu2NjZr9wWfUecpWMLzlr27qRmfNR_0beawPspzHwZZohnKH2T92fVZ-8Vn7_mERakNU340bwmqANdaCIiEL1_fPpzh1MfN_aCQNOWewALe9UWw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.sloganoutdoors.com/slings</a><br /> <br /> *The Super Steel QD Swivel: The Super Steel Swivel is an elite choice on all studded firearms. Machined out of 1 piece of solid steel eliminating the secondary pivot point found on traditional QD swivels, therefore silent and strong (No Squeak - No Stock Contact). Compatible with any studded rifle, shotgun, muzzle-loader, and crossbow.<br /> <br /> *The QD Flush-Cup Swivel: This steel constructed push button QD swivel design is for specific weapons. This is not for your typical studded firearm. This swivel system is used on weapons that are Flush-Cup ready. Typically used for tactical firearms and some custom long-range rifles.		Slogan Outdoors		6905	https://facebook.com/SloganOutdoors	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988567	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988641	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924823		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988569	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988571	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988573	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522044	1734924823		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988575	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924823		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988577	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924824		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988579	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924825		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988643	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988581	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988583	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988646	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988585	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988587	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988590	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988648	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988591	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988650	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988593	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988652	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988654	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988616	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988656	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988606	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988657	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924826		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989074	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522049	1734924826		442		1101111274344332	1	7.9426570874405E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298056340763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014763	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433141212_1132154241147228_6740512756952772846_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PwH68hUi1y4Ab4DsHNL&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAb5nSmneD1o-QtPxXrIy95hxtAM65ZdCBhGKwPCoESpg&oe=6618BA92	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433104514_1717935738609932_5529170852863931155_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=91PcuEJiVrkAb6Uenly&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAe0y8ynKzWxI5_OLCwjIOMbThGB56-XzNKi0N5Z_HO-g&oe=6618C7BF			0	3	Raise a dragon and match to defeat the invader！		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711954800		View Edit Delete
988779	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924826		442		740144878250816		2.6379384830331E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120208155064180049		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792806	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880249_1123969372061510_2373872357163987180_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcz0S9qsUIUAb48GgBJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC-YpRiz52vszjSZqP-Z5p5gpQ0Y1H4MdIVg50CnjC5sQ&oe=6618E699	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433960855_766001378588604_2861986521618719237_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3wOM7bo-kssAb4dOTKC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwiww3_FfGPFTYLsL-Ti-amWmVJfk-JF5LYc6YCACI6w&oe=6618EBA0			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988595	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924827		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988381	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924827		442		985653822929445	1	1.458966541373E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209495234210155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488767	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436447050_353054793823580_1725770958331990521_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UVkBDCZL8GQAb4YVYsa&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCvgzUM5f0Tkg6hrmJyFM6SqkBgZg9SreIO8NjhF0NH3A&oe=6618BF87	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436378824_950134930121106_6978267147722748193_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v2-Ljg1JBJ4Ab7fnSnO&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDXy1A48TejfFiwQEIiRwQncI0Ejl9fBtR3S4yocTefGA&oe=6618C75B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988332	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988618	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924827		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988335	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988337	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988620	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924827		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988663	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924827		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989481	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522054	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989484	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522054	1734924827		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988665	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924829		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988623	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924829		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988346	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924829		442		435744842237737	1	2.5116596877985E+16		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412547320779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/website-womens-apparel/products/suede-shawl-vest?utm_source={{campaign.name}}		1712252276	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562429_1455596778666524_7484599176160372525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcNbUdqkPAwAb5g9ZOj&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa9y9IkSCGW6aRQT6jUHLiqIvavr5dnCNMlnqq2QTqHw&oe=6618C161	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554538_319836154108520_7370353962761140925_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uPjKPVv310EAb4aEITE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcPI5hH-bhnq36FtgszzixtOfxavLDuTYY3c28zmNBag&oe=6618B753			0	3	New for 2024! Shop Now!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988348	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522042	1734924830		442		438679045221520	1	8.1112532711774E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	582294555450606		0	Dieta Loorca			120211060247340405		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.71&pub=1562749387920742		1712504309	5.8229455545061E+14	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435498927_1080281043255427_8105644060983987698_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JjuhWK_fJHoAb4CuuNl&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB1O2PXoGaKc7nyQRrx2Klv3PDxkRJiupD67jSgVofpYg&oe=6618B7FE	person_profile	0	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435410497_388674844012077_7460868147868878554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ai2K0Mel5CMAb5iK5H3&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBUKn4KcCg0-0JzRo-bZlJp9wA1TrMbcLeuDqLGOHzIlA&oe=6618D595			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Dieta Loorca		301	https://facebook.com/DietaPode	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988350	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924830		442		2761463964009585	1	1.7848379785882E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	582294555450606		0	Dieta Loorca			120208881742570222		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.72&pub=922085289662706		1712504217	5.8229455545061E+14	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436351281_1493161838275750_5700566076724240011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9WRhZ4KtBesAb7tSEgL&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDCBvSWZr3iIMbk88c8UC5ZtbZJYY8R4jLDCE3_aUfFhQ&oe=6618BEE6	person_profile	0	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436346474_408721158448369_5822165021017928231_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0NU2jS2saqUAb4YPNMN&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAHkriiNK0sH2l8-L-1huoSctAQ9yLg83OaU0PFCTOBgA&oe=6618BB5C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Dieta Loorca		301	https://facebook.com/DietaPode	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988358	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924830		442		636077738673918		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988360	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924830		442		736779531928278		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988362	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924831		442		2164887337199192		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988667	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924831		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988364	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924831		442		3555102044706734	1	4.2912855293754E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120208402639870303		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.57&pub=1582667812466152		1712492804	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436384209_2211280795872489_5404082222891634779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tdEam1umL6cAb6m3SlY&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfATjMvPMUKWc-0oa0bFWwAR4-wH7Uw4bM5Njwz4kj6Ksg&oe=6618E9B0	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436105833_1767108980467533_5922376345768193037_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QY32LGbgCRIAb4vV2Km&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDf_QGKIy4KUsQd0_YSrCUPxRz4MtUFbSxEdHXRntmDTQ&oe=6618E365			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988367	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924831		442		440263461890384	1	9.5814552589276E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120207737972620280		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.56&pub=227272123781410		1712492370	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435675043_788260196173101_3299551932457604159_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w16Z-AtXRe8Ab4lJBtF&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD_USeOd-5-7X-juvtC4h77vj8RyBy2PHi5klNoep9YzA&oe=6618E4EF	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435396524_432761669236307_7777148633591261371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rye61eeVB9AAb5bV91u&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_YA_t_Xf43tMhLwiKClzLM2o6CGWfTB2n8vnrmNHi0g&oe=6618CF50			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988369	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924831		442		1635049297236829	1	4.4377132142642E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120209375693610555		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.55&pub=385731227615169		1712491871	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435909309_1133449004518471_7765944902856882616_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nWAwX2CHWFYAb4PLn8M&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDCaKwxQaIQROml2MduXkNM6ELSd2Vlbt7fDzQi0Rbp-g&oe=6618DBBB	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436299104_443243801497465_5325871120094046472_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F5OWk08lnrYAb6zjqE9&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCRalzkI-xQOm7hFgnNSGXnI2z9p94nZC5qaTasa3gy1A&oe=6618B7C3			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988371	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924831		442		783676193857805	1	1.8911886879974E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120207496225170660		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.55&pub=436497805586378		1712491280	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434716592_431441026078863_724514992890332469_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h8BWrSCDvHUAb7b7dsR&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbYtGkBowsw_GRfntpK9lD_55-ynhMsO1reGqj7LBqwQ&oe=6618BB63	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435082773_3627100457532534_6127743331847708181_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ENMSa7zLhh0Ab4D3zX0&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBBDWw_ZLL0qcbwhfFS1-rYRxepC2ZGb-ZzopfSxnY6lQ&oe=6618E749			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988373	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924831		442		762996048898004	1	4.1706294097114E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120207798364280441		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.54&pub=791455689109818		1712490826	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435768547_741686647775683_6886067866232738259_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cLrWHdufCp0Ab6wifMm&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA8b_5Mj8MCQV5Tn6jL056_MEEPamllT4CC1FufdAizSg&oe=6618B8F2	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435687912_1204503703864721_7463850311535434199_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vxmjhiYIKpoAb7DfH3Q&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAetdjrDUQnX8E_AdCINGT7ugo61664n34XxV__YO1tiA&oe=6618C48B			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988670	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924831		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988672	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924832		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988674	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924832		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988375	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924833		442		981527536694601	1	3.7738016562785E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120208337796850512		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.53&pub=754150653482267		1712490580	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435132167_953370729824118_8283710542058181292_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ub95NfrekLUAb47dveg&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBXyzhWF9hqZFXnDQCf7NI66Lr6hqBDBaHupA5DK6Aj6w&oe=6618EE6A	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432267116_950723406445134_1262671287709555519_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=joNIc7qqZLUAb6hRMz8&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDRlgJirKb_vQEHC_6rmAJwx-lpuk5vX0FSpj7DGu29BA&oe=6618BF51			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988676	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988678	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988680	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988682	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988377	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924833		442		943468180766532	1	3.6834819019312E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102834104836800		0	Rosalia accesorios			120207807280560783		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.52&pub=438803088514204		1712489142	1.028341048368E+14	Rosalia accesorios	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434044760_431527949557726_5161178227565910326_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_gM9jVU7zp0Ab7akbaa&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9DnASrGvVbyv-FX21kfn-I0gTfl8xx_K3bHAZF8OgaA&oe=6618D2EF	person_profile	0	Rosalia accesorios	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465180_3701692290105549_6513307712917547253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=68dAqUV6ZwkAb68fMef&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBGd-LLDcugOtLQMR0a0T6_rJZC4Y_N1RBcvVLt4xO-Xw&oe=6618DF51			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Rosalia accesorios		190	https://facebook.com/100089848687261	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988684	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988686	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988633	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924833		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988403	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924834		442		389193697293959	1	4.042555657269E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208262680890581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Guardians of the Dungeon Colony' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712471371	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435929463_934696964807665_9208563814260180152_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPcEawgW4yAAb4rVA65&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQlWhLhhDiFV3o-p3jJzKDfzsuNUMSi78Ikle9u1gUvA&oe=6618CB59	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436449169_796020071981954_555194291753858439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oaeiBpgxEBEAb57ilQH&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDwZ70x-B7Re1jn7UurPp-dWnjjjrAoCmkQPH_sUh5bDQ&oe=6618ED36			0	3	In his past life, he was a heartthrob, but now he is one of many mates for the Queen of his ant colony. Listen to the audio series "Guardians of the Dungeon Colony" on the Pocket FM App.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988413	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924834		442		935604148361619	6	4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb5vNJ3D&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4v5H8Ha0sq_BBUiEwgQXfPa62pbr5cSUnxMj9zYtE6w&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5sW5i2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCs5INzq7O9EpY3IK2pP6Rp8qY5iMVGcARngu2DmdCbKw&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988688	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924834		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988691	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924834		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988415	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924834		442		1602016667296861		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb5vNJ3D&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4v5H8Ha0sq_BBUiEwgQXfPa62pbr5cSUnxMj9zYtE6w&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5sW5i2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCs5INzq7O9EpY3IK2pP6Rp8qY5iMVGcARngu2DmdCbKw&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988693	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924834		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988635	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522045	1734924834		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988422	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924834		442		966233211571803	3	4.5281481710463E+14		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	302043876314524		1	Ted nugent midea 09			120210058073350428		wcmzt.top	Learn more		NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c0IUbt94_QMAb53UD5M&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqsD21GBGqnHXAYZJgcHTLYcvz7fiDr656TrjK0fOlgQ&oe=6618D3F2	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7UNurZqI30Ab4HHvNI&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDWWYHYrFSQBphqcRhnPipiri1dS7WeajuH83MiazsmEg&oe=6618D897			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		LEARN_MORE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988695	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924834		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988425	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924834		442		1750629815423318		4.5281481710463E+14		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	302043876314524		1	Ted nugent midea 09			120210058073350428		wcmzt.top	Learn more		NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c0IUbt94_QMAb53UD5M&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqsD21GBGqnHXAYZJgcHTLYcvz7fiDr656TrjK0fOlgQ&oe=6618D3F2	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7UNurZqI30Ab4HHvNI&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDWWYHYrFSQBphqcRhnPipiri1dS7WeajuH83MiazsmEg&oe=6618D897			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		LEARN_MORE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988427	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522043	1734924834		442		1578170726367806	1	1.4692223073364E+15		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	302043876314524		1	Ted nugent midea 09			120210058073350428		wcmzt.top	Learn more		NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c0IUbt94_QMAb53UD5M&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqsD21GBGqnHXAYZJgcHTLYcvz7fiDr656TrjK0fOlgQ&oe=6618D3F2	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7UNurZqI30Ab4HHvNI&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDWWYHYrFSQBphqcRhnPipiri1dS7WeajuH83MiazsmEg&oe=6618D897			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		LEARN_MORE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988697	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924835		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988783	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924835		442		1129665988458312	1	1.1501041759833E+15		1712300400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	256873224171942		0	sl_crossbros			6550479891443		youtube.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://youtube.com/watch?v=JDYv8Hverbo&si=wn-ww2TNgYJQMe2y		1711785440	2.5687322417194E+14	sl_crossbros	https://scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/429977291_962235642000042_7148833336457099679_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=w7uHOwUeLv4Ab6a3S__&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfDRg0VI_9EFEO4qS55aTqxSae06h6uTKhAHY_AnICvrTQ&oe=6618D7CA	ig_ads_identity	1		https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588081_439167495237000_2682423639139838425_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=l4InmZN9EeoAb6sRlD7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDlfMK2MGGENup2lo-rwOWPzeKfQm_yrNxj4qEmruJjDw&oe=6618DB20			0	3	FULL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE <br /> <br /> #crossbows #crossbow #archery #crossbow #bow #hunting #outdoors #crossbowlife #crossbowking #crossbowman #crossbowhunter #crossbowshooting #bow #bowhunter #archerylife #archeryhunting #crossbowcustoms #survivalist #ekarchery #archeryaddict #beararchery		sl_crossbros		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/sl_crossbros	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988800	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924835		442		351770093953892	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb6q9iB_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDbhW-pk5gosY1lsSmB5YjBDTdCSRa7tW-B9XaaSDvMNg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab4mf-mm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHsLj3LAzbgu6WoylHqWcG00fRoGms6Rm19S6dLtlSsQ&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988802	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924835		442		962240275126473	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4Lb3hB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAGBmi00PkM_FEsy-kZjY8LPizZyjSgS2sglnatJiMAGg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb7ptMkb&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAZsTvzEGD6LuVNF_FnbI74IJFLk1Bo3VGAOFCcfwL2xQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988804	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924835		442		968154101690651	1	8.6977076492254E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207827080800421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711708877	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024018_438417325516439_1344077684525894148_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4oy8N4qQdgAb7P_edU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDIrCtnKew_BkoiZ_jIp80bmKMpKx8E_dr3KRba5Sxo0w&oe=6618DEB2	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477565_1483475412240347_1310319543744439963_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LkV75aSLcOgAb4btBsf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB9Qeqo043r3QtnduTSbihvMHwwue7KO3V1yzVPjAfNRA&oe=6618DD8F			0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988807	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924837		442		3607144069602732	1	2.1120833891771E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207821999680421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711698424	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432158947_779661874076093_753186955878642190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O-CNFlihkNQAb7I_Mrd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBjdrXHAqwE2k9Bqm_iGwq3Yni-y8z6QYtVpISjPvp9cw&oe=6618D3A6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432206817_728365579150287_2165353128600029021_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ixgAsgwoQIsAb6DI1_-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAG44es-jP-sYweQ51GeABy_Y2VfibjZkHm8U_cMfW7QQ&oe=6618D3B7			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988811	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924837		442		1387918041869303	1	1.4757041932206E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120210526848440311		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	Satisfied Customers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-mount		1711680627	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432145039_433386239091946_2713802964859442976_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Zb8ZVFEk_sAb4NoM0H&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiRqxwDphUYW2mZUF5yLKg-tlT_vJ6ZCJJojdrdh3JhA&oe=6618DD38	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432215878_286842571115296_7979491564121629004_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bsfJbB1FQigAb6dM6be&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfD0sF7gtr0CFom6USughVz5IhOXwrsVh6O_t4cStlVDLg&oe=6618D621			0	3	Upgrade Your Hunting Game! 🌳 Mount your smartphone on any rifle or crossbow and record stunning videos. Stay connected in the wilderness, grab yours today! <br /> <br /> Hurry, grab your set today! 👉 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fdauos_mount&amp;h=AT1_FXximbuQhZtmPi3yjoDFKcxIwWIH02J7ENK1vmv0gseHwZwDcCgN7wEzwoxDhpKwPgI2eTRPHVatow8wSSK-l9Rc_Zp_lZBPeWM1Nke9Tr5IgCdfN-F0ENPURRng8kzmiQzPZzgTo_3vEVoSJbdukpxqSZkZ606xqCmvYwA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/dauos_mount</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988813	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924837		442		361563553548554	1	1.1551186455047E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741410460751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625552	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432155702_933207431790137_4966500843368274962_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fkipZrSCJ-QAb7IkfQJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfD4wLJW3XDrhCh9DKuyhQJk7yp0lehvKV3wXeHsCuLEHg&oe=6618DF7E	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432155454_403193829012608_251821308789685645_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9pq0h8AiNjsAb6032-E&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaUYywBlSU5xFpMlfg5grybz7143-YBIffqHt8DYh0eQ&oe=6618DE5A			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988832	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924838		442		1081521936448620		1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610660600270		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634667	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434052415_1456296211930828_2811793283383892416_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_XtOHhluhcAb4CcPzm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDs09_eIhKVlMDkPoBfl5IVD8WLl7PvVoI1-reZOTOWDA&oe=6618B9B0	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988818	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924838		442		444428331381098	1	1.1133600500083E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741420890751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625600	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433465642_441333268235000_1045342548688800526_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd8T3xpCHkEAb4sDnDa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDOQv6nfo-blHfGhjdWDbJXheDGygv_SPpOu-SmFTPSTw&oe=6618C2F2	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433001707_388964577225473_6529973119484621965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gsB3nfKUO-gAb4SyyK3&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCOgqem9XcaMJ5V9g5aqF2xddbeoofXA0ePNUy4tetRIA&oe=6618D471			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988791	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924838		442		1368094617225096	2	1.1861885427412E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195460255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753186	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434066984_376584625206784_7767179263873114860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LetBeajm43wAb57esxy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaYeHb2vMHVMHdg21WHMbGgom8zkk9bQpOdsGhdFLTWQ&oe=6618EC82	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434464478_1349894449058328_4448220051245591734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F2IQGOgMJokAb5t8nbc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwvAY2fCIYClYql5VeEBJ-M5Pzqt8RflTjpAAjiqAieA&oe=6618EA76			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988820	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522047	1734924839		442		1615672245917077	1	9.3356670827432E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741418360751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625812	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433295733_1434885394119069_9210322066019447018_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5CbQqsZcmdgAb48mb-O&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB94zlADvdZLfIBU8ugMtz3i3pguVTlIPO7Dp0exEgKxA&oe=6618EE0A	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182474_1652848275487580_8589992803339791858_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=27yMjFjw_poAb7mDIPp&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkhzzH96lj5BFcIRocIQy7BZK2T1ieHoOVBBE0jys8Og&oe=6618DC59			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988707	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924839		442		927383769392303	1	4.0254251918329E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100895368495588		0	Facdds			120207819090670606		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1712150012	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434652665_732910122366772_3829245798095412694_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-wcdi8vYbeEAb4pI-rs&_nc_oc=AdhsKD5ezduFus6L7mirFIHeyDvD0_Bb3Lq4Nfa9nGA-SnL8fSfVY3Kt0nxzM_Tw1tI&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBTRJUl8lQiE_BspbLxnhNhWRPFQBsIsNg7fcz-esPXBQ&oe=6618C00A	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434649389_985536943131302_526649781273424739_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FlYHWcwCtG0Ab79whpd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCP1CB72JOM1jqjerA-qqNmkGt88gStuhAu3LHYNFARig&oe=6618B8FB			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Facdds		618	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988793	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924839		442		395143096621072	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb6F4lUr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPszuMUvtSSv-6bEUEmrR7TR-vRHTRrURPRCK-nEyuBg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab60IPlU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBDNiIXRr7z_xi2kOD3QQjtr0trN4Lw4RV7I4kEds0C5g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988713	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924839		442		946227940422734	1	3.6648020637643E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	178281458706016		0	She Has Deals			120206725481420124		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/she.has.deals		1712096264	1.7828145870602E+14	She Has Deals	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434585875_1485159545397215_7645804056963224562_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ikT2KF1fWUEAb6nrazc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDEwdPUjuJE_-JDTNkn6Lr6bpVnsxkvr2nl78JK51nlFQ&oe=6618EC3B	person_profile	0	Shelby | She Has Deals	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760270_425146606670859_7835010970118752800_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zYKMesBw8sQAb5QjPMg&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBSbzCf5uXE4HbPVcHsJwVlOaZAaqbzaQO79Ks-VkTOgg&oe=6618DA64			0	3	All of these deals can be found on my Amazon Storefront under the 4/02: Deals Folder!<br /> <br /> You can also shop these deals at your own pace on my stories.<br /> <br /> Make sure to follow &#064;she.has.deals for daily exclusive promo codes &amp; if you would like me to find any deals or codes on certain products please let me know in the comments 🫶🏼<br /> .<br /> .<br /> .<br /> #amazondeal #amazonpromocode #amazonfinds #amazoncheapfinds #amazondeals		She Has Deals		20550	https://facebook.com/SheHasDeals	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988717	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924839		442		777034797412062	1	8.3085824886508E+14		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210074916090230		amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1712074943	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658383_779273704157771_1017928527428056867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nDsshqgNPAYAb7H7-At&_nc_oc=AdhCMlnbtF9mtMcJuxB5aFUGatQ7YTsXKd4MCh8ZMK8HQ8KsPF873cnIpHm_IK5RjmE&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCX7gFIKXHtp3L4Qjm40jdE1FM6EU-zabTrl15ou69IuQ&oe=6618B863	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434757941_1336269613737071_3889460656451262129_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YMB93kVNSogAb6fYMmO&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDDd-3wA9qSUkqTGNHL8K7YX38QEKBaL1pLiRlxKK3fng&oe=6618BE30			0	3	Get your bug-shooting game on point with our Crossbow 🎯 Improve your bug-shooting skills with our Crossbow Bug Pistol, which is ideal for both target practice and hunting. ⚡ <br /> Don&#039;t wait to purchase yours; it will elevate your shooting experience to unprecedented heights!		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988719	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		387742857463320	1	9.2663912253555E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210074890580230		www.amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	video			https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1712075202	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562349_431611526092300_6608379539226156284_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tszfmbiIYcUAb6ldv3i&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD1YmRNRUqPBssFUwTTqZMBBk847ZgFyfupOr_uE1IkpQ&oe=6618D9B6	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434631711_438050248793531_3811836430278389289_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=geCzs3qi5G4Ab6kUURZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAohCODa1IgHasEm1htH8baxeA--g46-j9ZyiBwW7kpA&oe=6618BC75			0	3	Don&#039;t let flies and bugs ruin your summer🍉☀️🌭🍔<br /> 🔫💥 Get Fly-X-Treme bug gun and be prepared!<br /> <br /> Buy Direct Today: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fly-x-treme.com%2F&amp;h=AT1-H_k90vwn_kPsJ3Jlt3pTeq7ftERDQ5NpW7nzEE5-XnY8t6qEzOK-05Xvs256HqlV4uhSdM4s8MF9jQ2vdRx84fFDAE3mecj6RDpdkGwMxhipcn6fJcP-cyuCOIpJz5IgH3aTrBBob0kwzPb7HwwcXUg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.fly-x-treme.com</a><br /> Amazon:<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme%2Fdp%2FB0BRSCQXRL&amp;h=AT1sD5BANHkZ3C8sqP8yNX9SGWFwF7SAUW78MO8WNeikrEVTYFrNQ4gRsF8h6XulHIRuocyu2YWk5J4oeUQqWJaWz2TD3X2kYP-cWZMYcjlL2tasoTbSBAyQl28Z2kehcFQf9MLEqgTRLsaPEY6NLFKnHCc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL</a><br /> <br /> #buggun #flyxtreme #flyshooter #bugshooter #archery		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988721	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		938638631132667	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb5Nj2fT&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCviwYEuRteNBhqT6JY1q7DMDvvZbjPkWXkjbVqa9lzYA&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab4SgO4f&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAOPMwqH2T44GHJZ7Htce6XA1hWCc1U5xySGwfoziTFvw&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988781	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		334891412897919	1	9.7510002424712E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120208155064210049		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792806	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434430128_434104329195689_2705472396054049654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PIgSEHHfNlQAb5s-pzi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHJHpVHLzjReUEihYaxNSvCkcenmH_bPz92ae2ugz6uw&oe=6618CD71	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434056714_796125559089482_2320973658175291045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5dxsmxka4YAAb6ZvZgC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDoVM8D0_4kXuyr6u_XGM9XVD-dF4DvWw3j6bX_CPsYqw&oe=6618BFE3			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988723	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		432209576127004	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb7FYMf_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDVY1IMWvBji5Nj4AEOzf2ee1EsYn1_JDaUqeMicfvWCw&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4d3yMa&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfABMtzHKuM9YRNDHi10fr4A8TAe4Gt9NWao4w3z5aIEhg&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988728	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		3754279928192839	1	8.5036508350231E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063849310257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056480	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434455319_398901959570067_1737822551755624190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OIV7DhOkVJQAb6PgXa2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC44MjOsWdILlrn4CZVo1wijFf01J_vxSQQo_c0z2pUCQ&oe=6618EB98	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434412445_1078878469891943_1446259329779674907_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VH5qSODm4uEAb6tHqVr&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhgt58Q2CYJUI45uEYIp39unBWV9P8WikOVid53KscXw&oe=6618D56D			0	3	💪Can you defend the white walkers?		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988796	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		1839014569859035	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb6VF6vw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDp_fHJEZOVfTF_aeJPWKJXPz8czlT0_krhTP2LXN76wA&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4KApDJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwLGHjd-mA172e-kNolyiHEo7Ugxy87-Rbaop59De9qg&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988726	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:33 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		340889812301167	2	1.688994344959E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063860930257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056495	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434426176_271814722644057_5902529467878334776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3WszUgiqh0Ab4QRV6Q&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAN8qR9ayiXylwY59YMdO8SP_AqHQbgdjiqkyAnT9d6gQ&oe=6618BFDD	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434031940_389351653911100_1321867642699559227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=guh2TkCFQSQAb5ToJGx&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBzpFuzI4iS7SDqbwNHBTLMABRjZJTOv1Nu1GKp-KccCQ&oe=6618DB3B			0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988732	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		295445310247997	2	2.4636338971607E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063846150257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056476	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434460491_920801806508294_3768811704536577079_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5f62qsdG98Ab7gYlRc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhX-59RGw_aUlFtq07YCPQemIgBvStxf5KlMxU4y7hmg&oe=6618EB62	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433947171_380765588192291_8750844378107480252_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_xIFeAFrZ34Ab4Vcfv8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfA6rXMezi-CwDG9QLKChn_yH0BJlwMJxf18uov_rCEznA&oe=6618D0CC			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988737	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924840		442		1945445259209297	1	3.4027818570462E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100309942247444		0	Jim Burnworth Safaris			120207185991680746		jimburnworthsafaris.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Jim Burnworth Safaris		https://www.jimburnworthsafaris.com/welcometoanadventureofalifetime		1712053552	1.0030994224744E+14	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434341842_779938144061077_9131193161469005253_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hu8IJmB2R5oAb4lYMbd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD1rFbSKrJfM8GvLpMW5xw6xEgV8zef7TrKqbxmJpX--g&oe=6618DDD4	person_profile	0	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433142319_1454677728817430_7827029975555448987_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r9D6D7dHuOsAb7ilxS-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCTJ5t9JyEmb9szQzdqMDEN1MbQjT8RH0sy3zSH5eu9tw&oe=6618D419			0	3	LOOKING 4 BOWHUNTERS.<br /> <br /> 👉 Ready to embark on an unforgettable bowhunting adventure in Africa with the legendary Jim Burnworth? We&#039;re looking for 4 passionate bowhunters to join us this summer, starting June 4th and running through September 6th.<br /> <br /> 🎙️ But here&#039;s the kicker: no matter where you are in your archery journey, Jim will be there to help you grow. Whether you&#039;re a seasoned pro or just starting out, his expert guidance and coaching will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience. Plus, Jim will be hosting exclusive podcast sessions during your stay, sharing his expertise and stories from the field, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure.<br /> <br /> 💥 And here&#039;s some exciting news: Jim has seven camps! So if you have that friend who isn&#039;t a bowhunter, we can put a crossbow in his hand or he can bring his rifle along. Everyone is welcome to join the adventure!<br /> <br /> 💰 Packages start at just $5500 for a full 7 days of hunting, including accommodation, meals, personalized instruction from Jim Burnworth himself, access to his podcast sessions, and the option for crossbow or rifle hunting.<br /> Interested? Feel free to PM me or visit our website to leave your contact info. Let&#039;s make memories and share the campfire stories together! <br /> 🏕️ #JimBurnworthSafaris #BowhuntingAdventure #AfricaHunting #LegendaryExperience		Jim Burnworth Safaris		1487	https://facebook.com/jimburnworthsafaris	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988741	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		436439805421865	1	7.9328777618471E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100309942247444		0	Jim Burnworth Safaris			120207184635240746					NONE	multi_images					1712051506	1.0030994224744E+14	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434469026_916767763556533_7120148809680053746_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NNjeKk0KABcAb4J5uCR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAIMcBCxGomIDbaQsG5Nt1UX0ypt9i3UuhGPosd57ycww&oe=6618E210	person_profile	0	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565679_741792871277749_6103769200346240319_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P1KF2AoZ0scAb74eykR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA-b-A0Ok7VdBgxwNkstWExgJ2Rr43IRSGlNUqRntssWA&oe=6618DD54			0	3	LOOKING 4 BOWHUNTERS.<br /> <br /> 👉 Ready to embark on an unforgettable bowhunting adventure in Africa with the legendary Jim Burnworth? We&#039;re looking for 4 passionate bowhunters to join us this summer, starting June 4th and running through September 6th.<br /> <br /> 🎙️ But here&#039;s the kicker: no matter where you are in your archery journey, Jim will be there to help you grow. Whether you&#039;re a seasoned pro or just starting out, his expert guidance and coaching will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience. Plus, Jim will be hosting exclusive podcast sessions during your stay, sharing his expertise and stories from the field, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure.<br /> <br /> 💥 And here&#039;s some exciting news: Jim has seven camps! So if you have that friend who isn&#039;t a bowhunter, we can put a crossbow in his hand or he can bring his rifle along. Everyone is welcome to join the adventure!<br /> <br /> 💰 Packages start at just $5500 for a full 7 days of hunting, including accommodation, meals, personalized instruction from Jim Burnworth himself, access to his podcast sessions, and the option for crossbow or rifle hunting.<br /> <br /> Interested? Feel free to PM me or visit our website to leave your contact info. Let&#039;s make memories and share the campfire stories together! 🏕️ #JimBurnworthSafaris #BowhuntingAdventure #AfricaHunting #LegendaryExperience		Jim Burnworth Safaris		1487	https://facebook.com/jimburnworthsafaris	0								1712041200		View Edit Delete
988739	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		1340734663381131	1	4.0654708541304E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	225255454333252		0	Shop Mẹ yêu con			120208067391180739		mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/NetworkAttachedStorage?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712052513	2.2525545433325E+14	Shop Mẹ yêu con	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435376080_314466128326627_5643568022826135474_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O0DZJITK4QYAb7Ha5yK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCNCXPt1nA8KlBiqIUq7fFyOaz6PFf0lpLhSQOC1gvDYQ&oe=6618C5F4	person_profile	0	Shop Mẹ yêu con	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435266814_1117246002849412_599813220673581294_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIrJ5VunkjIAb6BTcyW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDplcpbRskUbrnXFJbjfO9zewCGLMT4KhLOWEUGg1bZOw&oe=6618BB99			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		Shop Mẹ yêu con		1393	https://facebook.com/HanhXachTayUc.HangTotGiaTot.ShopMeYeuCon	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988735	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		770385115045236	1	1.1149525795503E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063840450257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056470	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434320537_2078710005841304_3785793431189553652_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=K0BAKei_FecAb768up_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxGurGL9v1GS5d5eWJmSc3MhgeBE8L6olYu9R0sHcrVw&oe=6618C4A6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435469674_790020682581921_7782306949325498669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0o54ZWvdoj8Ab5kttQw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCNrx8M_K6YKJQ-fBN8jUhp3K6lh3CqsVSfRqJ55bU9FA&oe=6618D0FF			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988760	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		956306979040064	1	1.491373225138E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210028912980230		amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987776	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433908866_7194219307340711_4650076348565346822_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nQNayZTmUBsAb71igCC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAWBRda4v1J04OPyy4cii_-jS8_jJeq45Hv5KkDnqAmEg&oe=6618BB1D	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434073197_1793748224440725_7208763574582616426_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Kk9uwkxRtgsAb5mo8_c&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCm2xM-JjmN09Y1WgDydywNLBDrvfMUAmNXg1MDz2jpDw&oe=6618C0B4			0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
988758	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		1799227377245336	1	1.1599801553558E+15		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210028913100230		www.amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	video	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987807	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434655650_342318988312537_7244442246725306427_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YchKyzIgdOYAb7K_eBK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBXvudvlg3IKG8N48oaGpebLwGASfTBgLloB-sch1y3oA&oe=6618BB8A	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434663252_1348622592488168_5547621506637095475_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6p18fpMGmpcAb7v6V0Q&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4sYK4O98msOsktlXVUW6o3O8FZ0yTi6F4wqEi8AWEoA&oe=6618D0D2			0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
988748	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		955283689316825	1	1.0941745850095E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	111491154628454		0	Condy & Jordan Realty Group			120206172658860328					NONE	multi_images					1711989194	1.1149115462845E+14	Condy & Jordan Realty Group	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435213079_3687994421447559_50334859262976292_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zac3qXIBRS8Ab7L4EEL&_nc_oc=AdgxNPTeX0CBg9KbV0d4MlqZm9pywfMJUopaYbMEIpwXM_s4HyMhd8GV1yVsDH7ioAYn2etLErpA-CWF6AqJvIlc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBIx38dWy8aE5rMv-ZPexHc_LRNVgw1BnFEAg5llhsEzw&oe=6618EEA8	person_profile	0					0	3	JUST LISTED. 309 Private Road 2120, Meridian. Beautiful hunting getaway in Crossbow Ranch &amp; Wildlife Preserve! This 5 acre property includes deeded hunting rights to the 650 acre portion of the ranch. Custom home includes 300 sf screened in porch and 4,300 sf barn with full RV hookup! Enjoy the ranch life without the maintenance! <br /> <br /> Call or text for more info! 254-396-7715<br /> Listed by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/condyjordanrealtygroup">Condy &amp; Jordan Realty Group</a>		Condy & Jordan Realty Group		266	https://facebook.com/condyjordanrealtygroup	0								1711954800		View Edit Delete
988816	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924842		442		427564996310457	1	4.2971087638131E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741420240751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625634	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465975_909020687669040_1400946644615777548_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QptAEitEHn4Ab7YAdiF&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcYt431j_CU2r27YKFA0NCiFol6ceIG3zvbofoGJ5fgA&oe=6618C4DA	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434410495_660137172893255_2478199693599053727_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OKAtlSuWQQQAb6C9rnN&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBYg0DSBmhZBRLwDYvMLeDOPZP0L3rUivVUL788kHr4oQ&oe=6618BE73			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988765	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		7919428941408795	2	4.4182487840779E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120209434186270204		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793069	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433251205_371646482509924_9167893818528105777_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9oGOrfzzAZIAb5V0tgr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBRnE9BTy_8z9ichXqCCP065R6Vt500ndDz2-JIHhgY8Q&oe=6618B771	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434295418_792562652285263_6108522915737188328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JxOjkkrSzfMAb5u5A1e&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5YIof6tp1LteAGQA_6GLj3SIZY42HaeA5_GnloalR5Q&oe=6618D668			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988764	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		1453236398935536	1	7.1528112067888E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120209434187330204		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793044	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408174_1565261874260511_4025092499777447010_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmH-46lZTTcAb65Nm73&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC7FEfD4ajXuDH3lFXR2Vs0Uot5kDmlwUszy_SIYM54VQ&oe=6618B8C3	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434572827_425152456687611_8811684751803242023_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zXCUROMSqVcAb7eJJur&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBmoOMdMPsGVR-SVJHOEK3lHJco0OpL6ruRdw1_XMUZyg&oe=6618BC33			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988761	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		956996679540997	1	9.4843476359013E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100309942247444		0	Jim Burnworth Safaris			120207133742550746		jimburnworthsafaris.com	Learn more		NONE	image	HOME | Jimburnworthsafaris | Africa Hunt		https://www.jimburnworthsafaris.com/welcometoanadventureofalifetime		1711952481	1.0030994224744E+14	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434496336_2041858276192768_7988145087663947007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EhnhhdGZa0MAb7iY7-7&_nc_oc=AdiCED6qm1x0Z1mF9-Nrm7KVQPSIGzzaK2-81prP9TGgya5RVCFwJHLx-NWijDMO73AUEFjOHlShs1QVLXZ8AJOR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqdlr4JQfTMCFZbul49gQbY5v34-ltX2gkii65Ep_oIw&oe=6618DCFB	person_profile	0	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434487077_793916222799358_7410835647026634151_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3DGm3JPoa9oAb7sVh_6&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAEbpaNeOWQmJNikiIyKo-Tp-oDaoLaQFtm2DbrMGvEOQ&oe=6618E5D6			0	3	LOOKING 4 BOWHUNTERS.<br /> <br /> 👉 Ready to embark on an unforgettable bowhunting adventure in Africa with the legendary Jim Burnworth? We&#039;re looking for 4 passionate bowhunters to join us this summer, starting June 4th and running through September 6th.<br /> <br /> 🎙️ But here&#039;s the kicker: no matter where you are in your archery journey, Jim will be there to help you grow. Whether you&#039;re a seasoned pro or just starting out, his expert guidance and coaching will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience. Plus, Jim will be hosting exclusive podcast sessions during your stay, sharing his expertise and stories from the field, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure.<br /> <br /> 💥 And here&#039;s some exciting news: Jim has seven camps! So if you have that friend who isn&#039;t a bowhunter, we can put a crossbow in his hand or he can bring his rifle along. Everyone is welcome to join the adventure!<br /> <br /> 💰 Packages start at just $5500 for a full 7 days of hunting, including accommodation, meals, personalized instruction from Jim Burnworth himself, access to his podcast sessions, and the option for crossbow or rifle hunting.<br /> <br /> Interested? Feel free to PM me or visit our website to leave your contact info. Let&#039;s make memories and share the campfire stories together! 🏕️ #JimBurnworthSafaris #BowhuntingAdventure #AfricaHunting #LegendaryExperience		Jim Burnworth Safaris		1487	https://facebook.com/jimburnworthsafaris	0		LEARN_MORE						1711868400		View Edit Delete
988798	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924842		442		260318450501013		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb6VF6vw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDp_fHJEZOVfTF_aeJPWKJXPz8czlT0_krhTP2LXN76wA&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4KApDJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwLGHjd-mA172e-kNolyiHEo7Ugxy87-Rbaop59De9qg&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988787	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522046	1734924843		442		440582128487903		4.2979245943688E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195490255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753520	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880673_2577018635800264_4582579765208261702_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VcZbh6kyV1kAb7zgcO3&_nc_oc=AdhvkOdl83rAseivgyOJaPMESoW-zbUz5gQNLzW2Qs3IC3pWL7gn5-nxsOwgXd9PYY_d-S5Jt5CKrNEBiVun5Sg1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnBQcTIBLISHN8QPMiG8NUWGfB4I7l8Q2adxfWQnsM7w&oe=6618CACD	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479425_1892584224529385_7732080953961171810_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GvUmDhFM814Ab5gmiLi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlf3PG_dH2lAqZaoeUGr0wKofI0g8iErZCvup9zrUY7w&oe=6618DAB8			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989182	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924843		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989068	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924843		442		400193096092659	3	4.1456613123646E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298157980763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014973	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433132857_420666677224066_7892041513657596958_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hl2g4zDOSvgAb4I8fD-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnuCbGUbQBzk60Xn9NiuCk_fctAKENT7q6_yBLCb5Ldg&oe=6618D68B	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432782511_1067390167669323_5371551634756380353_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4GH08VKW2ZMAb4f3qZM&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB4DRzh9ddIzXeR5_5fngC876ri1Pbwcby9FsomEk-MUQ&oe=6618C173			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988823	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924843		442		1142889406831160	1	8.5288200994291E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	265052230017125		0	Prize Palooza			120207536581100654		emergclutch.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711666182	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434287595_968527034633106_1388783280513136401_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aiGNaHaQ9asAb4kemSR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD7rC-yLmxoSM3pMot15NL7SqiLww0v8_GvB6eEBx0MpQ&oe=6618EDDF	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434290829_1415861415984290_5690165483896659272_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xN3IW9mmrmkAb5GNlXd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAke3RheqySKd5eWuPS7yHrwuFrO2lNZqQr1zKcBGw7Kg&oe=6618C987			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Prize Palooza		250	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988825	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924844		442		7370421312993641	1	4.4646573570919E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	641086812686708		0	Alimentation Bali			120207388876420010		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇	You are one of the lucky three thousand people who have been selected to receive a Ravin R29 Crossbow for only $10. This is an incredible opportunity that you should not miss out on, and we encourage you to take advantage of it immediately.	https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711664977	6.4108681268671E+14	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433211909_3781496832173069_3311809168208155146_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TytHWf64D80Ab7DXeiV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAR9c-qpN68C-WlThNegZYImkx5MyiZPoqHsrcU4xrWDw&oe=6618E7F0	person_profile	0	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120391_783906846579083_1141327993269507309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=f0WLfhFDz28Ab6Vni9Y&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAnVdim6_HKKMdkN8P_klmq-wKbMjNlhslEOHEsVsMz_w&oe=6618D0ED			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Alimentation Bali		83	https://facebook.com/100054507427553	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988839	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924844		442		440143275204495	1	3.8939665401791E+14		1712214000	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	105652425201417		0	geekpire_official			120209054089900454		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	image			http://instagram.com/geekpire_official		1711598514	1.0565242520142E+14	geekpire_official	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/230556229_972583996923335_3024290080248920440_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=2mOAxRURVFQAb7aWan7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCtUDFom9F4NPfdbRvQeQZNMWm_lbYKkghI6YQud7jX8A&oe=6618CAA0	ig_ads_identity	1	GeekPire	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434413605_1635832377226717_6599696456591005118_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dPh63v3eopQAb5BP9_h&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9ET6NVNOv5vAVbCDvOM6vKX0Fs5z33ciYFmHJAwreFA&oe=6618C47C			0	3	Two rouge survivors of the Great War within the story of our campaign featuring a rugged and eccentric but smart dwarven artificer named Belrin and his modified clockwork warforge companion Baxter. With Belrin’s ingenuity and near limitless arsenal of tools and weapons including a powerful mechanical ballista bolt crossbow with dwarven tonal architecture magics used within the myrthil metal bowstring, to increase the vibrational frequency of arrows, allowing them to partially phase through armour, duplicate via quantum entanglement between arrow heads, manifesting an infinite number of arrows, alongside explosive arrows, acid, arrows, frost arrows and lightning arrows, Berlin is also armed with a flintlock pistol, a seismic wave emitting tuning fork, explosives his trusty pick axe and his hulking mechanical companion Baxter armed with an arm cannon, bladed limbs and a shield, not to mention Baxter’s stoic and reserved demeanour is quite the contrast to Belrin’s chaotic and eccentric personality, the two make for an unexpected but formidable duo. A great thanks to &#064;freirearts for your work on this project and a pleasure working with you as always. #dnd #dnd5e #dndart #dndartwork #dndcampaign #dndcampaignart #dndartwork #dnddwarf #dwarf #artificer #dndartificer #warforged #warforgedart #artist #fantasy #fantasyart #fantasyartwork #dungeonsanddragons #characterart #characterartwork #fantasynovel		geekpire_official		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/geekpire_official	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988842	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924845		442		1125513215240159	1	8.4535833093853E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206829171340257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711598214	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434215893_1113643969839796_7807742451255371640_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eBXv5QHW7y0Ab7IRis8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDoHjCII5jVQwyZW-Pa_X9Jp_lZPpn4ishJD0BiK27pXA&oe=6618E7BA	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434203273_1160640518185605_3920470166629187477_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VLaBEo42Z4kAb49EfAi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8X8lQ9FQ4wyyqskNhn4c4wfXdDquPQkq8eejvki7_Qw&oe=6618E7F0			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988844	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		445810587873510	9	9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756350094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552111	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434060475_2252770191737874_464461497481583884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BZ2gVbTdO2MAb7XrIfh&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBqevmmnaiUdYnlEhwkIvOxwpwktvx7wHwwJrHomBQpCQ&oe=6618C0FF	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434399541_776623630721084_2238027465610090392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PKHcU5chGdAAb6wqt0T&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_XQgIYiDY5oQAOJ9Afp7ZNUMe2mUxpApY79F09OwdKw&oe=6618C693			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988846	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		2618531244994366		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756610094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552190	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432173043_1170910167676561_8409318987482690190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u45KXHhymTIAb6_1DVs&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWgEFMkQHQBmWOFELlcwn-Mt9fQIra8iOaqRxoBA9pIA&oe=6618BE15	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432128607_1617117405756016_3607839568440673794_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5SUEyCjcbfoAb7-UCB9&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA95kuJ4MFrkWx8eynSO8JIQU_OV5lIgSPgk-LwVHapzw&oe=6618C99F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988848	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		1190682448977543		9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756440094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552076	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433246713_929327385401571_7521243286456051867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UVuV6qf859MAb68YNt8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfApbd80u_KZX6gC7eAbJVIEj4nx0gECNNxfJHBptRuilg&oe=6618B79F	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434275846_1384302318945639_2418547638996955313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w_DUYG7s-j0Ab5OEG4U&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2OSB3qhAuF-w8EIVhxaB5CIy3p7l3tbax0_HMac1t6w&oe=6618C026			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988851	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		1771034423726065		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756410094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552111	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434179594_745921440640610_368285448153917516_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HikmAqoELHYAb7C6S_U&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBCtSfC5pYDsiqrpD0Kdx3l3NvweQAkUSBYZBKaXSFEnA&oe=6618DCF2	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434399523_385653110963704_4193943954433525843_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ysMRNs6FYC4Ab5O5Aly&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB4sX4OxQL2IbD2BZAWbK2sByb0RMbItWbFqpYrpBRODQ&oe=6618C6A6			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988853	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		3865363323786787		9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756380094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552075	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091655_1453416741983075_7132123211253465318_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dvNRIK78EgQAb6RfFVq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtR8Ki2ZESnZQZxR_-TZpoGL4fN1JrNUTLtllRE9tOAw&oe=6618DB54	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139644_865722071982524_1382445386625311697_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9AWTPVy-U7wAb7OP-hd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfALv6v8inCLuKGlN7EpfXdZE4wQdiS-MbPiM3ZqVeY1yA&oe=6618D9ED			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988855	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		720936160215786		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756550094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552137	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432165893_1787759781697765_8062401144704622322_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NjWWk28xfF0Ab5TGypr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBhCSfU3GiObZLSozCGUjYyMe2VgSjesCOeVHoLIVJglw&oe=6618DF57	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252438_954972285829637_3965607497794401383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gdAEc6KRe2cAb7-6Clv&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfjN68jxVHfi-hvM1ITssNKagX38yelJ-5JSSCWRMdaw&oe=6618C98A			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988858	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924846		442		1092998265320997	14	1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242640527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433008377_3230372293924564_2696678552488206484_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wM3YPc_BufAAb4bm3o8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtP-2MkRTR6iJwiYL0GXJMvd0F-QL38I219RcFQhl6VA&oe=6618C542	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432998243_815005440452007_1776444854117561157_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xamhlgE3LKoAb5M43ra&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBj9L1cglwIMfqtOZlj2auWYojzdmP_B1B6YAKtODGJYw&oe=6618DBE3			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989072	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924847		442		400332066087680	2	7.7252126168958E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298142230763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014929	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433555615_386391070865943_1511566564338000278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NXA53On-YCEAb715gri&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDi8G5bHrEj1NHJCQhxCH-Fetu1dy0xTu5Sd060cpiVJw&oe=6618C894	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434053545_1462329431351639_7839138242094447026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=V0A3Tzr8sn4Ab5K9Pb6&_nc_oc=Adib9_2jsdNfu7-Y4XE14txGUQuU-vqpV5cj1X3rpwleSgvK23dCDkzzL0YyW7UdAOK7b9frLmFF8KQdeAOvHsKb&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfASbf4zGdxzAe6Hy4jPp8ktQ8QFOfsy-zK9UCJp7JkzeQ&oe=6618D556			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988860	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		371168535747999		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242350527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433303573_1090694828877926_2181566797442513048_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L6EoDl3nPYMAb4KLknA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAFScE_p8lsX7QcbdVPueZcURDHXiH1kscblN78VwFfww&oe=6618D9A5	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434284650_740144134956152_8460641318163019358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FrKkuSvcGGkAb6dCKvb&_nc_oc=AdgQIAwa_dI6laq4B5uSgffQFh7GDvAXT47NerpNVl70e21cirLfFfcUJ85Aru6kEmc4EiYSB7uuhyIYMG_iYFlX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIr1_k_HCOkUABJHGtmnh-q5nNKKtjoa9cJfy3fEnkSw&oe=6618DBFA			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988862	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		413217124638844		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242310527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434038083_1473389660280671_6916056184488262472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JulVukVsRmUAb5WV4pR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBgaNCAFaCN4qZMS040TKdk1htgyad-yE8nlWwyekGEPw&oe=6618BA87	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433949528_3129745467157987_2447555507541157340_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yt3Kkl4o1rgAb4Bv4GW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD_NZCov3e5efmTkcFGJOmmGQCeE_M1p4jJ6jh1r9mR3g&oe=6618CB07			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988864	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		731185542184432		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242280527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551924	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433143920_719364190384864_5986387495705050456_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i6eund8ObO0Ab6CUdva&_nc_oc=AdhGwbsJaEA5jgBmh0j5_jHqCurMAbutWGQo-6QQTZHJAvUfNTcOd7hieQ5V1zGiuyvwxH2SXbJPLeV6oBhKGGdS&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfC509gSMY6umQtXntn0p7NqfmYID5ts0k8cjEVSs9AdJQ&oe=6618DE17	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433039607_941944070573812_5159840137279620298_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EAoaF_ckZYIAb6xL55C&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAQ51vlBAIhh18ywtENCwdy2z_1vSTVBT-XmgRhY4WMZg&oe=6618D003			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988865	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		3655668928002596		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242260527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551987	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434383606_956450256098960_6914428515570947868_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DlUeX8ByXOQAb4iXqYT&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB7EMfNk71hPNoluiWxmRzcgfvJl1RmUKXSUsidKULcLQ&oe=6618C36F	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434529355_1489439098653687_7850910788544465649_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1EeA7isLHCsAb4x2FLv&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAvhGRgbfqcsLWdo5yQpuQ01X2JBUh-q4S5QyNx61Yqgw&oe=6618C8E7			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988866	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		240948445776291	14	1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167750527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551797	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433887351_427210456461078_8328281203660181200_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LpmQE9bMh6QAb4n_O8o&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDxQP0CCx_g83xX27MsjK4iXL_Hs5v--e0P82Itg_USug&oe=6618E447	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433970913_2440862449435727_17092525968235942_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZApkPQTmWZIAb5bdr6z&_nc_oc=Adh7Ky3F_1feR_eiy1QqBy-hqAqZfk6PW5-Gpt1-TPXK6m-X1VdiRjGy5ED_RAztG7U&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCZ-3AQtBRyGLoikQZyM_MXL9Xa5rOZDbOsLQzDOfu7Fg&oe=6618B7F6			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988867	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		297774439843439		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167900527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552036	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434270942_730480929195769_2891698292395123465_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VQwHBiVMZKoAb5tHKb8&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB0dBpKtPEDir09lftsPU81-oGvapXTphwMoAFBz37F8A&oe=6618D3ED	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120835_3270160156619905_9038438506698341740_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wf73IhadSH8Ab7785_n&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAy_BvREvg3t0XJVQGiluyDpg7XVSpFc04tLOqRvIBKeQ&oe=6618BBE1			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988868	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		370928269243816		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221168030527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551799	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433986605_397314153240200_4744980853760384344_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ucmjuZfiSeQAb690Jeu&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCiqZTEu-hxIt5Tmsu2d5-oDFLHkYhroGZ9NH60tD82_Q&oe=6618D9B9	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433937674_395027780054216_5961166508483095081_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fbW2b8gKkuUAb7ZxOtD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFsz0ccunRN0kjBihNfxRK2bOQ5hiSlPoN6OA9bS2_mw&oe=6618CDD3			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988869	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		816539033635440		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167720527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551794	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434256661_1463733681021061_55093729452205373_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xlnohtOL3BoAb6woyM_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA-ftu609rMcWBOic-apfqhEjouLENwjwV_hnBfYyph4A&oe=6618DB7C	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434366407_772571294804336_2810863686494873373_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OitcJJAKYNAAb6DSGZD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCmys5PT6l5_Nrx6CSPefIuj40q0qQDfoNynGZIly80rw&oe=6618CE52			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988927	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924847		442		3604116899899991	20	4.2983514283568E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351650248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191384	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433238266_1720061161851228_7213279926746089482_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T7sQLtRAHg4Ab691Zsm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC1sblpqnS_U_poBJnAtMnrKaNKqNCXWa1fFWunN1r2kg&oe=6618CF1C	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433229985_368630112806154_6603790424657153261_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tpGS3m6sQ2AAb7Wh2y2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_Oq69LZzwvgHCKhLt7f4sjg_wfuQmHw1F5H7sTp31iA&oe=6618CF36			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988870	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		954517562685554		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221168240527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551839	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192472_1433832683926688_7950283003444132288_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GVzpvRA_ARwAb4yd0dN&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCxfnjD6Q8MvwiANibp49FI0SQCNG-q5ZN4g3swkz-AhA&oe=6618C543	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434175979_1350379572343361_789189012292270197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptE8QZiTmPcAb5slfXS&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4YMAodL40XR_X3tRFUdt3g4Q3198zaUUYhmIKhVvaXA&oe=6618D43F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988871	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		978328407055687		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167870527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551794	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433930866_984629053376979_4849106811028690970_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X7yXBHjIy8MAb6iTTPy&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAsYXcLAI6Xg5PvDjXdspSf3MC90vo7gmu8WMu3vLUDfg&oe=6618C562	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434458896_1611383819687564_948373712435518183_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lLvfMWNlObwAb67Fv5N&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfA34xDifhYOfYfl_8Vy0g25psk20R8hWzTxUZ2cBTpg&oe=6618D1D6			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988872	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		1151321322966200		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167800527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551799	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433132780_3349280328711457_2301518798594436208_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RnUukYU9GVYAb6Rrvkn&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfARrpodzDrUmxDN6u55WGP8xJO5ITJ2zQGRbN9JpP4sQw&oe=6618E31B	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433449953_296327913488507_7592617265079745941_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8_04D0A_XZMAb7vVI95&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAf6tQVm94gLHDftreEIaNbqeprtH_Azs794LLOgH3toQ&oe=6618EC63			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988874	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		1182703012893890		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167940527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552058	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434327308_2349000271976891_3402216671218897768_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fio3hw1oGhEAb6IPYEi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDmKV_hFfXRL_Pr-ucctSie0ekiT0R80As8lmIQ4QXBCg&oe=6618E4C2	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434138366_738777791731444_8906656466165811261_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=btNqELgmp40Ab5kywwv&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD7uGYzGifx25SCyeHV6eRpuRHfAdquH3VK2zOm31loZg&oe=6618CF1C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988887	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		2082037572176045		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167690527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551798	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434410033_262478853591988_2035390155654875575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYYJa2uJDaMAb6NMLHi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBU-t3TcIfgxhvM5ZSvmXYrfZxF6YVIudzzv6ZQwkPApg&oe=6618EA3A	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434377705_1468214437106308_7620166099023531083_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PclTnx5KURwAb6VH6eR&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC4_vnRW9xuwFboSyfy3gklRwdTwdNFZLO82-PqHnVXcQ&oe=6618DB42			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988890	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924847		442		788106813193951	9	9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167820527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551796	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434222811_382406231359677_8363256886030553338_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cKHutAJO8poAb5BNpum&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDGIIRp4RezmaxClso-jVXQzNwQtjFSAEY-bEjvtndVtw&oe=6618D417	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434219193_788297272763426_7970358675286222086_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lQ5oYHSl2w4Ab4OKZlC&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBNy6rQcL8emUvsypoJ9aeWeK98wvUAgsI9VL9VYg7BSg&oe=6618E85C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988892	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		3085697484905198		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167850527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551449	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434252512_410411474919855_2889258650411127651_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8A4h-_ZJTQAb7FbbJ0&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA3c7fka2v9qTIJ15ePlagBWuHsB5N5lpArxeFeAg-6-g&oe=6618DD8D	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434332774_7362210790533796_5216996924127506374_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0OY3499MhgoAb56o2Ps&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBBJh_JXdUO2skTHUmA43sdhv6zaIElcxZ0Q-Pt9u-vpg&oe=6618C76C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988895	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		909720550933161	3	1.3680873738995E+15		1711522800	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	528423657263233		0	Serious Bookings			6544304682244		zklshopec1.top	Learn more		NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c4qntQdHsXwAb5lBltJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDh27Zmlaf381x1CUG2_u-XziaOOblIMGZzVAKBWw-KmA&oe=6618E3F9	person_profile	0					0	3			Serious Bookings		79	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	0		LEARN_MORE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988897	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		25161396986841638		1.3680873738995E+15		1711522800	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	528423657263233		0	Serious Bookings			6544304682244		zklshopec1.top	Learn more		NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c4qntQdHsXwAb5lBltJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDh27Zmlaf381x1CUG2_u-XziaOOblIMGZzVAKBWw-KmA&oe=6618E3F9	person_profile	0					0	3			Serious Bookings		79	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	0		LEARN_MORE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988899	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		7195905193855071		1.3680873738995E+15		1711522800	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	528423657263233		0	Serious Bookings			6544304682244		zklshopec1.top	Learn more		NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c4qntQdHsXwAb5lBltJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDh27Zmlaf381x1CUG2_u-XziaOOblIMGZzVAKBWw-KmA&oe=6618E3F9	person_profile	0					0	3			Serious Bookings		79	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	0		LEARN_MORE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
988901	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		731768412414677	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4oO0Vu&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDn9GWz5wzBm79IBufgIZfijohv_aM75_DWf8N1SqOZXQ&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4uHk5j&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgDS7VaS_HSEHa-yoQa0svaMz1noSJsqYAw1BbZ4X6jQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
988904	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		1474787626725158	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb6o1oMl&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_lg3NOQZSJoU7XZOfBjIhw-XIxeOs3OLYCbb0RThGiw&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab5CSWGz&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCfZ1-iLzsk_D22dyRiRQAZeHvIe9GSLGgr2rqzKji44Q&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
988906	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		1163792057978204	3	1.1675727312844E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120205983986090094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711451713	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434221500_935435758078760_119874943502748411_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sr93zV3sTUUAb7P8Ldo&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAjpj2gB-kCL3qXTfR0LxdW3TxoTDhYHjFDNC7le5cGPg&oe=6618DA8D	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434186998_408673151859139_8393354978950712549_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S4k2OAiunzIAb43iKk5&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi7D6X2fi4w2YYPxOGg7oJevqavKhueDZnBLz4YSywxg&oe=6618D3A0			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
988909	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		2649467881887070	2	2.7569898477756E+15		1711609200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120207730854630126		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1711435571	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433842562_1362745041066287_189163946256304676_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kqbatEDUn3wAb7X_LNv&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC5A0rbfGvOQ95StxIo7pHALUGZRltj61WqXfowuWG6-Q&oe=6618E4E4	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434140343_1654282735107254_7407386334183254158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EhlAJrJ3noYAb7arf9b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBN0PkuTLPv_9odHpLo1NSV2SdrgEfGh7RoDZ5aMSr_ew&oe=6618BCCB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,,, 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
988911	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		3613379868925062		2.7569898477756E+15		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120207730854580126		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1711435574	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434177854_930320678642176_7289043689340575824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BnhsTCVrOFoAb5nUv31&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_-UkFW0o82czjGYuF7NDiWY3aVr3O7IuIZhPBY6KlUA&oe=6618D9FE	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434138223_838516654759698_3854233384221918371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P5uu7QMcnGwAb5KWvBv&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAYYbdzV6iFSln9_ZACthrJ6mzqEDb2UycSiVbXw7B2Aw&oe=6618C604			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,,, 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
988913	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		2140714786266582	1	2.7611575877145E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	256259084233530		0	Yarak Archery			120207436554610089					NONE	multi_images					1711388418	2.5625908423353E+14	Yarak Archery	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434175632_628029689480476_4809512359005857514_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3a0L_ysDcD4Ab42G0dc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBE3KyMVcs-S1VMjbxjQ7w9ob0CME0YerGLGxz62HtjPg&oe=6618EA42	person_profile	0	Yarak Archery	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434371000_356234170745578_5232550514709381716_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jPTmL0pGNPoAb6NTnGD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxku2ckkflz2S2VEQukom-FFuVsOv350bqk1YglFFWJg&oe=6618C9DE			0	3	Yarak Archery is excited to be opening SOON in Pittsboro, NC! Stayed tuned for our Grand Opening date! <br /> <br /> We are located at 1456 US 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312<br /> <br /> Store Hours:<br /> Tuesday-Friday: 10am-6pm<br /> Saturday: 10am-4pm<br /> <br /> Contact us by messenger or call the shop directly at (919) 704-8074. <br /> <br /> First and foremost, we are a one stop shop for everything archery. Beginners and professionals alike; specializing in hunting, competition, or recreation, we have the right equipment and knowledge for you. <br /> <br /> - With brands like Bowtech, Excalibur, PSE, Prime, Bear, Ultraview, Ten Point, Victory, Easton, GoldTip, B3, Nockturnal, Rage, G5, VPA, Magnus, Redline, Hamskea, Tethrd Grit and Latitude, among many others, we have the quality equipment you need to succeed in your archery journey. <br /> <br /> - Bow and crossbow service and tuning<br /> <br /> - Indoor archery range (coming soon)<br /> <br /> - Group and private classes (coming soon)<br /> <br /> - Saddle hunting gear and accessories <br /> <br /> - Kayaks and accessories (coming summer 2024)<br /> <br /> - Takeaway kayak rentals (coming summer 2024)<br /> <br /> - Freshwater fishing supplies (coming summer 2024)		Yarak Archery		225	https://facebook.com/61556948367912	0								1711350000		View Edit Delete
988917	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924848		442		3800277893588897	1	9.3869734427434E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	142623199141456		0	K.A.Tucker (Author)			6581508493968		amazon.com	Learn more		NONE	image	FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED! 🔥	Free in Kindle Unlimited	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YD7GY64/		1709389451	1.4262319914146E+14	K.A.Tucker (Author)	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429768682_908889890741860_9111157815245272451_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7zwegAVzHcYAb5DwUwN&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNSUChquEhB_mLjr3Hib_e3FdvRUL0exuzriIIOTihxA&oe=6618D06B	person_profile	0					0	3	I wake, gasping for air. <br /> A deep throb pains my lungs. <br /> The floor beneath me is soft and dewy, the ceiling above a blanket of darkness. It takes me a moment to realize I’m lying in grass, under a night sky.<br /> And a few more moments to remember Sofie driving that horn into my chest.<br /> My heart races as I draw my hand to where my body aches, expecting to find the object still protruding. Nothing but tenderness remains. “What did you do to me?” I mutter, my voice hoarse.<br /> Obviously, I didn’t die, but it sure feels like she tried to kill me. <br /> With a wince, I pull myself into a sitting position. And frown at the billow of material around me, confusion scrambling my thoughts. My jeans and sweater are gone, replaced by this enormous dress, with layers of silk and a plunging neckline. She stabbed me and then changed me into formal wear? <br /> I hold up my hand. Even in the darkness, I can make out the outline of the ring Sofie slipped onto my finger, the one she believes will somehow protect me. <br /> I don’t have time to make sense of this. I need to get the hell out of here. <br /> I heave myself off the wet ground, stumbling a few steps before I regain my balance, my head swimming. Walls of cedar hedge tower over me on either side, forming a long, narrow corridor that gives me only two options—left or right.<br /> Shouts ring in the distance—I can’t gauge how far away, but they’re definitely coming from my left. They’re male in timbre, interspersed with clangs of metal against metal. In the air, the smell of smoke lingers. Something burns.<br /> I take off in the opposite direction of the commotion, sprinting as fast as the darkness and the throb in my chest allows, stumbling in the tangle of bulky material swirling around my legs and a pair of wobbly heeled shoes. By the time the hedge opens into a cobblestone pathway lit with lanterns, I’m panting, my lungs heaving from strain, and I’m ready to tear the skirts from my body. <br /> The moon is full and casting white light where I could not see it before, buried within the cedar. Is this the garden Sofie was talking about? The one with the soldiers, where I’ll find the stone? I’m definitely in a garden. There are bushes with roses the size of my palm, their potent fragrance melding with the stench of smoke. The air hints at a warm summer night. Wherever Islor is, it must be far south of Belgium. <br /> Blocks of jagged broken stone are strewn across the pathway ahead, as if something was demolished. Among the disarray, a shiny object gleams in the moonlight. Curious, I navigate around the debris to collect it. It’s an arrowhead, much like the ones Sofie’s guards had in their crossbow, only a brilliant silver.<br /> And it’s drenched in someone’s blood.<br /> <br /> FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED FOR A LIMITED TIME		K.A.Tucker (Author)		40510	https://facebook.com/K.A.Tucker.Author	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
988919	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924849		442		7502487753122726	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207400705850770		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711279759	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434133400_929324591986217_407914846469227824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9DlcwB3yUi8Ab5iYWM_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCOnFeUV0pgRBISy-42LpP-Fx2tnmhc7kn0gk2Lw6m6w&oe=6618EA8C	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434218049_1855506298298586_2760266513041873713_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTUe15XLG_oAb44DKqb&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALUN2vvw84NqpKSw0kruPGLMRoW6Huiwh8SalCC8xeDA&oe=6618D7BA			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711263600		View Edit Delete
988922	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522047	1734924850		442		1449498852307646	1	7.4493002414598E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	498388803570146		0	Historic Florida Militia, Inc.			6532218496821		School of the 16th Century	INTERESTED		NONE	event	School of the 16th Century	It’s time to go back to school. Way back to “The School of the Sixteenth Century”. Once again the Historic Florida Militia has partnered with the Saint Augustine Historical Society to present this years “School” on the grounds of the Oldest House Museum Complex. (Located at 14 St. Francis Street. Old Town Trolley has a stop directly outside the museum.) See what what life was like in the very beginning of our city. “Classes” will be held at this beautiful and serene property on Saturday Feb 17th. Witness demonstrations of historic weapons, including the crossbow, the matchlock musket, pikes, and edged weapons. See the clothing, crafts, culinary techniques, and the military and religious practices of that time. New this year are courses on the women of the Menendez expedition and primitive fabric dyeing. Admission to the 16th century encampment will be free and open to the public on Saturday April 20th from 10am to 4pm. #HistoricCoastCulture #TouristDevelopmentCouncil.	https://www.facebook.com/events/419766497268723/		1711236709	4.9838880357015E+14	Historic Florida Militia, Inc.	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432104958_447405914294117_5071740986896755198_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y2KC5l7HleoAb4211mk&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBB2AqD7TrU_El9pzTEGgeCR1M9vjTGiCQY-2lrICsrLw&oe=6618D6E3	person_profile	0					0	3	It’s time to go back to school. Way back to “The School of the Sixteenth Century”. Once again the Historic Florida Militia has partnered with the Saint Augustine Historical Society to present this years “School” on the grounds of the Oldest House Museum Complex. (Located at 14 St. Francis Street. Old Town Trolley has a stop directly outside the museum.) See what what life was like in the very beginning of our city. “Classes” will be held at this beautiful and serene property on Saturday Feb 17th. Witness demonstrations of historic weapons, including the crossbow, the matchlock musket, pikes, and edged weapons. See the clothing, crafts, culinary techniques, and the military and religious practices of that time. New this year are courses on the women of the Menendez expedition and primitive fabric dyeing. Admission to the 16th century encampment will be free and open to the public on Saturday April 20th from 10am to 4pm. <br /> #HistoricCoastCulture #TouristDevelopmentCouncil.		Historic Florida Militia, Inc.		1667	https://facebook.com/100064649473271	0		EVENT_RSVP						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988925	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		428020822927047	1	7.9827359887391E+14		1711436400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	218810774653254		0	Techguru			120208865570430723		oaklandfoundr.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://oaklandfoundr.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=rHSKhu2NVO7gIRr31N5P&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1711202093	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418159375_423033293593854_5432948102159785539_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=d8sayj24vhUAb4KEAbn&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfATQfFm1GIc30kzQbl6_Yn2rzXvh3X1hNr4WtMakEb_XQ&oe=6618E15E	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418170690_1497789944135435_6539115471951984694_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dngaHfShC0wAb5JmjNu&_nc_oc=AdgWANbxX24Zuu0-jXtpUnsB0gw8sEfw5yjVBOa6N7C_juAgW9K4N5AqO6OrvESlW7k&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDTSi3wQtzGAxbavPEEDrtCVnCYd37qUSG52gDunDu83Q&oe=6618E397			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Techguru		832	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988930	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		252514631267308		4.2983514283568E+14		1711263600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351590248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191386	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434015961_773188501439658_8421461378041250995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7pU2YVq74cUAb4k4T_k&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDRN65INdLEp5lwxhfgp8YVekseFLg-VVhiZZIZB6w27g&oe=6618E412	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420197916_1889553414812338_5721297984318511023_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zyIsIkdzhhEAb7E4B0_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC7y1VmFlai64Q91eLBHp9SXx0nshjUTT4CLZ6E0Btwow&oe=6618DBB9			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988932	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		416881724220443		4.2983514283568E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351770248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191385	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433870020_792744702191906_7398537347314827193_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=foNsu_OKC_cAb5h6v0C&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAwx_rMAXW6sN5xnG5X8-epzQdHbpCYdf2jnacCsuKrsw&oe=6618E818	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433946503_272453215951772_1712409009461375451_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o3AL9O3206YAb44ydGi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBzTgDIFC3PmWHAsgcnuiGNDYEcoqdR20y7yVA8g_yGlg&oe=6618E35B			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988934	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		784035646932548		4.2983514283568E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351670248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191384	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431562565_6972139836229390_8467100763877705327_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vJnQ0fxK2O0Ab42llTy&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDA-uSR2ABAlLT0mhdL0LLPjlu54pAuQo7Q6rppjXgneA&oe=6618B8E8	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568651_1134049474440045_1402622191758474383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=17A3TEqLMIMAb58BiaV&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBiYrXJZiy1WB3jcN5o4i1Bu5edNIOHy3sTLhLQdzE1eQ&oe=6618DB59			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988937	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		1137570613920065		4.2983514283568E+14		1711263600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784352110248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191382	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139717_932551984986644_8193530233443845277_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FCYGuHT4RegAb4JkPF0&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCYl67tt-_5_6iNsnKWjWJqatJCcElAdDwohmnVsTiPcg&oe=6618C70E	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433172877_8095387287144767_2619626527976205726_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NqbfR44UoU8Ab66iJmI&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBI5xhGulPMDy70V5CUUmhgmDNhP5FqvjnWo8yMtlKwkw&oe=6618E04E			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988939	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		1471209603433996	3	1.4538383585731E+15		1711263600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104592775600057		0	Liquidation sale			120207248053100255		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183609	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433975846_402414415870170_2941716336783496304_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bN0KZMknBVAAb5nHjTj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBKIIeFE4G9V53Dn6KI4V1f1SY7q8rjwD94bpXMTPQFqg&oe=6618C356	person_profile	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431555383_1125052448825757_8224218700387984701_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rjImIXzU7rwAb5a5y0M&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA1i5ixMKmNAMPetxWlq2n0hTHHwLkTeNGQW9fccsF6Fg&oe=6618ECA2			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		Liquidation sale		419	https://facebook.com/100083640757431	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988941	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924851		442		1518751572014667	3	1.4538383585731E+15		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104592775600057		0	Liquidation sale			120206587171630393		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183346	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434101932_1128829411879579_3718079481774599395_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iJbazYwKo1oAb7kBXC6&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDAFMODL_VyZeIVMOc387zt4Zkx6uleAi4wFKG38WOI0A&oe=6618D1BF	person_profile	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434244997_1561766767724972_7808108616623864592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O70IJdfSFNoAb7g0cwC&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBE3uPL8ngw7XrDtjPakzuIAjPFesp_VJWFE77DFGiOcg&oe=6618E009			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		Liquidation sale		419	https://facebook.com/100083640757431	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988943	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		7474480465935792		1.4538383585731E+15		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104592775600057		0	Liquidation sale			120208319616070564		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183242	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433259670_2413309345545647_9119231969045705250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UlhT1D2ZMiMAb77-HiN&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC2SRVdLbwbjD2iXgNxmL9H7eySu5eGkU8bRApzOYr12g&oe=6618C266	person_profile	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433029468_1232898747671484_2589590370759723158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-MAby2GYttcAb7qQZ6Z&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBu_W9BU1jEv_eu-denxq3rpC4E-b-uaHRfA_jqBRyr3g&oe=6618ED92			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		Liquidation sale		419	https://facebook.com/100083640757431	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988945	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		938508454234046	1	9.3979354451536E+14		1711436400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	412249035602001		0	Nail art love			120208616664560506		oaklandfoundr.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://oaklandfoundr.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=rHSKhu2NVO7gIRr31N5P&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1711180850	4.12249035602E+14	Nail art love	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434286619_1579267836198737_8464997126678366884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qBW8h581A4QAb4qB60D&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD2aX0ZT81NDcrTYmlqpVrbYd-REbemfuAI_q-YJdIPhA&oe=6618E191	person_profile	0	Nail art love	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123582_3612969575683495_7248090831578340850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NZWUxjPlSdYAb6wxSl4&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZgrntyxhdXeNxgHeko2fJt0KmFi9l6JE3Oke-TJRuDw&oe=6618C5AE			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Nail art love		1016	https://facebook.com/61551664676182	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
988947	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1349117235662318	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251720575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795081	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432472530_1622213328588533_8248215330437726772_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n57x6d0jNRMAb6qZt_5&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCupYMqAR4Kpu-3lzCC8hap8b_1zsXIU08q-YSPfJLicg&oe=6618E441	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433532258_781148220567003_5059582937767300576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XbP2-wyZMbEAb7UKT8K&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwi1K2dhUpG9y4pnRsWyXN5Wmt7tR7u0y2MAmC_VVJ4g&oe=6618E4CE			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989073	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924852		442		429815766212386		7.7252126168958E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298059570763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014849	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433134529_3616521075344291_2214371745853639127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uIVVOUvnH4IAb6m4pv7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAAgROxigoQU0OoXVbFxr49JqM2HPAcvk85DasC7NSLgA&oe=6618CAF5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433116852_1553673642080278_492118108515928184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T6NR8c5OkFsAb6g7mIw&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAfeHMghRzv77Uc_Z1kt7Tz69-e4vdpKzq5_0hxg2dRIg&oe=6618BA66			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
988950	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		394031083336713		1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251430575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795087	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432589557_1573429963433663_8582202295173063832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PHSxNX13RzMAb4kuepv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgCxKu_zEvZx4cnZP4G8Kv3LV8FhjpssH0QygAGeiuKA&oe=6618E198	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433099990_1759519634544137_40484855758763547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hHKjJjKssfUAb45m6nE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfABB-TXgeExp1IIlFF0lKDkQLOnXZaQkyqO41__krCyxw&oe=6618CF54			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988952	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1126388981735960		1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251430575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795087	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432589557_1573429963433663_8582202295173063832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PHSxNX13RzMAb4kuepv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgCxKu_zEvZx4cnZP4G8Kv3LV8FhjpssH0QygAGeiuKA&oe=6618E198	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433099990_1759519634544137_40484855758763547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hHKjJjKssfUAb45m6nE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfABB-TXgeExp1IIlFF0lKDkQLOnXZaQkyqO41__krCyxw&oe=6618CF54			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988954	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		711568007556035		1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184950617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541070	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432406002_838171654742550_4951284997132649987_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W-zTniDaexQAb5iNxsg&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAGCFoMk9Bga2iI-q9ZZ7qs8EC55RY6oDgVKK5niPUX9w&oe=6618CE6A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432433529_361887000166313_8261972206869333613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WdUKVl72OT8Ab6Ik9qn&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDk827u36p0ovvBPs177tiloD7SzjOqoWfV-Jze0odShQ&oe=6618C9FB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988957	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		963944652112575		1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184980617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541068	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480337_1158151421768830_4217962539577914638_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4W5jY1YmdbUAb6YIqHf&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCrcZqSHjVOWEUGDzvYBIQGgDxKAveoEoFJQbCu4iUIFA&oe=6618DA27	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432462420_952098172954535_3533116327919799553_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z2fXFwevt5EAb45XE_b&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD--NSKlrlpTH9I_b2QCFXcrN9GyNduwHMbCHPKt3JjaQ&oe=6618C780			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988960	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988962	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988964	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988966	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988967	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988968	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988969	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924852		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988970	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988971	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988972	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988973	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988974	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988976	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988978	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988980	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988982	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988984	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988986	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
988989	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989083	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924853		442		283407764791687	5	8.2079270988312E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257482540426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936896	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433622693_1149819412626278_2404317748277757400_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gkw3chCZcsMAb4Mqnqg&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD27FkcDOk0ndIYM_XhSW1z5YSADoYZkbbnxXfFTb9XeQ&oe=6618DC5B	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433439872_2189025671437261_7075964822197577624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o51x6p56xEYAb7nF5Ps&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_hGPZMaRcZ7G-uMnKUkYfp8rkp-Sce8eXWRL0uyKErg&oe=6618D07B			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT2bw-_xjcqjiFFKeaiq1W-HL-aM3be6afR0wzi-fkduLJSUO1vvXH-0MLJsQB-N0IKPFzSBbzQsnDz6phqY7YJItlRsrSgMb1hFD7jh7P8GQYPgz2LknHotaHwILAUYy3oCjIZBqQKtWVTD5VIDqZNzQ25h9_fJFnaCibd2" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988991	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989003	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924853		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989005	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924854		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989008	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924854		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989010	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924855		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989012	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924855		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989016	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989018	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989020	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989022	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989024	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989026	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989029	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989030	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989032	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522048	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989034	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989036	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989038	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989040	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989042	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989095	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		1739075013253577	20	4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989044	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989097	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		931663405113005		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989046	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989075	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		312262724866894	2	2.4636338971607E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206549331750257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711009573	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433754060_2502048926647147_4044600079487018602_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S_ukINWx5XUAb5E3B8E&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpTaHs8GyJUnwweNCBpJkhNCiCFQe7IdoRgs5XvepL4w&oe=6618BCC0	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433695924_1516161695612463_3675449276895505751_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qvShAvCAeZsAb5UHQhl&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIR8EyRNFYWaUISeXPKLLqV95o_N8Iess3yeliqrip6A&oe=6618D46D			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989048	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989110	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		434447125629496		4.2983514283568E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989112	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		1053338065768528		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989114	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		1571326147096080		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989051	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924856		442		1319421515391700	3	9.2576296927736E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	191241347560220		0	H2o stačí přidat vodu			120209881264680749		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116806	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433937224_1565357737591961_7206264131798537315_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yG-o693v8xUAb6iK1A6&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAfVckGLdE1mUwpdOT9-hWQKGdSnb2kX-HThv4mZtMtNA&oe=6618E0D5	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434015920_3385636141581346_2109119832521818015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QtPNDS5X1qkAb4lMk74&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWp-UUIaoOn7sl6tZ-mA1zkwn0c87K1No-2kw5d6n6-Q&oe=6618B771			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		H2o stačí přidat vodu		37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989053	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		941592097212361		9.2576296927736E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	191241347560220		0	H2o stačí přidat vodu			120209881264530749		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116245	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432771439_970856200536898_8486300302891753378_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ae81EAUTngAAb6MefJH&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBNdRGnv05PHIglNk0jIdRN_3tHzAX6BnIMO0IRl2hA9w&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432860807_7265609473474129_964835319265282821_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hOTRfiQ82O0Ab4qFBdu&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2mYZaJY3M4OE_KcqzeNbadtBu_rjs9ybsJ_xVY1KeHw&oe=6618D45F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		H2o stačí přidat vodu		37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989055	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		2983683885124066		9.2576296927736E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	191241347560220		0	H2o stačí přidat vodu			120207480796430396		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116017	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434198571_963153398850887_1861562335423915782_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R7pyXDPQUEIAb6WU-mv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAROhs8soGVmCm6vwvN0sG8r0SWkfkACn8rw-WJ1XRCxA&oe=6618C2D3	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434054279_1626074304794340_4027070549641753749_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u5cZIi6Yg5kAb7JhmPa&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2elrBcfpUT-_fwSfMsZTPegykZftxGSLJoBy5gD4rQg&oe=6618BA82			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		H2o stačí přidat vodu		37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989057	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		371198485751970	3	1.1675727312844E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120205827360180094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711052695	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433472717_1440266560233429_5535436332879559108_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HA7hUTj6JRgAb63Zu5j&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB7WSnSCU6UTHbD6HgFgH58j_RqcV_JuOF1sudqSi71AQ&oe=6618C0D1	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433497725_679105454228630_2261889898361998518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZEkiF96pgLsAb7_fmrS&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqHxlEVVkZyIbwTzO3TsmxDzqLyT1IkxrClIrI0JbzHA&oe=6618BF5A			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989059	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		781714413431194		1.1675727312844E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120205827360120094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711052695	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433117307_7572090266167119_9217316847081160493_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9IRxudhsHV4Ab7rfsUG&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCtJTMe3-AyYS26OTG8-GSGOYc6lNSfvzVql29ENkG_pQ&oe=6618D7FB	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433194166_741203684521112_2766114556521172485_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DG7SVg3FZ28Ab6eLcCH&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBQxY53SNSLN8Dng1RaaW8_ZfGm_kJyyKvAISCGICu4ug&oe=6618CA3C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989061	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		906430834502521	1	1.0504552060488E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101166636054585		0	Triggers_UA			120209221101320116		emergclutch.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711052392	1.0116663605458E+14	Triggers_UA	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433614817_297284293382214_4891023767669287820_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WVCKmFeoUDIAb6L5oTP&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBumMvgNazO99Avt7kM90Ay--oZH8zjda1G0-gdcbzfuw&oe=6618DDD9	person_profile	0	Triggers_UA	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433468861_2751937698297092_568552068867725651_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ob3b90DTgPAAb7zPXPK&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaDhRuokBzIQg60c4QuQRgSf7xemB1rqbZYElcchQsxA&oe=6618D508			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		Triggers_UA		1	https://facebook.com/100084706275426	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989116	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		386297994257192		4.2983514283568E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989119	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		439785438399218		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989121	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		417827237563859		4.2983514283568E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989123	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		431850105879005		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989125	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		856986122897477		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989127	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		1086797845765853		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989064	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		1353226575376810	1	1.1398083438255E+15		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	330986410908792		0	Equity Distribution			120209075453480596		ffm.to	Listen now		NONE	video	Roc Marciano		https://ffm.to/gold-crossbow		1711049348	3.3098641090879E+14	Equity Distribution	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057296_1069983790929131_6106975070023928301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QmoEqmkJdHUAb4-w_H9&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCEBqDwG-pVQciirMLknMVCAFkiZWWl4HFBl7yZD69bmA&oe=6618D18A	person_profile	0	Equity Distribution	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440733_399322086069103_6780036797560075228_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IcDOOBKv1uYAb5xldrM&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgJbwopGHGajaZO-i1n-dhhB0Qib_XEQa_NDG83vHFdg&oe=6618E9D3			0	3	Roc Marciano x Gold Crossbow		Equity Distribution		3312	https://facebook.com/EQDistro	0		LISTEN_NOW						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989129	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		1404886703469453		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989131	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		3675799905966864		4.2983514283568E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989133	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		7368910813156866		4.2983514283568E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989135	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		348459721513914		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989140	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924857		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989174	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924857		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989142	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924858		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989144	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924858		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989146	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924858		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989149	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924859		442		1461972057752202	1	4.3741373206408E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	265052230017125		0	Prize Palooza			120207233951180709		emergclutch.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1710868133	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431578189_1840985169671799_5172207164522960250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CK_mO0jgZ_gAb5-sYZD&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBC4o0h5F9XDLevvPm1jiC8zN45JpHcoHsR_FpaTZJNFQ&oe=6618BE4F	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431554973_255440904300038_1626096285878847282_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FKd_JIhiU64Ab6s_uCx&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBbwJBdZYko0x2UX8avjdu_qNnpfOXpeOvR7aAP5NTBHg&oe=6618DC22			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Prize Palooza		250	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989151	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924859		442		1075040327102228	1	1.616087215835E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	265052230017125		0	Prize Palooza			120207215933190709		sickythegame.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://sickythegame.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=g01NOkVdLDUImKb4y2Rl&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710834573	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433098529_220421314491385_1647964697655795656_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RVuPHi3U5ygAb6_skVG&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAfo0T0VtyQppbN0cLJIJgod-ePMZeBHaRsKaOUKbZT1g&oe=6618E554	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432752974_383581904600787_9097985334103222200_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u0UHjkYnMoMAb59VqVd&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkKXYaWT4LttwBidtuwvhZKanQsj9PXcn8uMP7fNrMxw&oe=6618C1B9			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Prize Palooza		250	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	0		LEARN_MORE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989177	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924860		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989066	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924860		442		438296161953000	1	8.2803631269909E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207118206860601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	A viral mini-game!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1711018765	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420172947_366378073038774_2662336276572370971_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sjZf0FiyZPUAb581xL7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDLaEOZ-Gc6vhIm1ok-mmsMu_6VLQAHK67HwquherxBog&oe=6618BC7F	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431503626_1685418775200001_2752203641323830817_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bfePEeVH5hEAb4hwVcA&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCc5XPWScScC3V3s8aZzr044kjLz95RTQQdgt7YxuXkGA&oe=6618CEC1			0	3	Are you smart enough?🧠<br /> Make smart decisions!👍		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989138	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924860		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989077	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522049	1734924860		442		928581035479476	2	1.688994344959E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206549330770257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711009568	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091394_797042015780526_3723277490646001289_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZSUk11bC89IAb5BGMir&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDuXPpgi7a8bvsFa_vOvIZ4FVzZ5fZS8DaorcdbQwt2Rg&oe=6618E0C6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433079860_631148279166920_7668260006395454014_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3GZPFLJEugIAb4D5Euy&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDWC40umY8d4gsuP2XhUjRTu_fCFuwBlKXJqjeYo1MSmw&oe=6618D3DA			0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989258	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924860		442		2327561667453346		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129600430072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542826	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433140582_381092358211220_6876566416109866305_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LXPqgpgtIjUAb6BP1oA&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBaiqzqtn-sRzBTRPckXjG8uAigh2-B8UipthsCFWL36A&oe=6618D313	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640585_392982640339456_8940335706455138235_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Njl6jV1efNYAb7Cg22N&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDo_duFHvZP0st-9_hpA5wiRP5bBoa4PMvmAx-v4mC0OQ&oe=6618E3E5			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2XanAqo-j0NTmrwrWQDdX3ey3KTWsm8HIQwvRvO7uc0bZZUGVUD3aIKN6a1eo3MVwg6MYIyfEEVcVWVRcJqyOJN5W-n66YOSIDC9HQ8-WOjrp6Kn-oetH9qz35GZRY3Q-MNLlu78fSSgYaAS-mWKR-flM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989263	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924860		442		3696117807382548	10	3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129418470072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542533	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432661175_300796076114630_229832205337461666_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nSH5V6E6aykAb4OTPFM&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAYVxD-24eE06KulvEZV4oRH9e4MB3Xm_FXBF1mxYdm0A&oe=6618BBF2	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433095420_284617077997284_8351295717819781865_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OmL4gwN2bjYAb5LtBBx&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB8bT8PTAVOYV-9cbvAHXdKuIvmV-ewaaxdLMOup9iiyA&oe=6618E0CC			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2dnS8wFOHzmlVCwhTMcy6441d22jSFGU75JCVoBLZbJI0RccwXd9PE9BDoCAP_cx87or1dWvvWXz_8hP3s5hP8XWWc5W28L_sZVAotDz9thvlOz9xpSUP4TfZYRHfl9OCEYBTNPhzO8BZ0y4sjMw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989265	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924860		442		6716169488484187		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129599890072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542819	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431521315_1436964896934054_7575039674199463431_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R9PY7BjT8LgAb7Q73Bn&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-V0pilE1sVcWnqSlfXNtS6BetgAjcMDQPInohrQq4MQ&oe=6618D73A	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431211939_440698241631742_744714155624244372_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fGB9mAGH0EUAb6VdDRs&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBH-hzU1_Ra6ZI-txjBjfGkLQ5oS2ngS4V1FUKbvZUyVg&oe=6618D4D1			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0_G2Nd2M2mTHA2op08g9rHO5CIYOW3BFvxOjnZacrv7ftRnSbNwSCH3vTZJU6upqQMHo28voSTgQ6-GRbHRCMzGZEjh7-FteCy8hbRuHbceZ9-4LNwob72Dj5RvInw7PTYfaWcxpoJHRoB7zZyDA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989267	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924860		442		7564455010338414		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588550072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542806	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432389592_1367460773964203_2110123684750846060_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TlmSOx2RpoMAb6hjNmU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB3SnPjVfMuVScz_97iIq12HNqeuJRi79HyajqSoLTMnw&oe=6618BC60	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432377349_835771935024141_2268746279950365082_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9fUWNmG-zNMAb7JmJfP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBcIFQsrZq7ClE1Y2B_gbmDWZfft4_91XXjpxAKUb67fg&oe=6618C61A			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3i0awwdoQ4B98tSx87vuuWc2mSbbQCDB4KrGWRokxJHZrPzmPISv5sEJt6EPixH7WF_eUZdFkGKBJnE2byuQJwlH61XjoSIFBN51jz2XO6nvAV3G0X2QLi6QHKJ5NVpZgcjkMZ4oEkoAP6rcKGug" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989269	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924860		442		3724492474539869	1	7.9421932588545E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129418360072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542625	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432066330_725909343028498_7639940185673184075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pvIt7PHvJK0Ab6sP61J&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA4WciwiG4CwDMqH3nv5xF7g5VmrtU4WgLn23OJF4sQfg&oe=6618D2AC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432058654_2045303015850541_5672783804985453520_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aZ41KnxaF5cAb6BqPXa&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD2DhuRU7b2YrKkUiqwe5lA2E8Ibr0jJ3SunAzyrDFrRA&oe=6618CF21			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3YeUL1MM47V78-uj8-KRlx11tYdZPuIV4MnYxChDJAbHi_mgkGXwW8bSvQ0dLsGUWz8wFyJGGYYBPFMDZpk1ZbY1JFiE-HQp9U2r8JkROOk56BxVIQRCUBMatiNqCCsO8kba53_kb1DJfKXr5GIQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989283	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924861		442		703565471992985	1	1.4885603653396E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871716970601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Make smart decisions!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468838	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444776_372738965577835_5030082489331704739_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fCg0zx0fShgAb4x17vG&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjQDdBLjgom-sg9pwQom6Ok7505kDE3ehU3bvxlG8B4w&oe=6618D243	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398130_950653769440556_6991683737075570762_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pmTReFXcmsQAb6I7M5Y&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBYUinZVsQbXKRsdZ2uB7u-ITPDyxjysVwZ08KMXD4ufA&oe=6618C81F			0	3	Unlock unique bonuses with PC777!🎁		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989154	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		918938326898879	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251700575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795083	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431480559_816250756980508_9074508348101933540_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UkCWBD58nIIAb71bc8E&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDVJC5GyJvBTEkVMB3c8ZJX9Ozibn8CylVBqFLYOqOefg&oe=6618E039	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431502622_954193799603192_1006820179298308297_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=on4G43_GTC4Ab5OnyMm&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHko-bxnXCMgNgDBL-_lsn8AE33J6hyuS3-9Us5KDC0A&oe=6618D521			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989156	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		782827143245902		1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184950617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541070	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432406002_838171654742550_4951284997132649987_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W-zTniDaexQAb5Haz51&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBHwADdiFV2gIoEurIdkFvWj2Ko-eNP56wEqvH6ZOaUYw&oe=6618CE6A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432433529_361887000166313_8261972206869333613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WdUKVl72OT8Ab5faQho&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBACMmMpX_bg5WhCo3ncrzVKqSXt7k46lgHzOX7LltO0w&oe=6618C9FB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989158	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		799392625336886	3	1.1941545053017E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	109973985488101		0	Onlinehol			120206321853200276		onlinehol.com	Shop now		NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lnFb3qhZ-ckAb6EeYov&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOH4mDqcCmiad0p9Sjbd2fdWwkEbh8tm3LqAHuCmy4qQ&oe=6618EC1A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kO7kbfHVawAAb6rMs8-&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCrC3L9smXwvBhWX4VrIExUjahdXPJbpcNxFyDN7Dlxg&oe=6618C631			0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It&#039;s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.		Onlinehol		18	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	0		SHOP_NOW						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989161	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		1510265042888201		1.1941545053017E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	109973985488101		0	Onlinehol			120206321853200276		onlinehol.com	Shop now		NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lnFb3qhZ-ckAb6EeYov&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOH4mDqcCmiad0p9Sjbd2fdWwkEbh8tm3LqAHuCmy4qQ&oe=6618EC1A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kO7kbfHVawAAb6rMs8-&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCrC3L9smXwvBhWX4VrIExUjahdXPJbpcNxFyDN7Dlxg&oe=6618C631			0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It&#039;s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.		Onlinehol		18	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	0		SHOP_NOW						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989181	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989165	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		1898222110629285	1	9.3570368487063E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102839175671195		0	Cynthia Toye Realtor			120208756617490039		cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Get your FREE price update now 🏠📈	Do you know what your property is worth?	https://cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com/home		1710687136	1.028391756712E+14	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431534062_438866478816933_2206442151941426473_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nZeDWs5NU90Ab5uiIh_&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCJK5rHSh5Tb0KxKNGY7lRv-3OeBegaa5NSnY8sec6hyQ&oe=6618D66F	person_profile	0	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431537837_1141009400586233_3830896177794570314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=f2mh1PbjE9IAb6pYQOw&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAHJ43SFlbt4A6veg1vnqJlmqteKLbvoNfwLbHOHPyIbw&oe=6618EEED			0	3	🏡 Hey Homeowners, how much is YOUR HOME worth in this current market?<br /> <br /> You will be SURPRISED to hear what the recent market activity has done to the value of your property.<br /> <br /> 📱📱 Click “Learn More” now to get your updated home price fast		Cynthia Toye Realtor		52	https://facebook.com/100078522785084	0		LEARN_MORE						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989167	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		958418599252202	1	7.3676660399793E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102839175671195		0	Cynthia Toye Realtor			120208756616040039		cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Get your FREE price update now 🏠📈	Do you know what your property is worth?	https://cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com/home		1710687134	1.028391756712E+14	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433125855_378657238421384_8729339550971718121_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkHJSsERzmUAb79ZDMJ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBsh89nIyHZF2C_KIR7wawu4HG4Jw1j4zHTwPZis8hs7A&oe=6618DBD6	person_profile	0	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432739446_1823087504800617_2904808879846314457_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IRm5meH9RSgAb4_9pk_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAGTMRSt931nv_gSshy3P9VM6a88v8ZFPZOryV-MD_Oqg&oe=6618E971			0	3	🏡 Hey Homeowners, how much is YOUR HOME worth in this current market?<br /> <br /> You will be SURPRISED to hear what the recent market activity has done to the value of your property.<br /> <br /> 📱📱 Click “Learn More” now to get your updated home price fast		Cynthia Toye Realtor		52	https://facebook.com/100078522785084	0		LEARN_MORE						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989170	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		1563170427813051	1	7.1799199382266E+14		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	106845062087075		0	Age of Frostfall			120206980903560783		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1710596211	1.0684506208708E+14	Age of Frostfall	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431502711_907878270884982_7871176958020716854_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ryrfZd3YkmsAb7IBK2g&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBckM03Skj573XGtno1B_aBh8Ypu8JFV3ezWkK_4W7ocg&oe=6618D787	person_profile	0	Age of Frostfall	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431259759_939027937708099_8422577423398177837_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XAsyzl7HPSYAb4CGsKR&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCnDRLKO4LCbeDCimh-uW364-XxlNpP2GTIxOwMeaCeEA&oe=6618DF86			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Age of Frostfall		740	https://facebook.com/100083610756555	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989172	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924861		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989193	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		309398471855745	9	9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588620072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432782875_1808973049621804_285468857212307292_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgLvu2MxgdgAb6Gk7kH&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAlB15vzgRfetXqc_AUEMlugCoB5lQiXGICZY15SfdyBw&oe=6618E9FF	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432721000_775458167437870_163073391142643730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qGMSNtnGJ1EAb7wKz7N&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBCGp5sp3OEWOD7ReeljI5JlfMXn1bWM0bb8WaHzGWqOA&oe=6618E4E8			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2eRPS24-yqMRpN9dyaPZcAG35X6IBihN8W1sixP6KEnJMNGUmTq4tX3GpaWAQMe0oEg0y9jDkIMJbIPsHLVj3jDkDtEWBWxbEU--0ApM6H8QmDW9QWOuJ0RAmBlDVKZSSXD7gWjJx_7ZW164PyoMXCe7WYVCRbSUjPm77F" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989196	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		760824599313941		9.0017423519105E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129586570072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432348114_953749055705768_7741503024840269884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoFXL9ZOCf8Ab5viBlh&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBua132lp-3hg8LI0UX7Oo9Gy0UPsE_CfZdV8JYgvQtVw&oe=6618E67E	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432422514_2198116267202335_1943750760541878506_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HMnMsd_ERvEAb41D1Qn&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBpiW9_YQ0qIjpBX0L83A3rhWpw3aGF80CMzfM-sBcRMQ&oe=6618C13A			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0QaCEN0m3yC5fq6xyi1bwBtBe9sjxI-88ofAeUTUYXVeyJNBXme40ON3GKH1K1Z66qrIHzBd9QVi2thsmrT69bxGjxeZuSgTS0RWZDdFceorw-ZeMV3XvLCoICV3zDlVWhnWBUEKLz9Cg8GRMcy5dkXH4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989198	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		928178242264466		9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593080072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542814	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431486210_1143282250009579_8818504583973954569_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CyuuDBA8C74Ab6ExGOJ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBUKd_j2cg4LvXglDqxF_AP7iVVgU2BeokhWEKDJvYjtQ&oe=6618CB4C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431237611_2621000608067355_4273940541205197909_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TpaK7yUoso0Ab4PSaAz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9Ek__qptaHq0WDCU0zxR0xu49yDBkq1adg_6vQyMlUA&oe=6618B80F			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT334MKXLDLvPXq2veHh85Ez1ym1YTF40rusPtzrBDrbt6dv6MM04wus99Mv0t1gRqPc9o3UG28AZFzo1D1DhJ-ObsmuWopQF5LZe3ndDmecQLZ_Bvd_Ts4g44BTz6E6QNUct_2IPMLxgCwKntEuf6xyuzc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989200	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		942877230269032		9.0017423519105E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129590890072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542809	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431503600_711066267905796_4783668311905601880_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S2-hdMdml7YAb6Vrzoi&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBdXJwlqX_6FJQVwLWiJjfX0t8o8B4eGLSWx7HPvL_geg&oe=6618CB86	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431207767_933465404980256_591282852493407944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MGQsBuoDEmgAb5sgxqh&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfACxUpcjb_K5iK8wWHbk9skU7KTy2r31RFF93SYLX9mkQ&oe=6618CB81			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1JDwTayXsqQhYq-7xLb1So3FyehJ_clVgKas7zGN0PyCFkhXFGagA8ZiLAUZnqgvDx1kQfFgkEp15-iGWhzZek2SL2IImyi449EcVz8rXc-3C7C86V_f0Q7s-ksnormU1QjCEtUas_JfMah-toUDg2zeM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989203	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		953956992387548		9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593180072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398743_443180964903688_4788572455294977068_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aPJuy-1BAJQAb6timQu&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBPqSfsEOOEb2Z_B3YY-aObiJMv8NDysyRGMlrAnH2X_Q&oe=6618C8EC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432407494_287435074382418_6813649029135874068_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Je8c2f-8IZ0Ab6hXZw7&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCB7cOyFSLgpBz0ULPRK4MQx6fn9SHugOYsGlsNJ1cYKg&oe=6618EE44			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2uhRV7fqUasM4uxRVAfo-zxaPg98wNltTaWdeYxEJMYDgrfd-t_UIA4tKK8gFDbwNp7O6neNq1HIA00AZhF4JJ3maa9tB3MXfxMpB2RQDsGbXSCpoHIcaYxnMnAHLARTJFMhqR6TGdqQ-ygaBvz_iyBpVS89iAWLtifP0W" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989205	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		1050386772719278		9.0017423519105E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598230072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432705501_444048057957190_1879430047611828550_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MdmdBLu41zAAb6BmCgQ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCGqh6UwO0GN2nFc8DdmgyVmVQdDrEM-q9WFcMLwM0zQQ&oe=6618E7B1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432708932_1601956777223015_7384676479127184015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SIXHZuEdIAAAb7sJJhF&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfD1pC94rEvBJazAsxS-lWK7O8vXo7Q0DIhuqdBFXkCNFg&oe=6618BA53			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1RfRoe_Jw7GFP9gx5O0T9mkUphzMsrxHpyHNRRe1nxYwDXcjXfJwHA-rMrcYBmdaSflG7AZrMwP-ImHkkts88v-oKWSJ_ENe3qi9agQPZpLzNy_J3nfk3BtP6GH4jO-tR8FsVk091Jt8qB4ei36pUqEz0" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989207	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		1072871567344938		9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598200072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139357_1112061176612213_6427435744762554694_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xb3Ei0cNKbMAb4n517j&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCMal-HTJ6BPq42l9NmUbXkMUaYfNIv8mI3zDfgrpRL_w&oe=6618D641	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432570174_787445243261574_3879437541907470107_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wNX7wEV6eAEAb6gevmE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBv-DWustLyizPd5auqbo3dx1uxbfbgS_Whsd-3_dwNMw&oe=6618D63B			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2KVT7w66PM7gw-3PMcczoGphESBPU12rP0HWtc66bTu7a-33Jx0SscNFO3X36Mijh5lGhAH78yu5OQbpVIP9RCBTnI0giOuei4mBdCwgW3H0ykLQTfo1k0u6hb3zQWDqmfWtH0omtwWoTFttdnzBnM3Xs" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989221	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		1103859307490946		9.0017423519105E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584950072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542792	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431432838_3530843087227291_8429246433939172260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWCxqcN1EDEAb60B3jV&_nc_oc=Adi6ab6uYkkryjOI1C6_hJsCuhbAFcqsZ5_fdKTjW9Xjl7fLdd0OpTq5_FETuAkFKEI&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDln7TLYd7g9VFs-SPbX7YmRO7OHTN0pT-O8lSGqt74TA&oe=6618C9D8	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431472034_1111102756827153_9180499509179689443_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0JtchAHpYgsAb5C7Ly8&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCODN3z6vZfmJQ4ogbCe0isO99nvR-ltYwAM9THcQxDIQ&oe=6618DB3F			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0EsAJly9X5kO5RXwvEUo17MijDhpj1bsLOlO05BiWhRn242Liz-T-TRUf6dh7KhX1o0DMwpAf7f6zjyuP03rdV3sRMmbrwD5PLOLN6pRXRu_ZnoKEw0sc8qrREbGHGAt7O6vtShlysquPLULAW4TpxSQc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989223	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		324531547270159	10	2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129591020072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542808	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431283384_346675675000244_6569175537725213859_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=ku8QQi0CWT4Ab7EB63H&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA9-jg7vtVwp4Kv1rb6oqh2xQCIf89t9IApdA_kHRq-VQ&oe=6618D2D5	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432424817_7093598527355437_690324687597847759_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ePGYneQsA0MAb5rNCI6&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAOhbJ74KiXw_cQ53cioHwGHfH4ANjvhDq80UDWy-U4Rw&oe=6618C587			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT03EM4n5c1R5VIO21XJV0ZXgk0Jv61yYhu3sGrQHz44cod3ntdB2tu9-7OpiKjsXnrprf5oHHQR0wX3kcVWCP9xJTicZx7lBGsIO7SEptPWwzcH1bqKNTuJu2Dc26HhZdkXsiuJvUtt5o2eZc8m2mqNbBw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989225	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		368124392726895		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588580072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431180503_271377769245704_5273886051282060781_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G_CyUCUTWeUAb4McXkH&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfApa4JeYsy9gMTBHOMcgkt8u-TpNq9HNdFnnAZNlYD6mA&oe=6618D9D4	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431435898_3471018953118890_2739422780997407060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3rYtLQ1ZetMAb6vOuQA&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDnDrrbZsBT0dxeiSJ1eOkpg3lDLmQErVhmT_PKqitS5A&oe=6618C0B6			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0IZV2pwxus_XUj8UkhRS2zABhZ77PV96q35QjWUpcmoG4EBMHls5Y6H3U3uuXLPL7sP04LIKo9-642MYKxkEf4qf1rCGqYsrHVzAXRYS8BqJ6RN1y1rriAc525KdOrJ9gghNUGimJYIlqH9J-m06cql9w" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989227	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924862		442		377003948554871		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584890072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542800	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433397011_1380910225892344_4568544260375518731_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FS9DZQ5g16EAb6dAayg&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAEmpNKOaVV2GZyFXHwFrfEMKlk8h9HOZJa--QVGcYbzg&oe=6618E26B	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433365889_1475507159710054_6647650235198966379_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5HnX8O_hVj8Ab5qbWvg&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDDX-Er0I3LvwX5wkMYCgUvCAE3Bdn8Wpr8q8EXAeL2BQ&oe=6618CCB7			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2LgwFc9DXaNtw2snk7-59qlG0oLmzMSLS3Xj3xM_jvVYn3SQKPLU9fRxK7v2dqtKsDQXriFtakJKKEoAK80um1bLcjoeEgm_PAq-EvtJ2K_UZxvWMOPN06gN2B5trfCQMeSMnTDXrdNVGRtuTEJSh3JA0" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989230	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924863		442		645079184410984		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598160072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542818	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_994026922305808_3359678864362015370_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NjweeYQX4mkAb49aLJQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDxiMwrczKIUMTWbugb7qluIAlPcC9j2BnX7Y5iewRpow&oe=6618E37C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431433053_807950507872801_8090519929636540408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=laHNZc5fHVgAb5BAmg1&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9aXdgOJZfjlSIhJ5OVlphszAl80ec_mWJX03wWqBmWA&oe=6618D54D			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1CZBIyYZ0v_aUP-BlSc588BBA6HeLBuX7EQONrEIlG6UY-GQfok2EwT8_v_CZ_eDGaH1ur4RRg4ZNqkgOHdW21dLqU5X6FMoewaedseuc_y9pWGsbijc9aUl4ZAp2F4tcx2OLLx9hiNQODVrzLkPKjZls" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989232	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924863		442		764349085655670		2.8781289752093E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593100072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431097112_3489308498047624_2887825571835188470_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfhGo89vQDwAb6IrJQY&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7n8qbke0jtmmyS8WZWvr7Dw-Gxbw0zwPO6dIvJWVTlw&oe=6618EF56	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431908819_1092978388419841_5234135548026698328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OJOjpVOO6kQAb6vx-Yh&_nc_oc=AdgFlnn0G9SyhPgig_IYXqQoNwk9yp4ZKuwn-q9j51GoLqK1Low3zzEEm_G9QV6dMAQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKPLr1vd4oOJ1686TuiAr-4MhW3MiB6p4mcWwg-s3KSw&oe=6618D516			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3WIKLy8_UvzlS0qfSUJT1HmN11kd4qwoA-778hXBpv4UMd5Zej0Q745mJBSLaA4bEa41gQ4CXl80fq-hdelHqob_d8m39Qe6xFvkWsLtqAw2mnW_Q7m9P14FOEtJoO_WTkTWt5zvgQqQMmEH-wVf5B_TM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989235	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924863		442		1133184311017101		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129603650072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431283774_1521348495098145_886944501097367468_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1DiHVSh50YAAb5M5bF8&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDXRc-Iowak7-8RGPZIjna2DcrihAoeOsLYetNiyLG75g&oe=6618E727	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431510879_292397493706135_49876471057132494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7akl-4ivyk4Ab5JsfKn&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBC70zC0DP3RTHMzDBIk6-jT1XJlwU0fXFgdyf21c4Tfg&oe=6618DA40			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2QuUtuXH1JCB1VFRtzzFzg0Qmz5E2zSkAKIN5eXGriulSSO91o6nsLvFbila7asmrdRH2pSqWs_yLaOS-sUNzzzPfLhA2d3h2pLzxkFMQBzkO4KeDla97WCK3jtyYtfnWmmY6XKh45i2b6R6ZVmSh8hfk" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989237	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924863		442		1314707623265279		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598260072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433103891_1600385807401594_3754547429292290629_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SMQmFrBYnmwAb4W4t0a&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAw7jx6De93NdPiDdadkJv4iuVQnSBVXKlZnP2uVYJSwg&oe=6618C39B	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432624223_940670667215116_3933014791145846947_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sQvJbOm8fxEAb6J57AR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB3E9pzdXuz6dJdF3lvCDwYCl39vwnG0iDV51bEJnKEMA&oe=6618DFAE			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0O4JbghLHdxbDjleHgs7EsLZjNWhxn2izdi1evUPD_Bs-CDoY_7JeiYo94jroCnKlFt_DYTlsykS6mWzqn4WR4Zq24_Ui9aW2O4QuMflOZz455zUsQmwfXWo1Kew5yQG78nxnNNUJgyoL7gU7lAWWjuXI" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989260	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924863		442		420431877334294	2	1.0742673504884E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207196020550751		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1710507117	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433129755_7585680791488663_4041320278312419263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k6SsbIFAEesAb6nO43d&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAfOb1uBXl_EqucA2g-kpolA14MSYBh6RXeQiGorZZV9w&oe=6618BF22	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432540595_962825225551905_4980250375982958112_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kL0k0A-MAXwAb58zZ30&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDoS_iSS7EcWrv9EhNN_vym1gXyLsW9AViYP57DGnyqYQ&oe=6618CE71			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		PLAY_GAME						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989239	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924864		442		1437720900155013		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584960072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432744513_3343176742485953_4601708793226573996_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFHUtDBR7iQAb7J_slm&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDKZ-5jYr3isqVUl36V6IMaMtayQAlJSRoVmi-IAiwrVA&oe=6618C29C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433101171_900636081791926_4941709115365300452_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OPepxacXV60Ab4H8cUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0Hx8ThGOAuRrbjknF4ZUlWYAz8t10tUVmTK0Oahd_gQ&oe=6618EDF9			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT16TAB04XQC8a9CpFM9PrfBgV--3qnS-2BJjxyfu58kP3ARizwFyanAPZsxWccVEMbCLAMBHMAgQUEF3cFc904PRde4nH04tX5GpB9VSDCW6xhKZjb91iUT1LeLVqkW4vOHH5PBKrMU00IwhEPoXlCKZWo" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989241	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924864		442		2429100250615673		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129419870072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542511	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430320178_1495346517710718_70324083697686810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sQY5K2F9ItYAb7JxZRr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAOIHYHw3KStigse_gbaRAgZBKukNOeFDGcHRWIm4GXWA&oe=6618E42D	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432090507_314323717958615_3480147196720856946_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gK_wdXDKxd8Ab4qoEdU&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCdUsI1vvBGo7EZ4kFq-Q5x9c4LEjDbCm7usvqhebHD8Q&oe=6618E4F4			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0pNf8cgXmeOFjTfBuMy0eSIGlNjoWGiyEwNpvnRSsCOUxqiSOZnUqiIPTYRSIBW29cVo4s0pWFnBTRhAL-pcTGDUUaWO0dPs-BOqxWmoMOkQyOwhM6SUSopslNjXIHFp0AWTWsTBl0JIiW9H_Zsn5o_bg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989244	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522050	1734924864		442		2571717866341595		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129595880072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542815	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432630777_237570609436573_207092304303665070_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FvJZ3JyQDlcAb47yJla&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAUYA7esSUc530jK0o4Sd8ysYCgyipQf0k-XfDCoyZk3g&oe=6618CBD1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123876_1453147492222222_18301219442974219_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W71BOe94X_oAb79tORS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALjtAWpbtz6QgYsn0wtCKuVFlCZMQAIlMZg8qD1DgYIA&oe=6618B9D0			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1IukxwMJJUCqifEuyVlOZvPipliiU7CtBQdgWyCDvw9kTBoQdI8mapyAOwFaOHRgICJCgCThz-0Ckexwdje9NwBSN42tTqEjOf6_jDpsBEatE1tiHVbuKL7r1P4FxI3xN9izYEa6OeUtJqq1REfSM1Ge4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989250	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924864		442		461304269570077		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129586530072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542807	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432397013_708333988163126_1866695117248052536_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BT8vadq-KskAb6czc9o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB6yVlRDkHn1rOnm3LLHSVJ6OD6mI-ilraOl_IvtnkNtg&oe=6618B94C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432447920_3629071277333995_4548284713454927828_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2ojPZ_p5HWIAb7Zi-l5&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAGT_GIi4qnfC5bRoGq5HrLhhajw4Xn-4vmVZHShN0Emg&oe=6618E397			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1sV-Cf4sPYmg69e0yCwyuSFgAsFUe-i4OBBWddj0x7xFJwkedoXXbo3XdeBXwOJKnOF4YCRbgKMj5jJQrE2iDMJwNWoYy9Ib2Fcd5wUOzhOgvSKYkooOHnveXLgNPsF6RkkZ90iPUxvGfV7dS7WlgnsbQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989252	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924864		442		710987307863813		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588740072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432371939_787533036053074_8518477965223920752_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S5DF2BnGqnQAb4XiIF_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD-63sC2PxFHZlr2h3yu_O2wZ8kBTR-nKow9x6bwYOchg&oe=6618EDC7	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432420150_731054349213554_5108879125051733833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QwnYb33SiTEAb4FdE2Z&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAQqHDPpMxqN2RIGRFpWhJwkm_w8gpEkTJmc6G28mTPbQ&oe=6618C0CC			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0Zpe0b0F3j8XRYT7bHBxgDlQ63p53U1IVxGzV2_ABZNI3Ozt__VnD6rmQsUzT-FrtHaFIRgW8dQqKcB19KA3HCicLkMKvTCbKpXlDJ8zaN8sq6ROdIZn5jgr9Xhyv0r_Jjh_8epB3wUlW_V1AdL0KAXRc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989254	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924864		442		763371545722587		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129595940072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432058002_1146181586736656_1643957283186047426_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rybWq-Iq7hMAb7ofw7A&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAmmRBSCxPDMKZD6gCgDWWJYJ7MSqOlLMRJLUKaeENCjg&oe=6618EEF2	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432128558_1422966421942687_2525188161982282882_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lbBERgf63UAAb53lAwj&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHzN4ZlCB3jx5gxGsda629WuKLxepqV3xMiImxk2jp6A&oe=6618C7E1			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT15pzlsoXWaS-gN2tEKkvxSnn0YqDV2Cm9Ad90p7NJBoxhkvFklb4sPr2oQfvjLP9AULKw7me3nELtCiCGeT0wCwf5AmfR-NHqoUL8DbTMQ26lvlZjC2uVEEcvbXX8fS-rhlrAeMbbt9ZLPtPpQo9m1NqA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989256	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924864		442		1801794927007611		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584860072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444324_756309149552715_6081799796211420548_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hsCOzzUdlZsAb6ncBD0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCeeXiUm9qfaWVaZapHjRT_XFrQcOJc7TLxTqUxSbwJnw&oe=6618DBA9	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430470684_368547139499293_5132676558960640184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bFzGaJ0sPXYAb6w3XFr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBW3SD9cUpEI6pKRAi8ZDDX2YEMwrPET_jChkLIz2SGXg&oe=6618C741			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0uipxl_7fWpvDAuXxnULCLkP_GNrw00oPqXz6INYaUW2L_FZZn3mIbF8fsTaRQiSKYoXWSmdwaEni9-8XkWIra7kdNCxUP0gpoYuAE9QDJs9zpC9IT5jBMmIo2F241rfD2rjZS-hw1n3pRi_-yJw8u2G4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989272	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924864		442		418845017219811	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184950617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541070	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432406002_838171654742550_4951284997132649987_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W-zTniDaexQAb7hiBKK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqRDBvKlouiF_LxNHS9xX4WhgZ2Xzn_G9OZtr6fUF5mQ&oe=6618CE6A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432433529_361887000166313_8261972206869333613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WdUKVl72OT8Ab5m6DrX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAI0ngyxC5VGc3erN0oeAhYYtuzIGmNmpoxO_y-Lv1Klg&oe=6618C9FB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989274	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924865		442		432628129161823	1	1.3359827437703E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871769770601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Make matches to unlock more!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468896	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432364456_7587330547984305_6081318494994962222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oT0i7uDwlg4Ab6L5B4t&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB_g5pswhaOE6vocf2Cgp0Icep8mwV36MDO6ppE4xw6wA&oe=6618D314	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432384874_417722324087856_8097039176730887727_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zrhqpP7PdfsAb49-HJJ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDIoXSyP7hVuCG0p8Pz4iUMOfrX3KFAAHTuMb4BJ1_FEA&oe=6618C773			0	3	🤔How high of an IQ do you need to beat the final level?		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989277	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924865		442		790868032886390	1	7.5019393671638E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871757330601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Epic Puzzle Game		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468891	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432743984_1394343881193330_7665965852556619492_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s5NXAnXKO6cAb7DHtwe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhGbx-9cGWEdeIMPBy5uoW_Kf36P7KAxVvNjbqhn6ABg&oe=6618BECC	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432773639_308986298517507_4330017547945227324_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s6VA7MNDZE0Ab6xZAm1&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBT47dpbWjC9dE57mT_GT-iX0Uj0kqUOvuWbrKJSqcl5A&oe=6618B87B			0	3	MAGIC. MONSTERS. MASTERY.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989279	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924865		442		1084218616165403	1	7.9666409563182E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871748630601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3 SLG👉		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468888	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432373585_922913695947992_8289229141916300097_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y9wNCqz--OQAb5NJAlk&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBNhrYbE7XRRsidiED6Z6AConBlNdksfCwdWcMtHZKcYQ&oe=6618E481	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431876977_763104358843962_4725808223182110592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k6SIKWI0aRoAb7z5ocE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-sw29CV2S_7zooCvM4X1BXDSX_oSyn2hTRHWvbPZXqg&oe=6618BC73			0	3	Recuit legendry heroes!🧙‍♂️		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989281	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924865		442		369732645974433	1	4.051756120435E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871740610601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Rally, to war!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468877	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432578977_788425675950060_6514610819260113002_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hc-G5tNUrWsAb5tm2Cg&_nc_oc=AdgmEZptPFWMhXKKGofclzgXXBbiesshQf9DvIaG1eJygkJGD7_Ge_MelhAU8gMBBGM&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBxy6xB1WU4SX9QDOhENtmT5riutsvATMPbYcA-9hwXoA&oe=6618BB50	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433116694_2675379092611215_7289416225169210618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tm8fURTXuQAb4xKK5m&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCVCPs0bKbJ0Hs2RemmTBgN6h-spfJ3kPY5ai5P9V7pig&oe=6618BF79			0	3	The strongest alliance in the new server is one player short!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989282	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924865		442		388135273994129	1	1.7830697855498E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871733930601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468866	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432702957_1128078108192968_4975257683676779671_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nDMIweQHlyMAb4jK5rz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBTPT7LJef4fw_n97Zza-zRODYqV1_L8jdU1BuYtad-Gg&oe=6618E882	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432771461_215846128254480_947783419309057872_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IYFLz0adWikAb4kFKLi&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa99HDGdbCxhzL3xwQ7Fo-xMKaG9qCLGKyDkPkTmQUdQ&oe=6618BF45			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989303	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924865		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989284	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		954762202966795	1	3.4522895847459E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871713660601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468835	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432420338_1178734250199515_4820732136263124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qCL3rM0jLQQAb72RKT5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCNgALZrvAeU-xDGitkbaQm2gCWiQQUxCHH9x9eqtamNA&oe=6618CE94	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431951241_761001549306352_2315356510373630192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q4OtLjUsDK4Ab6ngsSZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAdAKBdtN7f-izrnoahnGRn0kk_wov3BoPDmxALVmnSrA&oe=6618D878			0	3	Raise a dragon and match to defeat the invader！		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989286	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		724446923200860	5	3.9029571028666E+14		1711436400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120206427303380727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1011466		1710426064	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432588189_1571481373675242_1205278681109741644_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q0FoeAkSoDQAb4-y8aR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtAk7VMcScCQjxN0V-FkyEJub-s-xnNJt_JtMeRIyTLQ&oe=6618DB48	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989287	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		623875623227469		3.9029571028666E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120206427136430727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1011467		1710425847	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433076508_1141613546865452_4345152077728592799_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zzy3bwiR9B4Ab6GqYuO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAUGNW8lvrQDRJw74Dr_M7n51_GAr_xIwpMQO0_fiNumQ&oe=6618CBF7	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989288	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		1099767001366094		3.9029571028666E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120206332283720727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010828		1710237759	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432347969_770157925034025_4217088264527251935_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tmbM3yCc6XIAb5YglJq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlc0hEpZwZa0RYG6eZfpdcp_UuTG_gNcSbXGfy_lS-Hw&oe=6618BD2F	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1710226800		View Edit Delete
989291	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989294	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989296	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989298	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989300	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989305	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924866		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989309	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989311	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989313	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989360	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924867		442		3304682006491041	1	4.4284611817342E+14		1710486000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120206853852240751		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1709891274	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429581234_1099310164730363_1086504078742655591_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HkxV9hhRZBwAb5NDOj_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_l20nQs_rHx4bL0477IV0hBvKpKLJHUIc4XYDOKYKEw&oe=6618EE61	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428698205_1132546604423467_736375551921548533_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WQ4cHBe9ycQAb4Pxgr_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBOmJD-O9IZAeaa_v4xN5CIm2d6ytR2DxLou6qIG2K0og&oe=6618DE80			0	3	How many kingdoms can you conquer?		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989315	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989328	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989330	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989332	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989334	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989336	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924867		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989340	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924868		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989342	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924869		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989344	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924869		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989346	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924869		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989349	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924869		442		777039987681074	1	7.1501487745946E+14		1710313200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	233433179859296		1	Prize 2024			120206837214400417		overwarily.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://overwarily.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=LmGIlvLgDqQVBFoTKqGg&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&id=KIUYv2sx		1709969620	2.334331798593E+14	Prize 2024	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431095151_345650688432460_7969959328879594147_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Jgay3OzupTMAb6tUYMg&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDdoaPclY_ZZWAS9DqdYfWyFF3Z7D0zs34gwKfVwBptxA&oe=6618B885	regular_page	0	Prize 2024	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431042925_1261676111455938_8312925769507360434_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CCJyNY93jckAb5hLLRX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDvZpbxbUYTHPewMx7-FCJw-ntxxZAknC5QKVZc5ZWsYg&oe=6618BFC2			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,957 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709971200		View Edit Delete
989351	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924869		442		1452702805352971	1	4.0010601264153E+14		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207576048030127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr14&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956430	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428712680_418826437305195_5858516169441456784_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jOXKlgDlHZUAb5f9A9i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBj62aWsF98kOzrlrYnqQM5AtC4dThPab7WJJB4hkao6Q&oe=6618DBAA	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989352	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924869		442		1452702805352971	1	4.0010601264153E+14		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207576048030127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr14&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956430	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428712680_418826437305195_5858516169441456784_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jOXKlgDlHZUAb5f9A9i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBj62aWsF98kOzrlrYnqQM5AtC4dThPab7WJJB4hkao6Q&oe=6618DBAA	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989356	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522051	1734924870		442		370751069136092	1	9.3470331818078E+14		1710140400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207575996730127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr10&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956242	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432049138_731012869138725_5954585650042261466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wr_UANE7-YYAb4GhtZl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZIoMD3D0LiaILzUIQT1wkQ5NVfzTRCeYpWk8n-BAfjQ&oe=6618C543	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989358	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		926691635448056	1	9.3179262820987E+14		1710486000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120206854027290751		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1709891576	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432162566_1157952788907286_7796736370592406881_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3kPhPsEacwAb6tosDt&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqAPNFuAxah6fntpiEWRm0PEsnrikZjYegrXDKVIYGIQ&oe=6618DDEA	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431562590_1086975382453760_6166737432628581841_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z32Ptcr4K94Ab7viVWv&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCPkKN8UqoZWeETd0PXE28M0_7M31pFaAoWD3wfySbhRA&oe=6618E941			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989363	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		960088718345925	2	7.2126186315694E+14		1710658800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	261497253706396		0	LV for Everyone			120205921510520393		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&id=IUYfiii5x		1709724453	2.614972537064E+14	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428694019_1120099312746280_1304942596648389719_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfhBFlGfMGwAb6mElaI&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAm2Nx891I_QANzvetKYGb2TjfHAqzagf5Ne-_Rl4pK4g&oe=6618D235	person_profile	0	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428687806_389196940384521_5248875778367170400_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_JgOokSEOmIAb770c_p&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBuy01q74OP9sOIxleIlrjenjTNxbm3EHMWN9M31dFrsg&oe=6618D152			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,975 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳		LV for Everyone		845	https://facebook.com/61556390108579	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709712000		View Edit Delete
989365	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		7759540307392390	1	4.1612359091104E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206728737530421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1709535800	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428675024_1134118907775547_1470778305470570191_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nsRCQs2UTOAAb4_9oFL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfnobRlK4b2eFT6j_Q6JjSvrt6b4d1N3JspuLvPnhIIQ&oe=6618D643	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428713244_742789704618490_2040688107521860061_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4dER0t9fBk8Ab4k9CK-&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCE0QfTREngayVjYjCbZmeS2GDYW8UbvwkTcSUXn7FrcA&oe=6618BD19			0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989368	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15		1710313200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108124922119098		0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients			120206777282770285		itunes.apple.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_4-ysIOAQboAb7P2gMp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfACtucShkxUAJuzuQ3HpmJlUr17Jk4ympW_VVYqLrZyLw&oe=6618DAA0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UaCaHDRYBdYAb50MU1l&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDds2NAVpnIW6ljvQ-up9E_-Y4uFF4SozY1NK9H14zjKQ&oe=6618DB96			0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲		Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients		1743	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989370	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15		1710313200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108124922119098		0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients			120206777282770285		itunes.apple.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_4-ysIOAQboAb7P2gMp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfACtucShkxUAJuzuQ3HpmJlUr17Jk4ympW_VVYqLrZyLw&oe=6618DAA0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UaCaHDRYBdYAb50MU1l&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDds2NAVpnIW6ljvQ-up9E_-Y4uFF4SozY1NK9H14zjKQ&oe=6618DB96			0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲		Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients		1743	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989371	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15		1710313200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108124922119098		0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients			120206777282770285		itunes.apple.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_4-ysIOAQboAb7P2gMp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfACtucShkxUAJuzuQ3HpmJlUr17Jk4ympW_VVYqLrZyLw&oe=6618DAA0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UaCaHDRYBdYAb50MU1l&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDds2NAVpnIW6ljvQ-up9E_-Y4uFF4SozY1NK9H14zjKQ&oe=6618DB96			0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲		Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients		1743	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989373	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		1116952662710166	1	9.4322723018246E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	218810774653254		0	Techguru			120206813998670263		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1709354939	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429548950_1749256132264153_2121853105467280595_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Bhv0truHYQYAb6e_5ca&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIRSWkZdaYL0MSSHfr3duk2rCpsCAyW185gGzeT5DVZA&oe=6618D369	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428699798_422937976850574_8478791820033969524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YBCGawN5Gp4Ab6bsFef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkHhq5Sgtoof6jobCgpdHc649c_gB8xrybLf4qH1gFkA&oe=6618C3AF			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.95 in our giveaway, 🥳		Techguru		832	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709366400		View Edit Delete
989375	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		428364532985741	2	1.0742673504884E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120206275532310783		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1709111974	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428706826_714817304158126_6251656658491189222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8L3krkjYETsAb6cjbAe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqznsTGprr_4A7kGXmznJRjVK6MUCwqlMU7ZPE22zKfw&oe=6618D780	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422851942_1172920693884605_1919264627967449890_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SNsONBQOg-sAb5AMdlm&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDo-c9uUJKRLCGA9FR220Lr_0GJmlutxUYPI_BPA0MC4A&oe=6618D321			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989377	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		1216832515955091	2	7.2126186315694E+14		1710572400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	261497253706396		0	LV for Everyone			120206265524130255		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&id=IUYfiii5x		1709314931	2.614972537064E+14	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059010_3676131662670040_5343693385323575810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QyXMt54VodsAb4Ps59i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKG8NWjOSFvt8OfMBiMYrp2yz3ac0BaIqLc_aCMbuOYg&oe=6618CEB6	person_profile	0	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431158860_1524738084752268_6322986587223920682_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oqY79ReHj9wAb4FQogK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCfbrKrUIpf6OKIHVAEk2TaoCOlb7dzRv2X3RHedxjQ_Q&oe=6618E3E2			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,975 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳		LV for Everyone		845	https://facebook.com/61556390108579	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989379	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924870		442		414134284311009	1	2.0420591994978E+15		1710140400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	105810599097200		0	ZW-Shooting Game			120204959886800534		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	Zombies are coming！		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ddup.zombiewaves.zw		1709296233	1.058105990972E+14	ZW-Shooting Game	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428503942_923884975719354_5477108965959599606_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tmXLcqwLA4sAb4CGkNX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiAblWVW2mY_0T6G9X1CRglyM-o0cSP7wKwdNH0x3cnQ&oe=6618C8A5	person_profile	0	ZW-Shooting Game	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428507678_1732926830526868_6324205797696489579_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dtrQ-gsL-9UAb6F-Rr3&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCWouI8JtfHqDJ4G8eJrAumwiaMxwloarG8V2f7d82WnQ&oe=6618C8DF			0	3	How Long Can You Survive? 👉<br /> 😱😱 Can You Survive The Next!🙏		ZW-Shooting Game		22	https://facebook.com/100090268868472	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989383	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		1082786276177405		7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120206129045290114		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709270620	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430489326_24802103736104516_8300198805730771556_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fiEMe6pSCqAAb46FshC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBdChMgRyA9clkGuavC9FTqRnLi4ZhLrQdJoOqGi03UHg&oe=6618C75B	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429908169_791748129666468_5888067511520341142_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NKtVlRX8pRwAb4aTKIo&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBblO34LLQcuGJe_nkCj-3-NKnUe3kBeit-jzQmp2bK5g&oe=6618D949			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989384	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		1427790881507733	1	4.0630449194408E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	218810774653254		0	Techguru			120207617793730119		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1709132842	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430016991_1147687306542767_3856760328875310212_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=leQJumZMzi0Ab5yWFIp&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDdT2V_moTXUVGa8Q7EGiHmwxt2wKvxtOUAkCTjkU9r0A&oe=6618CA1E	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429913370_2074064929623623_4420141907958862938_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=p-xQ6VCtRbcAb7PKLVQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfA9mGNeAdu7lpMl0rFyefdFRNGYANG1iu3xofGTdtkZHg&oe=6618E66F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.95 in our giveaway, 🥳		Techguru		832	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709107200		View Edit Delete
989385	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		407103728523856	5	3.9029571028666E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120205738991330727		do.r2games.com	Play game		NONE	image	Play Now	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010827		1709003774	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430158640_760048506051685_1350157845783949232_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xGqRj9WwWr4Ab7utYji&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAPxMealxpNjkJBCJ9JPgfMk26Htyt9ebFdZPvh3z0lAA&oe=6618E6E6	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		PLAY_GAME						1708934400		View Edit Delete
989390	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	747021958709347		0	Music City Archery			6535603657907		musiccityarchery.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YozVptWq-EAb7u4wUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjh4c1yeFRe_c5Wzkwk5QzMOMvPzPAVISuJD6yUDMzeA&oe=6618CB07	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hdnvroK8iOwAb6Iunqq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5Z4AMsUsF0L3d0ByWy8PaLpPhMKXy8TQxL-DMWEqGkw&oe=6618B834			0	3			Music City Archery		2563	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	0		LEARN_MORE						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989394	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		6768688703260549	1	3.6505563851625E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120204508361130601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Rally, to war!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1706258186	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422927621_1420279545259386_1393293151869996681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RYWn1f9kZhgAb7YK81F&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJSeb-gsVcAUlw0mMTpVvPhyZ1iCkSx8D9yCFvhaQubQ&oe=6618EA25	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422934922_410689661526646_7408576882001537210_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wjjVPBsEV3QAb4FVcn9&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBhCUFkGF-DlnzxP_llfZsiX5zh37qAg5LUz3iS3JkrsQ&oe=6618EDF6			0	3	The strongest alliance in the new server is one player short!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989396	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924871		442		1153250632332305	1	1.0463250964471E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120204797375290421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1706164148	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420106986_390836616750400_4785285487608768183_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sz_XxP-F8IwAb7UVlDy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCVshB1BOXVP2tD3ZCQO38g1nM9_BFVe6Zo45M4X71E_w&oe=6618CB03	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420094076_925427188949131_5088787140421479825_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NS4J8L25eskAb7Hy44S&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD3FWb4quUJ4xHZ3y5hZoa4z0SJqzzn_h8NBFyAc46xOA&oe=6618C2B3			0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1706083200		View Edit Delete
989398	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522052	1734924873		442		1766028447141019	1	2.7716184146071E+14		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	1	101410031779066		0	Igoldencnc			120205726777430022		fb.me	Get quote		NONE	video			http://fb.me/		1704875959	1.0141003177907E+14	Igoldencnc	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417789445_3824120457874575_1718063993017667222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgmSuLzJrdwAb7ZKmmJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDEKsSxesRf4o1GxdlKCVYVMp5ZhA28wxio2TEX2_qx0w&oe=6618E3FA	person_profile	0	iGOLDENCNC	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417772705_1365449790999729_5592436530954521317_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Mg08WfCvXtgAb6sSK8I&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCQD0YNqFQ00YxiuaGyQxzNEJ6lY2c6lotu5mHJtkeirQ&oe=6618BC18			0	3	🛒Crossbow portable cnc plasma cutting machine<br /> <br /> 🟢Stable structure and long life<br /> 🟢Easy to move<br /> 🟢Economical and practical<br /> 🟩The portable CNC cutting machine is an ideal upgrade <br /> <br /> product to replace handheld flame-cutting equipment, handheld plasma cutting devices, profiling cutting machines and semi-automatic cutting carts. The use is as flexible and convenient as the cutting trolley, and it can be moved at will without occupying a fixed site. It is a CNC equipment specially used for sheet metal blanking.<br /> ⏳If you are interested, fill out the form for more information.		Igoldencnc		3021	https://facebook.com/igoldencnc	0		GET_QUOTE						1704873600		View Edit Delete
989486	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		455971930117233	1	1.9747626296065E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412727290779		www.shopcrossbow.com	Shop now		NONE	image	shopcrossbow.com		https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/bags-purses/products/fringe-hip-pouch?utm_source={{campaign.name}}&utm_medium=Stories+and+Reels		1712252689	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434610718_340544711838399_8087931283179146244_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6dserXVDQ3AAb5n5yG_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA8RoGedyAl2AXccsJ9BsbxmvPi2vU-koXdPdUzc6c2hg&oe=6618DF80	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435909653_820860006742185_3382620861482282270_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=twwCTn09sgEAb4x-qwn&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDH5_0Kx65MwnoCJwjxHM-FQProlRl7t_gXREaWtEDO2A&oe=6618C743			0	3	Handmade with Love in Telluride, Colorado!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989487	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		435744842237737	1	2.5116596877985E+16		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412547320779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/website-womens-apparel/products/suede-shawl-vest?utm_source={{campaign.name}}		1712252276	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562429_1455596778666524_7484599176160372525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcNbUdqkPAwAb5g9ZOj&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa9y9IkSCGW6aRQT6jUHLiqIvavr5dnCNMlnqq2QTqHw&oe=6618C161	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554538_319836154108520_7370353962761140925_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uPjKPVv310EAb4aEITE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcPI5hH-bhnq36FtgszzixtOfxavLDuTYY3c28zmNBag&oe=6618B753			0	3	New for 2024! Shop Now!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989489	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		435744842237737	1	2.5116596877985E+16		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412547320779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/website-womens-apparel/products/suede-shawl-vest?utm_source={{campaign.name}}		1712252276	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562429_1455596778666524_7484599176160372525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcNbUdqkPAwAb5g9ZOj&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa9y9IkSCGW6aRQT6jUHLiqIvavr5dnCNMlnqq2QTqHw&oe=6618C161	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554538_319836154108520_7370353962761140925_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uPjKPVv310EAb4aEITE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcPI5hH-bhnq36FtgszzixtOfxavLDuTYY3c28zmNBag&oe=6618B753			0	3	New for 2024! Shop Now!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989490	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		438679045221520	1	8.1112532711774E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	582294555450606		0	Dieta Loorca			120211060247340405		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.71&pub=1562749387920742		1712504309	5.8229455545061E+14	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435498927_1080281043255427_8105644060983987698_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JjuhWK_fJHoAb4CuuNl&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB1O2PXoGaKc7nyQRrx2Klv3PDxkRJiupD67jSgVofpYg&oe=6618B7FE	person_profile	0	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435410497_388674844012077_7460868147868878554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ai2K0Mel5CMAb5iK5H3&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBUKn4KcCg0-0JzRo-bZlJp9wA1TrMbcLeuDqLGOHzIlA&oe=6618D595			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Dieta Loorca		301	https://facebook.com/DietaPode	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989491	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		2761463964009585	1	1.7848379785882E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	582294555450606		0	Dieta Loorca			120208881742570222		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.72&pub=922085289662706		1712504217	5.8229455545061E+14	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436351281_1493161838275750_5700566076724240011_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9WRhZ4KtBesAb7tSEgL&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDCBvSWZr3iIMbk88c8UC5ZtbZJYY8R4jLDCE3_aUfFhQ&oe=6618BEE6	person_profile	0	Dieta Loorca	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436346474_408721158448369_5822165021017928231_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0NU2jS2saqUAb4YPNMN&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAHkriiNK0sH2l8-L-1huoSctAQ9yLg83OaU0PFCTOBgA&oe=6618BB5C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Dieta Loorca		301	https://facebook.com/DietaPode	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989492	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		1800140057153703	4	6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120206941527610543		novalisofficial.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://novalisofficial.com/pages/free-download		1712494224	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433953603_446457177774675_3974813578542018685_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yCP0VazjhTEAb6gPu1R&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0UXbsNimDgYoaEr0UpsX_m43FNnrvYY2j9FetEPcMUQ&oe=6618E185	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027370_2294183974125534_5280270949881528129_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FbtzjWu8DJsAb6ULr_I&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_U48Kl0-Emz3WUZehUM4xv1gKmxnfFQ6kxqZapU7qCw&oe=6618B933			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989493	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		946287463811269		6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120206941295060543		www.instagram.com	Send message		NONE	video			https://www.instagram.com/		1712492695	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433953969_954539882879340_1883225792055013791_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fhrmH7on7LoAb7k8Utz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCIRilfVrUh-bYGgtZLnuTUh9lnrO2c-q7cNe21i0pNfA&oe=6618DA11	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433895309_2288131724911947_7197784048871439859_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LjDZEhuAf7cAb6M7ZQm&_nc_oc=AdhzXd7TPRQdoeyiSCwV-Tzcyy69hZf1mK0HY1rIGnWlESZ9I-zpUxsThj5VcVHWHdg9QmVziOCihW4eOX3wFE8m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD_l2kqLYoVcTr0ST-wnudaZeYodGWd8_qSDbEhPenXpQ&oe=6618E85E			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		INSTAGRAM_MESSAGE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989494	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		288540690961437	6	4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989495	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		636077738673918		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989496	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		736779531928278		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989830	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522060	1734924873		442		405998018729673	1	7.4427677435033E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206549330560257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711009573	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433550324_1446645049603600_5136389505035088405_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gsz20-2y4BEAb6UcnIf&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBPuVq3hVzMJ4xlWs2kp5CsTHLEJ0lSSeTtkzh5hBbFwQ&oe=6618C03B	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433634132_399204216395138_8647582468373768612_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8WKf3O145AQAb4QuOG1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBe_6Tz-bRZPzs88jBDEhHhE5iOOE0f1iYCsIOUk03WdA&oe=6618DB77			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989497	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924873		442		2164887337199192		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb7TDb3m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_H0VUds-Igg7NAX6ODd1jUI0FTRa5r9hix9zzB8KcFA&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5irtJk&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHk7Q9VfQ6Tzt3hfh-5R5pIIHr1hxdS6vvDl_XaR4GvQ&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989498	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		3555102044706734	1	4.2912855293754E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120208402639870303		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.57&pub=1582667812466152		1712492804	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436384209_2211280795872489_5404082222891634779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tdEam1umL6cAb6m3SlY&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfATjMvPMUKWc-0oa0bFWwAR4-wH7Uw4bM5Njwz4kj6Ksg&oe=6618E9B0	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436105833_1767108980467533_5922376345768193037_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QY32LGbgCRIAb4vV2Km&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDf_QGKIy4KUsQd0_YSrCUPxRz4MtUFbSxEdHXRntmDTQ&oe=6618E365			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989499	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		440263461890384	1	9.5814552589276E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120207737972620280		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.56&pub=227272123781410		1712492370	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435675043_788260196173101_3299551932457604159_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w16Z-AtXRe8Ab4lJBtF&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD_USeOd-5-7X-juvtC4h77vj8RyBy2PHi5klNoep9YzA&oe=6618E4EF	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435396524_432761669236307_7777148633591261371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rye61eeVB9AAb5bV91u&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_YA_t_Xf43tMhLwiKClzLM2o6CGWfTB2n8vnrmNHi0g&oe=6618CF50			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989500	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		1635049297236829	1	4.4377132142642E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120209375693610555		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.55&pub=385731227615169		1712491871	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435909309_1133449004518471_7765944902856882616_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nWAwX2CHWFYAb4PLn8M&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDCaKwxQaIQROml2MduXkNM6ELSd2Vlbt7fDzQi0Rbp-g&oe=6618DBBB	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436299104_443243801497465_5325871120094046472_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F5OWk08lnrYAb6zjqE9&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCRalzkI-xQOm7hFgnNSGXnI2z9p94nZC5qaTasa3gy1A&oe=6618B7C3			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989693	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924874		442		475589574814013	2	2.6379384830331E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120208155064930049		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792805	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479919_959912538864610_8597118669439670229_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UplVWCsaQhQAb5ikcan&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcxAQ6VZUG6ek8rJDlrqakwGDy7ICv57UfuPXqlgsEyg&oe=6618C6D1	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433875550_892269892650110_2757953878129817015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Jw0ZERN-5i0Ab79tgsu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlSOZz_XWi58E0UsAas1lH00-aWv9vyGHDUmSZ68itgg&oe=6618E897			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989501	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		783676193857805	1	1.8911886879974E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104115371550214		0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه			120207496225170660		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.55&pub=436497805586378		1712491280	1.0411537155021E+14	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434716592_431441026078863_724514992890332469_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h8BWrSCDvHUAb7b7dsR&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbYtGkBowsw_GRfntpK9lD_55-ynhMsO1reGqj7LBqwQ&oe=6618BB63	person_profile	0	شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435082773_3627100457532534_6127743331847708181_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ENMSa7zLhh0Ab4D3zX0&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBBDWw_ZLL0qcbwhfFS1-rYRxepC2ZGb-ZzopfSxnY6lQ&oe=6618E749			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		شركه الخديوى للاستثمار العقارى والمقاولات العامه والتوريدات العموميه		668	https://facebook.com/100063974178134	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
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989505	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		924379122501052	1	9.8506914332696E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495234320155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488795	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435756834_1100704034514755_8927988907118565585_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7FRNSLWd9asAb7xxMF2&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBB5fVmmz8kdMagiSbseG9hjZvAsPdDTEVeIdVi6Tda4g&oe=6618DF81	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436317475_396625543167632_4850598482548573393_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ide81qgUkTYAb4gtKa8&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8-6VtMBpJuOnNG5jw0yqf6MqNalOEkSBnythyjiVnHw&oe=6618E82E			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989506	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		985653822929445	1	1.458966541373E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209495234210155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488767	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436447050_353054793823580_1725770958331990521_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UVkBDCZL8GQAb4YVYsa&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCvgzUM5f0Tkg6hrmJyFM6SqkBgZg9SreIO8NjhF0NH3A&oe=6618BF87	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436378824_950134930121106_6978267147722748193_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v2-Ljg1JBJ4Ab7fnSnO&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDXy1A48TejfFiwQEIiRwQncI0Ejl9fBtR3S4yocTefGA&oe=6618C75B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989507	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		2143215356017195	1	9.3227103859781E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233590155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488821	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489466_435182998917069_7873664016896123895_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yo1YtbYxnfgAb4j038Z&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHHJpzG4Tc6DBsyL6eC8ajEgMFyFuGDhHFgU1qLA27Fg&oe=6618D9E8	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489716_392724340197188_6363041643725959294_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jJplRWta3jcAb5Pe7eh&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB_lC1yb2h75IqdC6btbDgth-igCmkzkSRnkQgYFfoFLQ&oe=6618BE2C			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989508	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		3639566659638725	1	7.4001440492928E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233560155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488713	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434430231_2851278625011842_6083822264475891880_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U5pJ2cerqu0Ab7dLaRP&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDd7Fsq0rpt8pAVads8Lk6O-_0QOnbjKwgWbJCaXvPL6A&oe=6618D459	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434420659_1122103208916028_8474788516124323439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BvYyQetcEL8Ab4l6bkz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDGCS2amHT9M2B2B5Um4AWxFfkSvPaLa0EmQfSiGsgswg&oe=6618EF0A			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
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989509	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		270909652654045	1	3.8574777761516E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233020155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488791	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436270720_957515095786467_875208830111518690_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0drN5K9q27gAb5FZ8oK&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiKmocmKhlu6GHZZNzRVbHJ7Pwv-Jr0JjYMciAvSTP0Q&oe=6618C921	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436769217_736416918685784_4702726399574719986_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RnsDlNvugM4Ab5qkuH1&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBmjVZCvG9D4yxMy1JhJgaxqesVqrCqJdg6P9NSeC2TuQ&oe=6618E53D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989510	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924874		442		352207010583266	1	1.2728151603028E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233050155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488795	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358471_806009891384209_2684266132372405924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AOizY8XMCj0Ab5Oq4yf&_nc_oc=AdhOrnSNaTV9XV8fDx1UQipIphN7_vRBH-iAvDA9CRykamtaVhOMugz2X4llnftsfGaSq9yTnkIazs5o3DqDpncC&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAO_wNoPpGtN6yF3kOXhUhJZdSK4CfiLxwnyrGhSq3clQ&oe=6618E33B	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436105833_1140365634066366_3952715177158861981_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qDJiJxq6PUkAb53MC7K&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDmi1Xdx2N8eJD6e8in30fBsd_PQ7Wy7vllL_eYx1B-Fg&oe=6618B80A			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989511	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924875		442		889210519622456	1	1.1563022953906E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102834104836800		0	Rosalia accesorios			120205621109890146		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.51&pub=227633507074960		1712488655	1.028341048368E+14	Rosalia accesorios	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316350_338845235842830_5501251386379282832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CRs4FX_zOEEAb7i-kNv&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHBCBLri25Im1YTVXOGJ19Qku2Xkq0t7ELwruuADkvSA&oe=6618D579	person_profile	0	Rosalia accesorios	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436943297_425650383339752_3441000900061379428_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2pzVPJ3_5S4Ab62_lUs&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDvi9koSQp-dH1JaBAWUkb0h39fXf6lxsiYzWOUlW57HA&oe=6618CB22			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Rosalia accesorios		190	https://facebook.com/100089848687261	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989512	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924875		442		7325522080902497	1	4.3832832539122E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100458418740759		0	Pocket FM			120208267794200581		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712480622	1.0045841874076E+14	Pocket FM	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436121244_1585694995545533_8413529466928789841_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=faLPkIUkKskAb6KpQ_B&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAvXH8w96e21lcVw04_ttilQkf_oSzfKfvAN1uxOEEshw&oe=6618DCE6	person_profile	0	Pocket FM Dramas	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435988156_1493266574880715_8092851525972940103_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Uwb7rs61GJsAb5zU7ZH&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBDRSCPsVj_rv65RwFHXcQzLoJtzSd3hRj6HHt7XbFrbg&oe=6618CAF7			0	3	Dave&#039;s life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Pocket FM		60006	https://facebook.com/pocketfmusa	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989513	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924876		442		777378497363885	1	4.5230602389897E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100458418740759		0	Pocket FM			120208267651920581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712480364	1.0045841874076E+14	Pocket FM	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422433117_752319950013077_6167332770136011594_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JqyZ-vEpE64Ab59mPhz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8MMrw5fSbYJ73bxouM18fUJI761fto-4HefA2ITjYOw&oe=6618C03F	person_profile	0	Pocket FM Dramas	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435211038_1156538065765924_3635063361811769204_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sfy0VyDPYYIAb71-zKN&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAp8s2GtaADu_5ZS1a_kcEjF-fqemPpLEyYNgcQr1ecdg&oe=6618C2A0			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Pocket FM		60006	https://facebook.com/pocketfmusa	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989514	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924876		442		777378497363885	1	4.5230602389897E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100458418740759		0	Pocket FM			120208267651920581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712480364	1.0045841874076E+14	Pocket FM	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422433117_752319950013077_6167332770136011594_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JqyZ-vEpE64Ab59mPhz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8MMrw5fSbYJ73bxouM18fUJI761fto-4HefA2ITjYOw&oe=6618C03F	person_profile	0	Pocket FM Dramas	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435211038_1156538065765924_3635063361811769204_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sfy0VyDPYYIAb71-zKN&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAp8s2GtaADu_5ZS1a_kcEjF-fqemPpLEyYNgcQr1ecdg&oe=6618C2A0			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Pocket FM		60006	https://facebook.com/pocketfmusa	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989515	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924876		442		886468940136315	1	9.089222775831E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	106001611760967		0	Random TD			120208585996900594		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Crash your enemy now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.feelingtouch.rtd		1712479438	1.0600161176097E+14	Random TD	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/421929950_2643971322444033_796049117069429445_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ynlZQiNufAoAb7-fhq5&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD5AAeJ5JLkqk90XqP8j0hYDyxunIKeE-vuDQ0n87r_Dw&oe=6618CD42	person_profile	0	Random TD	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434057396_790986139606511_6933269067585262197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zB7PuSWiEvQAb4pqSrc&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDk_jkyUVnGtsO85GZpw9Mdb2YoY8i7EEJqaKOVWITClA&oe=6618C059			0	3	Defend your tower! 🚨 Battle anywhere, anytime. Get ready for a thrilling experience now!		Random TD		37502	https://facebook.com/randomtd	0		PLAY_GAME						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989516	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924876		442		389193697293959	1	4.042555657269E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208262680890581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Guardians of the Dungeon Colony' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712471371	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435929463_934696964807665_9208563814260180152_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPcEawgW4yAAb4rVA65&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQlWhLhhDiFV3o-p3jJzKDfzsuNUMSi78Ikle9u1gUvA&oe=6618CB59	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436449169_796020071981954_555194291753858439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oaeiBpgxEBEAb57ilQH&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDwZ70x-B7Re1jn7UurPp-dWnjjjrAoCmkQPH_sUh5bDQ&oe=6618ED36			0	3	In his past life, he was a heartthrob, but now he is one of many mates for the Queen of his ant colony. Listen to the audio series "Guardians of the Dungeon Colony" on the Pocket FM App.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989517	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522054	1734924876		442		389193697293959	1	4.042555657269E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208262680890581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Guardians of the Dungeon Colony' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712471371	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435929463_934696964807665_9208563814260180152_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPcEawgW4yAAb4rVA65&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQlWhLhhDiFV3o-p3jJzKDfzsuNUMSi78Ikle9u1gUvA&oe=6618CB59	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436449169_796020071981954_555194291753858439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oaeiBpgxEBEAb57ilQH&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDwZ70x-B7Re1jn7UurPp-dWnjjjrAoCmkQPH_sUh5bDQ&oe=6618ED36			0	3	In his past life, he was a heartthrob, but now he is one of many mates for the Queen of his ant colony. Listen to the audio series "Guardians of the Dungeon Colony" on the Pocket FM App.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989518	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924876		442		392088650275384	1	1.4036010077063E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	105271864301993		0	philspring_nature			120208366030720640		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1712469206	1.0527186430199E+14	philspring_nature	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434550582_1193190378756941_3945290159074093874_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HdraTJLSrWoAb44v3w0&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCBAQygOyjI0HWPIjxEJsMF2Lb_v-IMODJ7fEdPX8fKiQ&oe=6618BCA7	person_profile	0	philspring_nature	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433964250_386546067633535_3937310658734186235_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ECisJWsRxMEAb7vzCi3&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCOFRdQ8igDH8KGj7Lk2CMRAR41BAC0_VUGZRgF92eeXQ&oe=6618CADF			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		philspring_nature		612	https://facebook.com/100068516696098	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989519	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924876		442		947293626805191	1	1.8740401630354E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	755976041081330		0	UNDER FEST Producciones			120208017494870356		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.75&pub=1552012542247103		1712461621	7.5597604108133E+14	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435545087_811851604147778_1537401300185598095_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z7h1ohphDjwAb5UEmUW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCBVo0JJZcfAR2U61xj5YQRTP4kZtO7hzT1W7YwyagFZw&oe=6618CB1A	person_profile	0	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435512576_454000116978361_7380090376705437066_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AP3I4bozjegAb4XZE6d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHOdYKYHqqSJb2w3bYkIVMSyS7R2EAyIl-Js9q5dRlfg&oe=6618DDA5			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		UNDER FEST Producciones		651	https://facebook.com/100080171857117	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
989520	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924876		442		958544452460916	1	4.4954452106459E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	755976041081330		0	UNDER FEST Producciones			120206230132980705		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.74&pub=793868612634734		1712461430	7.5597604108133E+14	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435961606_808269421048320_3911852219932394073_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dKW1ddEfV6YAb5ME7lD&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB-ExtshZ3zVBuXrUeiJsiFvdNkyi-EVD6JBVIgDgQecg&oe=6618C653	person_profile	0	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436363728_950537363177869_6814876271588203014_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eKEM74upSbYAb4BZde4&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDUFk-MyC9DZ0X7i2Z8-LZdoq6JVmWSdByDo18UBCGmVQ&oe=6618BA68			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		UNDER FEST Producciones		651	https://facebook.com/100080171857117	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989521	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924876		442		784802123588757	1	9.5031728336608E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	755976041081330		0	UNDER FEST Producciones			120207759507640716		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.73&pub=25160744006904443		1712460732	7.5597604108133E+14	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554745_1447232232544429_2206388380180052756_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DyvWA5zR-qkAb4kTGY_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDZ-gL7x-0JtXbXsqsD6sBlQfR0D-PUcuhkq-1Neri-Yw&oe=6618B8C3	person_profile	0	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435381978_1590214888429294_240293486153857478_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j_d9aW2X6_QAb6xnesh&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA5lnzdLAvNw4QCq2069oYcYUegUB1hTSR4XSo4-S6ibA&oe=6618E337			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		UNDER FEST Producciones		651	https://facebook.com/100080171857117	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989522	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924876		442		935604148361619	6	4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb5vNJ3D&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4v5H8Ha0sq_BBUiEwgQXfPa62pbr5cSUnxMj9zYtE6w&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5sW5i2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCs5INzq7O9EpY3IK2pP6Rp8qY5iMVGcARngu2DmdCbKw&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989523	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924876		442		1602016667296861		4.4302609497789E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120210259452640242		v2.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	GET YOURS NOW		https://v2.chancenow.click/campaign/70431274-f573-446a-ab25-1ca7c1d85713?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1712374265	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433185893_1564820634088533_4190193780817043195_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhnotd6ucZsAb5vNJ3D&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4v5H8Ha0sq_BBUiEwgQXfPa62pbr5cSUnxMj9zYtE6w&oe=6618E05D	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435585566_944330717350211_5712617851207529174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BsU2-m0dBGgAb5sW5i2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCs5INzq7O9EpY3IK2pP6Rp8qY5iMVGcARngu2DmdCbKw&oe=6618EA75			0	3			Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989880	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522061	1734924876		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989524	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		1457509878189896	1	7.8969874926093E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	641086812686708		0	Alimentation Bali			120208097327150412		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1712450428	6.4108681268671E+14	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436837051_1327744661225377_1026041806726927697_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=upOx_8fiSS0Ab4YulQj&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-80glT_fqU2ctXyNwB26kbXHsXVlYPTWyPOG9EEJUZA&oe=6618D694	person_profile	0	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436351481_438017411917667_6727360297285479131_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MVecwjNyz7MAb43A8Qg&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxMMpWtbdNf7_unVr8G3grf1gK1owwqfjduD80tFZDfA&oe=6618EC63			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Alimentation Bali		83	https://facebook.com/100054507427553	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989525	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		4110344675858518	1	1.0840142962361E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1374231599564553		0	Barrett's Bowhunting			120207789718950467					NONE	video	NEW Mathews Bow Accessories in STOCK! | Barrett's Bowhunting in Elmira Heights, NY.				1712439276	1.3742315995646E+15	Barrett's Bowhunting	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434039162_980626963680562_95455062847802621_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-MyRYdLgS1MAb7EeYrt&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB7P3A4-7ZmXVBGb7Hgm6wDBR3dDXkSgJWHgfYgtddkWw&oe=6618EAD2	person_profile	0	Barrett’s Bowhunting	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938216_733547652305324_7775935640007374372_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3_RQsBq60ykAb6swGup&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB3U3wLD-SQl25Ot9aXbpb02CpcVfAOyIDePQJXyn-NIg&oe=6618CF3A			0	3	NEW MATHEWS ACCESSORIES in STOCK! 🏹✅ Any bow accessory you&#039;d need in any color! Visit Barrett&#039;s Bowhunting in Elmira Heights, NY! 🦌<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /> The largest inventory for archery in the Northeast. With over 200 bows on display, indoor lanes, and any accessory you need!<br /> <br /> Barrett&#039;s Bowhunting has the BEST BOWS for your BUCK! 🦌 💵 Get a hands-on, personalized archery shopping experience &amp; visit our store in Elmira Heights, NY!<br /> <br /> P: (607) 733-7773<br /> Barrett&#039;s Bowhunting<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barrettsbowhunting.com%2F&amp;h=AT1-xEklaA3_JfCaXihCOrk8nAdDzVnFQhpRlgsb3d0zdyoxLMFYk3oxEpvlBWEW3Ux2n9wOhOWA4dQsqyf614H_KQoR4LHSFzxArgMRvwIJeaNU3xRzEQR3il9mWbjZmmwnch-waHrw1rkyTUTsnQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barrettsbowhunting.com</a><br /> 257 E 14th St, Elmira Heights, NY<br /> <br /> #upstateNY #elmira #elmiraheights #barrettsbowhunting #bow #crossbow #bowhunting #hunter #archer #archerylife		Barrett's Bowhunting		6097	https://facebook.com/BarrettsBows	0								1712386800		View Edit Delete
989526	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		966233211571803	3	4.5281481710463E+14		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	302043876314524		1	Ted nugent midea 09			120210058073350428		wcmzt.top	Learn more		NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c0IUbt94_QMAb53UD5M&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqsD21GBGqnHXAYZJgcHTLYcvz7fiDr656TrjK0fOlgQ&oe=6618D3F2	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7UNurZqI30Ab4HHvNI&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDWWYHYrFSQBphqcRhnPipiri1dS7WeajuH83MiazsmEg&oe=6618D897			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		LEARN_MORE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989527	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		1750629815423318		4.5281481710463E+14		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	302043876314524		1	Ted nugent midea 09			120210058073350428		wcmzt.top	Learn more		NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c0IUbt94_QMAb53UD5M&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqsD21GBGqnHXAYZJgcHTLYcvz7fiDr656TrjK0fOlgQ&oe=6618D3F2	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7UNurZqI30Ab4HHvNI&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDWWYHYrFSQBphqcRhnPipiri1dS7WeajuH83MiazsmEg&oe=6618D897			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		LEARN_MORE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989528	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		1578170726367806	1	1.4692223073364E+15		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	302043876314524		1	Ted nugent midea 09			120210058073350428		wcmzt.top	Learn more		NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c0IUbt94_QMAb53UD5M&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqsD21GBGqnHXAYZJgcHTLYcvz7fiDr656TrjK0fOlgQ&oe=6618D3F2	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7UNurZqI30Ab4HHvNI&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDWWYHYrFSQBphqcRhnPipiri1dS7WeajuH83MiazsmEg&oe=6618D897			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		LEARN_MORE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989529	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		973055781197800	1	9.6484157564880E+14		1712473200	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	1	105495248925442		0	grottipapi			6600444410667		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/grottipapi		1712422288	1.0549524892544E+14	grottipapi	https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/419503858_899279781573265_3343328293947159112_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=eELdW6gXtxYAb4ySaRe&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCIvPM2WOokXrZAUwpxjNHxdoC3iCBEJW9iD-IijExpkA&oe=6618EEAA	ig_ads_identity	1	GROTTI PAPI	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435293832_1904690629987464_8889798921052522385_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EcwBN65pnFcAb6xSzbR&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDzwNdC4lFbvS5xt-BEHlYx8ukBMw0XlEoMNxycihZHOg&oe=6618DB84			0	3	Cruising around in #LosSantos on #GTAONLINE while blasting bangers 🔊🔊 Nothing like it 🤩🤩 &#064;fariswithadollarsign &#064;lexxcarver #gta5 #gta6 #pontiactransam #newmusic #grandtheftauto #lyricvideo #imponteruiner #weekend #saturday #gamer #gaming #relaxing #peaceful #stressrelief		grottipapi		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/grottipapi	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989530	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		412154818218753	1	1.2189695124204E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207232024580257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712416202	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434866062_1983161965412910_6179217325277698525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oeOcv4im0GYAb4OSNR2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDpiL0B7qE93ui9lUgR4mPMig9eAhL7eHiseGu975OsuQ&oe=6618DBC5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434858282_403935295817098_5417337463985912632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kflHMvTDxXsAb4hSaM_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCwsHGQpVO7ul627VR3ZP8tEwryfJbwBSCLJub50Rto4g&oe=6618BF4A			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989531	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		2628684357305841	1	4.1876205078268E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208929451170763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3 SLG👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415765	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901057_384986494376607_5458026624075640632_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zRKS_FgBGagAb4XWYTr&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7YVs2KrnpjM8nLJvcYaAaTG8jnIEDjnfEB7xJXAL-ag&oe=6618C20C	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436121201_968345394839579_7669395637489847401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MXYLn5FZg1QAb7NtwUU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAU7MUN4yZ_4RNACZzAPpqaLOjYR3FDvC7nwEYPWenVJg&oe=6618C59D			0	3	Only 1% of all players have beaten this level. <br /> Will you give it a try?👍		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989532	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		25061821513462147	3	4.1456613123646E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208929450740763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415607	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435452875_393526556798925_7019041279053933625_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4fu64nP7tL4Ab42cd1A&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBaDEw_UY1BU3rC70uVSObrEZA8yk5PVipX5gIsucTqSA&oe=6618C10C	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434553822_1136075187523805_7869233068368737604_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lwcsDvrliwsAb4FAWZO&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAUZyCq7Ss9p6DTQjABhA9KS7n5kZZp7KLkb3k-ehsP9g&oe=6618BCB5			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989533	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		712340197775980	1	3.3632343609176E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208929426120763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play anytime, anywhere!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415576	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565218_1075383273538274_8754688732714015601_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k2u0-bMZKSsAb4SZARi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAGaNjuWjCwp8qogkgQuFlbDA0Rizvnuq8ruELL9fbKlA&oe=6618D057	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435680675_333871029269635_3211273654847646451_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ZuJPn5jyOEAb6W6t8m&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDxYpr7Yg7cZn_S3McDS5CaTmSBLKR6FotvZh53vVKmmQ&oe=6618D36F			0	3	Turn the tables with one tap!🕹️		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989534	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		342335471665365	1	7.7868359779949E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208242188090581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712413154	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422581675_1057517755345665_4535567090608587478_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P7uaj2wT-scAb6zAqqF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCkY5oj37LA9Tb9Ph8j3umFYLd0-vUDuNw4-kBEDmgzLQ&oe=6618C949	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435237342_452848627166212_905310603419151659_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3HBzDMNfsYIAb5DjAWy&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgDfTOWpGW7wW-3xVc0UU7EKFzfrAIstSUjzmXMMY9tg&oe=6618CE82			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989535	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924877		442		342335471665365	1	7.7868359779949E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208242188090581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712413154	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422581675_1057517755345665_4535567090608587478_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P7uaj2wT-scAb6zAqqF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCkY5oj37LA9Tb9Ph8j3umFYLd0-vUDuNw4-kBEDmgzLQ&oe=6618C949	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435237342_452848627166212_905310603419151659_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3HBzDMNfsYIAb5DjAWy&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgDfTOWpGW7wW-3xVc0UU7EKFzfrAIstSUjzmXMMY9tg&oe=6618CE82			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989536	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		331138973307717	1	9.6375083199348E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208241876120581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712411962	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435398200_946658150466134_4639558866968666748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ff5HMG3O5OsAb6L-7iv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkxJx6T_eHZhJAf05vM9DwENOz58nUakvaMSH09Q9lQg&oe=6618E316	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435465406_283745124672829_7796444578608282352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ZEDDJKpW2wAb5hHhyB&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALYSdkueG7VwdeG-B7NEGQxBScJP8qgSuga2osNzM9Cw&oe=6618E7BC			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989537	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		331138973307717	1	9.6375083199348E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208241876120581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712411962	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435398200_946658150466134_4639558866968666748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ff5HMG3O5OsAb6L-7iv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkxJx6T_eHZhJAf05vM9DwENOz58nUakvaMSH09Q9lQg&oe=6618E316	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435465406_283745124672829_7796444578608282352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ZEDDJKpW2wAb5hHhyB&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALYSdkueG7VwdeG-B7NEGQxBScJP8qgSuga2osNzM9Cw&oe=6618E7BC			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989538	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		917463013397352	2	9.4823273984871E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100895368495588		0	Facdds			120208121636730110		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1712387096	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982532_342138252173602_1146676195155388557_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ace91f6BLj8Ab5B0ezV&_nc_oc=Adh8Dp07vuh-vY6WHcq-CFmNxdE3lWXMNKUuXRUVZdn8iK6PaM2KcW0OBSfH_ofewT0&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgnuaqLLBBBzDA3r2raJ0gvLMVapwoD9mYC50QmFaIqQ&oe=6618CC58	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436292577_759109939299497_9061855114597636563_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3LNXfiR95G0Ab6DO0uY&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCmFNKwsZ4mlVhAdhZWTNX2xwRimmhgAW4s_2sgxJ-sCQ&oe=6618C2B6			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Facdds		618	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989539	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		2750321835116318	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989540	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		436018145671777		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989541	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		796955955664590		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989542	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		963925402069015		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989543	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		3695950993999707		1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb678F0J&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkdyg_3sqvSmVN9uWFf46vuOsDq13-WpwNx88vPkdJGg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab6-rqcW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAmMTop7yBwGenNaLJkZHC3R4swzLnzH9W4EOuNZKaD1g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989544	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		710449667686816	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989545	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		970347543998858		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989546	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		1685213162011578		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989547	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		2468928393294959		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989548	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		729542565883347		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989554	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		899110698569459	1	7.2547447579548E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169640155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436035257_901841738407194_7711667380692730888_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hso3h_C_aNUAb7SJ6se&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAdWx8E4tUQzMPpaDZ9rTaz3kVOy5-nOT30szFl-KWr-A&oe=6618BC6C	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922235_1900721430365697_1554284382112412190_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Dcx8rlggUQ4Ab4n4RS8&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAo7BCSnp9QdHSW5kZy_XHkKeN77NwU5PT4pN-NFTeg9w&oe=6618EE4A			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989549	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924878		442		1444520106156419	1	1.0645529013084E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238898056196842		0	Gator Raiderz			6571539799040			Send message		NONE	image				{"type":"VISUAL_EDITOR","version":2,"landing_screen_type":"welcome_message","media_type":"text","text_format":{"customer_action_type":"ice_breakers","message":{"ice_breakers":null,"text":"Hi {{user_first_name}}! Please let us know how we can help you."}},"user_edit":true,"autofill_message_edited":false,"ice_breakers_edited":false,"welcome_message_edited":true,"surface":"boosted_post"}	1712374020	2.3889805619684E+14	Gator Raiderz	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422465790_798196649031033_4823720014229843676_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nnRMAuioXHYAb66-OYU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA0FgQe2mFR6xvD0TOWwFT7BVCQixMIXxld-m3Yqs0h1Q&oe=6618ED10	person_profile	0	Capt. Dave	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435181043_1619083838850825_5838791583141411796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JGoNJlhYkkgAb4p7IYx&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4bHxSjId1rrYiHjx6u5qBBCTtDvzfshTI2pvcpOGL0w&oe=6618DA05			0	3	Experience the thrill of Gator Raiderz Private Land Gator Hunting!<br /> <br /> Embark on unforgettable year-round expeditions with Florida&#039;s leading outfitter. Our hunts take place on private land across the scenic south Florida region, offering diverse landscapes and thrilling encounters.<br /> <br /> Choose from various types of properties, accessible by foot, buggy, or our iconic airboats. With multiple harvesting methods available, including snatch hook, crossbow, pistol, or harpoon, you&#039;ll have an exhilarating adventure tailored to your preference.<br /> <br /> Whether under the radiant sun or the enchanting night sky, our hunts adapt to weather and seasonal conditions. From land expeditions to thrilling airboat rides, every moment promises excitement and adrenaline.<br /> <br /> Ready for an unforgettable adventure? Contact us today to book your Gator Raiderz experience. And don&#039;t forget to explore our equally thrilling Public Land hunts!<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorraiderz.com%2Fgator-hunting&amp;h=AT1nGqkOFaZUs0ojEJMoXp1pY1c0SxbYjvTZAsLa8f_7galC2X6un3Iz3dNHKsuACEICjObuIdi0H8D0SSInsQ-IdMgsDwVY9B1cJnx6o1pQCdGWRqVZNL0jeVdMTVfkF2QeEsw5YJmS6_tfTvuC-A" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.gatorraiderz.com/gator-hunting</a><br /> #GatorHunting #FloridaOutfitter #AdventureAwaits		Gator Raiderz		2697	https://facebook.com/gatorraiderz	0		MESSAGE_PAGE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989550	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924879		442		796804125161140	1	1.101953104407E+15		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	105443912127670		0	Fernnandoo Magallon			6574398485878			Contact us		NONE	image	$1,200 or trades! NIJ levelIIIA+ Bulletproof, stab, and stops crossbow arrows. 11x14 plate pockets.		https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/778068013879902/		1712373669	1.0544391212767E+14	Fernnandoo Magallon		regular_page	1	Fernnandoo Magallon	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425767505_865940338697811_7104450544494600434_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XEu3sSVE92wAb6VuaSX&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFpFqAOw9-yuTCoyPvHYabP0d-McOolZSEMRwPDZde6A&oe=6618CB8F			1	3	$1,200 or trades! NIJ levelIIIA+ Bulletproof, stab, and stops crossbow arrows. 11x14 plate pockets. - $1,200.00<br /> <br /> Open to trades!<br /> Will trade depending on what it is, but looking for guns, ammo, etc. Just make an offer and I&#039;ll consider it. <br /> <br /> NIJ Level IIIa. No hard plates. Has 11x14 plate pockets. <br /> <br /> Will stop FN 5.7x28mm and 7.62x 25mm tokarev, and .44 magnum. Almost sure it will stop a .223 hollow point oht of a 20 inch barrel. Testing rhat soon and will have that vid on my website. Also stops arrows with bulletpoint tip from crossbows with up to 205 lbs pull. <br /> Stab resistant (cannot stab through with a knife no matter how hard tou try). <br /> <br /> Each vest retails at about 1500 to 2k most places. Selling for $1200 each. Free shipping and no tax outside of n.c. <br /> More than 2 available. Full specs at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.warmag.llc%2F&amp;h=AT1YXMzGYgKMS5OLd84u3ViO6Y-_1iyVyYOmqDZ1l2Jo_--Pn_R47gYyWZpumsDJa6PbR6yBHtFu9OTBXpaxjvx2FMHiFPXgeEVRkkxBHS8biDOwg5qdngQ2auX5ExMR6ZNrSBTu9pOuondDgS97Tg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.warmag.llc</a><br /> Also have shields and helmets for sale.<br /> Facebook Marketplace		Fernnandoo Magallon		0	/marketplace/?seller_profile=1474796474	0		CONTACT_US						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989551	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		7434829139966600	1	7.3807998513955E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	412249035602001		0	Nail art love			120207402718040143		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1712338830	4.12249035602E+14	Nail art love	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434745851_785748056817044_6626358822012241441_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z9EivQWjGYoAb4FUnRm&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYRsQQKQ83OaYFyafW118sSJhDpE6IYTAwdv2LIDJhSA&oe=6618C724	person_profile	0	Nail art love	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434666920_345361734727622_5635245191817044358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FqtzsHEE8-UAb47AEIg&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBv9IkPkQHhVptK328Zak4kZbOzmxt0FFve27UlV9Je-Q&oe=6618BF16			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Nail art love		1016	https://facebook.com/61551664676182	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989552	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		1662609614546889	1	1.3873034559993E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117666966657315		0	ستوريات#db			120208790128530392		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.51&pub=3272548726222332		1712329208	1.1766696665732E+14	ستوريات#db	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885003_2171255076600341_2421018767174490780_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eUqr9zwr3YYAb7oDoKO&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfC1uEYmRRBayuC4tLURFXR6QteU0Sm8u6gBy0Zf4_FfYw&oe=6618DCBF	person_profile	0	ستوريات#db	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435767882_337967252165465_1485769786535996546_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FsMebbPROWIAb78L8Pt&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfC6CdS9E11qaQWlMo4e4D079wlu2OCVPkptkkNvhjsdaA&oe=6618CBB4			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		ستوريات#db		600	https://facebook.com/100063763339581	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989553	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		2067423890310181	1	1.0680960409236E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117666966657315		0	ستوريات#db			120207433075750660		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.52&pub=736966871919644		1712329418	1.1766696665732E+14	ستوريات#db	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434558004_1999455640469164_6646242518234178062_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eKPvFe-CnYsAb7mknPL&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDxwc5mL4hE_i5jgk-uv9wEO93OtPfj-jNhT2R9AUc7KQ&oe=6618C757	person_profile	0	ستوريات#db	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434568048_1837819683347502_1283914292880056203_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KRRUYgK7YEcAb6X-sBv&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpxEHA8BHpb8He8-tKvkLqO4nTAa3ZFYS6eOHkW_jDqw&oe=6618C285			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		ستوريات#db		600	https://facebook.com/100063763339581	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989555	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		731699382457630	1	8.5696374311434E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169670155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007253_1638961556933014_7854473355218566919_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qdvlaVLiqpwAb5Av8YN&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfANQBRgG5ns2RNOYqJNrKaqQ5rRsnW6L25w1XxLOiEoaQ&oe=6618BDE9	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426274422_382024461412464_6266992584301061851_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IDIebq12214Ab6av_z6&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcWnbTMf0p4VVvpWl6iudS8MY55IY3jyhsZgZz1R1fxg&oe=6618E759			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989556	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		936493444846842	1	2.0278664542667E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419169720155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436118102_3588457931415580_2197013368018586215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KmHrNjQpYfsAb6-afC4&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCGdiGnW8LtB55CGpze8NcvgLrljV_TLFeS36FuF_7f0A&oe=6618C62A	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434841722_374223625585496_8059407283685938333_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W3oDwEGHHVgAb6P876s&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYEYqABKlVc2LyeVhQESbAfg2gyRE58E8nMSkNAx5RLQ&oe=6618E6DA			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989557	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		950909703150640	1	7.6794680530618E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169410155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433975828_1173307743665508_4371549750111183281_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AyCOmgvPkPUAb6vkqTk&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAXbeKXpULU3hJPGk2IgrLY--0z9Aj3KoKKi2VuLdoFkA&oe=6618DABF	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434425194_1121433329063031_2816806435021019022_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tg9g4g4Cq2oAb4HclJM&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAoUJxHjF4Qp_myuddElB9mZuE1hM5VseeWrTU4uf6OMg&oe=6618B879			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989558	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924880		442		1331250847569140	1	9.8281082669747E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169690155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435524241_422218897086320_8935473368581095373_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v4Y5pdsZ4ScAb61bo2K&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDiewizB0P9aWa2WwoGQwQO9_qTJJwof7zpZxP6sZqunA&oe=6618DF3E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408139_1543505059831104_1171736695421943155_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ke5yZGX6iNoAb5-plAh&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAqFGvGVeYgHlKUF2gUAOj6DxO3LSF9ljolNiC9dCq65g&oe=6618CC7B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989673	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924880		442		3754279928192839	1	8.5036508350231E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063849310257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056480	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434455319_398901959570067_1737822551755624190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OIV7DhOkVJQAb6PgXa2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC44MjOsWdILlrn4CZVo1wijFf01J_vxSQQo_c0z2pUCQ&oe=6618EB98	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434412445_1078878469891943_1446259329779674907_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VH5qSODm4uEAb6tHqVr&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhgt58Q2CYJUI45uEYIp39unBWV9P8WikOVid53KscXw&oe=6618D56D			0	3	💪Can you defend the white walkers?		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989559	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		1359852254732606	1	1.6091383065529E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169600155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901947_747557514111695_7269693715248732154_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DGvG4XHrl0wAb6ZuAZS&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBC8tyBjA3WzXPaJycFk8tWGx9ZVXxLIz-6C9UDoKpLMQ&oe=6618ED9E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435707686_1711399019675043_5170546078974212691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2KR49HHR0bEAb7Is5TQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAlCDoeJoEQKNiIFFOCjj4VzKnxTSY3qRE8ncrQ9-OtEg&oe=6618D8C0			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989560	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		7393633064024610	1	3.9857803976518E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169350155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435460858_1624341025014581_739467339243255239_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pJ4QiLu1PrsAb5xtV2Y&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCoGs2SaaXePrnfaAQzHqyy5mw5Ze_eQi-QsnSWKbBa0g&oe=6618CE43	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435912907_252535554606583_8318534491128381018_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ry2KsM_izsUAb4_ggyK&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDF_EgqqJ7QioJw97E2wP2gnsvrZtZ_R5jv8zSoNKkGyQ&oe=6618EE92			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989561	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		1353181075371083	1	3.9055685386996E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169380155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433934090_1199403818105778_5225217072395325789_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aYV1SybeSO4Ab4piwb7&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDSxWpCWWN2BGsOxVndy66_lBXZCtOsHrOzOuj1QM6ZGw&oe=6618CA12	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434471710_1091956535214019_8823502970257376658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Zsnrdl-dHaQAb5pdAFQ&_nc_oc=Adh1gbzFPrQeFjTi5cv1psUbcLjVMqARSPPlFLEY6XYBHfgnifzR-v_mMr7Htwdyu_VJlyMZGybLUqRbBpZ4ptTT&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDAbC71jCh-N2cm2-_leG5-9Pawc4_lbQdJYujI_sZv3g&oe=6618EB30			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989562	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		468759688909465	1	1.4557546553711E+15		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419168180155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922076_26020242234241797_2889841262972408798_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4OHRXU0lmfEAb5LYdju&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAx89mE_gioGWXl1NKGVmIZwYvD2o7yFGP1bRMULNYUWw&oe=6618E036	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435967927_1066767851049317_1561946203436222314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KLTJ8jF7JRUAb4T3rzH&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDq6FihTQl4xETzeJ-SPDAtzReTyFyCSi_V68SWSZX3tw&oe=6618DCCC			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
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989563	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		958749282411786	1	4.4977597414227E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167860155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326284	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434468888_3690261634575632_6401908243475390104_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UfNL8zZbT5AAb4TR4bE&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDKWeFKg1K1NQF8v6mo0NDBD7eL1ZApBDTQh8XmfpJPjg&oe=6618C2A3	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434020943_779277654154148_2662673391048663058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ClXYASgKatEAb5IpIGr&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBBYTwzmpRs9sXOfl02r4mi0MqE7Q6M-Run2Dci4QFLMA&oe=6618EA59			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989564	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		1069140850840054	1	1.6241020616592E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168010155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435502558_946389883560239_8063324588779684334_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmOrTphIPV8Ab52mbFg&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaSsy20FdU6V_5-I3QHr57dI33f0gbBxnetb0G8L3mmA&oe=6618DA08	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435397278_1606457716805584_6972571707161182820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oHT69w39YJgAb4Dfo6H&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBAeXzrRPFN93M6xbNsGwK2vIOZc4RmPmEs_SKDKgAa2g&oe=6618CE8E			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989565	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		3647639688884593	1	9.5678975931644E+14		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168340155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326286	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435957913_930248478801308_2031386260841533956_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JUidukb9R38Ab5PDhaa&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDpH0yLHunDtwgVlYi_g_SSHMFmNEroGKW7n_p4vqyqww&oe=6618EA0E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436120890_339816871956035_1414577630003480584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pAoQxzXlWpEAb66yIss&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDu4VyMH4qeYPI3PpUYnx-Ftrjl49lZq9_IcMkUBW-QwQ&oe=6618E14B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989566	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		278986875256956	1	1.457913035109E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167580155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326263	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/423582667_3435600893252216_1589940012388866736_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M2pjP4Ad3-gAb6yfabp&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbuTWM4OfMfBxXWhXKt_u6LUxtXJv_M7c_fa1yTqbFog&oe=6618BDBA	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434570372_2550082748498630_5774464899006330546_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2Iz-UTTWAlMAb57Hu6P&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAnUw58RY_6JfksWPByPNmhgxj3qb-FLYEAzB2yFdQkWA&oe=6618D517			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989882	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522061	1734924881		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989567	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		339897142416421	1	7.6149925262853E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419167880155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435906348_903689698108156_704486821177568529_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-hFLq3DYHq4Ab6_Yo9f&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCEVzUC6iooe7mWD-3MAMp-EfJE5rzxZ-jbQviQZxVeEg&oe=6618CE33	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434831984_751761997041307_4551358567051246058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ddj0CqmYTyAAb7DJLDu&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAb_F2j7GzBLI5TXPiE4Zex4Fxno7Z4OVPx5KXO2Ywddw&oe=6618C080			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989568	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522055	1734924881		442		382881201235075	1	7.5040878382722E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168320155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434558424_3614469848769387_5047262944186986415_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ujyBtYiKtFUAb5YG-wi&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAl-6lBKRcAy-jeie8FQBBCg2B52oZA_7VdRN7uog_TYQ&oe=6618D526	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007508_7206685886108800_7970418204511314465_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VvQeuo4Pwz0Ab7o7fT1&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_6exHN2wLlLCm2TgeUNHu5OuZLfYYZLi_PmzApJmVRg&oe=6618C0B7			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989569	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		389315900695178	1	9.6297964197587E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167610155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922861_277392808749491_6542146539746627498_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h1dw5nHo6mAAb6Orzir&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAjirCT55hHD-0hjJqo8qc8JnZuxNWCNy-ZE-XFW-lavQ&oe=6618DA0F	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435921489_776715980765308_5585685040265305441_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8YOcGYAjp4AAb755d_2&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfe3_v1Nd392igAHhfXnIZbielp5k9tIQ2sgrMkGYwxA&oe=6618E594			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989570	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		736388861942581	1	1.534399537106E+15		1712473200	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167690155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326263	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434652630_407012708629221_7469306964724001722_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hf-p2wXGP0EAb6kYWxM&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBZ2KbsiLNQ3bxW4SdU9cQK1Bo86BMf3pKwFEv8zGRSRw&oe=6618D15D	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435407444_446806734371888_6124742060077081622_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aPtcSQlaZdsAb62u04K&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAs17-dNhZNvpIDAfLPzl1K95UakXfvDe8UHwdUM_aiiQ&oe=6618BAF4			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
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989571	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		971754854280828	1	1.1452442802454E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167710155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326264	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436096764_2055936714788178_2501911458395791645_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=egIw-sioD34Ab4hB5oQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCpSpZXhpm2VThQZ_sfs-khT0uRS6Yhfkdom-Irn4e_IQ&oe=6618E0C2	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435926063_985350402946779_1373285003989104575_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oVMUorkvVpoAb4qtqBr&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD8zU79eyvzYL8obw70RABVUqcBXraRSqKTK5MAyZM5Xg&oe=6618D09D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989572	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		1189481518880927	1	3.3212291612728E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168140155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435399974_389446827289421_4894376704931443124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bsa4FI2TI50Ab5wCvLt&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDVkogp23BKnex7bci4zSzDWEbbQpSesZ4GCUKfWMyPTg&oe=6618E950	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434649174_956834922622676_8234365415258112171_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BC0yDBWwdnYAb6w6Adx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBFmWE1Fwbg_y_rHrGFOC0zTtTYPhnF0OvFtY_uSghC7w&oe=6618C2F3			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989573	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		2086904768348601	1	4.4352668813328E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167550155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435900502_956709476099084_5195021621820317599_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=l4-IFINCDPMAb7F5jpI&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBens54-O-ciS_lAfMrsryb5r4UUAWsJFycYFUev5IYdw&oe=6618D08D	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434834477_1082659989476078_874111066070811343_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sm1eeR1l_qcAb5FEdvT&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBJsNOim57db_ea4zjTY-bQPdeiILvzJILhPuur6iH5YA&oe=6618E1F8			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989574	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		269858109533341	1	1.364591494249E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165620155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326269	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435479633_409925998407769_2998626673035912586_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b4E7yjwGVXMAb6wXU2C&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAs6-NQCeKJKokHt3qdUIgim8l5SIZYhZZ8_8RVm_glrA&oe=6618C5C9	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435538348_942597447527529_5930432389628865560_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i6pWuSFwVe0Ab6ynVMT&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDCXwOlXU5AJugdigC6oYL7h3K4T-IlXff1JWbHPsLQRg&oe=6618DEFB			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989909	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522062	1734924881		442		420431877334294	2	1.0742673504884E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207196020550751		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1710507117	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433129755_7585680791488663_4041320278312419263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k6SsbIFAEesAb6nO43d&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAfOb1uBXl_EqucA2g-kpolA14MSYBh6RXeQiGorZZV9w&oe=6618BF22	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432540595_962825225551905_4980250375982958112_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kL0k0A-MAXwAb58zZ30&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDoS_iSS7EcWrv9EhNN_vym1gXyLsW9AViYP57DGnyqYQ&oe=6618CE71			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		PLAY_GAME						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989575	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		374975405532220	1	9.2834095544689E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165830155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326260	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007253_716551453886328_4981822175114547257_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EKFi8tdV3fQAb6-_P3X&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBURi9XnJWbUFcJaHuVIo4SZblXJoWDrEloZTE7u956hQ&oe=6618C107	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435900506_277776688711573_8062250983569275075_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zjq0oqYaHh4Ab5ZiG_Y&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDx0la1JR4k5ADYl55VQjGBy6f6qnxVgu_oE-3p379j0A&oe=6618ED1B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989576	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		854420719800208	1	1.1662928913471E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419166260155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489481_856287456312980_9059876891935253638_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5cpXEM2B6nUAb4zagw7&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhnKT09GGlnHY0uyXPrngHacVGMfkjSW1VrMy8Z_zD3w&oe=6618CE1C	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435589886_404197109014832_4528757272626676201_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sd71IM3zbLUAb7xFRoW&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBvNCoJ61mlsxQb3OgN0s2ovV7q-MF_uqsXCyQY16Ppjg&oe=6618EAD0			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989577	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		1064888797913661	1	1.5812017393103E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165910155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326270	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435457060_1210766433226708_1880908999393713707_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hexzBfJATyMAb5ivHVQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfC9tljwB5SHzRlrwqrBPf71QHr_NlYDuaHHZksjlhVHRg&oe=6618E489	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434561399_386577947534107_6873605036794591822_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NkdH10aHzRYAb7rdsPs&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAiHyTPb-iCXeRsgj4IXa5O8VGLFl2VA0kKAGnf6ZF_9Q&oe=6618B916			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989578	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924881		442		1066601561109346	1	9.7458031767275E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165650155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901997_875380801056523_503165323165704913_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BY7A85QnESIAb5ig3Yb&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBDirX446ZLxkAIVQ-sD-7h70RnmhBMUi4PgQzHinaZZQ&oe=6618E71F	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436106588_826073825997379_4813937007244359581_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vq13my-MRIkAb5_NFJX&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDLy76jPSDZawN69xmPVKH6JEAqgYqz87t7GaBNWYNmpA&oe=6618E051			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
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989579	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1148215586325436	1	4.2990210608191E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419166050155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938500_2087680958262106_8640955742166336438_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zu8PLatuwk4Ab5g1HrZ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1vsJ3nD2TvHaztCTlVWRyi_F-Knznrp-Z_qexUftA8A&oe=6618CBF7	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434022437_3287186068257150_7052415827563881303_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Dp6WJS_bB1oAb6eJvak&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDuEh4f1x6P7Geh68iHIHgwcstlysYPanfnz6T_J1QaPQ&oe=6618BA92			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989580	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1157926558536603	1	4.2880385316575E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419166180155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326276	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435989036_1086967465924185_6404595012688713563_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iosGnjyeVWIAb5txMx9&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZo1RRHgQrowlarcZ93UlENd0GpdC8SNesnUm3Y3iiJg&oe=6618B9AC	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435912903_2334482543422255_5783816954567106542_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ExZKvW6mJoAb4f0bZp&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDRxvu51iLsS-sXvT-ghbsVqGWhod57eMXa_G4uu9r4jg&oe=6618D9A8			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989581	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1378364459519020	1	3.2655104044263E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165720155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326264	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982833_948405769827285_6761553779600405763_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LvvYiKY7njsAb7yj3gb&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAT-oComlN2dB0bH0XJYPH8NKm65jKwtQ7Y2fdth09dUg&oe=6618DC79	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434831645_1145914590154944_3557428516369124045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NhkHYUCtFL0Ab5W_cM_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA9vdz2ZJnc7zje96KkKnDDSVOEHdulw1t2dpxbIP5eUw&oe=6618BB7D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989582	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		2698801206954107	1	7.93483138874E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165580155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435683131_733946771920651_6246124630391577699_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sSpc6ZKcYyUAb7OWY_h&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBSYlPXXfNmZe8N3z63EcJRLlagP4DRI-ThJXThyxqmQg&oe=6618D848	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435736703_7379701688780853_3374785693898820793_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uF8anq5nVD4Ab6NcXep&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDZgiAogRlxBhaedvO_BdH6GEx-6i-6jjl5AkjhBpmUdA&oe=6618C087			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989922	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522062	1734924882		442		954762202966795	1	3.4522895847459E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871713660601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468835	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432420338_1178734250199515_4820732136263124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qCL3rM0jLQQAb72RKT5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCNgALZrvAeU-xDGitkbaQm2gCWiQQUxCHH9x9eqtamNA&oe=6618CE94	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431951241_761001549306352_2315356510373630192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q4OtLjUsDK4Ab6ngsSZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAdAKBdtN7f-izrnoahnGRn0kk_wov3BoPDmxALVmnSrA&oe=6618D878			0	3	Raise a dragon and match to defeat the invader！		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989583	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		3565638960351332	1	4.0780242531202E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165760155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326270	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434555213_749429893837857_8620851439615711120_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h3KN4kg8IaQAb60Wyql&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCTsMynUTSjPmgVcAPx2HlkTnr44cipaQwvAuX0dSst6A&oe=6618BFE7	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435464675_1505995663465501_5090512209499058309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nm0WZpSS2F4Ab7Iu3n3&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHWDTSDUTksUc3Xz8yEpqPTYdtxig7IAuKXOD2ueyQLg&oe=6618D0F4			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989584	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		2195562437447200	1	2.6919279276393E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165560155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434560139_453640453653351_1627885482373275511_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UWmqgsZ9du8Ab7y7Szd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAZtuwjObD5rdQ68LSL5AQL1xgj6phXwNKfO9f_FgZuQQ&oe=6618E481	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435485210_941941354193132_1302001641811867769_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ytuxGcw6WfwAb6u_K8P&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCq4c0EbRdP5LFBRnpTvnBIsbxboGQGIbqxz_pwn-L0Ag&oe=6618B78B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
989585	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		442117091647281	1	1.5580553449292E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	127033936186		0	Deer & Deer Hunting			6593438923110					NONE	video	#101: WHY THE KING BUCK ISN’T #1 with Johnny King | Deer Talk Now Podcast				1712323583	127033936186	Deer & Deer Hunting	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435904951_407987481849498_2362577683414692566_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jt9uaWUDhr8Ab5mzNmS&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBiHj1ug4EwhmfpkwOrRpAAqxGarPY1NVBPrM-zwg0Usg&oe=6618D8FE	person_profile	0	Deer & Deer Hunting	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436140917_1088772419042243_2119547909078030429_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cOHzORNg2usAb6zrhDY&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlNACxAZSkCSOGQbnga_eORrTl8gLVURcZ3SMpf5Z3ZQ&oe=6618D41D			0	3	If you&#039;ve heard of the Johnny King Buck, you know that he was denied the No. 1 world-record typical title due to a Boone &amp; Crockett scorer deeming the right G-3 as an abnormal point, despite numerous other scorers agreeing the rack was a 6x6 typical grossing more than 215 inches. 🦌 In this podcast, we get on the phone with Johnny King to discuss the day he bagged this massive buck almost 20 years ago, what happened during the scoring process, and why the biggest typical ever lost a spot in the record books. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TenPointCrossbows">TenPoint Crossbow Technologies</a>		Deer & Deer Hunting		774138	https://facebook.com/deerhuntingmag	0								1712300400		View Edit Delete
989587	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		386373227546948	1	1.1315561582971E+15		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381868430155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247673	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434777161_776175164520563_6945987529361106588_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5gVIweDvXegAb4LUvKc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfArbVi7r73OqIQe-0ang0dQX8xTFBiULKmMC8yioI-K_g&oe=6618DABB	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434815475_893882719174600_2666611483356940122_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e0hnsnB3ifYAb7iSeZC&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZg5LAFnqdTxQmT33igOpaINI0M9QvoBGgBdWSZRZV4A&oe=6618EB6D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989588	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		628835726092167	1	3.8823692068868E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381875100155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247646	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435460454_228002963697666_8005756814523861345_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gND5kakf14Ab7jzRh8&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDIuTTnT3PGweWzDeFSyZW3a8ighenvCKZdN8mUJA2UvQ&oe=6618DFE5	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435516665_1452578488972761_4714242035106415195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uqBpvgDzhtEAb5EgYWB&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC6S3O1RPk8AL0_242fUiFsxRJtZJLP-EIS3tieqFpAZA&oe=6618D0C5			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989589	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		690004706465416	1	4.5303494043365E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209381871910155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247653	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434556834_303239556118622_5498646322134783509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6084vWGKmIcAb5j4B97&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDnDrbFmudTcfX5vpaVKKNNTK-_0ynu9Rr13h5aSjgHCQ&oe=6618D4F2	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435508956_1469620883907092_7033058298699478901_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M5ysyg5DPScAb76S8Dl&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCuwKz91GK7BFRWfvX29hvpRH9myXXeQhVaqStOwV3Qzg&oe=6618E7E2			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989590	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		729862859303671	1	9.4336873082946E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381868700155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247651	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435871294_268780336201714_7090718203150770316_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5OzB05_V1CcAb4_Srzd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALHih1TIvb4hSJHV9oHzzU0rmqkxM9arwtlT-rgBcP5A&oe=6618E5A6	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435725707_3482169868595778_6641576492577955232_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SGqVBH8dGf4Ab6ir_e_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBlcBwT_ThSNh7effFW41ap4gWUHrxyXWlhm5hxXjDjCA&oe=6618D3DD			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. 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989591	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		967078871711778	1	1.0939182285625E+15		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381872320155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247847	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432934698_1110824366822990_7068130820373047831_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dtPauHxx0TsAb6Niqh7&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAG5a2pWQ1bukZRfpWCnaqYa5PM7mP1tVsHCighrMOm4w&oe=6618C4E8	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434725080_412091451551709_6634062048683338633_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dswv4exxryUAb6eGM2n&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA77v4dj3md4hJw8DWwsnX32H77QZUFDmUKds_FXuwCJw&oe=6618D48D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989592	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1548134302400123	1	9.1787296981223E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381871740155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247851	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433947232_783689993825900_4359386558660951353_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZHV4kfhF50oAb6AQtDj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBeMYODWtauZgNuo_PRKsIenExrOuK8o53KO7v-pUcjDg&oe=6618EC54	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024289_1484195795500910_4044385771164008805_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QOVLu2A-t2wAb5mI8SW&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgT2CwyZap7zQPIZkB6DgSf13a6V_8BZvsMU1Mx_A3ug&oe=6618D00F			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. 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989593	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1878396422583238	1	9.8745158604594E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209381868170155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247658	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435365176_1815684825600496_7237409358955529173_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y9IKmCLuIWEAb6OHwzx&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7-QkyouWQK2mXuTEEYVC2hIO9yOeE5s9tDjkpW3BfwA&oe=6618C495	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435490057_755677253299480_2944357745188530611_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PC-CBjJz17gAb7Zk9ZH&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfkBIFMRpbyHASrHZeay3SnS9dNkO3zSGedMZ3xMcK9g&oe=6618C7DE			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989594	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		7351395598275368	1	3.9664564634532E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	121975151162832		0	Slogan Outdoors			120207948019800419		sloganoutdoors.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Slogan Outdoors — Slings — Slogan Outdoors	Home of The Best Slings Made. Period.	https://www.sloganoutdoors.com/slings		1712243466	1.2197515116283E+14	Slogan Outdoors	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434419100_1928776677541124_6768151969189689207_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=13JYY5-SYoIAb7QsNXt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAoPneprwQrJShqNLm5P8tFSk5vf4xJPGo6Ls62C2e2lw&oe=6618E8E5	person_profile	0	Slogan Outdoors	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477388_974326237718802_1621778683233604528_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-iiOW0cZbBMAb7jbuCj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBo7aZggRaZPONp5K1cM4-yu3pOJ_usTSV9jO-6015zTw&oe=6618C441			0	3	Slogan Outdoors Slings stretch to fit comfortably gripping your shoulder under tension, keeping your weapon securely on your shoulder. The elasticity of the material and the unique double strap design allows the outer strap to be stretched over your head and placed on to your opposite shoulder. This move brings you into a 3/4 backpack position, completely securing your weapon. As a shooting sling you can go into multiple positions without making any adjustments to the length of the sling. The sling can also be extended in length to become a front and ready carry sling.<br /> <br /> All our slings are constructed of a high-grade synthetic rubber. This material has a life expectancy of 40+ years without dry rot. This sling is impervious to the weather, quiet, non-slip, shock-absorbing, UV stabilized, and stays flexible to 40 degrees below zero.<br /> <br /> Sling Size Guide:<br /> Deciding whether to choose the Ultraflex Sling or the Long Magnum Sling? This decision should be made by sizing the sling to its intended user. The reason being is ensuring the user has adequate room and comfort, due to our unique double strap system that offers our well known “3/4 backpack position.” <br /> <br /> **The Ultraflex Sling is for users wearing a t-shirt size small, medium, or large.**<br /> <br /> **The Long Magnum Sling is for users wearing a t-shirt size XL, 1X, or 2X.** <br /> <br /> (Note that we have taken layers and heavy clothing into account when we state this sizing guide.)<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sloganoutdoors.com%2Fslings&amp;h=AT0hPHwr9s77xRCUKCh1kDHeHkNRO_c6UQSvukfUxLOoeu2NjZr9wWfUecpWMLzlr27qRmfNR_0beawPspzHwZZohnKH2T92fVZ-8Vn7_mERakNU340bwmqANdaCIiEL1_fPpzh1MfN_aCQNOWewALe9UWw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.sloganoutdoors.com/slings</a><br /> <br /> *The Super Steel QD Swivel: The Super Steel Swivel is an elite choice on all studded firearms. Machined out of 1 piece of solid steel eliminating the secondary pivot point found on traditional QD swivels, therefore silent and strong (No Squeak - No Stock Contact). Compatible with any studded rifle, shotgun, muzzle-loader, and crossbow.<br /> <br /> *The QD Flush-Cup Swivel: This steel constructed push button QD swivel design is for specific weapons. This is not for your typical studded firearm. This swivel system is used on weapons that are Flush-Cup ready. Typically used for tactical firearms and some custom long-range rifles.		Slogan Outdoors		6905	https://facebook.com/SloganOutdoors	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989595	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989596	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989597	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924882		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989598	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924883		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989599	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924883		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989600	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924883		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989601	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924884		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989674	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924884		442		7211722455548997	1	1.4664909439432E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063848550257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3 to defeat evil🔥		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056544	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434605656_419874240585565_8831728975399670590_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s9ciB15Jqv0Ab6A2fuF&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBFaU2Qu27YPGtBz6Lk2GJeLcv0mFV2y83LXOE014_yKA&oe=6618DA60	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565648_329443819746459_6697213341475881961_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jGb7cb__PRgAb4OFiGu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfC3HtLgJeDFRAwd6X5pHP1Yrv88TXLzmv-nfbh7l7QUDg&oe=6618E958			0	3	We&#039;ve brought the trailer to life!💁‍♂️ Do you have strategic skills?😏		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989602	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924884		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989603	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924884		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989604	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924884		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989605	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924884		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989606	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924884		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989675	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924885		442		295445310247997	2	2.4636338971607E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063846150257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056476	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434460491_920801806508294_3768811704536577079_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t5f62qsdG98Ab7gYlRc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhX-59RGw_aUlFtq07YCPQemIgBvStxf5KlMxU4y7hmg&oe=6618EB62	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433947171_380765588192291_8750844378107480252_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_xIFeAFrZ34Ab4Vcfv8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfA6rXMezi-CwDG9QLKChn_yH0BJlwMJxf18uov_rCEznA&oe=6618D0CC			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989607	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989608	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989609	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989610	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989611	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989676	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924885		442		1597748514315218	1	9.6631521161215E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063844340257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	GATHER HEROES		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056478	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434022498_1325774881424635_2186045114328719124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lFRnMDVrMtUAb6vCBvH&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXN4Lj1-pR6ZcFTkOA5iVXulOc2m4LDbmN0ra9bVcfMA&oe=6618C4B5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434019373_1626038424818952_6874573626596794759_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CqfgQd5q6boAb6FfI5r&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqvkxVJ97mZ9zTnE9qezPFdab4fBShxVcZMOOisA1zDg&oe=6618D604			0	3	🦇An arcane world to explore Repulse evil and safeguard your homeland!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989612	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989613	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989614	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989615	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989616	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989677	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924885		442		770385115045236	1	1.1149525795503E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063840450257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056470	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434320537_2078710005841304_3785793431189553652_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=K0BAKei_FecAb768up_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxGurGL9v1GS5d5eWJmSc3MhgeBE8L6olYu9R0sHcrVw&oe=6618C4A6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435469674_790020682581921_7782306949325498669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0o54ZWvdoj8Ab5kttQw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCNrx8M_K6YKJQ-fBN8jUhp3K6lh3CqsVSfRqJ55bU9FA&oe=6618D0FF			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989617	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989618	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989619	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522056	1734924885		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989620	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924885		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989621	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924885		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989622	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924886		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989623	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924886		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989624	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924886		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989625	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989626	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989627	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989629	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989630	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989631	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989632	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989633	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989634	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989635	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924887		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989636	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989637	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989638	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989639	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989640	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989641	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989642	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989643	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989644	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989645	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989646	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924888		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989647	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989648	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989649	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989650	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989651	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989652	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989653	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989654	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989655	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989656	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989657	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989658	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989659	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989660	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989661	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924889		442		1058893741876115	1	4.194708706779E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	266734824683		0	60X Custom Bow Strings			6558214974622		60xcustomstrings.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Find Your Perfect Bow String | Welcome To 60X Custom Strings	Get the right bow string for your bow at 60X Custom Strings! We offer custom bow strings, crossbow strings, and so much more. Explore all we have to offer today!	http://www.60xcustomstrings.com/		1712235519	266734824683	60X Custom Bow Strings	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434648679_347557361646646_7675947685041123241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UywMmaJYslwAb5uogQ2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA5OPqbCWZxt-1cKTyEq6FKRH45dctlWQ6ROCHzu1I6MA&oe=6618EC00	person_profile	0	60X Custom Bow Strings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433206804_1591071141658649_3796012440512424631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7b6xY1l-QmQAb55PXbT&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAOcWdCCDMRbL1ERfDZair-VQ7bAupZSFTH0e5JZnv51A&oe=6618CE01			0	3	EGGxciting SAVINGS on Ready ToShip Sets, when you enter code EGGSet at checkout! Restrictions apply; Expires 4/8/24<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.60xcustomstrings.com%2Fsearch.php&amp;h=AT27k8qmmcfvDC8GpDtdYxtNzcJOrmPGwvsatSoDrqR4SB7j90nzRskej6DphmT31dNqlIe6VH049flu3SDbfrtgTEGtwiAXUYG9nloX1rGljMmRuKfKKc_93wsehJgfbQEwl7FPeXSxS1m9OBUEeJER0fQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.60xcustomstrings.com/search.php</a>...%<br /> 20to%20ship&amp;section=product<br /> #60x #bestbowstrings #archeryaddict #bowhunter<br /> #turkeyseason #60xcustomstrings #3darchery<br /> #worldarchery		60X Custom Bow Strings		81758	https://facebook.com/60XCustomBowStrings	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989662	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		1747617105765813	1	7.0785608589083E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	118526244676341		0	Bauer Auction Service			120208286061570049		LIVE AUCTION Jim Trigg Estate, Lerna ,IL	INTERESTED		NONE	event	LIVE AUCTION Jim Trigg Estate, Lerna ,IL	Live Auction Jim Trigg Estate Live – – No Buyer’s Premium – – Public Auction 510 Lincoln Street, Lerna, IL Sunday, May 19th 2024 – 9:00 A.M. Ford Expedition – Ford Ranger – Camper – Snow Plow – Trailers 2007 Ford Expedition, 4×4, Good Rubber, 191k Miles; 2000 Ford Ranger Edge, 4WD, Automatic Needs Engine Work (As Is); 30’ Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch Camper Trailer Yellowstone Country Club Older Camper Needs Water Heater and It Is Ready for the Season; 8’ Western Snow Plow; Several Homemade Pull Type Trailers, Most Will Not Have Titles, 4’ x 8’ Single Axle, 4’ x 5’ Single Axle, 7’ x 10’ Single Axle, Chevrolet Box Van Cargo Trailer; J.D. Utility Tractor – – 3pt. Equipment – – Mowers – – L&G – – Wood Stove J.D. 401 Industrial/Utility Tractor, 3pt., 6’ Hyd. Bucket Front Loader; 3pt. Little Rhino 8’ Blade; 3pt. PTO Post Auger; 3pt. 4’ Disk; 3pt. 6’ Cultivator; Older Rack/Hay Wagon; U.S. Stove Co. Outdoor Wood Burning Stove; Hyd. Log Splitter; Gravely 8102 Lawn Tractor w/ Kohler Engine; Cub Cadet 1330 Lawn Tractor w/ 38” Deck; 12 Volt Sprayers; Wheelbarrows; 5 Bar Flex Harrow; Lawn Mower Jacks; Poulan Pro Rear Tire Garden Tiller; Husqvarna Chainsaw; Vinyl Fence; Black Powder Guns – – Reloading – – Camping – – Safe 10 Black Powder/Muzzle Loading Guns inc/ Rifles, Double Barrel Shotgun, Single Shot Pistols, .31cal Revolver; Powder Horns & Flasks; German Hunting Sword; Pocket & Sheath Knives; Crossbow; Holsters; Reloading Dies, Press; Case Trimmer; Holsters & Gun Belts; Burris Binoculars; Patch Knives; Slings; Sentinel Digital Combination Safe; Steel Key Lock Gun Cabinet; Deer Antlers; Electric Smoker; Camp Cooking Tripod; Cast Iron Camp Cookware; Large Marine Igloo Cooler; Deer Stand; Camping & Fishing Supplies; Stage Coach Gun Cart; Steel Targets Rail Road – – Guitars – – Music – – Man Cave Nice Gibson & Fender Guitars; Fender Acoustasonic-30 Guitar Amp; Live 6 Guitar Amp; Stereo; Pioneer Speakers; Guitar Case; Harmonicas; Microphones; Rail Road Switch Arm; 13’ Rail Road Arm Post; Rail Road Signs; Cast Iron Tractor Seat; Custom Wood Boxes & Trunks; Adirondack Chair; Snow Sled; Twin Size Sports Car Bed w/ New Mattress; Toy & Model Cars & Trucks; Johnny Cash Memorabilia; Drum Sticks; Record Albums; CD’s; Beer Sings; Older Garage Refrigerator; Belt Buckles; Construction Toys; Tire Ash Trays; Canes & Walking Sticks; Motorcycle Seats & Parts; Signs; Man Cave Decorations & Signs; Tools – – Garage & Shop Plunder – – & More 2 Rolls of Kemlite Wall Paneling; Ladders; Ramps; Battery Charger; Generators; Barrel Cart; Truck Boxes; Tool Boxes; Saw Horses; Engine Hoist/Cherry Picker; Fuel Cans; Older Car Parts; Ryobi Thickness Planer; Wood Working Tools; Poultry Wire; Lumber; Cabinet Drawers; LP Shop Heater; Strip Sander; Shop Vac; Compound Miter Saw; Pedestal Grinder; Shop & Garage Cabinets & Shelves; Hardware; Portable Air Compressor; Machinist Tools; Craftsman Tripod; 3 Wagon Loads of Garage & Shop Plunder Jim Trigg Estate, Age 74 Nancy Trigg, Seller	https://www.facebook.com/events/731604535752115/		1712181043	1.1852624467634E+14	Bauer Auction Service	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592519_1891398121378653_6333326535254774624_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FJmbIjHTJRUAb55lQXy&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDcHEGwQTC1KyCF8Vb9Rsg3mwS1Wu44erCo-Dcy40n1Zg&oe=6618E13B	person_profile	0					0	3	Live Auction<br /> <br /> Jim Trigg Estate <br /> <br /> Live – – No Buyer’s Premium – – Public Auction<br /> <br /> 510 Lincoln Street, Lerna, IL<br /> <br /> Sunday, May 19th 2024 – 9:00 A.M.<br /> <br /> Ford Expedition – Ford Ranger – Camper – Snow Plow – Trailers<br /> <br /> 2007 Ford Expedition, 4×4, Good Rubber, 191k Miles; 2000 Ford Ranger Edge, 4WD, Automatic Needs Engine Work (As Is); 30’ Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch Camper Trailer Yellowstone Country Club Older Camper Needs Water Heater and It Is Ready for the Season; 8’ Western Snow Plow; Several Homemade Pull Type Trailers, Most Will Not Have Titles, 4’ x 8’ Single Axle, 4’ x 5’ Single Axle, 7’ x 10’ Single Axle, Chevrolet Box Van Cargo Trailer;<br /> <br /> J.D. Utility Tractor – – 3pt. Equipment – – Mowers – – L&amp;G – – Wood Stove<br /> <br /> J.D. 401 Industrial/Utility Tractor, 3pt., 6’ Hyd. Bucket Front Loader; 3pt. Little Rhino 8’ Blade; 3pt. PTO Post Auger; 3pt. 4’ Disk; 3pt. 6’ Cultivator; Older Rack/Hay Wagon; U.S. Stove Co. Outdoor Wood Burning Stove; Hyd. Log Splitter; Gravely 8102 Lawn Tractor w/ Kohler Engine; Cub Cadet 1330 Lawn Tractor w/ 38” Deck; 12 Volt Sprayers; Wheelbarrows; 5 Bar Flex Harrow; Lawn Mower Jacks; Poulan Pro Rear Tire Garden Tiller; Husqvarna Chainsaw; Vinyl Fence; <br /> <br /> Black Powder Guns – – Reloading – – Camping – – Safe<br /> <br /> 10 Black Powder/Muzzle Loading Guns inc/ Rifles, Double Barrel Shotgun, Single Shot Pistols, .31cal Revolver; Powder Horns &amp; Flasks; German Hunting Sword; Pocket &amp; Sheath Knives; Crossbow; Holsters; Reloading Dies, Press; Case Trimmer; Holsters &amp; Gun Belts; Burris Binoculars; Patch Knives; Slings; Sentinel Digital Combination Safe; Steel Key Lock Gun Cabinet; Deer Antlers; Electric Smoker; Camp Cooking Tripod; Cast Iron Camp Cookware; Large Marine Igloo Cooler; Deer Stand; Camping &amp; Fishing Supplies; Stage Coach Gun Cart; Steel Targets<br /> <br /> Rail Road – – Guitars – – Music – – Man Cave<br /> <br /> Nice Gibson &amp; Fender Guitars; Fender Acoustasonic-30 Guitar Amp; Live 6 Guitar Amp; Stereo; Pioneer Speakers; Guitar Case; Harmonicas; Microphones; Rail Road Switch Arm; 13’ Rail Road Arm Post; Rail Road Signs; Cast Iron Tractor Seat; Custom Wood Boxes &amp; Trunks; Adirondack Chair; Snow Sled; Twin Size Sports Car Bed w/ New Mattress; Toy &amp; Model Cars &amp; Trucks; Johnny Cash Memorabilia; Drum Sticks; Record Albums; CD’s; Beer Sings; Older Garage Refrigerator; Belt Buckles; Construction Toys; Tire Ash Trays; Canes &amp; Walking Sticks; Motorcycle Seats &amp; Parts; Signs; Man Cave Decorations &amp; Signs;<br /> <br /> Tools – – Garage &amp; Shop Plunder – – &amp; More<br /> <br /> 2 Rolls of Kemlite Wall Paneling; Ladders; Ramps; Battery Charger; Generators; Barrel Cart; Truck Boxes; Tool Boxes; Saw Horses; Engine Hoist/Cherry Picker; Fuel Cans; Older Car Parts; Ryobi Thickness Planer; Wood Working Tools; Poultry Wire; Lumber; Cabinet Drawers; LP Shop Heater; Strip Sander; Shop Vac; Compound Miter Saw; Pedestal Grinder; Shop &amp; Garage Cabinets &amp; Shelves; Hardware; Portable Air Compressor; Machinist Tools; Craftsman Tripod; 3 Wagon Loads of Garage &amp; Shop Plunder<br /> <br /> Jim Trigg Estate, Age 74<br /> <br /> Nancy Trigg, Seller		Bauer Auction Service		583	https://facebook.com/AuctionBauer	0		EVENT_RSVP						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989663	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		927383769392303	1	4.0254251918329E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100895368495588		0	Facdds			120207819090670606		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1712150012	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434652665_732910122366772_3829245798095412694_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-wcdi8vYbeEAb4pI-rs&_nc_oc=AdhsKD5ezduFus6L7mirFIHeyDvD0_Bb3Lq4Nfa9nGA-SnL8fSfVY3Kt0nxzM_Tw1tI&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBTRJUl8lQiE_BspbLxnhNhWRPFQBsIsNg7fcz-esPXBQ&oe=6618C00A	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434649389_985536943131302_526649781273424739_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FlYHWcwCtG0Ab79whpd&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCP1CB72JOM1jqjerA-qqNmkGt88gStuhAu3LHYNFARig&oe=6618B8FB			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Facdds		618	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989664	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		1850510555410002	1	7.294259249725E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	248248668561937		0	Western Oklahoma Trophy Outfitters			6534344607042		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/westernoklahomatrophyoutfitter		1712146653	2.4824866856194E+14	Western Oklahoma Trophy Outfitters	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435391621_965060071798889_889770347254310672_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KzNqqTcxwb0Ab6C3Vdg&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwuQfninGW7lCWfeE9_2ScyyQEJ0iAkyNcfKLAKtru7A&oe=6618D3AF	person_profile	0	WesternOklahomaTrophyOutfitter	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435467508_386197964291584_2799358693515396743_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y01q1vDwuXcAb50QM8m&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB17trAxnDrCrEaJ_fZJlYzQ_tlISKxC7tyl19n4QF8kg&oe=6618DBCB			0	3	Just had a few cancellation spots open up for bow/crossbow. Message us if wanting to book them! #wotohunts #wotodeerhunts #huntingoutfitter #bucks #redriver #hunts #deer #hogs #turkey #booknow #archery #rifle #oklahomahunting #huntwoto #westernoklahomatrophyoutfitters #hunting #vortexoptics #wildlife #freerange #elk #elkhunts #bigbucks #whitetail #oklahoma		Western Oklahoma Trophy Outfitters		20289	https://facebook.com/wotohunts	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989665	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		958765922528730	1	1.3660010874506E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	315313810789		0	Redemption Chapel			6560306898708		redemptionchapel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	Men's Conference Promo		https://redemptionchapel.com/2021/01/mens-conference/	{"type":"VISUAL_EDITOR","version":2,"landing_screen_type":"welcome_message","media_type":"text","text_format":{"customer_action_type":"ice_breakers","message":{"ice_breakers":[{"title":"Can I learn more about your business?","response":""},{"title":"Can you tell me more about your ad?","response":""},{"title":"Is anyone available to chat?","response":""}],"text":"Hi {{user_first_name}}! Please let us know how we can help you."}},"user_edit":false,"autofill_message_edited":false,"ice_breakers_edited":false,"welcome_message_edited":false,"surface":"boosted_post"}	1712101595	315313810789	Redemption Chapel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434481716_440992144960926_5565572218355484139_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LO98y9e5C5kAb41Trqa&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAjaI3zmuWp5WdqHe8PYgiLF9jjaBSyGECsXtw7Ma2QSA&oe=6618C7C0	person_profile	0	Redemption Chapel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434752639_3623636037849331_7939856082781245240_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w8DfYcFe6gwAb7an_Al&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlWQGoC95y-GKiOQJD-1LpabLWs15C-_NWyJelEh43pw&oe=6618B8D4			0	3	Our annual Men&#039;s Conference is happening later this month! Watch this video from Pastor Austin as he shares more about this event and why men need to make sure and be there. The conference is on April 26-27 but the registration deadline is April 21. You can register here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4acSxpj&amp;h=AT2fg_nBzLt94D2llYtjjjih-BckARor0XC9kP6BglnBcpjTmx58wDJyzF4ZaSMvlOAIJyl1FZTUTYqozGkSDoT2QGewIPYUtvxviqZhLUnpeHeXQokvluuDihNLpBqQwHoWWbwrw7Ywgqymsv-avdcLTgc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/4acSxpj</a>.		Redemption Chapel		3913	https://facebook.com/RedemptionChapl	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989666	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		946227940422734	1	3.6648020637643E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	178281458706016		0	She Has Deals			120206725481420124		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/she.has.deals		1712096264	1.7828145870602E+14	She Has Deals	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434585875_1485159545397215_7645804056963224562_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ikT2KF1fWUEAb6nrazc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDEwdPUjuJE_-JDTNkn6Lr6bpVnsxkvr2nl78JK51nlFQ&oe=6618EC3B	person_profile	0	Shelby | She Has Deals	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760270_425146606670859_7835010970118752800_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zYKMesBw8sQAb5QjPMg&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBSbzCf5uXE4HbPVcHsJwVlOaZAaqbzaQO79Ks-VkTOgg&oe=6618DA64			0	3	All of these deals can be found on my Amazon Storefront under the 4/02: Deals Folder!<br /> <br /> You can also shop these deals at your own pace on my stories.<br /> <br /> Make sure to follow &#064;she.has.deals for daily exclusive promo codes &amp; if you would like me to find any deals or codes on certain products please let me know in the comments 🫶🏼<br /> .<br /> .<br /> .<br /> #amazondeal #amazonpromocode #amazonfinds #amazoncheapfinds #amazondeals		She Has Deals		20550	https://facebook.com/SheHasDeals	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989667	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		1094744755156866	1	4.3182502925614E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104291478710		0	Holley			120210600636960260					NONE	video	How-To Install ADS Direct Fit Shocks For 2021-2024 Ford Bronco				1712081182	104291478710	Holley	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435297975_1346232846056114_6867024247983408753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4H-9w45nH_cAb4JSKVQ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAL9vSoma6YwM7wk09z_mmxSelbDNpVE67PRwKISV__Rw&oe=6618BC0E	person_profile	0	Holley	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435225852_1621341678684131_4147912304808299904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aa3lrGt4h_EAb6Ki1xJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCluhL6aKrtT9zIlUel-tyfODk3YtY55fsPBHA8l5ArCg&oe=6618E7C2			0	3	<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ADSShocks">ADS Racing Shocks</a> now offers true bolt-on shock upgrades for your 2021-2024 Ford Bronco. We have coil-over kits to outfit 2 and 4 door models equipped with 4WD. Vehicle specific spring rates maintain your vehicle balance and ride characteristics, while the increased suspension travel allows clearance for larger wheels and tires. Direct Fit shock upgrades from ADS can help you take your late model Bronco’s off-road performance to the next level. <br /> <br /> To prove just how easy a true bolt-on shock upgrade can be, watch as we install a set on our 2023 Badlands Ford Bronco.<br /> <br /> Learn more here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fholley-social.com%2FADSNewFordBroncoFB&amp;h=AT29J0hZEFxRVQrRoMvjys7cvcAJXmwEy-TZcN_9OmPzj0EuuBoD4PzUywU_JZzhPupEN8LpCNe0Igqr2i8H9NgHkXs17MMRo9a_F3Yw8hswlpD9xUtnMFrSdBWHAuOY4peVcg79ELQ61vZwHK71HMSr1Ao" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://holley-social.com/ADSNewFordBroncoFB</a><br /> <br /> #ADSRacingShocks #ArizonaDesertShocks #ADSEquipped #Holley #FordBronco #Bronco		Holley		462029	https://facebook.com/HolleyPerformance	0								1712041200		View Edit Delete
989668	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924890		442		777034797412062	1	8.3085824886508E+14		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210074916090230		amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1712074943	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658383_779273704157771_1017928527428056867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nDsshqgNPAYAb7H7-At&_nc_oc=AdhCMlnbtF9mtMcJuxB5aFUGatQ7YTsXKd4MCh8ZMK8HQ8KsPF873cnIpHm_IK5RjmE&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCX7gFIKXHtp3L4Qjm40jdE1FM6EU-zabTrl15ou69IuQ&oe=6618B863	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434757941_1336269613737071_3889460656451262129_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YMB93kVNSogAb6fYMmO&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDDd-3wA9qSUkqTGNHL8K7YX38QEKBaL1pLiRlxKK3fng&oe=6618BE30			0	3	Get your bug-shooting game on point with our Crossbow 🎯 Improve your bug-shooting skills with our Crossbow Bug Pistol, which is ideal for both target practice and hunting. ⚡ <br /> Don&#039;t wait to purchase yours; it will elevate your shooting experience to unprecedented heights!		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989669	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924891		442		387742857463320	1	9.2663912253555E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210074890580230		www.amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	video			https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1712075202	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562349_431611526092300_6608379539226156284_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tszfmbiIYcUAb6ldv3i&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD1YmRNRUqPBssFUwTTqZMBBk847ZgFyfupOr_uE1IkpQ&oe=6618D9B6	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434631711_438050248793531_3811836430278389289_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=geCzs3qi5G4Ab6kUURZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAohCODa1IgHasEm1htH8baxeA--g46-j9ZyiBwW7kpA&oe=6618BC75			0	3	Don&#039;t let flies and bugs ruin your summer🍉☀️🌭🍔<br /> 🔫💥 Get Fly-X-Treme bug gun and be prepared!<br /> <br /> Buy Direct Today: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fly-x-treme.com%2F&amp;h=AT1-H_k90vwn_kPsJ3Jlt3pTeq7ftERDQ5NpW7nzEE5-XnY8t6qEzOK-05Xvs256HqlV4uhSdM4s8MF9jQ2vdRx84fFDAE3mecj6RDpdkGwMxhipcn6fJcP-cyuCOIpJz5IgH3aTrBBob0kwzPb7HwwcXUg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.fly-x-treme.com</a><br /> Amazon:<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme%2Fdp%2FB0BRSCQXRL&amp;h=AT1sD5BANHkZ3C8sqP8yNX9SGWFwF7SAUW78MO8WNeikrEVTYFrNQ4gRsF8h6XulHIRuocyu2YWk5J4oeUQqWJaWz2TD3X2kYP-cWZMYcjlL2tasoTbSBAyQl28Z2kehcFQf9MLEqgTRLsaPEY6NLFKnHCc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL</a><br /> <br /> #buggun #flyxtreme #flyshooter #bugshooter #archery		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989670	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924892		442		938638631132667	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb5Nj2fT&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCviwYEuRteNBhqT6JY1q7DMDvvZbjPkWXkjbVqa9lzYA&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab4SgO4f&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAOPMwqH2T44GHJZ7Htce6XA1hWCc1U5xySGwfoziTFvw&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989671	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924892		442		432209576127004	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb7FYMf_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDVY1IMWvBji5Nj4AEOzf2ee1EsYn1_JDaUqeMicfvWCw&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4d3yMa&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfABMtzHKuM9YRNDHi10fr4A8TAe4Gt9NWao4w3z5aIEhg&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989672	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924892		442		340889812301167	2	1.688994344959E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063860930257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056495	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434426176_271814722644057_5902529467878334776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3WszUgiqh0Ab4QRV6Q&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAN8qR9ayiXylwY59YMdO8SP_AqHQbgdjiqkyAnT9d6gQ&oe=6618BFDD	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434031940_389351653911100_1321867642699559227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=guh2TkCFQSQAb5ToJGx&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBzpFuzI4iS7SDqbwNHBTLMABRjZJTOv1Nu1GKp-KccCQ&oe=6618DB3B			0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989678	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522057	1734924892		442		1945445259209297	1	3.4027818570462E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100309942247444		0	Jim Burnworth Safaris			120207185991680746		jimburnworthsafaris.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Jim Burnworth Safaris		https://www.jimburnworthsafaris.com/welcometoanadventureofalifetime		1712053552	1.0030994224744E+14	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434341842_779938144061077_9131193161469005253_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hu8IJmB2R5oAb4lYMbd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD1rFbSKrJfM8GvLpMW5xw6xEgV8zef7TrKqbxmJpX--g&oe=6618DDD4	person_profile	0	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433142319_1454677728817430_7827029975555448987_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r9D6D7dHuOsAb7ilxS-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCTJ5t9JyEmb9szQzdqMDEN1MbQjT8RH0sy3zSH5eu9tw&oe=6618D419			0	3	LOOKING 4 BOWHUNTERS.<br /> <br /> 👉 Ready to embark on an unforgettable bowhunting adventure in Africa with the legendary Jim Burnworth? We&#039;re looking for 4 passionate bowhunters to join us this summer, starting June 4th and running through September 6th.<br /> <br /> 🎙️ But here&#039;s the kicker: no matter where you are in your archery journey, Jim will be there to help you grow. Whether you&#039;re a seasoned pro or just starting out, his expert guidance and coaching will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience. Plus, Jim will be hosting exclusive podcast sessions during your stay, sharing his expertise and stories from the field, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure.<br /> <br /> 💥 And here&#039;s some exciting news: Jim has seven camps! So if you have that friend who isn&#039;t a bowhunter, we can put a crossbow in his hand or he can bring his rifle along. Everyone is welcome to join the adventure!<br /> <br /> 💰 Packages start at just $5500 for a full 7 days of hunting, including accommodation, meals, personalized instruction from Jim Burnworth himself, access to his podcast sessions, and the option for crossbow or rifle hunting.<br /> Interested? Feel free to PM me or visit our website to leave your contact info. Let&#039;s make memories and share the campfire stories together! <br /> 🏕️ #JimBurnworthSafaris #BowhuntingAdventure #AfricaHunting #LegendaryExperience		Jim Burnworth Safaris		1487	https://facebook.com/jimburnworthsafaris	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989679	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		1340734663381131	1	4.0654708541304E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	225255454333252		0	Shop Mẹ yêu con			120208067391180739		mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/NetworkAttachedStorage?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712052513	2.2525545433325E+14	Shop Mẹ yêu con	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435376080_314466128326627_5643568022826135474_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O0DZJITK4QYAb7Ha5yK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCNCXPt1nA8KlBiqIUq7fFyOaz6PFf0lpLhSQOC1gvDYQ&oe=6618C5F4	person_profile	0	Shop Mẹ yêu con	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435266814_1117246002849412_599813220673581294_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIrJ5VunkjIAb6BTcyW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDplcpbRskUbrnXFJbjfO9zewCGLMT4KhLOWEUGg1bZOw&oe=6618BB99			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		Shop Mẹ yêu con		1393	https://facebook.com/HanhXachTayUc.HangTotGiaTot.ShopMeYeuCon	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989681	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		412951008155946	1	8.1158947748169E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100897312533782		0	Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya Chihuahua			120208452838060154		mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/Hairstyles?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712050572	1.0089731253378E+14	Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya Chihuahua	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434010861_1140761497061231_685784946830733864_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9N8j8JKZQzMAb4msx2P&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBS0ivt0mCgAzvYbSrMBjMe23ox7Mmqi1q5w48dqNsVrg&oe=6618EB6E	person_profile	0	Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433930985_827174169245005_8914094743454590736_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hcxchTStWcUAb5kTPiQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDeGo41lsClociVKyNM81irat0_Xy2SBM-qRwj40VFarw&oe=6618D30C			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya Chihuahua		164	https://facebook.com/100078336976813	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
989682	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		825021496129892	1	1.873014323149E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	103244559362820		0	4 Seasons Outfitters			6598818435267			Call now		NONE	image	4 Seasons Outfitters	You can expect a fun atmosphere and a dedicated guide Located in Weyerhaeuser, WI			1712012398	1.0324455936282E+14	4 Seasons Outfitters	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433125930_444790461410122_6381644833093082151_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rc_GRniKCAwAb7x9zY9&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDzy6l9aIbl9NvpP0X-6616vLfFdogEb1BueSzwvxPfIw&oe=6618E5BE	person_profile	0	4 Seasons Outfitters	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554552_339574401923637_618353250148002780_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wJZ_nnaSBt4Ab6Q0rEr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAAEgs-s1lk5AkNTL7t6olfpO2srJ15SkdzflVpMscgVw&oe=6618E677			0	3	Three 5-day bow/crossbow hunts for 2024 left<br /> Open hunt dates: <br /> 9/23-9/27<br /> 10/26-10/30<br /> 12/19-12/23 late season over food plots<br /> <br /> Limited hunts each year<br /> $3000/Hunter max 2 people in camp at a time-lodging included<br /> Call Mike at 651-271-4493 for the details regarding any unanswered questions about this awesome hunting opportunity in beautiful Weyerhaeuser, WI<br /> 2024 Black Bear hunts-SOLD OUT<br /> 2024 Whitetail Gun season-SOLD OUT		4 Seasons Outfitters		238	https://facebook.com/4seasonsoutfitterswi	0		CALL_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
989683	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		955283689316825	1	1.0941745850095E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	111491154628454		0	Condy & Jordan Realty Group			120206172658860328					NONE	multi_images					1711989194	1.1149115462845E+14	Condy & Jordan Realty Group	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435213079_3687994421447559_50334859262976292_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zac3qXIBRS8Ab7L4EEL&_nc_oc=AdgxNPTeX0CBg9KbV0d4MlqZm9pywfMJUopaYbMEIpwXM_s4HyMhd8GV1yVsDH7ioAYn2etLErpA-CWF6AqJvIlc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBIx38dWy8aE5rMv-ZPexHc_LRNVgw1BnFEAg5llhsEzw&oe=6618EEA8	person_profile	0					0	3	JUST LISTED. 309 Private Road 2120, Meridian. Beautiful hunting getaway in Crossbow Ranch &amp; Wildlife Preserve! This 5 acre property includes deeded hunting rights to the 650 acre portion of the ranch. Custom home includes 300 sf screened in porch and 4,300 sf barn with full RV hookup! Enjoy the ranch life without the maintenance! <br /> <br /> Call or text for more info! 254-396-7715<br /> Listed by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/condyjordanrealtygroup">Condy &amp; Jordan Realty Group</a>		Condy & Jordan Realty Group		266	https://facebook.com/condyjordanrealtygroup	0								1711954800		View Edit Delete
989684	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		1799227377245336	1	1.1599801553558E+15		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210028913100230		www.amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	video	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987807	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434655650_342318988312537_7244442246725306427_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YchKyzIgdOYAb7K_eBK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBXvudvlg3IKG8N48oaGpebLwGASfTBgLloB-sch1y3oA&oe=6618BB8A	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434663252_1348622592488168_5547621506637095475_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6p18fpMGmpcAb7v6V0Q&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4sYK4O98msOsktlXVUW6o3O8FZ0yTi6F4wqEi8AWEoA&oe=6618D0D2			0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
989685	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		428557703053927	1	9.4327061071042E+14		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210028912940230		amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987776	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938486_1068317747588691_7857533211947872551_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BNgiqpLi9FkAb7VSbPj&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCm6oBMTKFAnzZo5qTJ6IzpH-IxH24Kx9zoko_NTrHW2A&oe=6618C8BC	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433978233_435205528896831_4889863027554401621_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tFRScNJNiHUAb6YNGTD&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB47OYUwIEB3p7uhdkjUMgKp7fW3cWOOc-ujCX6TFKeRw&oe=6618D0A5			0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
989686	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924892		442		956306979040064	1	1.491373225138E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210028912980230		amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987776	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433908866_7194219307340711_4650076348565346822_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nQNayZTmUBsAb71igCC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAWBRda4v1J04OPyy4cii_-jS8_jJeq45Hv5KkDnqAmEg&oe=6618BB1D	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434073197_1793748224440725_7208763574582616426_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Kk9uwkxRtgsAb5mo8_c&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCm2xM-JjmN09Y1WgDydywNLBDrvfMUAmNXg1MDz2jpDw&oe=6618C0B4			0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
989687	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		956996679540997	1	9.4843476359013E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100309942247444		0	Jim Burnworth Safaris			120207133742550746		jimburnworthsafaris.com	Learn more		NONE	image	HOME | Jimburnworthsafaris | Africa Hunt		https://www.jimburnworthsafaris.com/welcometoanadventureofalifetime		1711952481	1.0030994224744E+14	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434496336_2041858276192768_7988145087663947007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EhnhhdGZa0MAb7iY7-7&_nc_oc=AdiCED6qm1x0Z1mF9-Nrm7KVQPSIGzzaK2-81prP9TGgya5RVCFwJHLx-NWijDMO73AUEFjOHlShs1QVLXZ8AJOR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqdlr4JQfTMCFZbul49gQbY5v34-ltX2gkii65Ep_oIw&oe=6618DCFB	person_profile	0	Jim Burnworth Safaris	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434487077_793916222799358_7410835647026634151_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3DGm3JPoa9oAb7sVh_6&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAEbpaNeOWQmJNikiIyKo-Tp-oDaoLaQFtm2DbrMGvEOQ&oe=6618E5D6			0	3	LOOKING 4 BOWHUNTERS.<br /> <br /> 👉 Ready to embark on an unforgettable bowhunting adventure in Africa with the legendary Jim Burnworth? We&#039;re looking for 4 passionate bowhunters to join us this summer, starting June 4th and running through September 6th.<br /> <br /> 🎙️ But here&#039;s the kicker: no matter where you are in your archery journey, Jim will be there to help you grow. Whether you&#039;re a seasoned pro or just starting out, his expert guidance and coaching will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience. Plus, Jim will be hosting exclusive podcast sessions during your stay, sharing his expertise and stories from the field, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure.<br /> <br /> 💥 And here&#039;s some exciting news: Jim has seven camps! So if you have that friend who isn&#039;t a bowhunter, we can put a crossbow in his hand or he can bring his rifle along. Everyone is welcome to join the adventure!<br /> <br /> 💰 Packages start at just $5500 for a full 7 days of hunting, including accommodation, meals, personalized instruction from Jim Burnworth himself, access to his podcast sessions, and the option for crossbow or rifle hunting.<br /> <br /> Interested? Feel free to PM me or visit our website to leave your contact info. Let&#039;s make memories and share the campfire stories together! 🏕️ #JimBurnworthSafaris #BowhuntingAdventure #AfricaHunting #LegendaryExperience		Jim Burnworth Safaris		1487	https://facebook.com/jimburnworthsafaris	0		LEARN_MORE						1711868400		View Edit Delete
989688	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		351935830573467	2	7.6737948164112E+14		1712041200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	107398322268051		0	Magic Prize			120208272738960652		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711876962	1.0739832226805E+14	Magic Prize	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434394954_742447831020753_3847928089840927389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utwai2WIzb8Ab5jSU-O&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCUJ7GVbUwSJB4EBpFkoWi-g3sCMSFeGNdSi1fWisC-gQ&oe=6618D515	person_profile	0	Magic Prize	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434380846_1558295141408983_438997556220937994_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=de4236JOL9QAb4u4NeB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCu_QQSWdx2MLUw1oizT53PIHWjA1z0_54p7jLe0CfYlQ&oe=6618CA83			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Magic Prize		329	https://facebook.com/100089754113544	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711868400		View Edit Delete
989689	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		429449072906702		7.6737948164112E+14		1712041200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	107398322268051		0	Magic Prize			120208272738920652		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711876961	1.0739832226805E+14	Magic Prize	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434740802_1685417662280526_5623805221690856652_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sqk6i2QQNxsAb6ph-cC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA8OfYS1nyIsqdNeIWSHkFxk_W87kN2M30NWDlROK-Xtg&oe=6618CA9C	person_profile	0	Magic Prize	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741579_394204396707439_4338772266305117126_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3BqFD4Tz3u4Ab7pk7ne&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAj6_Ngs5IZEeDAkbGtqPPqSzv1i_reXApC3hgVeQ4q-w&oe=6618D694			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Magic Prize		329	https://facebook.com/100089754113544	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711868400		View Edit Delete
989691	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		7919428941408795	2	4.4182487840779E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120209434186270204		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793069	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433251205_371646482509924_9167893818528105777_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9oGOrfzzAZIAb5V0tgr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBRnE9BTy_8z9ichXqCCP065R6Vt500ndDz2-JIHhgY8Q&oe=6618B771	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434295418_792562652285263_6108522915737188328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JxOjkkrSzfMAb5u5A1e&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5YIof6tp1LteAGQA_6GLj3SIZY42HaeA5_GnloalR5Q&oe=6618D668			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989692	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		450244220824725		4.4182487840779E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120209434186300204		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793071	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431600115_1411739986114142_7246534880867655404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rHdgl7In-rYAb7BRghR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlELFAVIqL58YK5CY4JoNd8loLB7alD3vj0gEskRKNdQ&oe=6618E0FB	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433866160_971371104346954_967016227732926058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u18tPnhCJMMAb61sdeX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkkFRDGGxVI_J7J0GKAEW4IshZy6Qf1IosjwM_ihcrZQ&oe=6618E2B9			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989695	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		334891412897919	1	9.7510002424712E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120208155064210049		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792806	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434430128_434104329195689_2705472396054049654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PIgSEHHfNlQAb5s-pzi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHJHpVHLzjReUEihYaxNSvCkcenmH_bPz92ae2ugz6uw&oe=6618CD71	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434056714_796125559089482_2320973658175291045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5dxsmxka4YAAb6ZvZgC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDoVM8D0_4kXuyr6u_XGM9XVD-dF4DvWw3j6bX_CPsYqw&oe=6618BFE3			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989696	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1129665988458312	1	1.1501041759833E+15		1712300400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	256873224171942		0	sl_crossbros			6550479891443		youtube.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://youtube.com/watch?v=JDYv8Hverbo&si=wn-ww2TNgYJQMe2y		1711785440	2.5687322417194E+14	sl_crossbros	https://scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/429977291_962235642000042_7148833336457099679_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=w7uHOwUeLv4Ab6a3S__&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfDRg0VI_9EFEO4qS55aTqxSae06h6uTKhAHY_AnICvrTQ&oe=6618D7CA	ig_ads_identity	1		https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588081_439167495237000_2682423639139838425_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=l4InmZN9EeoAb6sRlD7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDlfMK2MGGENup2lo-rwOWPzeKfQm_yrNxj4qEmruJjDw&oe=6618DB20			0	3	FULL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE <br /> <br /> #crossbows #crossbow #archery #crossbow #bow #hunting #outdoors #crossbowlife #crossbowking #crossbowman #crossbowhunter #crossbowshooting #bow #bowhunter #archerylife #archeryhunting #crossbowcustoms #survivalist #ekarchery #archeryaddict #beararchery		sl_crossbros		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/sl_crossbros	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
989697	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		3703203959964461	2	4.2979245943688E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195490255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753520	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880673_2577018635800264_4582579765208261702_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VcZbh6kyV1kAb7zgcO3&_nc_oc=AdhvkOdl83rAseivgyOJaPMESoW-zbUz5gQNLzW2Qs3IC3pWL7gn5-nxsOwgXd9PYY_d-S5Jt5CKrNEBiVun5Sg1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnBQcTIBLISHN8QPMiG8NUWGfB4I7l8Q2adxfWQnsM7w&oe=6618CACD	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479425_1892584224529385_7732080953961171810_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GvUmDhFM814Ab5gmiLi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlf3PG_dH2lAqZaoeUGr0wKofI0g8iErZCvup9zrUY7w&oe=6618DAB8			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989698	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		440582128487903		4.2979245943688E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195490255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753520	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880673_2577018635800264_4582579765208261702_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VcZbh6kyV1kAb7zgcO3&_nc_oc=AdhvkOdl83rAseivgyOJaPMESoW-zbUz5gQNLzW2Qs3IC3pWL7gn5-nxsOwgXd9PYY_d-S5Jt5CKrNEBiVun5Sg1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnBQcTIBLISHN8QPMiG8NUWGfB4I7l8Q2adxfWQnsM7w&oe=6618CACD	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479425_1892584224529385_7732080953961171810_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GvUmDhFM814Ab5gmiLi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlf3PG_dH2lAqZaoeUGr0wKofI0g8iErZCvup9zrUY7w&oe=6618DAB8			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989699	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1579338659516431	1	1.9507456253811E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195460255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753186	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434066984_376584625206784_7767179263873114860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LetBeajm43wAb57esxy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaYeHb2vMHVMHdg21WHMbGgom8zkk9bQpOdsGhdFLTWQ&oe=6618EC82	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434464478_1349894449058328_4448220051245591734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F2IQGOgMJokAb5t8nbc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwvAY2fCIYClYql5VeEBJ-M5Pzqt8RflTjpAAjiqAieA&oe=6618EA76			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989700	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1368094617225096	2	1.1861885427412E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195460255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753186	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434066984_376584625206784_7767179263873114860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LetBeajm43wAb57esxy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaYeHb2vMHVMHdg21WHMbGgom8zkk9bQpOdsGhdFLTWQ&oe=6618EC82	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434464478_1349894449058328_4448220051245591734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F2IQGOgMJokAb5t8nbc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwvAY2fCIYClYql5VeEBJ-M5Pzqt8RflTjpAAjiqAieA&oe=6618EA76			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989701	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		395143096621072	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb6F4lUr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPszuMUvtSSv-6bEUEmrR7TR-vRHTRrURPRCK-nEyuBg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab60IPlU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBDNiIXRr7z_xi2kOD3QQjtr0trN4Lw4RV7I4kEds0C5g&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989702	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1839014569859035	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb6VF6vw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDp_fHJEZOVfTF_aeJPWKJXPz8czlT0_krhTP2LXN76wA&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4KApDJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwLGHjd-mA172e-kNolyiHEo7Ugxy87-Rbaop59De9qg&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989703	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		260318450501013		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb6VF6vw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDp_fHJEZOVfTF_aeJPWKJXPz8czlT0_krhTP2LXN76wA&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4KApDJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwLGHjd-mA172e-kNolyiHEo7Ugxy87-Rbaop59De9qg&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989704	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		351770093953892	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb6q9iB_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDbhW-pk5gosY1lsSmB5YjBDTdCSRa7tW-B9XaaSDvMNg&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab4mf-mm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHsLj3LAzbgu6WoylHqWcG00fRoGms6Rm19S6dLtlSsQ&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989705	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		962240275126473	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4Lb3hB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAGBmi00PkM_FEsy-kZjY8LPizZyjSgS2sglnatJiMAGg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb7ptMkb&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAZsTvzEGD6LuVNF_FnbI74IJFLk1Bo3VGAOFCcfwL2xQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989706	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		968154101690651	1	8.6977076492254E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207827080800421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711708877	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024018_438417325516439_1344077684525894148_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J4oy8N4qQdgAb7P_edU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDIrCtnKew_BkoiZ_jIp80bmKMpKx8E_dr3KRba5Sxo0w&oe=6618DEB2	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434477565_1483475412240347_1310319543744439963_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LkV75aSLcOgAb4btBsf&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB9Qeqo043r3QtnduTSbihvMHwwue7KO3V1yzVPjAfNRA&oe=6618DD8F			0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989707	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		3607144069602732	1	2.1120833891771E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207821999680421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711698424	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432158947_779661874076093_753186955878642190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O-CNFlihkNQAb7I_Mrd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBjdrXHAqwE2k9Bqm_iGwq3Yni-y8z6QYtVpISjPvp9cw&oe=6618D3A6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432206817_728365579150287_2165353128600029021_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ixgAsgwoQIsAb6DI1_-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAG44es-jP-sYweQ51GeABy_Y2VfibjZkHm8U_cMfW7QQ&oe=6618D3B7			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989708	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1148796649895706	1	1.1672077580207E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120210526848470311		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	Satisfied Customers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-mount		1711680628	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433105670_237260529408116_4453193951390437117_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7eSle13dEroAb7MzRjC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC31-AC80IsxwvUfAJuC-O8JcTNkiZcmNSLhxu3XQZqxg&oe=6618CD14	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433245875_963960865231390_3822452704612978330_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zARaQ-Ou3IwAb6cvabU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgZ-L6x1zuB7gWtrd6Ita3B6R2Dg6OKCe9sWmkmASfzQ&oe=6618DB9C			0	3	Upgrade Your Hunting Game! 🌳 Mount your smartphone on any rifle or crossbow and record stunning videos. Stay connected in the wilderness, grab yours today! <br /> <br /> Hurry, grab your set today! 👉 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fdauos_mount&amp;h=AT0lD3fwXM3xZU-vV9ltNzRizg4QaGlCTVragbbL-yfA3ncyUNqu6mhUs_s6mhM7KhfbnXKrdQwB-6xJdyMLvRVZ0k9lLEQj1OantL7lQyC5O4hF023TJpRGhfOaZN-Fw4tH6qW541vIZ3GVFR0xVLY8MJdNCRStKyfUxmgce8Y" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/dauos_mount</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989709	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1387918041869303	1	1.4757041932206E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120210526848440311		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	Satisfied Customers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-mount		1711680627	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432145039_433386239091946_2713802964859442976_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Zb8ZVFEk_sAb4NoM0H&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiRqxwDphUYW2mZUF5yLKg-tlT_vJ6ZCJJojdrdh3JhA&oe=6618DD38	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432215878_286842571115296_7979491564121629004_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bsfJbB1FQigAb6dM6be&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfD0sF7gtr0CFom6USughVz5IhOXwrsVh6O_t4cStlVDLg&oe=6618D621			0	3	Upgrade Your Hunting Game! 🌳 Mount your smartphone on any rifle or crossbow and record stunning videos. Stay connected in the wilderness, grab yours today! <br /> <br /> Hurry, grab your set today! 👉 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fdauos_mount&amp;h=AT1_FXximbuQhZtmPi3yjoDFKcxIwWIH02J7ENK1vmv0gseHwZwDcCgN7wEzwoxDhpKwPgI2eTRPHVatow8wSSK-l9Rc_Zp_lZBPeWM1Nke9Tr5IgCdfN-F0ENPURRng8kzmiQzPZzgTo_3vEVoSJbdukpxqSZkZ606xqCmvYwA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/dauos_mount</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989710	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		361563553548554	1	1.1551186455047E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741410460751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625552	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432155702_933207431790137_4966500843368274962_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fkipZrSCJ-QAb7IkfQJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfD4wLJW3XDrhCh9DKuyhQJk7yp0lehvKV3wXeHsCuLEHg&oe=6618DF7E	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432155454_403193829012608_251821308789685645_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9pq0h8AiNjsAb6032-E&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaUYywBlSU5xFpMlfg5grybz7143-YBIffqHt8DYh0eQ&oe=6618DE5A			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989711	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		427564996310457	1	4.2971087638131E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741420240751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625634	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465975_909020687669040_1400946644615777548_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QptAEitEHn4Ab7YAdiF&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcYt431j_CU2r27YKFA0NCiFol6ceIG3zvbofoGJ5fgA&oe=6618C4DA	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434410495_660137172893255_2478199693599053727_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OKAtlSuWQQQAb6C9rnN&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBYg0DSBmhZBRLwDYvMLeDOPZP0L3rUivVUL788kHr4oQ&oe=6618BE73			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989712	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		444428331381098	1	1.1133600500083E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741420890751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625600	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433465642_441333268235000_1045342548688800526_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd8T3xpCHkEAb4sDnDa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDOQv6nfo-blHfGhjdWDbJXheDGygv_SPpOu-SmFTPSTw&oe=6618C2F2	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433001707_388964577225473_6529973119484621965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gsB3nfKUO-gAb4SyyK3&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCOgqem9XcaMJ5V9g5aqF2xddbeoofXA0ePNUy4tetRIA&oe=6618D471			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989713	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924893		442		1615672245917077	1	9.3356670827432E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120207741418360751		itunes.apple.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625812	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433295733_1434885394119069_9210322066019447018_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5CbQqsZcmdgAb48mb-O&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB94zlADvdZLfIBU8ugMtz3i3pguVTlIPO7Dp0exEgKxA&oe=6618EE0A	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182474_1652848275487580_8589992803339791858_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=27yMjFjw_poAb7mDIPp&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkhzzH96lj5BFcIRocIQy7BZK2T1ieHoOVBBE0jys8Og&oe=6618DC59			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989714	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1142889406831160	1	8.5288200994291E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	265052230017125		0	Prize Palooza			120207536581100654		emergclutch.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711666182	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434287595_968527034633106_1388783280513136401_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aiGNaHaQ9asAb4kemSR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD7rC-yLmxoSM3pMot15NL7SqiLww0v8_GvB6eEBx0MpQ&oe=6618EDDF	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434290829_1415861415984290_5690165483896659272_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xN3IW9mmrmkAb5GNlXd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAke3RheqySKd5eWuPS7yHrwuFrO2lNZqQr1zKcBGw7Kg&oe=6618C987			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Prize Palooza		250	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989715	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		7370421312993641	1	4.4646573570919E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	641086812686708		0	Alimentation Bali			120207388876420010		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇	You are one of the lucky three thousand people who have been selected to receive a Ravin R29 Crossbow for only $10. This is an incredible opportunity that you should not miss out on, and we encourage you to take advantage of it immediately.	https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711664977	6.4108681268671E+14	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433211909_3781496832173069_3311809168208155146_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TytHWf64D80Ab7DXeiV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAR9c-qpN68C-WlThNegZYImkx5MyiZPoqHsrcU4xrWDw&oe=6618E7F0	person_profile	0	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120391_783906846579083_1141327993269507309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=f0WLfhFDz28Ab6Vni9Y&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAnVdim6_HKKMdkN8P_klmq-wKbMjNlhslEOHEsVsMz_w&oe=6618D0ED			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Alimentation Bali		83	https://facebook.com/100054507427553	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989716	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1148068872859563	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1712127600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205769399190318		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711279285	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434093669_1601363800677744_3690269005474253920_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cJpRy5-UI1QAb7PVhcT&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCauPvv1mRdHeCsh4WS3UTNRz07kmhXv_yT8pWcm-KL-w&oe=6618CE1A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434161396_427260193108939_1184272065626758527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xqhsOAphEtMAb4S7J8L&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAbHEWY0apINdjMLlkGkS9HDGj4FLYeeplOx_B_WK3gKw&oe=6618D658			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989717	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		762839158896609	4	1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610660599670		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634664	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434385781_754750006429048_9077005728782961464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hZjCo9P1BdgAb78IFLx&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfQrN9pjj-BW6SzE000wOsuSP2KadaRhr2ZvM2ndWfaA&oe=6618D475	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989718	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1081521936448620		1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610660600270		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634667	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434052415_1456296211930828_2811793283383892416_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O_XtOHhluhcAb4CcPzm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDs09_eIhKVlMDkPoBfl5IVD8WLl7PvVoI1-reZOTOWDA&oe=6618B9B0	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989719	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		25103877849227772		1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610660599670		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634664	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434385781_754750006429048_9077005728782961464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hZjCo9P1BdgAb78IFLx&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfQrN9pjj-BW6SzE000wOsuSP2KadaRhr2ZvM2ndWfaA&oe=6618D475	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989720	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1210574553242329		1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610564442070		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711615408	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433117931_1080355769709969_7119524042535481774_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KPgeeCLR9oQAb7r-nSD&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAywr5d9fvyyDX7gH3ogP28BRbDfgFuDY80YVk6uQ_DrQ&oe=6618C5CD	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989831	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522060	1734924894		442		928581035479476	2	1.688994344959E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206549330770257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711009568	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091394_797042015780526_3723277490646001289_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZSUk11bC89IAb5BGMir&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDuXPpgi7a8bvsFa_vOvIZ4FVzZ5fZS8DaorcdbQwt2Rg&oe=6618E0C6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433079860_631148279166920_7668260006395454014_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3GZPFLJEugIAb4D5Euy&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDWC40umY8d4gsuP2XhUjRTu_fCFuwBlKXJqjeYo1MSmw&oe=6618D3DA			0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989721	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		440143275204495	1	3.8939665401791E+14		1712214000	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	105652425201417		0	geekpire_official			120209054089900454		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	image			http://instagram.com/geekpire_official		1711598514	1.0565242520142E+14	geekpire_official	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/230556229_972583996923335_3024290080248920440_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=2mOAxRURVFQAb7aWan7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCtUDFom9F4NPfdbRvQeQZNMWm_lbYKkghI6YQud7jX8A&oe=6618CAA0	ig_ads_identity	1	GeekPire	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434413605_1635832377226717_6599696456591005118_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dPh63v3eopQAb5BP9_h&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9ET6NVNOv5vAVbCDvOM6vKX0Fs5z33ciYFmHJAwreFA&oe=6618C47C			0	3	Two rouge survivors of the Great War within the story of our campaign featuring a rugged and eccentric but smart dwarven artificer named Belrin and his modified clockwork warforge companion Baxter. With Belrin’s ingenuity and near limitless arsenal of tools and weapons including a powerful mechanical ballista bolt crossbow with dwarven tonal architecture magics used within the myrthil metal bowstring, to increase the vibrational frequency of arrows, allowing them to partially phase through armour, duplicate via quantum entanglement between arrow heads, manifesting an infinite number of arrows, alongside explosive arrows, acid, arrows, frost arrows and lightning arrows, Berlin is also armed with a flintlock pistol, a seismic wave emitting tuning fork, explosives his trusty pick axe and his hulking mechanical companion Baxter armed with an arm cannon, bladed limbs and a shield, not to mention Baxter’s stoic and reserved demeanour is quite the contrast to Belrin’s chaotic and eccentric personality, the two make for an unexpected but formidable duo. A great thanks to &#064;freirearts for your work on this project and a pleasure working with you as always. #dnd #dnd5e #dndart #dndartwork #dndcampaign #dndcampaignart #dndartwork #dnddwarf #dwarf #artificer #dndartificer #warforged #warforgedart #artist #fantasy #fantasyart #fantasyartwork #dungeonsanddragons #characterart #characterartwork #fantasynovel		geekpire_official		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/geekpire_official	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989723	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		445810587873510	9	9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756350094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552111	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434060475_2252770191737874_464461497481583884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BZ2gVbTdO2MAb7XrIfh&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBqevmmnaiUdYnlEhwkIvOxwpwktvx7wHwwJrHomBQpCQ&oe=6618C0FF	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434399541_776623630721084_2238027465610090392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PKHcU5chGdAAb6wqt0T&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_XQgIYiDY5oQAOJ9Afp7ZNUMe2mUxpApY79F09OwdKw&oe=6618C693			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989724	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		2618531244994366		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756610094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552190	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432173043_1170910167676561_8409318987482690190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u45KXHhymTIAb6_1DVs&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWgEFMkQHQBmWOFELlcwn-Mt9fQIra8iOaqRxoBA9pIA&oe=6618BE15	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432128607_1617117405756016_3607839568440673794_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5SUEyCjcbfoAb7-UCB9&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA95kuJ4MFrkWx8eynSO8JIQU_OV5lIgSPgk-LwVHapzw&oe=6618C99F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989725	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1190682448977543		9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756440094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552076	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433246713_929327385401571_7521243286456051867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UVuV6qf859MAb68YNt8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfApbd80u_KZX6gC7eAbJVIEj4nx0gECNNxfJHBptRuilg&oe=6618B79F	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434275846_1384302318945639_2418547638996955313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w_DUYG7s-j0Ab5OEG4U&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2OSB3qhAuF-w8EIVhxaB5CIy3p7l3tbax0_HMac1t6w&oe=6618C026			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989726	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		1771034423726065		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756410094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552111	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434179594_745921440640610_368285448153917516_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HikmAqoELHYAb7C6S_U&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBCtSfC5pYDsiqrpD0Kdx3l3NvweQAkUSBYZBKaXSFEnA&oe=6618DCF2	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434399523_385653110963704_4193943954433525843_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ysMRNs6FYC4Ab5O5Aly&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB4sX4OxQL2IbD2BZAWbK2sByb0RMbItWbFqpYrpBRODQ&oe=6618C6A6			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989727	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924894		442		3865363323786787		9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756380094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552075	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091655_1453416741983075_7132123211253465318_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dvNRIK78EgQAb6RfFVq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtR8Ki2ZESnZQZxR_-TZpoGL4fN1JrNUTLtllRE9tOAw&oe=6618DB54	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139644_865722071982524_1382445386625311697_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9AWTPVy-U7wAb7OP-hd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfALv6v8inCLuKGlN7EpfXdZE4wQdiS-MbPiM3ZqVeY1yA&oe=6618D9ED			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989728	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924896		442		720936160215786		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206025756550094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552137	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432165893_1787759781697765_8062401144704622322_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NjWWk28xfF0Ab5TGypr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBhCSfU3GiObZLSozCGUjYyMe2VgSjesCOeVHoLIVJglw&oe=6618DF57	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432252438_954972285829637_3965607497794401383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gdAEc6KRe2cAb7-6Clv&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfjN68jxVHfi-hvM1ITssNKagX38yelJ-5JSSCWRMdaw&oe=6618C98A			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989729	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522058	1734924896		442		1092998265320997	14	1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242640527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433008377_3230372293924564_2696678552488206484_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wM3YPc_BufAAb4bm3o8&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtP-2MkRTR6iJwiYL0GXJMvd0F-QL38I219RcFQhl6VA&oe=6618C542	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432998243_815005440452007_1776444854117561157_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xamhlgE3LKoAb5M43ra&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBj9L1cglwIMfqtOZlj2auWYojzdmP_B1B6YAKtODGJYw&oe=6618DBE3			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989753	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924896		442		2140714786266582	1	2.7611575877145E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	256259084233530		0	Yarak Archery			120207436554610089					NONE	multi_images					1711388418	2.5625908423353E+14	Yarak Archery	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434175632_628029689480476_4809512359005857514_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3a0L_ysDcD4Ab42G0dc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBE3KyMVcs-S1VMjbxjQ7w9ob0CME0YerGLGxz62HtjPg&oe=6618EA42	person_profile	0	Yarak Archery	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434371000_356234170745578_5232550514709381716_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jPTmL0pGNPoAb6NTnGD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxku2ckkflz2S2VEQukom-FFuVsOv350bqk1YglFFWJg&oe=6618C9DE			0	3	Yarak Archery is excited to be opening SOON in Pittsboro, NC! Stayed tuned for our Grand Opening date! <br /> <br /> We are located at 1456 US 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312<br /> <br /> Store Hours:<br /> Tuesday-Friday: 10am-6pm<br /> Saturday: 10am-4pm<br /> <br /> Contact us by messenger or call the shop directly at (919) 704-8074. <br /> <br /> First and foremost, we are a one stop shop for everything archery. Beginners and professionals alike; specializing in hunting, competition, or recreation, we have the right equipment and knowledge for you. <br /> <br /> - With brands like Bowtech, Excalibur, PSE, Prime, Bear, Ultraview, Ten Point, Victory, Easton, GoldTip, B3, Nockturnal, Rage, G5, VPA, Magnus, Redline, Hamskea, Tethrd Grit and Latitude, among many others, we have the quality equipment you need to succeed in your archery journey. <br /> <br /> - Bow and crossbow service and tuning<br /> <br /> - Indoor archery range (coming soon)<br /> <br /> - Group and private classes (coming soon)<br /> <br /> - Saddle hunting gear and accessories <br /> <br /> - Kayaks and accessories (coming summer 2024)<br /> <br /> - Takeaway kayak rentals (coming summer 2024)<br /> <br /> - Freshwater fishing supplies (coming summer 2024)		Yarak Archery		225	https://facebook.com/61556948367912	0								1711350000		View Edit Delete
989730	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924896		442		371168535747999		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242350527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433303573_1090694828877926_2181566797442513048_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L6EoDl3nPYMAb4KLknA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAFScE_p8lsX7QcbdVPueZcURDHXiH1kscblN78VwFfww&oe=6618D9A5	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434284650_740144134956152_8460641318163019358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FrKkuSvcGGkAb6dCKvb&_nc_oc=AdgQIAwa_dI6laq4B5uSgffQFh7GDvAXT47NerpNVl70e21cirLfFfcUJ85Aru6kEmc4EiYSB7uuhyIYMG_iYFlX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIr1_k_HCOkUABJHGtmnh-q5nNKKtjoa9cJfy3fEnkSw&oe=6618DBFA			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989731	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		413217124638844		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242310527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434038083_1473389660280671_6916056184488262472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JulVukVsRmUAb5WV4pR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBgaNCAFaCN4qZMS040TKdk1htgyad-yE8nlWwyekGEPw&oe=6618BA87	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433949528_3129745467157987_2447555507541157340_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yt3Kkl4o1rgAb4Bv4GW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD_NZCov3e5efmTkcFGJOmmGQCeE_M1p4jJ6jh1r9mR3g&oe=6618CB07			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989732	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		731185542184432		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242280527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551924	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433143920_719364190384864_5986387495705050456_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i6eund8ObO0Ab6CUdva&_nc_oc=AdhGwbsJaEA5jgBmh0j5_jHqCurMAbutWGQo-6QQTZHJAvUfNTcOd7hieQ5V1zGiuyvwxH2SXbJPLeV6oBhKGGdS&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfC509gSMY6umQtXntn0p7NqfmYID5ts0k8cjEVSs9AdJQ&oe=6618DE17	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433039607_941944070573812_5159840137279620298_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EAoaF_ckZYIAb6xL55C&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAQ51vlBAIhh18ywtENCwdy2z_1vSTVBT-XmgRhY4WMZg&oe=6618D003			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989733	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		3655668928002596		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221242260527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551987	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434383606_956450256098960_6914428515570947868_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DlUeX8ByXOQAb4iXqYT&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB7EMfNk71hPNoluiWxmRzcgfvJl1RmUKXSUsidKULcLQ&oe=6618C36F	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434529355_1489439098653687_7850910788544465649_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1EeA7isLHCsAb4x2FLv&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAvhGRgbfqcsLWdo5yQpuQ01X2JBUh-q4S5QyNx61Yqgw&oe=6618C8E7			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989860	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522061	1734924897		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989734	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		240948445776291	14	1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167750527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551797	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433887351_427210456461078_8328281203660181200_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LpmQE9bMh6QAb4n_O8o&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDxQP0CCx_g83xX27MsjK4iXL_Hs5v--e0P82Itg_USug&oe=6618E447	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433970913_2440862449435727_17092525968235942_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZApkPQTmWZIAb5bdr6z&_nc_oc=Adh7Ky3F_1feR_eiy1QqBy-hqAqZfk6PW5-Gpt1-TPXK6m-X1VdiRjGy5ED_RAztG7U&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCZ-3AQtBRyGLoikQZyM_MXL9Xa5rOZDbOsLQzDOfu7Fg&oe=6618B7F6			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989735	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		297774439843439		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167900527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552036	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434270942_730480929195769_2891698292395123465_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VQwHBiVMZKoAb5tHKb8&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB0dBpKtPEDir09lftsPU81-oGvapXTphwMoAFBz37F8A&oe=6618D3ED	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120835_3270160156619905_9038438506698341740_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wf73IhadSH8Ab7785_n&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAy_BvREvg3t0XJVQGiluyDpg7XVSpFc04tLOqRvIBKeQ&oe=6618BBE1			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989736	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		370928269243816		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221168030527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551799	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433986605_397314153240200_4744980853760384344_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ucmjuZfiSeQAb690Jeu&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCiqZTEu-hxIt5Tmsu2d5-oDFLHkYhroGZ9NH60tD82_Q&oe=6618D9B9	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433937674_395027780054216_5961166508483095081_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fbW2b8gKkuUAb7ZxOtD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFsz0ccunRN0kjBihNfxRK2bOQ5hiSlPoN6OA9bS2_mw&oe=6618CDD3			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989737	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		816539033635440		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167720527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551794	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434256661_1463733681021061_55093729452205373_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xlnohtOL3BoAb6woyM_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA-ftu609rMcWBOic-apfqhEjouLENwjwV_hnBfYyph4A&oe=6618DB7C	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434366407_772571294804336_2810863686494873373_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OitcJJAKYNAAb6DSGZD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCmys5PT6l5_Nrx6CSPefIuj40q0qQDfoNynGZIly80rw&oe=6618CE52			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989754	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		3800277893588897	1	9.3869734427434E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	142623199141456		0	K.A.Tucker (Author)			6581508493968		amazon.com	Learn more		NONE	image	FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED! 🔥	Free in Kindle Unlimited	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YD7GY64/		1709389451	1.4262319914146E+14	K.A.Tucker (Author)	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429768682_908889890741860_9111157815245272451_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7zwegAVzHcYAb5DwUwN&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNSUChquEhB_mLjr3Hib_e3FdvRUL0exuzriIIOTihxA&oe=6618D06B	person_profile	0					0	3	I wake, gasping for air. <br /> A deep throb pains my lungs. <br /> The floor beneath me is soft and dewy, the ceiling above a blanket of darkness. It takes me a moment to realize I’m lying in grass, under a night sky.<br /> And a few more moments to remember Sofie driving that horn into my chest.<br /> My heart races as I draw my hand to where my body aches, expecting to find the object still protruding. Nothing but tenderness remains. “What did you do to me?” I mutter, my voice hoarse.<br /> Obviously, I didn’t die, but it sure feels like she tried to kill me. <br /> With a wince, I pull myself into a sitting position. And frown at the billow of material around me, confusion scrambling my thoughts. My jeans and sweater are gone, replaced by this enormous dress, with layers of silk and a plunging neckline. She stabbed me and then changed me into formal wear? <br /> I hold up my hand. Even in the darkness, I can make out the outline of the ring Sofie slipped onto my finger, the one she believes will somehow protect me. <br /> I don’t have time to make sense of this. I need to get the hell out of here. <br /> I heave myself off the wet ground, stumbling a few steps before I regain my balance, my head swimming. Walls of cedar hedge tower over me on either side, forming a long, narrow corridor that gives me only two options—left or right.<br /> Shouts ring in the distance—I can’t gauge how far away, but they’re definitely coming from my left. They’re male in timbre, interspersed with clangs of metal against metal. In the air, the smell of smoke lingers. Something burns.<br /> I take off in the opposite direction of the commotion, sprinting as fast as the darkness and the throb in my chest allows, stumbling in the tangle of bulky material swirling around my legs and a pair of wobbly heeled shoes. By the time the hedge opens into a cobblestone pathway lit with lanterns, I’m panting, my lungs heaving from strain, and I’m ready to tear the skirts from my body. <br /> The moon is full and casting white light where I could not see it before, buried within the cedar. Is this the garden Sofie was talking about? The one with the soldiers, where I’ll find the stone? I’m definitely in a garden. There are bushes with roses the size of my palm, their potent fragrance melding with the stench of smoke. The air hints at a warm summer night. Wherever Islor is, it must be far south of Belgium. <br /> Blocks of jagged broken stone are strewn across the pathway ahead, as if something was demolished. Among the disarray, a shiny object gleams in the moonlight. Curious, I navigate around the debris to collect it. It’s an arrowhead, much like the ones Sofie’s guards had in their crossbow, only a brilliant silver.<br /> And it’s drenched in someone’s blood.<br /> <br /> FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED FOR A LIMITED TIME		K.A.Tucker (Author)		40510	https://facebook.com/K.A.Tucker.Author	0		LEARN_MORE						1711350000		View Edit Delete
989738	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		954517562685554		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221168240527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551839	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192472_1433832683926688_7950283003444132288_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GVzpvRA_ARwAb4yd0dN&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCxfnjD6Q8MvwiANibp49FI0SQCNG-q5ZN4g3swkz-AhA&oe=6618C543	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434175979_1350379572343361_789189012292270197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptE8QZiTmPcAb5slfXS&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4YMAodL40XR_X3tRFUdt3g4Q3198zaUUYhmIKhVvaXA&oe=6618D43F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989739	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		978328407055687		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167870527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551794	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433930866_984629053376979_4849106811028690970_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X7yXBHjIy8MAb6iTTPy&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAsYXcLAI6Xg5PvDjXdspSf3MC90vo7gmu8WMu3vLUDfg&oe=6618C562	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434458896_1611383819687564_948373712435518183_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lLvfMWNlObwAb67Fv5N&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfA34xDifhYOfYfl_8Vy0g25psk20R8hWzTxUZ2cBTpg&oe=6618D1D6			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989740	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		1151321322966200		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167800527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551799	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433132780_3349280328711457_2301518798594436208_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RnUukYU9GVYAb6Rrvkn&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfARrpodzDrUmxDN6u55WGP8xJO5ITJ2zQGRbN9JpP4sQw&oe=6618E31B	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433449953_296327913488507_7592617265079745941_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8_04D0A_XZMAb7vVI95&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAf6tQVm94gLHDftreEIaNbqeprtH_Azs794LLOgH3toQ&oe=6618EC63			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989741	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		1182703012893890		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167940527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552058	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434327308_2349000271976891_3402216671218897768_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fio3hw1oGhEAb6IPYEi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDmKV_hFfXRL_Pr-ucctSie0ekiT0R80As8lmIQ4QXBCg&oe=6618E4C2	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434138366_738777791731444_8906656466165811261_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=btNqELgmp40Ab5kywwv&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD7uGYzGifx25SCyeHV6eRpuRHfAdquH3VK2zOm31loZg&oe=6618CF1C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989760	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		416881724220443		4.2983514283568E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351770248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191385	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433870020_792744702191906_7398537347314827193_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=foNsu_OKC_cAb5h6v0C&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAwx_rMAXW6sN5xnG5X8-epzQdHbpCYdf2jnacCsuKrsw&oe=6618E818	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433946503_272453215951772_1712409009461375451_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o3AL9O3206YAb44ydGi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBzTgDIFC3PmWHAsgcnuiGNDYEcoqdR20y7yVA8g_yGlg&oe=6618E35B			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989742	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		2082037572176045		1.1122950832506E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167690527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551798	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434410033_262478853591988_2035390155654875575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYYJa2uJDaMAb6NMLHi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBU-t3TcIfgxhvM5ZSvmXYrfZxF6YVIudzzv6ZQwkPApg&oe=6618EA3A	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434377705_1468214437106308_7620166099023531083_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PclTnx5KURwAb6VH6eR&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC4_vnRW9xuwFboSyfy3gklRwdTwdNFZLO82-PqHnVXcQ&oe=6618DB42			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989743	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		788106813193951	9	9.0488530810128E+14		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167820527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551796	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434222811_382406231359677_8363256886030553338_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cKHutAJO8poAb5BNpum&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDGIIRp4RezmaxClso-jVXQzNwQtjFSAEY-bEjvtndVtw&oe=6618D417	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434219193_788297272763426_7970358675286222086_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lQ5oYHSl2w4Ab4OKZlC&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBNy6rQcL8emUvsypoJ9aeWeK98wvUAgsI9VL9VYg7BSg&oe=6618E85C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989744	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924897		442		3085697484905198		9.0488530810128E+14		1711522800	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120206221167850527		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551449	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434252512_410411474919855_2889258650411127651_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8A4h-_ZJTQAb7FbbJ0&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA3c7fka2v9qTIJ15ePlagBWuHsB5N5lpArxeFeAg-6-g&oe=6618DD8D	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434332774_7362210790533796_5216996924127506374_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0OY3499MhgoAb56o2Ps&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBBJh_JXdUO2skTHUmA43sdhv6zaIElcxZ0Q-Pt9u-vpg&oe=6618C76C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989745	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		909720550933161	3	1.3680873738995E+15		1711522800	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	528423657263233		0	Serious Bookings			6544304682244		zklshopec1.top	Learn more		NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c4qntQdHsXwAb5lBltJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDh27Zmlaf381x1CUG2_u-XziaOOblIMGZzVAKBWw-KmA&oe=6618E3F9	person_profile	0					0	3			Serious Bookings		79	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	0		LEARN_MORE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989746	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		25161396986841638		1.3680873738995E+15		1711522800	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	528423657263233		0	Serious Bookings			6544304682244		zklshopec1.top	Learn more		NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c4qntQdHsXwAb5lBltJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDh27Zmlaf381x1CUG2_u-XziaOOblIMGZzVAKBWw-KmA&oe=6618E3F9	person_profile	0					0	3			Serious Bookings		79	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	0		LEARN_MORE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989747	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		7195905193855071		1.3680873738995E+15		1711522800	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	528423657263233		0	Serious Bookings			6544304682244		zklshopec1.top	Learn more		NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c4qntQdHsXwAb5lBltJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDh27Zmlaf381x1CUG2_u-XziaOOblIMGZzVAKBWw-KmA&oe=6618E3F9	person_profile	0					0	3			Serious Bookings		79	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	0		LEARN_MORE						1711522800		View Edit Delete
989748	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		731768412414677	10	1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4oO0Vu&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDn9GWz5wzBm79IBufgIZfijohv_aM75_DWf8N1SqOZXQ&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb4uHk5j&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgDS7VaS_HSEHa-yoQa0svaMz1noSJsqYAw1BbZ4X6jQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
989749	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		1474787626725158	9	1.3796252226935E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656590337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388944	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192744_295637380067980_6957377996715821866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogKaIXKnpAUAb6o1oMl&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_lg3NOQZSJoU7XZOfBjIhw-XIxeOs3OLYCbb0RThGiw&oe=6618B9A9	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184132_25164352153180328_3479618854009598041_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pmg6UXZLWO4Ab5CSWGz&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCfZ1-iLzsk_D22dyRiRQAZeHvIe9GSLGgr2rqzKji44Q&oe=6618C35E			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
989750	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		1163792057978204	3	1.1675727312844E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120205983986090094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711451713	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434221500_935435758078760_119874943502748411_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sr93zV3sTUUAb7P8Ldo&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAjpj2gB-kCL3qXTfR0LxdW3TxoTDhYHjFDNC7le5cGPg&oe=6618DA8D	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434186998_408673151859139_8393354978950712549_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S4k2OAiunzIAb43iKk5&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAi7D6X2fi4w2YYPxOGg7oJevqavKhueDZnBLz4YSywxg&oe=6618D3A0			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
989751	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		2649467881887070	2	2.7569898477756E+15		1711609200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120207730854630126		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1711435571	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433842562_1362745041066287_189163946256304676_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kqbatEDUn3wAb7X_LNv&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC5A0rbfGvOQ95StxIo7pHALUGZRltj61WqXfowuWG6-Q&oe=6618E4E4	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434140343_1654282735107254_7407386334183254158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EhlAJrJ3noYAb7arf9b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBN0PkuTLPv_9odHpLo1NSV2SdrgEfGh7RoDZ5aMSr_ew&oe=6618BCCB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,,, 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
989752	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		3613379868925062		2.7569898477756E+15		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120207730854580126		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1711435574	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434177854_930320678642176_7289043689340575824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BnhsTCVrOFoAb5nUv31&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_-UkFW0o82czjGYuF7NDiWY3aVr3O7IuIZhPBY6KlUA&oe=6618D9FE	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434138223_838516654759698_3854233384221918371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P5uu7QMcnGwAb5KWvBv&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAYYbdzV6iFSln9_ZACthrJ6mzqEDb2UycSiVbXw7B2Aw&oe=6618C604			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,,, 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711436400		View Edit Delete
989755	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		7502487753122726	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207400705850770		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711279759	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434133400_929324591986217_407914846469227824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9DlcwB3yUi8Ab5iYWM_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCOnFeUV0pgRBISy-42LpP-Fx2tnmhc7kn0gk2Lw6m6w&oe=6618EA8C	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434218049_1855506298298586_2760266513041873713_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTUe15XLG_oAb44DKqb&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALUN2vvw84NqpKSw0kruPGLMRoW6Huiwh8SalCC8xeDA&oe=6618D7BA			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711263600		View Edit Delete
989756	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924898		442		1449498852307646	1	7.4493002414598E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	498388803570146		0	Historic Florida Militia, Inc.			6532218496821		School of the 16th Century	INTERESTED		NONE	event	School of the 16th Century	It’s time to go back to school. Way back to “The School of the Sixteenth Century”. Once again the Historic Florida Militia has partnered with the Saint Augustine Historical Society to present this years “School” on the grounds of the Oldest House Museum Complex. (Located at 14 St. Francis Street. Old Town Trolley has a stop directly outside the museum.) See what what life was like in the very beginning of our city. “Classes” will be held at this beautiful and serene property on Saturday Feb 17th. Witness demonstrations of historic weapons, including the crossbow, the matchlock musket, pikes, and edged weapons. See the clothing, crafts, culinary techniques, and the military and religious practices of that time. New this year are courses on the women of the Menendez expedition and primitive fabric dyeing. Admission to the 16th century encampment will be free and open to the public on Saturday April 20th from 10am to 4pm. #HistoricCoastCulture #TouristDevelopmentCouncil.	https://www.facebook.com/events/419766497268723/		1711236709	4.9838880357015E+14	Historic Florida Militia, Inc.	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432104958_447405914294117_5071740986896755198_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y2KC5l7HleoAb4211mk&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBB2AqD7TrU_El9pzTEGgeCR1M9vjTGiCQY-2lrICsrLw&oe=6618D6E3	person_profile	0					0	3	It’s time to go back to school. Way back to “The School of the Sixteenth Century”. Once again the Historic Florida Militia has partnered with the Saint Augustine Historical Society to present this years “School” on the grounds of the Oldest House Museum Complex. (Located at 14 St. Francis Street. Old Town Trolley has a stop directly outside the museum.) See what what life was like in the very beginning of our city. “Classes” will be held at this beautiful and serene property on Saturday Feb 17th. Witness demonstrations of historic weapons, including the crossbow, the matchlock musket, pikes, and edged weapons. See the clothing, crafts, culinary techniques, and the military and religious practices of that time. New this year are courses on the women of the Menendez expedition and primitive fabric dyeing. Admission to the 16th century encampment will be free and open to the public on Saturday April 20th from 10am to 4pm. <br /> #HistoricCoastCulture #TouristDevelopmentCouncil.		Historic Florida Militia, Inc.		1667	https://facebook.com/100064649473271	0		EVENT_RSVP						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989757	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:34 PM	1712522059	1734924899		442		428020822927047	1	7.9827359887391E+14		1711436400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	218810774653254		0	Techguru			120208865570430723		oaklandfoundr.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://oaklandfoundr.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=rHSKhu2NVO7gIRr31N5P&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1711202093	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418159375_423033293593854_5432948102159785539_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=d8sayj24vhUAb4KEAbn&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfATQfFm1GIc30kzQbl6_Yn2rzXvh3X1hNr4WtMakEb_XQ&oe=6618E15E	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418170690_1497789944135435_6539115471951984694_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dngaHfShC0wAb5JmjNu&_nc_oc=AdgWANbxX24Zuu0-jXtpUnsB0gw8sEfw5yjVBOa6N7C_juAgW9K4N5AqO6OrvESlW7k&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDTSi3wQtzGAxbavPEEDrtCVnCYd37qUSG52gDunDu83Q&oe=6618E397			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Techguru		832	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989758	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924900		442		3604116899899991	20	4.2983514283568E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351650248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191384	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433238266_1720061161851228_7213279926746089482_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T7sQLtRAHg4Ab691Zsm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC1sblpqnS_U_poBJnAtMnrKaNKqNCXWa1fFWunN1r2kg&oe=6618CF1C	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433229985_368630112806154_6603790424657153261_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tpGS3m6sQ2AAb7Wh2y2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_Oq69LZzwvgHCKhLt7f4sjg_wfuQmHw1F5H7sTp31iA&oe=6618CF36			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989759	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924900		442		252514631267308		4.2983514283568E+14		1711263600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351590248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191386	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434015961_773188501439658_8421461378041250995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7pU2YVq74cUAb4k4T_k&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDRN65INdLEp5lwxhfgp8YVekseFLg-VVhiZZIZB6w27g&oe=6618E412	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420197916_1889553414812338_5721297984318511023_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zyIsIkdzhhEAb7E4B0_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC7y1VmFlai64Q91eLBHp9SXx0nshjUTT4CLZ6E0Btwow&oe=6618DBB9			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989761	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924900		442		784035646932548		4.2983514283568E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784351670248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191384	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431562565_6972139836229390_8467100763877705327_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vJnQ0fxK2O0Ab42llTy&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDA-uSR2ABAlLT0mhdL0LLPjlu54pAuQo7Q6rppjXgneA&oe=6618B8E8	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568651_1134049474440045_1402622191758474383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=17A3TEqLMIMAb58BiaV&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBiYrXJZiy1WB3jcN5o4i1Bu5edNIOHy3sTLhLQdzE1eQ&oe=6618DB59			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989762	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924900		442		1137570613920065		4.2983514283568E+14		1711263600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208784352110248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191382	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139717_932551984986644_8193530233443845277_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FCYGuHT4RegAb4JkPF0&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCYl67tt-_5_6iNsnKWjWJqatJCcElAdDwohmnVsTiPcg&oe=6618C70E	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433172877_8095387287144767_2619626527976205726_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NqbfR44UoU8Ab66iJmI&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBI5xhGulPMDy70V5CUUmhgmDNhP5FqvjnWo8yMtlKwkw&oe=6618E04E			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989763	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924900		442		1471209603433996	3	1.4538383585731E+15		1711263600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104592775600057		0	Liquidation sale			120207248053100255		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183609	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433975846_402414415870170_2941716336783496304_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bN0KZMknBVAAb5nHjTj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBKIIeFE4G9V53Dn6KI4V1f1SY7q8rjwD94bpXMTPQFqg&oe=6618C356	person_profile	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431555383_1125052448825757_8224218700387984701_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rjImIXzU7rwAb5a5y0M&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA1i5ixMKmNAMPetxWlq2n0hTHHwLkTeNGQW9fccsF6Fg&oe=6618ECA2			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		Liquidation sale		419	https://facebook.com/100083640757431	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989764	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924900		442		1518751572014667	3	1.4538383585731E+15		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104592775600057		0	Liquidation sale			120206587171630393		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183346	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434101932_1128829411879579_3718079481774599395_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iJbazYwKo1oAb7kBXC6&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDAFMODL_VyZeIVMOc387zt4Zkx6uleAi4wFKG38WOI0A&oe=6618D1BF	person_profile	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434244997_1561766767724972_7808108616623864592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O70IJdfSFNoAb7g0cwC&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBE3uPL8ngw7XrDtjPakzuIAjPFesp_VJWFE77DFGiOcg&oe=6618E009			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		Liquidation sale		419	https://facebook.com/100083640757431	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989765	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		7474480465935792		1.4538383585731E+15		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104592775600057		0	Liquidation sale			120208319616070564		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183242	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433259670_2413309345545647_9119231969045705250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UlhT1D2ZMiMAb77-HiN&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC2SRVdLbwbjD2iXgNxmL9H7eySu5eGkU8bRApzOYr12g&oe=6618C266	person_profile	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433029468_1232898747671484_2589590370759723158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-MAby2GYttcAb7qQZ6Z&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBu_W9BU1jEv_eu-denxq3rpC4E-b-uaHRfA_jqBRyr3g&oe=6618ED92			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		Liquidation sale		419	https://facebook.com/100083640757431	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989766	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		938508454234046	1	9.3979354451536E+14		1711436400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	412249035602001		0	Nail art love			120208616664560506		oaklandfoundr.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://oaklandfoundr.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=rHSKhu2NVO7gIRr31N5P&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1711180850	4.12249035602E+14	Nail art love	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434286619_1579267836198737_8464997126678366884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qBW8h581A4QAb4qB60D&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD2aX0ZT81NDcrTYmlqpVrbYd-REbemfuAI_q-YJdIPhA&oe=6618E191	person_profile	0	Nail art love	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123582_3612969575683495_7248090831578340850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NZWUxjPlSdYAb6wxSl4&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZgrntyxhdXeNxgHeko2fJt0KmFi9l6JE3Oke-TJRuDw&oe=6618C5AE			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Nail art love		1016	https://facebook.com/61551664676182	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711177200		View Edit Delete
989767	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1349117235662318	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251720575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795081	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432472530_1622213328588533_8248215330437726772_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n57x6d0jNRMAb6qZt_5&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCupYMqAR4Kpu-3lzCC8hap8b_1zsXIU08q-YSPfJLicg&oe=6618E441	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433532258_781148220567003_5059582937767300576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XbP2-wyZMbEAb7UKT8K&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwi1K2dhUpG9y4pnRsWyXN5Wmt7tR7u0y2MAmC_VVJ4g&oe=6618E4CE			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989768	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		394031083336713		1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251430575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795087	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432589557_1573429963433663_8582202295173063832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PHSxNX13RzMAb4kuepv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgCxKu_zEvZx4cnZP4G8Kv3LV8FhjpssH0QygAGeiuKA&oe=6618E198	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433099990_1759519634544137_40484855758763547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hHKjJjKssfUAb45m6nE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfABB-TXgeExp1IIlFF0lKDkQLOnXZaQkyqO41__krCyxw&oe=6618CF54			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989769	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1126388981735960		1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251430575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795087	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432589557_1573429963433663_8582202295173063832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PHSxNX13RzMAb4kuepv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgCxKu_zEvZx4cnZP4G8Kv3LV8FhjpssH0QygAGeiuKA&oe=6618E198	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433099990_1759519634544137_40484855758763547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hHKjJjKssfUAb45m6nE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfABB-TXgeExp1IIlFF0lKDkQLOnXZaQkyqO41__krCyxw&oe=6618CF54			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989775	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989770	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		711568007556035		1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184950617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541070	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432406002_838171654742550_4951284997132649987_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W-zTniDaexQAb5iNxsg&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAGCFoMk9Bga2iI-q9ZZ7qs8EC55RY6oDgVKK5niPUX9w&oe=6618CE6A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432433529_361887000166313_8261972206869333613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WdUKVl72OT8Ab6Ik9qn&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDk827u36p0ovvBPs177tiloD7SzjOqoWfV-Jze0odShQ&oe=6618C9FB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989771	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		963944652112575		1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184980617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541068	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480337_1158151421768830_4217962539577914638_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4W5jY1YmdbUAb6YIqHf&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCrcZqSHjVOWEUGDzvYBIQGgDxKAveoEoFJQbCu4iUIFA&oe=6618DA27	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432462420_952098172954535_3533116327919799553_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z2fXFwevt5EAb45XE_b&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD--NSKlrlpTH9I_b2QCFXcrN9GyNduwHMbCHPKt3JjaQ&oe=6618C780			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989772	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989773	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989774	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989776	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989777	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924901		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989778	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989779	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989780	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989826	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		400332066087680	2	7.7252126168958E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298142230763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014929	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433555615_386391070865943_1511566564338000278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NXA53On-YCEAb715gri&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDi8G5bHrEj1NHJCQhxCH-Fetu1dy0xTu5Sd060cpiVJw&oe=6618C894	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434053545_1462329431351639_7839138242094447026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=V0A3Tzr8sn4Ab5K9Pb6&_nc_oc=Adib9_2jsdNfu7-Y4XE14txGUQuU-vqpV5cj1X3rpwleSgvK23dCDkzzL0YyW7UdAOK7b9frLmFF8KQdeAOvHsKb&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfASbf4zGdxzAe6Hy4jPp8ktQ8QFOfsy-zK9UCJp7JkzeQ&oe=6618D556			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989781	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989782	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989783	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989784	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989785	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989827	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		429815766212386		7.7252126168958E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298059570763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014849	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433134529_3616521075344291_2214371745853639127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uIVVOUvnH4IAb6m4pv7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAAgROxigoQU0OoXVbFxr49JqM2HPAcvk85DasC7NSLgA&oe=6618CAF5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433116852_1553673642080278_492118108515928184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T6NR8c5OkFsAb6g7mIw&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAfeHMghRzv77Uc_Z1kt7Tz69-e4vdpKzq5_0hxg2dRIg&oe=6618BA66			0	3	👻I bet you&#039;ve never seen a game like this before!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989786	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989787	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989788	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522059	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989789	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989790	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989828	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		1101111274344332	1	7.9426570874405E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298056340763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014763	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433141212_1132154241147228_6740512756952772846_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PwH68hUi1y4Ab4DsHNL&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAb5nSmneD1o-QtPxXrIy95hxtAM65ZdCBhGKwPCoESpg&oe=6618BA92	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433104514_1717935738609932_5529170852863931155_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=91PcuEJiVrkAb6Uenly&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAe0y8ynKzWxI5_OLCwjIOMbThGB56-XzNKi0N5Z_HO-g&oe=6618C7BF			0	3	Raise a dragon and match to defeat the invader！		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711954800		View Edit Delete
989791	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989792	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989793	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964712910695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEhbm6x9P7EAb4uKw8d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFUc1CJsfVbbCnBv5ihzTfFK2L02pWtKDtPzGi1N4rtQ&oe=6618C89C	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WrjkGfkIP4MAb6KYAF_&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkegVN8i3bKhF7lzXWzDWD-Avm1derach8e2SuV__VIw&oe=6618E42A			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989794	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924902		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989795	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989796	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989797	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989798	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989799	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989800	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989801	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989802	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989803	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989804	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989805	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924903		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989806	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924905		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989807	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924905		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989808	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924905		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989809	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924905		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989810	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989811	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989812	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989813	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989814	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989815	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989816	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		1319421515391700	3	9.2576296927736E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	191241347560220		0	H2o stačí přidat vodu			120209881264680749		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116806	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433937224_1565357737591961_7206264131798537315_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yG-o693v8xUAb6iK1A6&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAfVckGLdE1mUwpdOT9-hWQKGdSnb2kX-HThv4mZtMtNA&oe=6618E0D5	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434015920_3385636141581346_2109119832521818015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QtPNDS5X1qkAb4lMk74&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWp-UUIaoOn7sl6tZ-mA1zkwn0c87K1No-2kw5d6n6-Q&oe=6618B771			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		H2o stačí přidat vodu		37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989817	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		941592097212361		9.2576296927736E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	191241347560220		0	H2o stačí přidat vodu			120209881264530749		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116245	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432771439_970856200536898_8486300302891753378_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ae81EAUTngAAb6MefJH&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBNdRGnv05PHIglNk0jIdRN_3tHzAX6BnIMO0IRl2hA9w&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432860807_7265609473474129_964835319265282821_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hOTRfiQ82O0Ab4qFBdu&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2mYZaJY3M4OE_KcqzeNbadtBu_rjs9ybsJ_xVY1KeHw&oe=6618D45F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		H2o stačí přidat vodu		37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989818	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		2983683885124066		9.2576296927736E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	191241347560220		0	H2o stačí přidat vodu			120207480796430396		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116017	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434198571_963153398850887_1861562335423915782_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R7pyXDPQUEIAb6WU-mv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAROhs8soGVmCm6vwvN0sG8r0SWkfkACn8rw-WJ1XRCxA&oe=6618C2D3	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434054279_1626074304794340_4027070549641753749_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u5cZIi6Yg5kAb7JhmPa&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2elrBcfpUT-_fwSfMsZTPegykZftxGSLJoBy5gD4rQg&oe=6618BA82			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		H2o stačí přidat vodu		37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989819	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		371198485751970	3	1.1675727312844E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120205827360180094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711052695	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433472717_1440266560233429_5535436332879559108_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HA7hUTj6JRgAb63Zu5j&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB7WSnSCU6UTHbD6HgFgH58j_RqcV_JuOF1sudqSi71AQ&oe=6618C0D1	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433497725_679105454228630_2261889898361998518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZEkiF96pgLsAb7_fmrS&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqHxlEVVkZyIbwTzO3TsmxDzqLyT1IkxrClIrI0JbzHA&oe=6618BF5A			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989820	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		781714413431194		1.1675727312844E+15		1711609200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	402966003129638		1	I love A.B. - andy biersack			120205827360120094		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711052695	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433117307_7572090266167119_9217316847081160493_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9IRxudhsHV4Ab7rfsUG&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCtJTMe3-AyYS26OTG8-GSGOYc6lNSfvzVql29ENkG_pQ&oe=6618D7FB	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433194166_741203684521112_2766114556521172485_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DG7SVg3FZ28Ab6eLcCH&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBQxY53SNSLN8Dng1RaaW8_ZfGm_kJyyKvAISCGICu4ug&oe=6618CA3C			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989821	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		906430834502521	1	1.0504552060488E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	101166636054585		0	Triggers_UA			120209221101320116		emergclutch.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711052392	1.0116663605458E+14	Triggers_UA	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433614817_297284293382214_4891023767669287820_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WVCKmFeoUDIAb6L5oTP&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBumMvgNazO99Avt7kM90Ay--oZH8zjda1G0-gdcbzfuw&oe=6618DDD9	person_profile	0	Triggers_UA	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433468861_2751937698297092_568552068867725651_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ob3b90DTgPAAb7zPXPK&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaDhRuokBzIQg60c4QuQRgSf7xemB1rqbZYElcchQsxA&oe=6618D508			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		Triggers_UA		1	https://facebook.com/100084706275426	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989822	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		1353226575376810	1	1.1398083438255E+15		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	330986410908792		0	Equity Distribution			120209075453480596		ffm.to	Listen now		NONE	video	Roc Marciano		https://ffm.to/gold-crossbow		1711049348	3.3098641090879E+14	Equity Distribution	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057296_1069983790929131_6106975070023928301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QmoEqmkJdHUAb4-w_H9&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCEBqDwG-pVQciirMLknMVCAFkiZWWl4HFBl7yZD69bmA&oe=6618D18A	person_profile	0	Equity Distribution	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440733_399322086069103_6780036797560075228_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IcDOOBKv1uYAb5xldrM&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgJbwopGHGajaZO-i1n-dhhB0Qib_XEQa_NDG83vHFdg&oe=6618E9D3			0	3	Roc Marciano x Gold Crossbow		Equity Distribution		3312	https://facebook.com/EQDistro	0		LISTEN_NOW						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989823	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924906		442		438296161953000	1	8.2803631269909E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207118206860601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	A viral mini-game!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1711018765	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420172947_366378073038774_2662336276572370971_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sjZf0FiyZPUAb581xL7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDLaEOZ-Gc6vhIm1ok-mmsMu_6VLQAHK67HwquherxBog&oe=6618BC7F	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431503626_1685418775200001_2752203641323830817_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bfePEeVH5hEAb4hwVcA&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCc5XPWScScC3V3s8aZzr044kjLz95RTQQdgt7YxuXkGA&oe=6618CEC1			0	3	Are you smart enough?🧠<br /> Make smart decisions!👍		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989824	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		400193096092659	3	4.1456613123646E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298157980763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014973	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433132857_420666677224066_7892041513657596958_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hl2g4zDOSvgAb4I8fD-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnuCbGUbQBzk60Xn9NiuCk_fctAKENT7q6_yBLCb5Ldg&oe=6618D68B	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432782511_1067390167669323_5371551634756380353_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4GH08VKW2ZMAb4f3qZM&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB4DRzh9ddIzXeR5_5fngC876ri1Pbwcby9FsomEk-MUQ&oe=6618C173			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989825	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		430837929410321		4.1456613123646E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298065450763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014822	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432066459_1211528176492254_5551251911241212246_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JtUQmHwvW5QAb5-7gaX&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbuhLpXOmtDGKcH2f4FVZBYIstkSMEIpOaBWyC0ShLgw&oe=6618E6CF	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200607_7366597696753853_3932644348915769368_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tOEuiOxOxdAAb5Fsfte&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCZKpI-p6gSElQk8dfdmJRK7Orn_lYyaFFjWVz9y2Sp2A&oe=6618C222			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989832	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		983386476547788	5	2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525817020638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937039	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434061840_298553116589258_3849041646729052766_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DVeOJfYl8tQAb7KZXB5&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBmRFPSG1HZrPy_7Nxl-XyBFCJ1znOZ3aeBtYC48cO-dQ&oe=6618DEA6	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433648115_1087994055783712_5916866709637000879_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epDLhLSGAl8Ab5Fb6O4&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC64dYw4oJ8Fdm4NpTvVnb79IeN5CTnDXW42juaw2ciFA&oe=6618BB7D			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT07o1bKsGaGCGT9h36rn_QMaRqynuZXsOf3wkaYM95NGpvkREhQQsAq7uCC2b7FfJJGZzJ3dZFnUSA7CVAfGIXY0ly1shRJOFfyBS7x0Fzh9UowCyY_glKDo4lN4enp26kHGExLG7KVgULMhB7aiZilJbn7sBsjaQWrb7wyOwk" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989833	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		1827024694437038		2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525817050638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937040	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433140565_2653927388120569_1081723073062882885_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Jd7oZOXYfoAb4s7pu8&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDAt4eaPQgFmZ8LW3ZVQnzwtASFolFJlH0zPY-bDv5c1A&oe=6618DC62	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433203038_943305266965006_1094665794227091369_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SFgE9OOcsb8Ab4rPeR2&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDsZoHJboWHP3T8Y5HN7vG-nQsf6UqjMhuw4JSvejdmmg&oe=6618C381			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT2qF9Q9yJGh5xp_bSPvQ0MYbO3YmVrQetzKR4kH45WUxuVr4bPo3m8jVFa5ECoAVwqchinIle8stZhXBoz0rRRCael9qwFF6RWvuM7nXH-PJJefpuiLWN9eD9jsUqlk9rM0T1Lg6NvaKNxMUG3m4PZEYVNScbVPhtahiZQPPTE" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989834	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		7316197208416949		2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525816890638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937040	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434059035_431604159264075_9209842322437943663_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Rg4MIxQQkYAb6m6DU8&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAU_5-7eK5A0l3kugoXSPfGGa9ObHIxZOPkgQftm64IQg&oe=6618E94C	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432465152_424429646932892_7822572108135239136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TWk49d73w_sAb4sIONv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfpzHcC0YO_3k4jX4ZB_zifzJUvruoRZvD-q5z8XAvWw&oe=6618C122			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3aQNkGYRJDmipAT90w8LvAG7QHtsU0weF9YXMSFXcfllb0I0atvZcKQUlfYPIiicFFhZL0-6qkJzFA6L6cbTz7H7sAyPElHVBESCQ_4L8kHhbv7-IC-cctcH3bMXo_nefHVQRuIXjqwPzUp4LioRq5CZCQ-kLzaGWw6MRDfaQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989835	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		367552646248518		2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525816840638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937041	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057570_335349225716308_8511402710475645504_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N1aZiCruRv8Ab6-wuQF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDH0ILQ_wOdIBtDpt-ONgWoIeeUSKcg56nkR7XaAuUGNQ&oe=6618C2A3	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432052985_1513053442587772_2069210872770648744_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M6OOPhm7QYYAb7bvvy1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlICuuP0gpJ-mLtdt8xvUpdfk4GxPRKRn_R3hI-2R1Qg&oe=6618EABE			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT0AlJJo_1F-TyKXMh48j2dgXpz7EcBdMWkt-2DOQ6OYS_aExP8vbQ2CbGQlhNIcNiUJjnvEFtaTuxUybEKss-Ie035pXc_IQIpmxt-E6p-06yxh0ppDwxFAs5EITEt_ESlJjfWqjJPd2pdoMGoSTT6jSKUUXZmI5Ufsdr5poyU" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989836	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522060	1734924907		442		283407764791687	5	8.2079270988312E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257482540426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936896	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433622693_1149819412626278_2404317748277757400_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gkw3chCZcsMAb4Mqnqg&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD27FkcDOk0ndIYM_XhSW1z5YSADoYZkbbnxXfFTb9XeQ&oe=6618DC5B	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433439872_2189025671437261_7075964822197577624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o51x6p56xEYAb7nF5Ps&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_hGPZMaRcZ7G-uMnKUkYfp8rkp-Sce8eXWRL0uyKErg&oe=6618D07B			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT2bw-_xjcqjiFFKeaiq1W-HL-aM3be6afR0wzi-fkduLJSUO1vvXH-0MLJsQB-N0IKPFzSBbzQsnDz6phqY7YJItlRsrSgMb1hFD7jh7P8GQYPgz2LknHotaHwILAUYy3oCjIZBqQKtWVTD5VIDqZNzQ25h9_fJFnaCibd2" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989837	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924907		442		367271619625706		8.2079270988312E+14		1711004400	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257482650426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936897	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432240924_952165319819126_7062933014527666205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2e3NF9X1tV4Ab6QwE1w&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDLkZK9n5ICsH2Fjgi69R3Z0QQMXiH36nnytjC-pEt4CQ&oe=6618DECD	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432062322_275834005462213_7472236569779405584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sIJ20nVQW4MAb4q4FnB&_nc_oc=Adjxomdqwuin9j0PVq_UT003lwrky3hPCbXnfzlEyrRdd6QWHmu9K5onYBN3kI4Y7o4&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAu5cLrtTstF-hljBZJ5YWnUO-3jSLGZilWTnGK6Tp3xA&oe=6618BF6D			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3edyRe1n4n59v2z9r_CfToX0zHjjg3snnzKBazOBErv71Hu4xZh4ujstUq2jHgbI8CA2eDeOeuDo0oubYNR-RbYS8fQHwTfa-oRRlIuhp0xlbGCRZUNBMfHeGmpxAUz-7w-eDcrrJkUoUgTz0zH4N-DeE" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989838	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924907		442		757613989650323		8.2079270988312E+14		1711004400	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257482670426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936895	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433697727_1594288384680529_5273457888666532678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FGzHaEgiu6wAb4gvMqJ&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBtSHwvXXbnfq8D_f5oX2a6LSvNe8RakcXkaGoYxZkyog&oe=6618C6C1	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433720590_807142604808212_280524199231840483_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OMLKUHar3ssAb7EoR_h&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcmNnjK-hsk0qzoIh4RBa49t6CZ6NK8Jf2UUuCybbtjw&oe=6618D2A5			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT0imlX7BwUSRWJUm7AvSp3Q0VHA9J9vntb-Yr0cn6dhSjFtYZt56jcVZuWKWA7U5rQ9y7owYohrncndGWBG-5Hjvd5noWKDueQUG4tWAhPiscSrjZMV9wpK7OavCBwzaxIfwuAh-_6Q9r0hC2VOpbcZVX4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989839	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924907		442		1136486454441370		8.2079270988312E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257482630426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936893	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432094167_1246578293412907_7549359261444929413_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tjJjH70SXYkAb5QA9gx&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBiZtz0OzLsy_AhNE5LGcYAgmLh_Cn9ITmd0z4j8TRuUA&oe=6618EEEA	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432120270_1804356006744020_2497497609224543244_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MGea9BUSIa8Ab7gmsJT&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxhnC9Hlg9jn-p9ZfiK-1RsB8mHUB6_tDDRlDmMIHi3Q&oe=6618D76E			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3WeH4JeSoIgvk2CJM6dmyzPNeQKFS0RTnlgLIZlv3OSMZkv5WYZYW9R4LnkuKDUFv36WTtw21ydmdcf9zxNPJhc3QI7lOqbKsjnI8wZhQKRUn7Ra9HqA3INf_6re94vz_He1_qsxa4k2srSMMeraHHUyQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989840	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924907		442		444164588047270		8.2079270988312E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257166700426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936315	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057787_611169161203252_6391487010163380461_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qYIFKHOhm_UAb6BU0uv&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD2MNAQEHDz3bftlVZGN08D26tVgBTXen_quRDdcPUVOQ&oe=6618B93A	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432062158_1373498880717035_6692889881665077027_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h6_6MPiuR08Ab4DbZ91&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA16vpFoidYREvydb2bJfU2pg6-fBgMsp8IMBpgT9TwSw&oe=6618E951			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3OYrRY64SORE7YVsFfDH8Go5e5AhRJvRfTt6IsZAeIlnA9GxqYqwVuwEVqj9skBUiEhv8Vx33GLLMDfCsffTAD1QN15A4jFS4L7v9N-R1jlzrbJhPmCzYDFsSSvotQRIoeZVXh66MZ2E1xRdQy011rjWs" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989841	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924907		442		396020093179254	5	2.6564703992983E+14		1711004400	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525373440638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936772	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417548416_3266002030368972_6883147309240755969_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W9bQ1hDG3awAb4YJcZV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCvctrtD6K5ePi80e6XuwIOUBMfTIoQZGOZxLDCmQ-p1A&oe=6618BC92	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418805019_816075713690173_1795458814903266254_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jpFG5uAJ5NwAb7a67Md&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCGbVKTxiYqSYZWHQ24VxLSvM2WePFQk8pA7YnG5SejcA&oe=6618E278			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT32H5WlGd4UgQmB8wc59ACVCKdLZ6ixR-LRX7JKUHr8G41HF9yaCSuxs8-gM4fvyHE2qd1Pe84NIU1hZIxCsD5K1f9_nMQ4btbW_0MEfbm4r5tD8TlAQIwgElqZNScCgb-D9YZpsVWC11EyPRMfo98Si8E" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989842	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		1739075013253577	20	4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989843	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		931663405113005		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989844	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		434447125629496		4.2983514283568E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989845	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		1053338065768528		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989846	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		1571326147096080		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120207971632480363		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3MSsjnZ6YcAb7nZglV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA_aYvONcpLRet-vU_0Z3EOohI_po10e__8xOgzb0nv-g&oe=6618EC3F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ObiulsQ3EJQAb4SLi7B&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJnBqRNEp1c98namPSuvCQ8zkpNvH9eNQXKNyz_ORgCw&oe=6618D318			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710918000		View Edit Delete
989847	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		386297994257192		4.2983514283568E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989848	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924908		442		439785438399218		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989849	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924909		442		417827237563859		4.2983514283568E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989850	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924909		442		431850105879005		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989851	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		856986122897477		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989852	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1086797845765853		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989853	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1404886703469453		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989854	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		3675799905966864		4.2983514283568E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989855	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		7368910813156866		4.2983514283568E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989856	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		348459721513914		4.2983514283568E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	248588431673618		0	Milton Caprisa			120208576158080248		msnddxm.shop	Shop now		NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=No1MywQoiRUAb6vbEAK&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHZ-dmd5jf96qKWp3PwLhoNDRf9vZNsYAH_eJasggyig&oe=6618C8C9	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AqVpZAigKloAb4ZR-RB&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBKXeqIEo3El7HpxRYSdWIH1oJSdsk2HcLwcaaMzVrFzA&oe=6618E390			0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.		Milton Caprisa		5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	0		SHOP_NOW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989857	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989858	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989859	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15		1711436400	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	1	106204742218142		0	gregbridgesart			6560936327149		instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile		NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=BGHBpQqqKHEAb71622Z&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfC_1Qdf1RY7JdoYNbAaEmvlALy0tcZrpPWKa5oRKDzd4g&oe=6618BDC5	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIwfEsMx6zQAb65Eck6&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYv7uzF34R5a4KG8i4XTNLxVfCJIQK3fY6nEa9X6W3cw&oe=6618C9D8			0	3			gregbridgesart		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989862	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1461972057752202	1	4.3741373206408E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	265052230017125		0	Prize Palooza			120207233951180709		emergclutch.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1710868133	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431578189_1840985169671799_5172207164522960250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CK_mO0jgZ_gAb5-sYZD&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBC4o0h5F9XDLevvPm1jiC8zN45JpHcoHsR_FpaTZJNFQ&oe=6618BE4F	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431554973_255440904300038_1626096285878847282_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FKd_JIhiU64Ab6s_uCx&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBbwJBdZYko0x2UX8avjdu_qNnpfOXpeOvR7aAP5NTBHg&oe=6618DC22			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Prize Palooza		250	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989863	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1075040327102228	1	1.616087215835E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	265052230017125		0	Prize Palooza			120207215933190709		sickythegame.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://sickythegame.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=g01NOkVdLDUImKb4y2Rl&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710834573	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433098529_220421314491385_1647964697655795656_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RVuPHi3U5ygAb6_skVG&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAfo0T0VtyQppbN0cLJIJgod-ePMZeBHaRsKaOUKbZT1g&oe=6618E554	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432752974_383581904600787_9097985334103222200_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u0UHjkYnMoMAb59VqVd&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkKXYaWT4LttwBidtuwvhZKanQsj9PXcn8uMP7fNrMxw&oe=6618C1B9			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Prize Palooza		250	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	0		LEARN_MORE						1710831600		View Edit Delete
989864	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		918938326898879	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711868400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120205991251700575		swishairtime.info	Learn more		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795083	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431480559_816250756980508_9074508348101933540_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UkCWBD58nIIAb71bc8E&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDVJC5GyJvBTEkVMB3c8ZJX9Ozibn8CylVBqFLYOqOefg&oe=6618E039	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431502622_954193799603192_1006820179298308297_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=on4G43_GTC4Ab5OnyMm&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHko-bxnXCMgNgDBL-_lsn8AE33J6hyuS3-9Us5KDC0A&oe=6618D521			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		LEARN_MORE						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989865	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		782827143245902		1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184950617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541070	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432406002_838171654742550_4951284997132649987_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W-zTniDaexQAb5Haz51&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBHwADdiFV2gIoEurIdkFvWj2Ko-eNP56wEqvH6ZOaUYw&oe=6618CE6A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432433529_361887000166313_8261972206869333613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WdUKVl72OT8Ab5faQho&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBACMmMpX_bg5WhCo3ncrzVKqSXt7k46lgHzOX7LltO0w&oe=6618C9FB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989866	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		799392625336886	3	1.1941545053017E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	109973985488101		0	Onlinehol			120206321853200276		onlinehol.com	Shop now		NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lnFb3qhZ-ckAb6EeYov&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOH4mDqcCmiad0p9Sjbd2fdWwkEbh8tm3LqAHuCmy4qQ&oe=6618EC1A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kO7kbfHVawAAb6rMs8-&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCrC3L9smXwvBhWX4VrIExUjahdXPJbpcNxFyDN7Dlxg&oe=6618C631			0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It&#039;s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.		Onlinehol		18	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	0		SHOP_NOW						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989867	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1510265042888201		1.1941545053017E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	109973985488101		0	Onlinehol			120206321853200276		onlinehol.com	Shop now		NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lnFb3qhZ-ckAb6EeYov&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOH4mDqcCmiad0p9Sjbd2fdWwkEbh8tm3LqAHuCmy4qQ&oe=6618EC1A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kO7kbfHVawAAb6rMs8-&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCrC3L9smXwvBhWX4VrIExUjahdXPJbpcNxFyDN7Dlxg&oe=6618C631			0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It&#039;s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.		Onlinehol		18	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	0		SHOP_NOW						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989868	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1586684128755174		1.1941545053017E+15		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	109973985488101		0	Onlinehol			120206321853200276		onlinehol.com	Shop now		NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lnFb3qhZ-ckAb6EeYov&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOH4mDqcCmiad0p9Sjbd2fdWwkEbh8tm3LqAHuCmy4qQ&oe=6618EC1A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kO7kbfHVawAAb6rMs8-&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCrC3L9smXwvBhWX4VrIExUjahdXPJbpcNxFyDN7Dlxg&oe=6618C631			0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It&#039;s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.		Onlinehol		18	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	0		SHOP_NOW						1710745200		View Edit Delete
989869	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1898222110629285	1	9.3570368487063E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102839175671195		0	Cynthia Toye Realtor			120208756617490039		cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Get your FREE price update now 🏠📈	Do you know what your property is worth?	https://cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com/home		1710687136	1.028391756712E+14	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431534062_438866478816933_2206442151941426473_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nZeDWs5NU90Ab5uiIh_&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCJK5rHSh5Tb0KxKNGY7lRv-3OeBegaa5NSnY8sec6hyQ&oe=6618D66F	person_profile	0	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431537837_1141009400586233_3830896177794570314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=f2mh1PbjE9IAb6pYQOw&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAHJ43SFlbt4A6veg1vnqJlmqteKLbvoNfwLbHOHPyIbw&oe=6618EEED			0	3	🏡 Hey Homeowners, how much is YOUR HOME worth in this current market?<br /> <br /> You will be SURPRISED to hear what the recent market activity has done to the value of your property.<br /> <br /> 📱📱 Click “Learn More” now to get your updated home price fast		Cynthia Toye Realtor		52	https://facebook.com/100078522785084	0		LEARN_MORE						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989877	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989870	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		958418599252202	1	7.3676660399793E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102839175671195		0	Cynthia Toye Realtor			120208756616040039		cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Get your FREE price update now 🏠📈	Do you know what your property is worth?	https://cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com/home		1710687134	1.028391756712E+14	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433125855_378657238421384_8729339550971718121_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkHJSsERzmUAb79ZDMJ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBsh89nIyHZF2C_KIR7wawu4HG4Jw1j4zHTwPZis8hs7A&oe=6618DBD6	person_profile	0	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432739446_1823087504800617_2904808879846314457_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IRm5meH9RSgAb4_9pk_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAGTMRSt931nv_gSshy3P9VM6a88v8ZFPZOryV-MD_Oqg&oe=6618E971			0	3	🏡 Hey Homeowners, how much is YOUR HOME worth in this current market?<br /> <br /> You will be SURPRISED to hear what the recent market activity has done to the value of your property.<br /> <br /> 📱📱 Click “Learn More” now to get your updated home price fast		Cynthia Toye Realtor		52	https://facebook.com/100078522785084	0		LEARN_MORE						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989871	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		1563170427813051	1	7.1799199382266E+14		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	106845062087075		0	Age of Frostfall			120206980903560783		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1710596211	1.0684506208708E+14	Age of Frostfall	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431502711_907878270884982_7871176958020716854_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ryrfZd3YkmsAb7IBK2g&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBckM03Skj573XGtno1B_aBh8Ypu8JFV3ezWkK_4W7ocg&oe=6618D787	person_profile	0	Age of Frostfall	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431259759_939027937708099_8422577423398177837_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XAsyzl7HPSYAb4CGsKR&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCnDRLKO4LCbeDCimh-uW364-XxlNpP2GTIxOwMeaCeEA&oe=6618DF86			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Age of Frostfall		740	https://facebook.com/100083610756555	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989872	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989873	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924910		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989874	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989875	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989884	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		309398471855745	9	9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588620072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432782875_1808973049621804_285468857212307292_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgLvu2MxgdgAb6Gk7kH&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAlB15vzgRfetXqc_AUEMlugCoB5lQiXGICZY15SfdyBw&oe=6618E9FF	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432721000_775458167437870_163073391142643730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qGMSNtnGJ1EAb7wKz7N&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBCGp5sp3OEWOD7ReeljI5JlfMXn1bWM0bb8WaHzGWqOA&oe=6618E4E8			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2eRPS24-yqMRpN9dyaPZcAG35X6IBihN8W1sixP6KEnJMNGUmTq4tX3GpaWAQMe0oEg0y9jDkIMJbIPsHLVj3jDkDtEWBWxbEU--0ApM6H8QmDW9QWOuJ0RAmBlDVKZSSXD7gWjJx_7ZW164PyoMXCe7WYVCRbSUjPm77F" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989885	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		760824599313941		9.0017423519105E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129586570072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432348114_953749055705768_7741503024840269884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoFXL9ZOCf8Ab5viBlh&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBua132lp-3hg8LI0UX7Oo9Gy0UPsE_CfZdV8JYgvQtVw&oe=6618E67E	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432422514_2198116267202335_1943750760541878506_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HMnMsd_ERvEAb41D1Qn&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBpiW9_YQ0qIjpBX0L83A3rhWpw3aGF80CMzfM-sBcRMQ&oe=6618C13A			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0QaCEN0m3yC5fq6xyi1bwBtBe9sjxI-88ofAeUTUYXVeyJNBXme40ON3GKH1K1Z66qrIHzBd9QVi2thsmrT69bxGjxeZuSgTS0RWZDdFceorw-ZeMV3XvLCoICV3zDlVWhnWBUEKLz9Cg8GRMcy5dkXH4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989886	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		928178242264466		9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593080072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542814	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431486210_1143282250009579_8818504583973954569_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CyuuDBA8C74Ab6ExGOJ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBUKd_j2cg4LvXglDqxF_AP7iVVgU2BeokhWEKDJvYjtQ&oe=6618CB4C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431237611_2621000608067355_4273940541205197909_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TpaK7yUoso0Ab4PSaAz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9Ek__qptaHq0WDCU0zxR0xu49yDBkq1adg_6vQyMlUA&oe=6618B80F			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT334MKXLDLvPXq2veHh85Ez1ym1YTF40rusPtzrBDrbt6dv6MM04wus99Mv0t1gRqPc9o3UG28AZFzo1D1DhJ-ObsmuWopQF5LZe3ndDmecQLZ_Bvd_Ts4g44BTz6E6QNUct_2IPMLxgCwKntEuf6xyuzc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989887	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		942877230269032		9.0017423519105E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129590890072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542809	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431503600_711066267905796_4783668311905601880_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S2-hdMdml7YAb6Vrzoi&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBdXJwlqX_6FJQVwLWiJjfX0t8o8B4eGLSWx7HPvL_geg&oe=6618CB86	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431207767_933465404980256_591282852493407944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MGQsBuoDEmgAb5sgxqh&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfACxUpcjb_K5iK8wWHbk9skU7KTy2r31RFF93SYLX9mkQ&oe=6618CB81			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1JDwTayXsqQhYq-7xLb1So3FyehJ_clVgKas7zGN0PyCFkhXFGagA8ZiLAUZnqgvDx1kQfFgkEp15-iGWhzZek2SL2IImyi449EcVz8rXc-3C7C86V_f0Q7s-ksnormU1QjCEtUas_JfMah-toUDg2zeM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989888	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522061	1734924911		442		953956992387548		9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593180072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398743_443180964903688_4788572455294977068_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aPJuy-1BAJQAb6timQu&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBPqSfsEOOEb2Z_B3YY-aObiJMv8NDysyRGMlrAnH2X_Q&oe=6618C8EC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432407494_287435074382418_6813649029135874068_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Je8c2f-8IZ0Ab6hXZw7&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCB7cOyFSLgpBz0ULPRK4MQx6fn9SHugOYsGlsNJ1cYKg&oe=6618EE44			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2uhRV7fqUasM4uxRVAfo-zxaPg98wNltTaWdeYxEJMYDgrfd-t_UIA4tKK8gFDbwNp7O6neNq1HIA00AZhF4JJ3maa9tB3MXfxMpB2RQDsGbXSCpoHIcaYxnMnAHLARTJFMhqR6TGdqQ-ygaBvz_iyBpVS89iAWLtifP0W" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989889	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924911		442		1050386772719278		9.0017423519105E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598230072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432705501_444048057957190_1879430047611828550_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MdmdBLu41zAAb6BmCgQ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCGqh6UwO0GN2nFc8DdmgyVmVQdDrEM-q9WFcMLwM0zQQ&oe=6618E7B1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432708932_1601956777223015_7384676479127184015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SIXHZuEdIAAAb7sJJhF&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfD1pC94rEvBJazAsxS-lWK7O8vXo7Q0DIhuqdBFXkCNFg&oe=6618BA53			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1RfRoe_Jw7GFP9gx5O0T9mkUphzMsrxHpyHNRRe1nxYwDXcjXfJwHA-rMrcYBmdaSflG7AZrMwP-ImHkkts88v-oKWSJ_ENe3qi9agQPZpLzNy_J3nfk3BtP6GH4jO-tR8FsVk091Jt8qB4ei36pUqEz0" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989890	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		1072871567344938		9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598200072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139357_1112061176612213_6427435744762554694_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xb3Ei0cNKbMAb4n517j&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCMal-HTJ6BPq42l9NmUbXkMUaYfNIv8mI3zDfgrpRL_w&oe=6618D641	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432570174_787445243261574_3879437541907470107_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wNX7wEV6eAEAb6gevmE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBv-DWustLyizPd5auqbo3dx1uxbfbgS_Whsd-3_dwNMw&oe=6618D63B			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2KVT7w66PM7gw-3PMcczoGphESBPU12rP0HWtc66bTu7a-33Jx0SscNFO3X36Mijh5lGhAH78yu5OQbpVIP9RCBTnI0giOuei4mBdCwgW3H0ykLQTfo1k0u6hb3zQWDqmfWtH0omtwWoTFttdnzBnM3Xs" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989891	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		1103859307490946		9.0017423519105E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584950072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542792	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431432838_3530843087227291_8429246433939172260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FWCxqcN1EDEAb60B3jV&_nc_oc=Adi6ab6uYkkryjOI1C6_hJsCuhbAFcqsZ5_fdKTjW9Xjl7fLdd0OpTq5_FETuAkFKEI&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDln7TLYd7g9VFs-SPbX7YmRO7OHTN0pT-O8lSGqt74TA&oe=6618C9D8	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431472034_1111102756827153_9180499509179689443_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0JtchAHpYgsAb5C7Ly8&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCODN3z6vZfmJQ4ogbCe0isO99nvR-ltYwAM9THcQxDIQ&oe=6618DB3F			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0EsAJly9X5kO5RXwvEUo17MijDhpj1bsLOlO05BiWhRn242Liz-T-TRUf6dh7KhX1o0DMwpAf7f6zjyuP03rdV3sRMmbrwD5PLOLN6pRXRu_ZnoKEw0sc8qrREbGHGAt7O6vtShlysquPLULAW4TpxSQc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989892	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		324531547270159	10	2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129591020072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542808	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431283384_346675675000244_6569175537725213859_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=ku8QQi0CWT4Ab7EB63H&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA9-jg7vtVwp4Kv1rb6oqh2xQCIf89t9IApdA_kHRq-VQ&oe=6618D2D5	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432424817_7093598527355437_690324687597847759_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ePGYneQsA0MAb5rNCI6&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAOhbJ74KiXw_cQ53cioHwGHfH4ANjvhDq80UDWy-U4Rw&oe=6618C587			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT03EM4n5c1R5VIO21XJV0ZXgk0Jv61yYhu3sGrQHz44cod3ntdB2tu9-7OpiKjsXnrprf5oHHQR0wX3kcVWCP9xJTicZx7lBGsIO7SEptPWwzcH1bqKNTuJu2Dc26HhZdkXsiuJvUtt5o2eZc8m2mqNbBw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989894	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		377003948554871		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584890072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542800	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433397011_1380910225892344_4568544260375518731_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FS9DZQ5g16EAb6dAayg&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAEmpNKOaVV2GZyFXHwFrfEMKlk8h9HOZJa--QVGcYbzg&oe=6618E26B	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433365889_1475507159710054_6647650235198966379_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5HnX8O_hVj8Ab5qbWvg&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDDX-Er0I3LvwX5wkMYCgUvCAE3Bdn8Wpr8q8EXAeL2BQ&oe=6618CCB7			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2LgwFc9DXaNtw2snk7-59qlG0oLmzMSLS3Xj3xM_jvVYn3SQKPLU9fRxK7v2dqtKsDQXriFtakJKKEoAK80um1bLcjoeEgm_PAq-EvtJ2K_UZxvWMOPN06gN2B5trfCQMeSMnTDXrdNVGRtuTEJSh3JA0" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989895	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		645079184410984		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598160072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542818	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_994026922305808_3359678864362015370_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NjweeYQX4mkAb49aLJQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDxiMwrczKIUMTWbugb7qluIAlPcC9j2BnX7Y5iewRpow&oe=6618E37C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431433053_807950507872801_8090519929636540408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=laHNZc5fHVgAb5BAmg1&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC9aXdgOJZfjlSIhJ5OVlphszAl80ec_mWJX03wWqBmWA&oe=6618D54D			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1CZBIyYZ0v_aUP-BlSc588BBA6HeLBuX7EQONrEIlG6UY-GQfok2EwT8_v_CZ_eDGaH1ur4RRg4ZNqkgOHdW21dLqU5X6FMoewaedseuc_y9pWGsbijc9aUl4ZAp2F4tcx2OLLx9hiNQODVrzLkPKjZls" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989896	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924912		442		764349085655670		2.8781289752093E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593100072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431097112_3489308498047624_2887825571835188470_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfhGo89vQDwAb6IrJQY&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC7n8qbke0jtmmyS8WZWvr7Dw-Gxbw0zwPO6dIvJWVTlw&oe=6618EF56	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431908819_1092978388419841_5234135548026698328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OJOjpVOO6kQAb6vx-Yh&_nc_oc=AdgFlnn0G9SyhPgig_IYXqQoNwk9yp4ZKuwn-q9j51GoLqK1Low3zzEEm_G9QV6dMAQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKPLr1vd4oOJ1686TuiAr-4MhW3MiB6p4mcWwg-s3KSw&oe=6618D516			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3WIKLy8_UvzlS0qfSUJT1HmN11kd4qwoA-778hXBpv4UMd5Zej0Q745mJBSLaA4bEa41gQ4CXl80fq-hdelHqob_d8m39Qe6xFvkWsLtqAw2mnW_Q7m9P14FOEtJoO_WTkTWt5zvgQqQMmEH-wVf5B_TM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989897	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		1133184311017101		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129603650072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431283774_1521348495098145_886944501097367468_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1DiHVSh50YAAb5M5bF8&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDXRc-Iowak7-8RGPZIjna2DcrihAoeOsLYetNiyLG75g&oe=6618E727	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431510879_292397493706135_49876471057132494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7akl-4ivyk4Ab5JsfKn&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBC70zC0DP3RTHMzDBIk6-jT1XJlwU0fXFgdyf21c4Tfg&oe=6618DA40			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2QuUtuXH1JCB1VFRtzzFzg0Qmz5E2zSkAKIN5eXGriulSSO91o6nsLvFbila7asmrdRH2pSqWs_yLaOS-sUNzzzPfLhA2d3h2pLzxkFMQBzkO4KeDla97WCK3jtyYtfnWmmY6XKh45i2b6R6ZVmSh8hfk" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989898	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		1314707623265279		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129598260072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433103891_1600385807401594_3754547429292290629_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SMQmFrBYnmwAb4W4t0a&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAw7jx6De93NdPiDdadkJv4iuVQnSBVXKlZnP2uVYJSwg&oe=6618C39B	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432624223_940670667215116_3933014791145846947_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sQvJbOm8fxEAb6J57AR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB3E9pzdXuz6dJdF3lvCDwYCl39vwnG0iDV51bEJnKEMA&oe=6618DFAE			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0O4JbghLHdxbDjleHgs7EsLZjNWhxn2izdi1evUPD_Bs-CDoY_7JeiYo94jroCnKlFt_DYTlsykS6mWzqn4WR4Zq24_Ui9aW2O4QuMflOZz455zUsQmwfXWo1Kew5yQG78nxnNNUJgyoL7gU7lAWWjuXI" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989899	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		1437720900155013		2.8781289752093E+14		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584960072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432744513_3343176742485953_4601708793226573996_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFHUtDBR7iQAb7J_slm&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDKZ-5jYr3isqVUl36V6IMaMtayQAlJSRoVmi-IAiwrVA&oe=6618C29C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433101171_900636081791926_4941709115365300452_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OPepxacXV60Ab4H8cUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0Hx8ThGOAuRrbjknF4ZUlWYAz8t10tUVmTK0Oahd_gQ&oe=6618EDF9			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT16TAB04XQC8a9CpFM9PrfBgV--3qnS-2BJjxyfu58kP3ARizwFyanAPZsxWccVEMbCLAMBHMAgQUEF3cFc904PRde4nH04tX5GpB9VSDCW6xhKZjb91iUT1LeLVqkW4vOHH5PBKrMU00IwhEPoXlCKZWo" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989900	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		2429100250615673		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129419870072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542511	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430320178_1495346517710718_70324083697686810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sQY5K2F9ItYAb7JxZRr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAOIHYHw3KStigse_gbaRAgZBKukNOeFDGcHRWIm4GXWA&oe=6618E42D	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432090507_314323717958615_3480147196720856946_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gK_wdXDKxd8Ab4qoEdU&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCdUsI1vvBGo7EZ4kFq-Q5x9c4LEjDbCm7usvqhebHD8Q&oe=6618E4F4			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0pNf8cgXmeOFjTfBuMy0eSIGlNjoWGiyEwNpvnRSsCOUxqiSOZnUqiIPTYRSIBW29cVo4s0pWFnBTRhAL-pcTGDUUaWO0dPs-BOqxWmoMOkQyOwhM6SUSopslNjXIHFp0AWTWsTBl0JIiW9H_Zsn5o_bg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989901	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		2571717866341595		2.8781289752093E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129595880072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542815	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432630777_237570609436573_207092304303665070_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FvJZ3JyQDlcAb47yJla&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAUYA7esSUc530jK0o4Sd8ysYCgyipQf0k-XfDCoyZk3g&oe=6618CBD1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123876_1453147492222222_18301219442974219_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W71BOe94X_oAb79tORS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfALjtAWpbtz6QgYsn0wtCKuVFlCZMQAIlMZg8qD1DgYIA&oe=6618B9D0			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1IukxwMJJUCqifEuyVlOZvPipliiU7CtBQdgWyCDvw9kTBoQdI8mapyAOwFaOHRgICJCgCThz-0Ckexwdje9NwBSN42tTqEjOf6_jDpsBEatE1tiHVbuKL7r1P4FxI3xN9izYEa6OeUtJqq1REfSM1Ge4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989902	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		386175144291762	10	3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129606090072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444176_1461245937803618_2351619017030877039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mPD6iKsAY4sAb6o_nkq&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAsBOFNzSNNLrGq-LB4AfqYROzScjgfgRHusMl1idAFDg&oe=6618C0E1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431912497_1422363348403095_1160456603151060584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Uk3vSIKgRW4Ab6jSFIb&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCwJ-GAKnLxHHXCVTO7lXyiRc_j6s3qzRnT-JiO0agF0A&oe=6618CD70			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3HZp_6aECEmwhdqZ3hynI5Fs3G163thytu9pZEeSpZeeT2_eE0GNDweHjRZP7Q3XtMugjakMI1SrkiT4su8hqAXQjVgWgB6sd1-Sn_8cBxitIKVA8ePKH7u1n9L-IjJklzg-zKlDWZizxYIfgVzcdiYSg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989903	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		421008276955238		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129593150072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542818	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431222967_856180349647967_6950546054463824558_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sl_seSZ0l04Ab4DcEEW&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAfOIkUaTVxT76hWrBb5N_xUUz54jRcyctQDEEIgTxokg&oe=6618C663	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431195461_412213498023750_3809643012679232514_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVK39V1K3MkAb4NOtIr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCn2ACdSd-BxXcyG4hprZ4rBdhbBJTWEAKmC4D4sJLbww&oe=6618C60B			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2I8HDmA_jw7TCN4DTE0KwheXODmiD6YiJ8UOU0ZRFAB0PtIzGt8mKk40SZAk7vhkFI0Nq35cBzTxvacq895IQVFIyhi86f7AUpCOvdawANXvIgdWvRuHq3x7XcQ6IFgKPG-j1iA8gBdLq3nfiwob6FAvA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989905	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		710987307863813		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588740072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432371939_787533036053074_8518477965223920752_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S5DF2BnGqnQAb4XiIF_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD-63sC2PxFHZlr2h3yu_O2wZ8kBTR-nKow9x6bwYOchg&oe=6618EDC7	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432420150_731054349213554_5108879125051733833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QwnYb33SiTEAb4FdE2Z&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAQqHDPpMxqN2RIGRFpWhJwkm_w8gpEkTJmc6G28mTPbQ&oe=6618C0CC			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0Zpe0b0F3j8XRYT7bHBxgDlQ63p53U1IVxGzV2_ABZNI3Ozt__VnD6rmQsUzT-FrtHaFIRgW8dQqKcB19KA3HCicLkMKvTCbKpXlDJ8zaN8sq6ROdIZn5jgr9Xhyv0r_Jjh_8epB3wUlW_V1AdL0KAXRc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989906	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		763371545722587		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129595940072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432058002_1146181586736656_1643957283186047426_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rybWq-Iq7hMAb7ofw7A&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAmmRBSCxPDMKZD6gCgDWWJYJ7MSqOlLMRJLUKaeENCjg&oe=6618EEF2	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432128558_1422966421942687_2525188161982282882_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lbBERgf63UAAb53lAwj&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHzN4ZlCB3jx5gxGsda629WuKLxepqV3xMiImxk2jp6A&oe=6618C7E1			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT15pzlsoXWaS-gN2tEKkvxSnn0YqDV2Cm9Ad90p7NJBoxhkvFklb4sPr2oQfvjLP9AULKw7me3nELtCiCGeT0wCwf5AmfR-NHqoUL8DbTMQ26lvlZjC2uVEEcvbXX8fS-rhlrAeMbbt9ZLPtPpQo9m1NqA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989907	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		1801794927007611		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129584860072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444324_756309149552715_6081799796211420548_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hsCOzzUdlZsAb6ncBD0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCeeXiUm9qfaWVaZapHjRT_XFrQcOJc7TLxTqUxSbwJnw&oe=6618DBA9	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430470684_368547139499293_5132676558960640184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bFzGaJ0sPXYAb6w3XFr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBW3SD9cUpEI6pKRAi8ZDDX2YEMwrPET_jChkLIz2SGXg&oe=6618C741			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0uipxl_7fWpvDAuXxnULCLkP_GNrw00oPqXz6INYaUW2L_FZZn3mIbF8fsTaRQiSKYoXWSmdwaEni9-8XkWIra7kdNCxUP0gpoYuAE9QDJs9zpC9IT5jBMmIo2F241rfD2rjZS-hw1n3pRi_-yJw8u2G4" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989908	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		2327561667453346		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129600430072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542826	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433140582_381092358211220_6876566416109866305_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LXPqgpgtIjUAb6BP1oA&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBaiqzqtn-sRzBTRPckXjG8uAigh2-B8UipthsCFWL36A&oe=6618D313	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640585_392982640339456_8940335706455138235_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Njl6jV1efNYAb7Cg22N&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDo_duFHvZP0st-9_hpA5wiRP5bBoa4PMvmAx-v4mC0OQ&oe=6618E3E5			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2XanAqo-j0NTmrwrWQDdX3ey3KTWsm8HIQwvRvO7uc0bZZUGVUD3aIKN6a1eo3MVwg6MYIyfEEVcVWVRcJqyOJN5W-n66YOSIDC9HQ8-WOjrp6Kn-oetH9qz35GZRY3Q-MNLlu78fSSgYaAS-mWKR-flM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989910	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		3696117807382548	10	3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129418470072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542533	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432661175_300796076114630_229832205337461666_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nSH5V6E6aykAb4OTPFM&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAYVxD-24eE06KulvEZV4oRH9e4MB3Xm_FXBF1mxYdm0A&oe=6618BBF2	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433095420_284617077997284_8351295717819781865_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OmL4gwN2bjYAb5LtBBx&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB8bT8PTAVOYV-9cbvAHXdKuIvmV-ewaaxdLMOup9iiyA&oe=6618E0CC			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT2dnS8wFOHzmlVCwhTMcy6441d22jSFGU75JCVoBLZbJI0RccwXd9PE9BDoCAP_cx87or1dWvvWXz_8hP3s5hP8XWWc5W28L_sZVAotDz9thvlOz9xpSUP4TfZYRHfl9OCEYBTNPhzO8BZ0y4sjMw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989911	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		6716169488484187		3.6457520324106E+15		1710918000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129599890072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542819	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431521315_1436964896934054_7575039674199463431_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R9PY7BjT8LgAb7Q73Bn&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-V0pilE1sVcWnqSlfXNtS6BetgAjcMDQPInohrQq4MQ&oe=6618D73A	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431211939_440698241631742_744714155624244372_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fGB9mAGH0EUAb6VdDRs&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBH-hzU1_Ra6ZI-txjBjfGkLQ5oS2ngS4V1FUKbvZUyVg&oe=6618D4D1			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT0_G2Nd2M2mTHA2op08g9rHO5CIYOW3BFvxOjnZacrv7ftRnSbNwSCH3vTZJU6upqQMHo28voSTgQ6-GRbHRCMzGZEjh7-FteCy8hbRuHbceZ9-4LNwob72Dj5RvInw7PTYfaWcxpoJHRoB7zZyDA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989912	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		7564455010338414		3.6457520324106E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129588550072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542806	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432389592_1367460773964203_2110123684750846060_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TlmSOx2RpoMAb6hjNmU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB3SnPjVfMuVScz_97iIq12HNqeuJRi79HyajqSoLTMnw&oe=6618BC60	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432377349_835771935024141_2268746279950365082_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9fUWNmG-zNMAb7JmJfP&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBcIFQsrZq7ClE1Y2B_gbmDWZfft4_91XXjpxAKUb67fg&oe=6618C61A			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3i0awwdoQ4B98tSx87vuuWc2mSbbQCDB4KrGWRokxJHZrPzmPISv5sEJt6EPixH7WF_eUZdFkGKBJnE2byuQJwlH61XjoSIFBN51jz2XO6nvAV3G0X2QLi6QHKJ5NVpZgcjkMZ4oEkoAP6rcKGug" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989913	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		3724492474539869	1	7.9421932588545E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129418360072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542625	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432066330_725909343028498_7639940185673184075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pvIt7PHvJK0Ab6sP61J&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA4WciwiG4CwDMqH3nv5xF7g5VmrtU4WgLn23OJF4sQfg&oe=6618D2AC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432058654_2045303015850541_5672783804985453520_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aZ41KnxaF5cAb6BqPXa&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD2DhuRU7b2YrKkUiqwe5lA2E8Ibr0jJ3SunAzyrDFrRA&oe=6618CF21			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT3YeUL1MM47V78-uj8-KRlx11tYdZPuIV4MnYxChDJAbHi_mgkGXwW8bSvQ0dLsGUWz8wFyJGGYYBPFMDZpk1ZbY1JFiE-HQp9U2r8JkROOk56BxVIQRCUBMatiNqCCsO8kba53_kb1DJfKXr5GIQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989914	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		3834675340190303	9	9.0017423519105E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120206129603620072		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432702462_425101310188887_2598698780206365414_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KhKhGuwyBUAAb6x9h4M&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBycYGx7kRargdRA0fpMbqFXO_3Cb9xNdgXLFQKCPwLvQ&oe=6618DC3C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432779714_787262129988708_8637584001846006548_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=daKn6AvHHkwAb41yeGM&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCFV3MjyjdCte4L_5u1WtnPEY52MUl6kzoEM_NAqCbRlQ&oe=6618C594			0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8&quot; thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you&#039;re ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&amp;h=AT1Fup4-_7vBbS3zDED7r-h67xQ8HDmmZSsaTZBpWgIJDuP4bGY8J0YC3IaOy5YXUNpg1U2eqY9bmMwcyu04ykLV16RgUQ1hdg8mg9m7aUi0jwFkb0qpKd9zArV4SDsk2fptRyE880la1yCDEBFAYA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989915	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		418845017219811	10	1.4906110848375E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	202204112986379		0	Surprise Savings			120207068184950617		swishairtime.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710541070	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432406002_838171654742550_4951284997132649987_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W-zTniDaexQAb7hiBKK&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqRDBvKlouiF_LxNHS9xX4WhgZ2Xzn_G9OZtr6fUF5mQ&oe=6618CE6A	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432433529_361887000166313_8261972206869333613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WdUKVl72OT8Ab5m6DrX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAI0ngyxC5VGc3erN0oeAhYYtuzIGmNmpoxO_y-Lv1Klg&oe=6618C9FB			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Surprise Savings		133	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710486000		View Edit Delete
989916	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		432628129161823	1	1.3359827437703E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871769770601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Make matches to unlock more!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468896	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432364456_7587330547984305_6081318494994962222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oT0i7uDwlg4Ab6L5B4t&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB_g5pswhaOE6vocf2Cgp0Icep8mwV36MDO6ppE4xw6wA&oe=6618D314	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432384874_417722324087856_8097039176730887727_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zrhqpP7PdfsAb49-HJJ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDIoXSyP7hVuCG0p8Pz4iUMOfrX3KFAAHTuMb4BJ1_FEA&oe=6618C773			0	3	🤔How high of an IQ do you need to beat the final level?		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989917	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924913		442		790868032886390	1	7.5019393671638E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871757330601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Epic Puzzle Game		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468891	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432743984_1394343881193330_7665965852556619492_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s5NXAnXKO6cAb7DHtwe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhGbx-9cGWEdeIMPBy5uoW_Kf36P7KAxVvNjbqhn6ABg&oe=6618BECC	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432773639_308986298517507_4330017547945227324_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s6VA7MNDZE0Ab6xZAm1&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBT47dpbWjC9dE57mT_GT-iX0Uj0kqUOvuWbrKJSqcl5A&oe=6618B87B			0	3	MAGIC. MONSTERS. MASTERY.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989918	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924914		442		1084218616165403	1	7.9666409563182E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871748630601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3 SLG👉		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468888	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432373585_922913695947992_8289229141916300097_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y9wNCqz--OQAb5NJAlk&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBNhrYbE7XRRsidiED6Z6AConBlNdksfCwdWcMtHZKcYQ&oe=6618E481	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431876977_763104358843962_4725808223182110592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k6SIKWI0aRoAb7z5ocE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-sw29CV2S_7zooCvM4X1BXDSX_oSyn2hTRHWvbPZXqg&oe=6618BC73			0	3	Recuit legendry heroes!🧙‍♂️		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989919	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924914		442		369732645974433	1	4.051756120435E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871740610601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Rally, to war!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468877	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432578977_788425675950060_6514610819260113002_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hc-G5tNUrWsAb5tm2Cg&_nc_oc=AdgmEZptPFWMhXKKGofclzgXXBbiesshQf9DvIaG1eJygkJGD7_Ge_MelhAU8gMBBGM&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBxy6xB1WU4SX9QDOhENtmT5riutsvATMPbYcA-9hwXoA&oe=6618BB50	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433116694_2675379092611215_7289416225169210618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tm8fURTXuQAb4xKK5m&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCVCPs0bKbJ0Hs2RemmTBgN6h-spfJ3kPY5ai5P9V7pig&oe=6618BF79			0	3	The strongest alliance in the new server is one player short!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989920	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924914		442		388135273994129	1	1.7830697855498E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206871733930601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1710468866	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432702957_1128078108192968_4975257683676779671_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nDMIweQHlyMAb4jK5rz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBTPT7LJef4fw_n97Zza-zRODYqV1_L8jdU1BuYtad-Gg&oe=6618E882	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432771461_215846128254480_947783419309057872_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IYFLz0adWikAb4kFKLi&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCa99HDGdbCxhzL3xwQ7Fo-xMKaG9qCLGKyDkPkTmQUdQ&oe=6618BF45			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1710572400		View Edit Delete
989923	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924914		442		734174078698425	4	7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120206954903530256		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1710433120	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432749323_3603536746630424_5387550006119167335_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UTKU9zcqdjMAb6g8GHa&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB2yi4nMJ95PwSHfykqYXAbgd5S77EwWIce6jpR_3ySOQ&oe=6618BA3B	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433057000_788509666480211_605598316307431490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0E0qPKvu8H4Ab4zYWry&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPkeUu8jkpDSsZ8nUzncXFdPKifPR8XSuALlgpO2mBrg&oe=6618D660			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989924	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		724446923200860	5	3.9029571028666E+14		1711436400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120206427303380727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1011466		1710426064	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432588189_1571481373675242_1205278681109741644_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q0FoeAkSoDQAb4-y8aR&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtAk7VMcScCQjxN0V-FkyEJub-s-xnNJt_JtMeRIyTLQ&oe=6618DB48	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989925	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		623875623227469		3.9029571028666E+14		1711522800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120206427136430727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1011467		1710425847	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433076508_1141613546865452_4345152077728592799_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zzy3bwiR9B4Ab6GqYuO&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAUGNW8lvrQDRJw74Dr_M7n51_GAr_xIwpMQO0_fiNumQ&oe=6618CBF7	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989926	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		1099767001366094		3.9029571028666E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120206332283720727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010828		1710237759	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432347969_770157925034025_4217088264527251935_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tmbM3yCc6XIAb5YglJq&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlc0hEpZwZa0RYG6eZfpdcp_UuTG_gNcSbXGfy_lS-Hw&oe=6618BD2F	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1710226800		View Edit Delete
989927	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		1152081639489094	1	3.8246678344209E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	135327806501995		0	Ward's Outfitters llc/mx			6569434887255		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/wardsoutfitters_llc_mx		1710420240	1.35327806502E+14	Ward's Outfitters llc/mx	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431487575_954138002733941_2651300127074897675_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=REAw5FR3ZwUAb5dN5hu&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCPq_Lp0lxTddf9hmT9HPDNOBQI-lr-KpfnzQZItGMldA&oe=6618CF8F	person_profile	0	Ward's Outfitters LLC / MX	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431447162_1442002426436290_7253951098980381931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7eFBYvFbXkgAb5DbmDi&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAwrqbzEdJicN5en2OojY__0aqKELyBW1I4hl2t4_N91A&oe=6618EA78			0	3	Now booking 2024-2025. Arizona and Old Mexico. <br /> #hunting #coues #muledeer #desertsheep #gouldsturkey #Javelina #Archery #riflehunting #crossbow		Ward's Outfitters llc/mx		5528	https://facebook.com/wardsoutfitters	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989928	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989929	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989930	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989931	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989932	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989933	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989934	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989935	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989936	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989937	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522062	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989938	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989939	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989940	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989941	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989942	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989943	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989944	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989945	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989946	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989947	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989948	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989949	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205648360290695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_7EuESxwHkAb5Gff88&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBppgNz1JEbW7YFnvlpGY0aCrhTHEdg1FEYUfT7-valsg&oe=6618EF48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=utHi6pozukUAb6TPall&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHMIPjlVVGk8Bn-Ir_Nj9JHlZRokcd_vwd0Qd0WTMJAg&oe=6618B8DB			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1710399600		View Edit Delete
989950	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924915		442		777039987681074	1	7.1501487745946E+14		1710313200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	233433179859296		1	Prize 2024			120206837214400417		overwarily.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://overwarily.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=LmGIlvLgDqQVBFoTKqGg&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&id=KIUYv2sx		1709969620	2.334331798593E+14	Prize 2024	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431095151_345650688432460_7969959328879594147_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Jgay3OzupTMAb6tUYMg&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDdoaPclY_ZZWAS9DqdYfWyFF3Z7D0zs34gwKfVwBptxA&oe=6618B885	regular_page	0	Prize 2024	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431042925_1261676111455938_8312925769507360434_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CCJyNY93jckAb5hLLRX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDvZpbxbUYTHPewMx7-FCJw-ntxxZAknC5QKVZc5ZWsYg&oe=6618BFC2			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,957 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳				0		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709971200		View Edit Delete
989951	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924916		442		1452702805352971	1	4.0010601264153E+14		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207576048030127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr14&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956430	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428712680_418826437305195_5858516169441456784_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jOXKlgDlHZUAb5f9A9i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBj62aWsF98kOzrlrYnqQM5AtC4dThPab7WJJB4hkao6Q&oe=6618DBAA	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989952	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924916		442		1452702805352971	1	4.0010601264153E+14		1710745200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207576048030127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr14&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956430	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428712680_418826437305195_5858516169441456784_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jOXKlgDlHZUAb5f9A9i&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBj62aWsF98kOzrlrYnqQM5AtC4dThPab7WJJB4hkao6Q&oe=6618DBAA	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989954	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924916		442		370751069136092	1	9.3470331818078E+14		1710140400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	148034835056966		0	Titan Revenge			120207575996730127		gamehollywood.com	Play Game		NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr10&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956242	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432049138_731012869138725_5954585650042261466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wr_UANE7-YYAb4GhtZl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZIoMD3D0LiaILzUIQT1wkQ5NVfzTRCeYpWk8n-BAfjQ&oe=6618C543	person_profile	0					0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥		Titan Revenge		10219	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989955	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924916		442		926691635448056	1	9.3179262820987E+14		1710486000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120206854027290751		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1709891576	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432162566_1157952788907286_7796736370592406881_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E3kPhPsEacwAb6tosDt&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqAPNFuAxah6fntpiEWRm0PEsnrikZjYegrXDKVIYGIQ&oe=6618DDEA	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431562590_1086975382453760_6166737432628581841_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z32Ptcr4K94Ab7viVWv&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCPkKN8UqoZWeETd0PXE28M0_7M31pFaAoWD3wfySbhRA&oe=6618E941			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		PLAY_GAME						1709884800		View Edit Delete
989957	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		960088718345925	2	7.2126186315694E+14		1710658800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	261497253706396		0	LV for Everyone			120205921510520393		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&id=IUYfiii5x		1709724453	2.614972537064E+14	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428694019_1120099312746280_1304942596648389719_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfhBFlGfMGwAb6mElaI&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAm2Nx891I_QANzvetKYGb2TjfHAqzagf5Ne-_Rl4pK4g&oe=6618D235	person_profile	0	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428687806_389196940384521_5248875778367170400_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_JgOokSEOmIAb770c_p&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBuy01q74OP9sOIxleIlrjenjTNxbm3EHMWN9M31dFrsg&oe=6618D152			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,975 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳		LV for Everyone		845	https://facebook.com/61556390108579	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709712000		View Edit Delete
989958	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		7759540307392390	1	4.1612359091104E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206728737530421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1709535800	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428675024_1134118907775547_1470778305470570191_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nsRCQs2UTOAAb4_9oFL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfnobRlK4b2eFT6j_Q6JjSvrt6b4d1N3JspuLvPnhIIQ&oe=6618D643	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428713244_742789704618490_2040688107521860061_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4dER0t9fBk8Ab4k9CK-&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCE0QfTREngayVjYjCbZmeS2GDYW8UbvwkTcSUXn7FrcA&oe=6618BD19			0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989959	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15		1710313200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108124922119098		0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients			120206777282770285		itunes.apple.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_4-ysIOAQboAb7P2gMp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfACtucShkxUAJuzuQ3HpmJlUr17Jk4ympW_VVYqLrZyLw&oe=6618DAA0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UaCaHDRYBdYAb50MU1l&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDds2NAVpnIW6ljvQ-up9E_-Y4uFF4SozY1NK9H14zjKQ&oe=6618DB96			0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲		Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients		1743	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989960	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15		1710313200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108124922119098		0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients			120206777282770285		itunes.apple.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_4-ysIOAQboAb7P2gMp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfACtucShkxUAJuzuQ3HpmJlUr17Jk4ympW_VVYqLrZyLw&oe=6618DAA0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UaCaHDRYBdYAb50MU1l&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDds2NAVpnIW6ljvQ-up9E_-Y4uFF4SozY1NK9H14zjKQ&oe=6618DB96			0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲		Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients		1743	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709452800		View Edit Delete
989972	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1370234130284615	4	6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120204753429410543			Send message		NONE	video					1707430720	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417687471_410355871449120_2957787888866240036_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sL7613t9RnMAb7Z7Xg5&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCd5rO7pIJe8MWVjC2oWOPVYfNWtcYV7rDUHJJYO1mK7w&oe=6618E850	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417451779_906784554459943_6966683229011060754_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T0TMIjO-ji8Ab6zQCZz&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDJLbHqfcx7LWKg3da3MR9O0Vtxx00cWLKi2fBmdEYH2A&oe=6618BF8B			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		MESSAGE_PAGE						1707379200		View Edit Delete
989962	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1116952662710166	1	9.4322723018246E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	218810774653254		0	Techguru			120206813998670263		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1709354939	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429548950_1749256132264153_2121853105467280595_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Bhv0truHYQYAb6e_5ca&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIRSWkZdaYL0MSSHfr3duk2rCpsCAyW185gGzeT5DVZA&oe=6618D369	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428699798_422937976850574_8478791820033969524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YBCGawN5Gp4Ab6bsFef&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBkHhq5Sgtoof6jobCgpdHc649c_gB8xrybLf4qH1gFkA&oe=6618C3AF			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.95 in our giveaway, 🥳		Techguru		832	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709366400		View Edit Delete
989963	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		428364532985741	2	1.0742673504884E+15		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	217316998627741		0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon			120206275532310783		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1709111974	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428706826_714817304158126_6251656658491189222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8L3krkjYETsAb6cjbAe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqznsTGprr_4A7kGXmznJRjVK6MUCwqlMU7ZPE22zKfw&oe=6618D780	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422851942_1172920693884605_1919264627967449890_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SNsONBQOg-sAb5AMdlm&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDo-c9uUJKRLCGA9FR220Lr_0GJmlutxUYPI_BPA0MC4A&oe=6618D321			0	3	That Game Everyone&#039;s Playing! Join Now!		Frost & Flame：King of Avalon		1218520	https://facebook.com/koadw	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989964	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1216832515955091	2	7.2126186315694E+14		1710572400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	261497253706396		0	LV for Everyone			120206265524130255		unripenesss.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&id=IUYfiii5x		1709314931	2.614972537064E+14	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431059010_3676131662670040_5343693385323575810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QyXMt54VodsAb4Ps59i&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKG8NWjOSFvt8OfMBiMYrp2yz3ac0BaIqLc_aCMbuOYg&oe=6618CEB6	person_profile	0	LV for Everyone	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431158860_1524738084752268_6322986587223920682_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oqY79ReHj9wAb4FQogK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCfbrKrUIpf6OKIHVAEk2TaoCOlb7dzRv2X3RHedxjQ_Q&oe=6618E3E2			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,975 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳		LV for Everyone		845	https://facebook.com/61556390108579	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989965	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		414134284311009	1	2.0420591994978E+15		1710140400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	105810599097200		0	ZW-Shooting Game			120204959886800534		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	Zombies are coming！		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ddup.zombiewaves.zw		1709296233	1.058105990972E+14	ZW-Shooting Game	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428503942_923884975719354_5477108965959599606_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tmXLcqwLA4sAb4CGkNX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiAblWVW2mY_0T6G9X1CRglyM-o0cSP7wKwdNH0x3cnQ&oe=6618C8A5	person_profile	0	ZW-Shooting Game	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428507678_1732926830526868_6324205797696489579_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dtrQ-gsL-9UAb6F-Rr3&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCWouI8JtfHqDJ4G8eJrAumwiaMxwloarG8V2f7d82WnQ&oe=6618C8DF			0	3	How Long Can You Survive? 👉<br /> 😱😱 Can You Survive The Next!🙏		ZW-Shooting Game		22	https://facebook.com/100090268868472	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989966	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1179991743409978	4	7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120207120209950715		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709289005	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428687357_769783661720131_7301324727341968366_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cJMhDwxOpO4Ab5a55sV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjETioQ3OORmYlcX_oFyiJZJ7AZnfdGmbGPh2uyV9tgw&oe=6618C107	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429470056_1106213233739513_2596385279901333661_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TbIiRt43xCkAb7zYzI1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkyedOA4j1AXYM5j1551zfayzunKXlqzXKK0FaI4vreg&oe=6618CB0B			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989967	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1496268887598011		7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120205836772290634		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709288673	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429579093_1360109098011759_4109474163216333547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzoXCJqaZRYAb69eXDV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBeklCqK6nEyI_6ivsOzYRvYPFakU_jyXFg7sV-2dZ-ug&oe=6618D447	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430952391_957794115760510_8441011754437371685_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KxvW1MIXhFIAb6AtvPa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKrNHkvbKmM3UytiXOC_IcDpvGEUbLIGW3Qp3BQWcs1A&oe=6618C398			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989968	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1082786276177405		7.2883172602714E+14		1711090800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	181760488365196		0	Devices for work			120206129045290114		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709270620	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430489326_24802103736104516_8300198805730771556_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fiEMe6pSCqAAb46FshC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBdChMgRyA9clkGuavC9FTqRnLi4ZhLrQdJoOqGi03UHg&oe=6618C75B	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429908169_791748129666468_5888067511520341142_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NKtVlRX8pRwAb4aTKIo&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBblO34LLQcuGJe_nkCj-3-NKnUe3kBeit-jzQmp2bK5g&oe=6618D949			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳		Devices for work		809	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709280000		View Edit Delete
989969	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1427790881507733	1	4.0630449194408E+14		1711004400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	218810774653254		0	Techguru			120207617793730119		ridermiseri.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1709132842	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430016991_1147687306542767_3856760328875310212_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=leQJumZMzi0Ab5yWFIp&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDdT2V_moTXUVGa8Q7EGiHmwxt2wKvxtOUAkCTjkU9r0A&oe=6618CA1E	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429913370_2074064929623623_4420141907958862938_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=p-xQ6VCtRbcAb7PKLVQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfA9mGNeAdu7lpMl0rFyefdFRNGYANG1iu3xofGTdtkZHg&oe=6618E66F			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.95 in our giveaway, 🥳		Techguru		832	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1709107200		View Edit Delete
989970	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		407103728523856	5	3.9029571028666E+14		1710831600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120205738991330727		do.r2games.com	Play game		NONE	image	Play Now	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010827		1709003774	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430158640_760048506051685_1350157845783949232_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xGqRj9WwWr4Ab7utYji&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAPxMealxpNjkJBCJ9JPgfMk26Htyt9ebFdZPvh3z0lAA&oe=6618E6E6	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		PLAY_GAME						1708934400		View Edit Delete
989971	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		408970121800109		3.9029571028666E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	2296094330467325		0	R2Games			120205553667330727		do.r2games.com	Learn more		NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010869		1708670502	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428613985_285235354389308_1755750585622662603_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oOGotf0E-eAAb7SgtIy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDEeeb4xqcjYrivr3z7-1CphKBwTfSyHVHwshF4gJTo9w&oe=6618D712	person_profile	0					0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don&#039;t go alone<br /> 💥💥		R2Games		8479	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	0		LEARN_MORE						1708588800		View Edit Delete
989973	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		405855005139465		6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120204753426850543			Send message		NONE	video					1707430721	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425271367_919719899560991_6281269177115641203_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=neWcfx4tUcEAb4n8G-p&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfD-MflKxot6jjhyIJ6r0PKlF0cdGacvlSKpgPbkfrc25Q&oe=6618DAE4	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/424667256_731878612366637_7974387473427028117_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KCwBEjFYYRwAb6aHuRv&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQU1tuCknDkN_STaHmmPCd4zCuXLKawlp1kdD67Dx3Sg&oe=6618B8D7			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		MESSAGE_PAGE						1707379200		View Edit Delete
989975	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	747021958709347		0	Music City Archery			6535603657907		musiccityarchery.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YozVptWq-EAb7u4wUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjh4c1yeFRe_c5Wzkwk5QzMOMvPzPAVISuJD6yUDMzeA&oe=6618CB07	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hdnvroK8iOwAb6Iunqq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5Z4AMsUsF0L3d0ByWy8PaLpPhMKXy8TQxL-DMWEqGkw&oe=6618B834			0	3			Music City Archery		2563	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	0		LEARN_MORE						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989976	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	747021958709347		0	Music City Archery			6535603657907		musiccityarchery.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YozVptWq-EAb7u4wUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjh4c1yeFRe_c5Wzkwk5QzMOMvPzPAVISuJD6yUDMzeA&oe=6618CB07	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hdnvroK8iOwAb6Iunqq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5Z4AMsUsF0L3d0ByWy8PaLpPhMKXy8TQxL-DMWEqGkw&oe=6618B834			0	3			Music City Archery		2563	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	0		LEARN_MORE						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989977	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		6768688703260549	1	3.6505563851625E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120204508361130601		itunes.apple.com	Play game		NONE	video	Rally, to war!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1706258186	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422927621_1420279545259386_1393293151869996681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RYWn1f9kZhgAb7YK81F&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJSeb-gsVcAUlw0mMTpVvPhyZ1iCkSx8D9yCFvhaQubQ&oe=6618EA25	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422934922_410689661526646_7408576882001537210_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wjjVPBsEV3QAb4FVcn9&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBhCUFkGF-DlnzxP_llfZsiX5zh37qAg5LUz3iS3JkrsQ&oe=6618EDF6			0	3	The strongest alliance in the new server is one player short!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1706256000		View Edit Delete
989978	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1153250632332305	1	1.0463250964471E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120204797375290421		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1706164148	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420106986_390836616750400_4785285487608768183_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sz_XxP-F8IwAb7UVlDy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCVshB1BOXVP2tD3ZCQO38g1nM9_BFVe6Zo45M4X71E_w&oe=6618CB03	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420094076_925427188949131_5088787140421479825_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NS4J8L25eskAb7Hy44S&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD3FWb4quUJ4xHZ3y5hZoa4z0SJqzzn_h8NBFyAc46xOA&oe=6618C2B3			0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1706083200		View Edit Delete
989979	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924917		442		1766028447141019	1	2.7716184146071E+14		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	1	101410031779066		0	Igoldencnc			120205726777430022		fb.me	Get quote		NONE	video			http://fb.me/		1704875959	1.0141003177907E+14	Igoldencnc	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417789445_3824120457874575_1718063993017667222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgmSuLzJrdwAb7ZKmmJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDEKsSxesRf4o1GxdlKCVYVMp5ZhA28wxio2TEX2_qx0w&oe=6618E3FA	person_profile	0	iGOLDENCNC	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417772705_1365449790999729_5592436530954521317_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Mg08WfCvXtgAb6sSK8I&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCQD0YNqFQ00YxiuaGyQxzNEJ6lY2c6lotu5mHJtkeirQ&oe=6618BC18			0	3	🛒Crossbow portable cnc plasma cutting machine<br /> <br /> 🟢Stable structure and long life<br /> 🟢Easy to move<br /> 🟢Economical and practical<br /> 🟩The portable CNC cutting machine is an ideal upgrade <br /> <br /> product to replace handheld flame-cutting equipment, handheld plasma cutting devices, profiling cutting machines and semi-automatic cutting carts. The use is as flexible and convenient as the cutting trolley, and it can be moved at will without occupying a fixed site. It is a CNC equipment specially used for sheet metal blanking.<br /> ⏳If you are interested, fill out the form for more information.		Igoldencnc		3021	https://facebook.com/igoldencnc	0		GET_QUOTE						1704873600		View Edit Delete
989980	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924918		442		1075268333626520	1	3.8344156093361E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1990816214546289		0	BowSpider			120205221533750506		bowspider.com	Learn more		NONE	video	Grab your Bow and GO!		https://bowspider.com/collections/bow-spider-bow-packing-system		1704730963	1.9908162145463E+15	BowSpider	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417162380_318501867833149_233591208466003523_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G9MiSvbLsvkAb72AYYx&_nc_oc=AdiukhIauZcTs9wRUoA-ro7brdZ6pQnqtGR5MX2ysboUKlZ1HnrvwrVBEWmkXGAMcKDBMSpxT40p3TUmmI3uoLme&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkbNuzJaqZz2_MITYnaJygU9SfNmQpz7j0RH8C-Z9zTA&oe=6618D3C0	person_profile	0	Bow Spider	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417183134_1321321845250589_519129792036512257_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gkr8LGIgZi4Ab7hu9EN&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDuFm2iGvKoXT3d1STH8sS9wLecblxIdI9Yuj-3qzD2Kw&oe=6618C341			0	3	Grab your Bow and GO! For all our Archery Hunters, 3D competitors and backyard target enthusiasts we have a game changer for packing your Bow! The Bow Packing System will allow for easy access while on the archery course. Carry and retrieve your bow with ease.<br /> <br /> &quot;...the nicest and quickest way to carry a bow while hunting!&quot;<br /> <br /> “Game-changer!”<br /> <br /> &quot;Bow Spider has became an essential part of my hunting gear.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...this changed the way I hunt for the better!&quot;<br /> <br /> See how it works: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbowspider.com%2Fpages%2Fvideos&amp;h=AT3ebC1STPrj9LbjGCWpDH8DsxK8hgumCdpi0acS98gRz_oHIpyi2xBgYYuRDOtBR3-c8Y8_T7U3z5WF5uZ97p0DAg-slbpRnTZAwEo1k2SS26-92Tyiry7IPbDQeVk5e-6uFpnoVmvaAQrrInhQyzW5MYb0dIzcRmO8De6aAX8" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bowspider.com/pages/videos</a><br /> <br /> Shop now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbowspider.com%2Fcollections%2Fbow-spider-bow-packing-system&amp;h=AT1rw8HaOWH2poF4zrI9p2vWYhVpftxAVtnmcXpSkidnHUKCvUH8HQoO-1HL6hovoFMrWumg0wGQuf5dPtzAVIXQ9BJSP3uk3O_Hvt21TgAItr7DIfkaEAT414KAfRm4KaVNrrrvk-WO7QjYBcBp-UoAqublQ75WDbZ_kwGwzGY" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bowspider.com/collections/bow-spider-bow-packing-system</a><br /> Made in America.		BowSpider		10292	https://facebook.com/bowspider	0		LEARN_MORE						1704700800		View Edit Delete
989981	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924918		442		1418559241971547	1	8.8673531563932E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	184075394976974		0	Lumenok			23852124042060070			Like Page		NONE	video					1662559176	1.8407539497697E+14	Lumenok	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/302136537_1111926936122084_2173076245057580639_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uJjroJC5EloAb42YWok&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxlqkIBOJ3OvHr-djmCg7_ycpaeZzYj5VeaNk5qYIJMg&oe=6618E7B2	person_profile	0					0	3	The Original Lighted Nock Made In The USA. At Lumenok, we didn&#039;t just create the best lighted nock. We created the entire lighted nock category.		Lumenok		162069	https://facebook.com/Lumenok	0		LIKE_PAGE						1662534000		View Edit Delete
988401	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924918		442		389193697293959	1	4.042555657269E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100575081546002		0	Blue Sea			120208262680890581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Guardians of the Dungeon Colony' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712471371	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435929463_934696964807665_9208563814260180152_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPcEawgW4yAAb4rVA65&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQlWhLhhDiFV3o-p3jJzKDfzsuNUMSi78Ikle9u1gUvA&oe=6618CB59	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436449169_796020071981954_555194291753858439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oaeiBpgxEBEAb57ilQH&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDwZ70x-B7Re1jn7UurPp-dWnjjjrAoCmkQPH_sUh5bDQ&oe=6618ED36			0	3	In his past life, he was a heartthrob, but now he is one of many mates for the Queen of his ant colony. Listen to the audio series "Guardians of the Dungeon Colony" on the Pocket FM App.		Blue Sea		8445	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988655	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522045	1734924918		442		1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869140695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JYM6Sb0QltwAb5mCAUi&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDv3hpll_o-XnoaCyNOGfkRxso73esY0YX37LoTB3PK3Q&oe=6618E487	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XRk24KQDtoUAb6u-NHD&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Ggp7QKFB21hp5HA8qb3NEIjVRFGHKniRJ4w5pD2HzA&oe=6618D046			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989090	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522049	1734924918		442		1136486454441370		8.2079270988312E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257482630426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936893	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432094167_1246578293412907_7549359261444929413_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tjJjH70SXYkAb5QA9gx&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBiZtz0OzLsy_AhNE5LGcYAgmLh_Cn9ITmd0z4j8TRuUA&oe=6618EEEA	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432120270_1804356006744020_2497497609224543244_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MGea9BUSIa8Ab7gmsJT&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxhnC9Hlg9jn-p9ZfiK-1RsB8mHUB6_tDDRlDmMIHi3Q&oe=6618D76E			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3WeH4JeSoIgvk2CJM6dmyzPNeQKFS0RTnlgLIZlv3OSMZkv5WYZYW9R4LnkuKDUFv36WTtw21ydmdcf9zxNPJhc3QI7lOqbKsjnI8wZhQKRUn7Ra9HqA3INf_6re94vz_He1_qsxa4k2srSMMeraHHUyQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988429	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/3/25, 9:05 PM	1712522043	1746324342		442		973055781197800	1	9.6484157564880E+14		1712473200	ig_ads_identity		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	1	105495248925442		0	grottipapi			6600444410667		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/grottipapi		1712422288	1.0549524892544E+14	grottipapi	https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/419503858_899279781573265_3343328293947159112_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=eELdW6gXtxYAb4ySaRe&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCIvPM2WOokXrZAUwpxjNHxdoC3iCBEJW9iD-IijExpkA&oe=6618EEAA	ig_ads_identity	1	GROTTI PAPI	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435293832_1904690629987464_8889798921052522385_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EcwBN65pnFcAb6xSzbR&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDzwNdC4lFbvS5xt-BEHlYx8ukBMw0XlEoMNxycihZHOg&oe=6618DB84			0	3	Cruising around in #LosSantos on #GTAONLINE while blasting bangers 🔊🔊 Nothing like it 🤩🤩 &#064;fariswithadollarsign &#064;lexxcarver #gta5 #gta6 #pontiactransam #newmusic #grandtheftauto #lyricvideo #imponteruiner #weekend #saturday #gamer #gaming #relaxing #peaceful #stressrelief		grottipapi		0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/grottipapi	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988354	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924918		442		946287463811269		6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120206941295060543		www.instagram.com	Send message		NONE	video			https://www.instagram.com/		1712492695	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433953969_954539882879340_1883225792055013791_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fhrmH7on7LoAb7k8Utz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCIRilfVrUh-bYGgtZLnuTUh9lnrO2c-q7cNe21i0pNfA&oe=6618DA11	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433895309_2288131724911947_7197784048871439859_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LjDZEhuAf7cAb6M7ZQm&_nc_oc=AdhzXd7TPRQdoeyiSCwV-Tzcyy69hZf1mK0HY1rIGnWlESZ9I-zpUxsThj5VcVHWHdg9QmVziOCihW4eOX3wFE8m&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD_l2kqLYoVcTr0ST-wnudaZeYodGWd8_qSDbEhPenXpQ&oe=6618E85E			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		INSTAGRAM_MESSAGE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988789	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/3/25, 8:41 PM	1712522046	1746322894		442		1579338659516431	1	1.9507456253811E+15		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195460255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753186	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434066984_376584625206784_7767179263873114860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LetBeajm43wAb57esxy&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaYeHb2vMHVMHdg21WHMbGgom8zkk9bQpOdsGhdFLTWQ&oe=6618EC82	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434464478_1349894449058328_4448220051245591734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F2IQGOgMJokAb5t8nbc&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwvAY2fCIYClYql5VeEBJ-M5Pzqt8RflTjpAAjiqAieA&oe=6618EA76			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
988409	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/2/25, 1:26 AM	1712522043	1746167215		442		958544452460916	1	4.4954452106459E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	755976041081330		0	UNDER FEST Producciones			120206230132980705		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.74&pub=793868612634734		1712461430	7.5597604108133E+14	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435961606_808269421048320_3911852219932394073_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dKW1ddEfV6YAb5ME7lD&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB-ExtshZ3zVBuXrUeiJsiFvdNkyi-EVD6JBVIgDgQecg&oe=6618C653	person_profile	0	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436363728_950537363177869_6814876271588203014_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eKEM74upSbYAb4BZde4&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDUFk-MyC9DZ0X7i2Z8-LZdoq6JVmWSdByDo18UBCGmVQ&oe=6618BA68			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		UNDER FEST Producciones		651	https://facebook.com/100080171857117	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
989091	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522049	1734924918		442		444164588047270		8.2079270988312E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	229860183539319		0	Mizzy Online			120206257166700426		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936315	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057787_611169161203252_6391487010163380461_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qYIFKHOhm_UAb6BU0uv&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD2MNAQEHDz3bftlVZGN08D26tVgBTXen_quRDdcPUVOQ&oe=6618B93A	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432062158_1373498880717035_6692889881665077027_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h6_6MPiuR08Ab4DbZ91&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA16vpFoidYREvydb2bJfU2pg6-fBgMsp8IMBpgT9TwSw&oe=6618E951			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3OYrRY64SORE7YVsFfDH8Go5e5AhRJvRfTt6IsZAeIlnA9GxqYqwVuwEVqj9skBUiEhv8Vx33GLLMDfCsffTAD1QN15A4jFS4L7v9N-R1jlzrbJhPmCzYDFsSSvotQRIoeZVXh66MZ2E1xRdQy011rjWs" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Mizzy Online		13	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988471	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924918		442		1444520106156419	1	1.0645529013084E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	238898056196842		0	Gator Raiderz			6571539799040			Send message		NONE	image				{"type":"VISUAL_EDITOR","version":2,"landing_screen_type":"welcome_message","media_type":"text","text_format":{"customer_action_type":"ice_breakers","message":{"ice_breakers":null,"text":"Hi {{user_first_name}}! Please let us know how we can help you."}},"user_edit":true,"autofill_message_edited":false,"ice_breakers_edited":false,"welcome_message_edited":true,"surface":"boosted_post"}	1712374020	2.3889805619684E+14	Gator Raiderz	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422465790_798196649031033_4823720014229843676_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nnRMAuioXHYAb66-OYU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA0FgQe2mFR6xvD0TOWwFT7BVCQixMIXxld-m3Yqs0h1Q&oe=6618ED10	person_profile	0	Capt. Dave	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435181043_1619083838850825_5838791583141411796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JGoNJlhYkkgAb4p7IYx&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD4bHxSjId1rrYiHjx6u5qBBCTtDvzfshTI2pvcpOGL0w&oe=6618DA05			0	3	Experience the thrill of Gator Raiderz Private Land Gator Hunting!<br /> <br /> Embark on unforgettable year-round expeditions with Florida&#039;s leading outfitter. Our hunts take place on private land across the scenic south Florida region, offering diverse landscapes and thrilling encounters.<br /> <br /> Choose from various types of properties, accessible by foot, buggy, or our iconic airboats. With multiple harvesting methods available, including snatch hook, crossbow, pistol, or harpoon, you&#039;ll have an exhilarating adventure tailored to your preference.<br /> <br /> Whether under the radiant sun or the enchanting night sky, our hunts adapt to weather and seasonal conditions. From land expeditions to thrilling airboat rides, every moment promises excitement and adrenaline.<br /> <br /> Ready for an unforgettable adventure? Contact us today to book your Gator Raiderz experience. And don&#039;t forget to explore our equally thrilling Public Land hunts!<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorraiderz.com%2Fgator-hunting&amp;h=AT1nGqkOFaZUs0ojEJMoXp1pY1c0SxbYjvTZAsLa8f_7galC2X6un3Iz3dNHKsuACEICjObuIdi0H8D0SSInsQ-IdMgsDwVY9B1cJnx6o1pQCdGWRqVZNL0jeVdMTVfkF2QeEsw5YJmS6_tfTvuC-A" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.gatorraiderz.com/gator-hunting</a><br /> #GatorHunting #FloridaOutfitter #AdventureAwaits		Gator Raiderz		2697	https://facebook.com/gatorraiderz	0		MESSAGE_PAGE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988495	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924918		442		1353181075371083	1	3.9055685386996E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169380155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433934090_1199403818105778_5225217072395325789_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aYV1SybeSO4Ab4piwb7&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDSxWpCWWN2BGsOxVndy66_lBXZCtOsHrOzOuj1QM6ZGw&oe=6618CA12	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434471710_1091956535214019_8823502970257376658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Zsnrdl-dHaQAb5pdAFQ&_nc_oc=Adh1gbzFPrQeFjTi5cv1psUbcLjVMqARSPPlFLEY6XYBHfgnifzR-v_mMr7Htwdyu_VJlyMZGybLUqRbBpZ4ptTT&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDAbC71jCh-N2cm2-_leG5-9Pawc4_lbQdJYujI_sZv3g&oe=6618EB30			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988711	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924918		442		958765922528730	1	1.3660010874506E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	315313810789		0	Redemption Chapel			6560306898708		redemptionchapel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	Men's Conference Promo		https://redemptionchapel.com/2021/01/mens-conference/	{"type":"VISUAL_EDITOR","version":2,"landing_screen_type":"welcome_message","media_type":"text","text_format":{"customer_action_type":"ice_breakers","message":{"ice_breakers":[{"title":"Can I learn more about your business?","response":""},{"title":"Can you tell me more about your ad?","response":""},{"title":"Is anyone available to chat?","response":""}],"text":"Hi {{user_first_name}}! Please let us know how we can help you."}},"user_edit":false,"autofill_message_edited":false,"ice_breakers_edited":false,"welcome_message_edited":false,"surface":"boosted_post"}	1712101595	315313810789	Redemption Chapel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434481716_440992144960926_5565572218355484139_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LO98y9e5C5kAb41Trqa&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAjaI3zmuWp5WdqHe8PYgiLF9jjaBSyGECsXtw7Ma2QSA&oe=6618C7C0	person_profile	0	Redemption Chapel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434752639_3623636037849331_7939856082781245240_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w8DfYcFe6gwAb7an_Al&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlWQGoC95y-GKiOQJD-1LpabLWs15C-_NWyJelEh43pw&oe=6618B8D4			0	3	Our annual Men&#039;s Conference is happening later this month! Watch this video from Pastor Austin as he shares more about this event and why men need to make sure and be there. The conference is on April 26-27 but the registration deadline is April 21. You can register here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4acSxpj&amp;h=AT2fg_nBzLt94D2llYtjjjih-BckARor0XC9kP6BglnBcpjTmx58wDJyzF4ZaSMvlOAIJyl1FZTUTYqozGkSDoT2QGewIPYUtvxviqZhLUnpeHeXQokvluuDihNLpBqQwHoWWbwrw7Ywgqymsv-avdcLTgc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/4acSxpj</a>.		Redemption Chapel		3913	https://facebook.com/RedemptionChapl	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988703	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924918		442		1058893741876115	1	4.194708706779E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	266734824683		0	60X Custom Bow Strings			6558214974622		60xcustomstrings.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Find Your Perfect Bow String | Welcome To 60X Custom Strings	Get the right bow string for your bow at 60X Custom Strings! We offer custom bow strings, crossbow strings, and so much more. Explore all we have to offer today!	http://www.60xcustomstrings.com/		1712235519	266734824683	60X Custom Bow Strings	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434648679_347557361646646_7675947685041123241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UywMmaJYslwAb5uogQ2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA5OPqbCWZxt-1cKTyEq6FKRH45dctlWQ6ROCHzu1I6MA&oe=6618EC00	person_profile	0	60X Custom Bow Strings	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433206804_1591071141658649_3796012440512424631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7b6xY1l-QmQAb55PXbT&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAOcWdCCDMRbL1ERfDZair-VQ7bAupZSFTH0e5JZnv51A&oe=6618CE01			0	3	EGGxciting SAVINGS on Ready ToShip Sets, when you enter code EGGSet at checkout! Restrictions apply; Expires 4/8/24<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.60xcustomstrings.com%2Fsearch.php&amp;h=AT27k8qmmcfvDC8GpDtdYxtNzcJOrmPGwvsatSoDrqR4SB7j90nzRskej6DphmT31dNqlIe6VH049flu3SDbfrtgTEGtwiAXUYG9nloX1rGljMmRuKfKKc_93wsehJgfbQEwl7FPeXSxS1m9OBUEeJER0fQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.60xcustomstrings.com/search.php</a>...%<br /> 20to%20ship&amp;section=product<br /> #60x #bestbowstrings #archeryaddict #bowhunter<br /> #turkeyseason #60xcustomstrings #3darchery<br /> #worldarchery		60X Custom Bow Strings		81758	https://facebook.com/60XCustomBowStrings	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989093	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522049	1734924919		442		396020093179254	5	2.6564703992983E+14		1711004400	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525373440638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936772	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417548416_3266002030368972_6883147309240755969_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W9bQ1hDG3awAb4YJcZV&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCvctrtD6K5ePi80e6XuwIOUBMfTIoQZGOZxLDCmQ-p1A&oe=6618BC92	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418805019_816075713690173_1795458814903266254_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jpFG5uAJ5NwAb7a67Md&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCGbVKTxiYqSYZWHQ24VxLSvM2WePFQk8pA7YnG5SejcA&oe=6618E278			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT32H5WlGd4UgQmB8wc59ACVCKdLZ6ixR-LRX7JKUHr8G41HF9yaCSuxs8-gM4fvyHE2qd1Pe84NIU1hZIxCsD5K1f9_nMQ4btbW_0MEfbm4r5tD8TlAQIwgElqZNScCgb-D9YZpsVWC11EyPRMfo98Si8E" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988809	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522047	1734924919		442		1148796649895706	1	1.1672077580207E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	107089802492332		0	Dauos			120210526848470311		thedauos.com	Shop now		NONE	video	Satisfied Customers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-mount		1711680628	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433105670_237260529408116_4453193951390437117_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7eSle13dEroAb7MzRjC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC31-AC80IsxwvUfAJuC-O8JcTNkiZcmNSLhxu3XQZqxg&oe=6618CD14	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433245875_963960865231390_3822452704612978330_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zARaQ-Ou3IwAb6cvabU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgZ-L6x1zuB7gWtrd6Ita3B6R2Dg6OKCe9sWmkmASfzQ&oe=6618DB9C			0	3	Upgrade Your Hunting Game! 🌳 Mount your smartphone on any rifle or crossbow and record stunning videos. Stay connected in the wilderness, grab yours today! <br /> <br /> Hurry, grab your set today! 👉 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fdauos_mount&amp;h=AT0lD3fwXM3xZU-vV9ltNzRizg4QaGlCTVragbbL-yfA3ncyUNqu6mhUs_s6mhM7KhfbnXKrdQwB-6xJdyMLvRVZ0k9lLEQj1OantL7lQyC5O4hF023TJpRGhfOaZN-Fw4tH6qW541vIZ3GVFR0xVLY8MJdNCRStKyfUxmgce8Y" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/dauos_mount</a>		Dauos		250	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	0		SHOP_NOW						1711609200		View Edit Delete
988407	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924919		442		947293626805191	1	1.8740401630354E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	755976041081330		0	UNDER FEST Producciones			120208017494870356		yongso.shop	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=FGJ4.75&pub=1552012542247103		1712461621	7.5597604108133E+14	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435545087_811851604147778_1537401300185598095_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z7h1ohphDjwAb5UEmUW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCBVo0JJZcfAR2U61xj5YQRTP4kZtO7hzT1W7YwyagFZw&oe=6618CB1A	person_profile	0	UNDER FEST Producciones	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435512576_454000116978361_7380090376705437066_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AP3I4bozjegAb4XZE6d&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHOdYKYHqqSJb2w3bYkIVMSyS7R2EAyIl-Js9q5dRlfg&oe=6618DDA5			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		UNDER FEST Producciones		651	https://facebook.com/100080171857117	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988440	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924919		442		25061821513462147	3	4.1456613123646E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208929450740763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415607	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435452875_393526556798925_7019041279053933625_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4fu64nP7tL4Ab42cd1A&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBaDEw_UY1BU3rC70uVSObrEZA8yk5PVipX5gIsucTqSA&oe=6618C10C	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434553822_1136075187523805_7869233068368737604_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lwcsDvrliwsAb4FAWZO&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAUZyCq7Ss9p6DTQjABhA9KS7n5kZZp7KLkb3k-ehsP9g&oe=6618BCB5			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988352	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924919		442		1800140057153703	4	6.9211215282011E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	117584256794		0	NOVALIS			120206941527610543		novalisofficial.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://novalisofficial.com/pages/free-download		1712494224	117584256794	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433953603_446457177774675_3974813578542018685_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yCP0VazjhTEAb6gPu1R&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0UXbsNimDgYoaEr0UpsX_m43FNnrvYY2j9FetEPcMUQ&oe=6618E185	person_profile	0	NOVALIS	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434027370_2294183974125534_5280270949881528129_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FbtzjWu8DJsAb6ULr_I&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC_U48Kl0-Emz3WUZehUM4xv1gKmxnfFQ6kxqZapU7qCw&oe=6618B933			0	3	Freestyle. Why not. I’m not focused on no streams , views etc. it’s only the ones that support my movement. All my music, Merch etc is on my store. Everything. Will be on there. Nowhere else. The Art is going direct to the Fan.		NOVALIS		6934	https://facebook.com/novalisofficial	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988785	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	3/15/25, 3:37 PM	1712522046	1742071035		442		3703203959964461	2	4.2979245943688E+14		1711782000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	600379123335772		0	Insider Secrets			120207511195490255		v10.fastquenow.click	Learn more		NONE	video	Claim it now!		https://v10.fastquenow.click/campaign/19b698b0-f64a-476d-b681-c997965cfaef?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&gender=%7Bgender%7D		1711753520	6.0037912333577E+14	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880673_2577018635800264_4582579765208261702_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VcZbh6kyV1kAb7zgcO3&_nc_oc=AdhvkOdl83rAseivgyOJaPMESoW-zbUz5gQNLzW2Qs3IC3pWL7gn5-nxsOwgXd9PYY_d-S5Jt5CKrNEBiVun5Sg1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnBQcTIBLISHN8QPMiG8NUWGfB4I7l8Q2adxfWQnsM7w&oe=6618CACD	person_profile	0	Insider Secrets	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479425_1892584224529385_7732080953961171810_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GvUmDhFM814Ab5gmiLi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlf3PG_dH2lAqZaoeUGr0wKofI0g8iErZCvup9zrUY7w&oe=6618DAB8			0	3			Insider Secrets		0	https://facebook.com/100089692466715	0		LEARN_MORE						1711695600		View Edit Delete
989188	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924919		442		25375934491997829		3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328534580376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jjT5pNOO09IAb5bGT_9&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPgEFwJwYkuERf_WFcRSiQwEFUFefMJLVYxfelvSG4fQ&oe=6618EA7C	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAqpGRVCDKwAb4bdn3_&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAKvXNlmh9qDo6VyG88la98QLtJX4jrj4XYPAJz0j3cwA&oe=6618B971			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
988709	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924921		442		1850510555410002	1	7.294259249725E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	248248668561937		0	Western Oklahoma Trophy Outfitters			6534344607042		instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile		NONE	video			http://instagram.com/westernoklahomatrophyoutfitter		1712146653	2.4824866856194E+14	Western Oklahoma Trophy Outfitters	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435391621_965060071798889_889770347254310672_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KzNqqTcxwb0Ab6C3Vdg&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwuQfninGW7lCWfeE9_2ScyyQEJ0iAkyNcfKLAKtru7A&oe=6618D3AF	person_profile	0	WesternOklahomaTrophyOutfitter	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435467508_386197964291584_2799358693515396743_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y01q1vDwuXcAb50QM8m&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB17trAxnDrCrEaJ_fZJlYzQ_tlISKxC7tyl19n4QF8kg&oe=6618DBCB			0	3	Just had a few cancellation spots open up for bow/crossbow. Message us if wanting to book them! #wotohunts #wotodeerhunts #huntingoutfitter #bucks #redriver #hunts #deer #hogs #turkey #booknow #archery #rifle #oklahomahunting #huntwoto #westernoklahomatrophyoutfitters #hunting #vortexoptics #wildlife #freerange #elk #elkhunts #bigbucks #whitetail #oklahoma		Western Oklahoma Trophy Outfitters		20289	https://facebook.com/wotohunts	0		VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
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988487	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924921		442		950909703150640	1	7.6794680530618E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169410155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433975828_1173307743665508_4371549750111183281_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AyCOmgvPkPUAb6vkqTk&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAXbeKXpULU3hJPGk2IgrLY--0z9Aj3KoKKi2VuLdoFkA&oe=6618DABF	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434425194_1121433329063031_2816806435021019022_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tg9g4g4Cq2oAb4HclJM&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAoUJxHjF4Qp_myuddElB9mZuE1hM5VseeWrTU4uf6OMg&oe=6618B879			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988344	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522042	1734924922		442		435744842237737	1	2.5116596877985E+16		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412547320779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/website-womens-apparel/products/suede-shawl-vest?utm_source={{campaign.name}}		1712252276	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562429_1455596778666524_7484599176160372525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcNbUdqkPAwAb5g9ZOj&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa9y9IkSCGW6aRQT6jUHLiqIvavr5dnCNMlnqq2QTqHw&oe=6618C161	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554538_319836154108520_7370353962761140925_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uPjKPVv310EAb4aEITE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcPI5hH-bhnq36FtgszzixtOfxavLDuTYY3c28zmNBag&oe=6618B753			0	3	New for 2024! Shop Now!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988391	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924922		442		889210519622456	1	1.1563022953906E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	102834104836800		0	Rosalia accesorios			120205621109890146		yongso.shop	Apply now		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately.! 👇		https://yongso.shop/Crossbow/?etc=XGJ4.51&pub=227633507074960		1712488655	1.028341048368E+14	Rosalia accesorios	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316350_338845235842830_5501251386379282832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CRs4FX_zOEEAb7i-kNv&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHBCBLri25Im1YTVXOGJ19Qku2Xkq0t7ELwruuADkvSA&oe=6618D579	person_profile	0	Rosalia accesorios	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436943297_425650383339752_3441000900061379428_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2pzVPJ3_5S4Ab62_lUs&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDvi9koSQp-dH1JaBAWUkb0h39fXf6lxsiYzWOUlW57HA&oe=6618CB22			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $2.75 in our giveaway, 🥳		Rosalia accesorios		190	https://facebook.com/100089848687261	0		APPLY_NOW						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988462	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924922		442		970347543998858		1.0602351850569E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106997952086562		0	Legend Deal Club			120207506656570337		v1.chancenow.click	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim Yours Now		https://v1.chancenow.click/campaign/86af933a-767a-4515-aada-f219dd699420?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}		1711388945	1.0699795208656E+14	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433094947_384937457679071_4048415503518906421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rB3IbMfYKhsAb4jxaIU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfABfUqmmRXvfjH7q16KNs1-VEDpdHnKLR4iwW-RemT-Xg&oe=6618D73B	person_profile	0	Legend Deal Club	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433091216_966165278357851_749132131989293013_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kNJ0c6j6xVoAb50Ccw7&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0MrC9N2ZgcEtfncFm6qDYDucv2uxsL00eWToporz7EQ&oe=6618BC7A			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Legend Deal Club		236	https://facebook.com/100083390841738	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988767	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924922		442		475589574814013	2	2.6379384830331E+15		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120208155064930049		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792805	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479919_959912538864610_8597118669439670229_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UplVWCsaQhQAb5ikcan&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAcxAQ6VZUG6ek8rJDlrqakwGDy7ICv57UfuPXqlgsEyg&oe=6618C6D1	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433875550_892269892650110_2757953878129817015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Jw0ZERN-5i0Ab79tgsu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDlSOZz_XWi58E0UsAas1lH00-aWv9vyGHDUmSZ68itgg&oe=6618E897			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988830	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522047	1734924922		442		762839158896609	4	1.1317853814759E+15		1711695600	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	102319128528352		0	522 Records			6610660599670		www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more		NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634664	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434385781_754750006429048_9077005728782961464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hZjCo9P1BdgAb78IFLx&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfQrN9pjj-BW6SzE000wOsuSP2KadaRhr2ZvM2ndWfaA&oe=6618D475	person_profile	0					0	3			522 Records		160	https://facebook.com/522Records	0		LEARN_MORE						1711609200		View Edit Delete
989014	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522048	1734924922		442		707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14		1711177200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120205964709220695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL1SHXKRtfAAb4Om3bk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDFcVAJS_qXKWwcUCzVmfScmJIQBZpjawjLn8WH-jRC8Q&oe=6618C527	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epzawvWPhUQAb4LvkFj&_nc_oc=AdgyeD9dK1Ywv1W20OcfOwaHoz2Q4au6rGtzW3Jp40C4D6JPTI19nay42hopRTW-wsHjiTBBeZGJlydMYfGrlfe-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAu5E3MueWTv_fh_h1vQyr34NSgPC9qMlYqKZMmffZm6w&oe=6618DC15			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1711090800		View Edit Delete
989071	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522049	1734924922		442		430837929410321		4.1456613123646E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208298065450763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711014822	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432066459_1211528176492254_5551251911241212246_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JtUQmHwvW5QAb5-7gaX&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbuhLpXOmtDGKcH2f4FVZBYIstkSMEIpOaBWyC0ShLgw&oe=6618E6CF	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432200607_7366597696753853_3932644348915769368_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tOEuiOxOxdAAb5Fsfte&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCZKpI-p6gSElQk8dfdmJRK7Orn_lYyaFFjWVz9y2Sp2A&oe=6618C222			0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989076	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522049	1734924922		442		405998018729673	1	7.4427677435033E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120206549330560257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711009573	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433550324_1446645049603600_5136389505035088405_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gsz20-2y4BEAb6UcnIf&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBPuVq3hVzMJ4xlWs2kp5CsTHLEJ0lSSeTtkzh5hBbFwQ&oe=6618C03B	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433634132_399204216395138_8647582468373768612_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8WKf3O145AQAb4QuOG1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBe_6Tz-bRZPzs88jBDEhHhE5iOOE0f1iYCsIOUk03WdA&oe=6618DB77			0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1711004400		View Edit Delete
989179	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924922		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989180	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522050	1734924922		442		741621864737989	2	3.2845536023858E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	892588401116730		0	Practice Anywhere			120207328537420376		accubow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617232	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640614_1162030291636626_7080569485655531942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lj4M5LnJwxkAb4ky6r0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTTptTIAKTusN16nvJFIsu6csrLpNVmlMp20RTDNz36w&oe=6618D7C2	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432650553_353170517058687_7732459274288667079_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=meSKL7za_bsAb5ZtXZC&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBukWB_4dEuNiHpOsX7Q99vp69ZBLMavEmYMigCanE1CA&oe=6618EB67			0	3			Practice Anywhere		9793	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	0		SHOP_NOW						1710658800		View Edit Delete
989403	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522052	1734924922		442		1418559241971547	1	8.8673531563932E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	184075394976974		0	Lumenok			23852124042060070			Like Page		NONE	video					1662559176	1.8407539497697E+14	Lumenok	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/302136537_1111926936122084_2173076245057580639_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uJjroJC5EloAb42YWok&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxlqkIBOJ3OvHr-djmCg7_ycpaeZzYj5VeaNk5qYIJMg&oe=6618E7B2	person_profile	0					0	3	The Original Lighted Nock Made In The USA. At Lumenok, we didn&#039;t just create the best lighted nock. We created the entire lighted nock category.		Lumenok		162069	https://facebook.com/Lumenok	0		LIKE_PAGE						1662534000		View Edit Delete
989478	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522054	1734924922		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
989974	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522063	1734924922		442		1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	747021958709347		0	Music City Archery			6535603657907		musiccityarchery.com	Learn More		NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YozVptWq-EAb7u4wUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjh4c1yeFRe_c5Wzkwk5QzMOMvPzPAVISuJD6yUDMzeA&oe=6618CB07	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hdnvroK8iOwAb6Iunqq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB5Z4AMsUsF0L3d0ByWy8PaLpPhMKXy8TQxL-DMWEqGkw&oe=6618B834			0	3			Music City Archery		2563	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	0		LEARN_MORE						1706256000		View Edit Delete
988561	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924922		442		1878396422583238	1	9.8745158604594E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209381868170155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247658	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435365176_1815684825600496_7237409358955529173_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y9IKmCLuIWEAb6OHwzx&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7-QkyouWQK2mXuTEEYVC2hIO9yOeE5s9tDjkpW3BfwA&oe=6618C495	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435490057_755677253299480_2944357745188530611_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PC-CBjJz17gAb7Zk9ZH&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfkBIFMRpbyHASrHZeay3SnS9dNkO3zSGedMZ3xMcK9g&oe=6618C7DE			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988610	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522045	1734924922		442		735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15		1712214000	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206420869110695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ddgzQZt2woIAb7qSbxm&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAxbUP2HP2xSZsqAUTuvxMbe_oZUxvca7kiGU4PT5XxIQ&oe=6618E008	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2FM8N0KsHOAAb5rkA63&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDqfChOboMp8cdkpcWjiXZk8p-4bw1b-YWH-Z5bjQAyNA&oe=6618C836			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988339	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522042	1734924923		442		455971930117233	1	1.9747626296065E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412727290779		www.shopcrossbow.com	Shop now		NONE	image	shopcrossbow.com		https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/bags-purses/products/fringe-hip-pouch?utm_source={{campaign.name}}&utm_medium=Stories+and+Reels		1712252689	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434610718_340544711838399_8087931283179146244_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6dserXVDQ3AAb5n5yG_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA8RoGedyAl2AXccsJ9BsbxmvPi2vU-koXdPdUzc6c2hg&oe=6618DF80	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435909653_820860006742185_3382620861482282270_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=twwCTn09sgEAb4x-qwn&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDH5_0Kx65MwnoCJwjxHM-FQProlRl7t_gXREaWtEDO2A&oe=6618C743			0	3	Handmade with Love in Telluride, Colorado!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988548	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924923		442		386373227546948	1	1.1315561582971E+15		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381868430155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247673	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434777161_776175164520563_6945987529361106588_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5gVIweDvXegAb4LUvKc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfArbVi7r73OqIQe-0ang0dQX8xTFBiULKmMC8yioI-K_g&oe=6618DABB	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434815475_893882719174600_2666611483356940122_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e0hnsnB3ifYAb7iSeZC&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZg5LAFnqdTxQmT33igOpaINI0M9QvoBGgBdWSZRZV4A&oe=6618EB6D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988766	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924923		442		450244220824725		4.4182487840779E+14		1711954800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	106401465673945		0	K9 Play and Stay			120209434186300204		cu130.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793071	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431600115_1411739986114142_7246534880867655404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rHdgl7In-rYAb7BRghR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlELFAVIqL58YK5CY4JoNd8loLB7alD3vj0gEskRKNdQ&oe=6618E0FB	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433866160_971371104346954_967016227732926058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u18tPnhCJMMAb61sdeX&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBkkFRDGGxVI_J7J0GKAEW4IshZy6Qf1IosjwM_ihcrZQ&oe=6618E2B9			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		K9 Play and Stay		56	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	0		LEARN_MORE						1711782000		View Edit Delete
988746	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924923		442		825021496129892	1	1.873014323149E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	103244559362820		0	4 Seasons Outfitters			6598818435267			Call now		NONE	image	4 Seasons Outfitters	You can expect a fun atmosphere and a dedicated guide Located in Weyerhaeuser, WI			1712012398	1.0324455936282E+14	4 Seasons Outfitters	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433125930_444790461410122_6381644833093082151_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rc_GRniKCAwAb7x9zY9&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDzy6l9aIbl9NvpP0X-6616vLfFdogEb1BueSzwvxPfIw&oe=6618E5BE	person_profile	0	4 Seasons Outfitters	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554552_339574401923637_618353250148002780_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wJZ_nnaSBt4Ab6Q0rEr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAAEgs-s1lk5AkNTL7t6olfpO2srJ15SkdzflVpMscgVw&oe=6618E677			0	3	Three 5-day bow/crossbow hunts for 2024 left<br /> Open hunt dates: <br /> 9/23-9/27<br /> 10/26-10/30<br /> 12/19-12/23 late season over food plots<br /> <br /> Limited hunts each year<br /> $3000/Hunter max 2 people in camp at a time-lodging included<br /> Call Mike at 651-271-4493 for the details regarding any unanswered questions about this awesome hunting opportunity in beautiful Weyerhaeuser, WI<br /> 2024 Black Bear hunts-SOLD OUT<br /> 2024 Whitetail Gun season-SOLD OUT		4 Seasons Outfitters		238	https://facebook.com/4seasonsoutfitterswi	0		CALL_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
988341	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522042	1734924923		442		435744842237737	1	2.5116596877985E+16		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210412547320779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	dco	{{product.name}}	{{product.description}}	https://shopcrossbow.com/collections/website-womens-apparel/products/suede-shawl-vest?utm_source={{campaign.name}}		1712252276	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434562429_1455596778666524_7484599176160372525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tcNbUdqkPAwAb5g9ZOj&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa9y9IkSCGW6aRQT6jUHLiqIvavr5dnCNMlnqq2QTqHw&oe=6618C161	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434554538_319836154108520_7370353962761140925_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uPjKPVv310EAb4aEITE&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcPI5hH-bhnq36FtgszzixtOfxavLDuTYY3c28zmNBag&oe=6618B753			0	3	New for 2024! Shop Now!		Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988473	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924924		442		796804125161140	1	1.101953104407E+15		1712473200	regular_page		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	1	105443912127670		0	Fernnandoo Magallon			6574398485878			Contact us		NONE	image	$1,200 or trades! NIJ levelIIIA+ Bulletproof, stab, and stops crossbow arrows. 11x14 plate pockets.		https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/778068013879902/		1712373669	1.0544391212767E+14	Fernnandoo Magallon		regular_page	1	Fernnandoo Magallon	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/425767505_865940338697811_7104450544494600434_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XEu3sSVE92wAb6VuaSX&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAFpFqAOw9-yuTCoyPvHYabP0d-McOolZSEMRwPDZde6A&oe=6618CB8F			1	3	$1,200 or trades! NIJ levelIIIA+ Bulletproof, stab, and stops crossbow arrows. 11x14 plate pockets. - $1,200.00<br /> <br /> Open to trades!<br /> Will trade depending on what it is, but looking for guns, ammo, etc. Just make an offer and I&#039;ll consider it. <br /> <br /> NIJ Level IIIa. No hard plates. Has 11x14 plate pockets. <br /> <br /> Will stop FN 5.7x28mm and 7.62x 25mm tokarev, and .44 magnum. Almost sure it will stop a .223 hollow point oht of a 20 inch barrel. Testing rhat soon and will have that vid on my website. Also stops arrows with bulletpoint tip from crossbows with up to 205 lbs pull. <br /> Stab resistant (cannot stab through with a knife no matter how hard tou try). <br /> <br /> Each vest retails at about 1500 to 2k most places. Selling for $1200 each. Free shipping and no tax outside of n.c. <br /> More than 2 available. Full specs at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.warmag.llc%2F&amp;h=AT1YXMzGYgKMS5OLd84u3ViO6Y-_1iyVyYOmqDZ1l2Jo_--Pn_R47gYyWZpumsDJa6PbR6yBHtFu9OTBXpaxjvx2FMHiFPXgeEVRkkxBHS8biDOwg5qdngQ2auX5ExMR6ZNrSBTu9pOuondDgS97Tg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.warmag.llc</a><br /> Also have shields and helmets for sale.<br /> Facebook Marketplace		Fernnandoo Magallon		0	/marketplace/?seller_profile=1474796474	0		CONTACT_US						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988763	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924924		442		429449072906702		7.6737948164112E+14		1712041200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	107398322268051		0	Magic Prize			120208272738920652		tunnelstudent.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711876961	1.0739832226805E+14	Magic Prize	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434740802_1685417662280526_5623805221690856652_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sqk6i2QQNxsAb6ph-cC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA8OfYS1nyIsqdNeIWSHkFxk_W87kN2M30NWDlROK-Xtg&oe=6618CA9C	person_profile	0	Magic Prize	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741579_394204396707439_4338772266305117126_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3BqFD4Tz3u4Ab7pk7ne&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAj6_Ngs5IZEeDAkbGtqPPqSzv1i_reXApC3hgVeQ4q-w&oe=6618D694			0	3	If you&#039;re reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You&#039;re among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		Magic Prize		329	https://facebook.com/100089754113544	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1711868400		View Edit Delete
988489	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		1331250847569140	1	9.8281082669747E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169690155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435524241_422218897086320_8935473368581095373_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v4Y5pdsZ4ScAb61bo2K&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDiewizB0P9aWa2WwoGQwQO9_qTJJwof7zpZxP6sZqunA&oe=6618DF3E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408139_1543505059831104_1171736695421943155_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ke5yZGX6iNoAb5-plAh&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAqFGvGVeYgHlKUF2gUAOj6DxO3LSF9ljolNiC9dCq65g&oe=6618CC7B			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988447	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		917463013397352	2	9.4823273984871E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100895368495588		0	Facdds			120208121636730110		jordanalien.info	Get offer		NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1712387096	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982532_342138252173602_1146676195155388557_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ace91f6BLj8Ab5B0ezV&_nc_oc=Adh8Dp07vuh-vY6WHcq-CFmNxdE3lWXMNKUuXRUVZdn8iK6PaM2KcW0OBSfH_ofewT0&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgnuaqLLBBBzDA3r2raJ0gvLMVapwoD9mYC50QmFaIqQ&oe=6618CC58	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436292577_759109939299497_9061855114597636563_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3LNXfiR95G0Ab6DO0uY&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCmFNKwsZ4mlVhAdhZWTNX2xwRimmhgAW4s_2sgxJ-sCQ&oe=6618C2B6			0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.		Facdds		618	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	0		GET_OFFER_VIEW						1712386800		View Edit Delete
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988506	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		278986875256956	1	1.457913035109E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167580155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326263	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/423582667_3435600893252216_1589940012388866736_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M2pjP4Ad3-gAb6yfabp&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbuTWM4OfMfBxXWhXKt_u6LUxtXJv_M7c_fa1yTqbFog&oe=6618BDBA	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434570372_2550082748498630_5774464899006330546_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2Iz-UTTWAlMAb57Hu6P&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAnUw58RY_6JfksWPByPNmhgxj3qb-FLYEAzB2yFdQkWA&oe=6618D517			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988395	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		777378497363885	1	4.5230602389897E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100458418740759		0	Pocket FM			120208267651920581		play.google.com	Install Now		NONE	dco	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!	{{product.description}}	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712480364	1.0045841874076E+14	Pocket FM	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422433117_752319950013077_6167332770136011594_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JqyZ-vEpE64Ab59mPhz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8MMrw5fSbYJ73bxouM18fUJI761fto-4HefA2ITjYOw&oe=6618C03F	person_profile	0	Pocket FM Dramas	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435211038_1156538065765924_3635063361811769204_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sfy0VyDPYYIAb71-zKN&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAp8s2GtaADu_5ZS1a_kcEjF-fqemPpLEyYNgcQr1ecdg&oe=6618C2A0			0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Pocket FM		60006	https://facebook.com/pocketfmusa	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
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988530	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		1066601561109346	1	9.7458031767275E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165650155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901997_875380801056523_503165323165704913_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BY7A85QnESIAb5ig3Yb&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBDirX446ZLxkAIVQ-sD-7h70RnmhBMUi4PgQzHinaZZQ&oe=6618E71F	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436106588_826073825997379_4813937007244359581_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vq13my-MRIkAb5_NFJX&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDLy76jPSDZawN69xmPVKH6JEAqgYqz87t7GaBNWYNmpA&oe=6618E051			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988441	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		712340197775980	1	3.3632343609176E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120208929426120763		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Play anytime, anywhere!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415576	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565218_1075383273538274_8754688732714015601_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k2u0-bMZKSsAb4SZARi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAGaNjuWjCwp8qogkgQuFlbDA0Rizvnuq8ruELL9fbKlA&oe=6618D057	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435680675_333871029269635_3211273654847646451_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ZuJPn5jyOEAb6W6t8m&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDxYpr7Yg7cZn_S3McDS5CaTmSBLKR6FotvZh53vVKmmQ&oe=6618D36F			0	3	Turn the tables with one tap!🕹️		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712386800		View Edit Delete
988759	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924925		442		428557703053927	1	9.4327061071042E+14		1712386800	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104585012734764		0	Fly-X-Treme			120210028912940230		amazon.com	Shop now		NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987776	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938486_1068317747588691_7857533211947872551_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BNgiqpLi9FkAb7VSbPj&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCm6oBMTKFAnzZo5qTJ6IzpH-IxH24Kx9zoko_NTrHW2A&oe=6618C8BC	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433978233_435205528896831_4889863027554401621_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tFRScNJNiHUAb6YNGTD&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB47OYUwIEB3p7uhdkjUMgKp7fW3cWOOc-ujCX6TFKeRw&oe=6618D0A5			0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.		Fly-X-Treme		20	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	0		SHOP_NOW						1711954800		View Edit Delete
988557	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		967078871711778	1	1.0939182285625E+15		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381872320155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247847	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432934698_1110824366822990_7068130820373047831_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dtPauHxx0TsAb6Niqh7&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAG5a2pWQ1bukZRfpWCnaqYa5PM7mP1tVsHCighrMOm4w&oe=6618C4E8	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434725080_412091451551709_6634062048683338633_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dswv4exxryUAb6eGM2n&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA77v4dj3md4hJw8DWwsnX32H77QZUFDmUKds_FXuwCJw&oe=6618D48D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988715	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924925		442		1094744755156866	1	4.3182502925614E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	104291478710		0	Holley			120210600636960260					NONE	video	How-To Install ADS Direct Fit Shocks For 2021-2024 Ford Bronco				1712081182	104291478710	Holley	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435297975_1346232846056114_6867024247983408753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4H-9w45nH_cAb4JSKVQ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAL9vSoma6YwM7wk09z_mmxSelbDNpVE67PRwKISV__Rw&oe=6618BC0E	person_profile	0	Holley	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435225852_1621341678684131_4147912304808299904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aa3lrGt4h_EAb6Ki1xJ&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCluhL6aKrtT9zIlUel-tyfODk3YtY55fsPBHA8l5ArCg&oe=6618E7C2			0	3	<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ADSShocks">ADS Racing Shocks</a> now offers true bolt-on shock upgrades for your 2021-2024 Ford Bronco. We have coil-over kits to outfit 2 and 4 door models equipped with 4WD. Vehicle specific spring rates maintain your vehicle balance and ride characteristics, while the increased suspension travel allows clearance for larger wheels and tires. Direct Fit shock upgrades from ADS can help you take your late model Bronco’s off-road performance to the next level. <br /> <br /> To prove just how easy a true bolt-on shock upgrade can be, watch as we install a set on our 2023 Badlands Ford Bronco.<br /> <br /> Learn more here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fholley-social.com%2FADSNewFordBroncoFB&amp;h=AT29J0hZEFxRVQrRoMvjys7cvcAJXmwEy-TZcN_9OmPzj0EuuBoD4PzUywU_JZzhPupEN8LpCNe0Igqr2i8H9NgHkXs17MMRo9a_F3Yw8hswlpD9xUtnMFrSdBWHAuOY4peVcg79ELQ61vZwHK71HMSr1Ao" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://holley-social.com/ADSNewFordBroncoFB</a><br /> <br /> #ADSRacingShocks #ArizonaDesertShocks #ADSEquipped #Holley #FordBronco #Bronco		Holley		462029	https://facebook.com/HolleyPerformance	0								1712041200		View Edit Delete
988420	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		4110344675858518	1	1.0840142962361E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1374231599564553		0	Barrett's Bowhunting			120207789718950467					NONE	video	NEW Mathews Bow Accessories in STOCK! | Barrett's Bowhunting in Elmira Heights, NY.				1712439276	1.3742315995646E+15	Barrett's Bowhunting	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434039162_980626963680562_95455062847802621_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-MyRYdLgS1MAb7EeYrt&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB7P3A4-7ZmXVBGb7Hgm6wDBR3dDXkSgJWHgfYgtddkWw&oe=6618EAD2	person_profile	0	Barrett’s Bowhunting	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938216_733547652305324_7775935640007374372_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3_RQsBq60ykAb6swGup&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB3U3wLD-SQl25Ot9aXbpb02CpcVfAOyIDePQJXyn-NIg&oe=6618CF3A			0	3	NEW MATHEWS ACCESSORIES in STOCK! 🏹✅ Any bow accessory you&#039;d need in any color! Visit Barrett&#039;s Bowhunting in Elmira Heights, NY! 🦌<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /> The largest inventory for archery in the Northeast. With over 200 bows on display, indoor lanes, and any accessory you need!<br /> <br /> Barrett&#039;s Bowhunting has the BEST BOWS for your BUCK! 🦌 💵 Get a hands-on, personalized archery shopping experience &amp; visit our store in Elmira Heights, NY!<br /> <br /> P: (607) 733-7773<br /> Barrett&#039;s Bowhunting<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barrettsbowhunting.com%2F&amp;h=AT1-xEklaA3_JfCaXihCOrk8nAdDzVnFQhpRlgsb3d0zdyoxLMFYk3oxEpvlBWEW3Ux2n9wOhOWA4dQsqyf614H_KQoR4LHSFzxArgMRvwIJeaNU3xRzEQR3il9mWbjZmmwnch-waHrw1rkyTUTsnQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.barrettsbowhunting.com</a><br /> 257 E 14th St, Elmira Heights, NY<br /> <br /> #upstateNY #elmira #elmiraheights #barrettsbowhunting #bow #crossbow #bowhunting #hunter #archer #archerylife		Barrett's Bowhunting		6097	https://facebook.com/BarrettsBows	0								1712386800		View Edit Delete
988387	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		270909652654045	1	3.8574777761516E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233020155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488791	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436270720_957515095786467_875208830111518690_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0drN5K9q27gAb5FZ8oK&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBiKmocmKhlu6GHZZNzRVbHJ7Pwv-Jr0JjYMciAvSTP0Q&oe=6618C921	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436769217_736416918685784_4702726399574719986_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RnsDlNvugM4Ab5qkuH1&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBmjVZCvG9D4yxMy1JhJgaxqesVqrCqJdg6P9NSeC2TuQ&oe=6618E53D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
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988379	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		924379122501052	1	9.8506914332696E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495234320155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488795	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435756834_1100704034514755_8927988907118565585_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7FRNSLWd9asAb7xxMF2&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBB5fVmmz8kdMagiSbseG9hjZvAsPdDTEVeIdVi6Tda4g&oe=6618DF81	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436317475_396625543167632_4850598482548573393_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ide81qgUkTYAb4gtKa8&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8-6VtMBpJuOnNG5jw0yqf6MqNalOEkSBnythyjiVnHw&oe=6618E82E			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988483	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		731699382457630	1	8.5696374311434E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169670155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007253_1638961556933014_7854473355218566919_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qdvlaVLiqpwAb5Av8YN&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfANQBRgG5ns2RNOYqJNrKaqQ5rRsnW6L25w1XxLOiEoaQ&oe=6618BDE9	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426274422_382024461412464_6266992584301061851_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IDIebq12214Ab6av_z6&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcWnbTMf0p4VVvpWl6iudS8MY55IY3jyhsZgZz1R1fxg&oe=6618E759			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988526	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/2/25, 9:56 PM	1712522044	1746240979		442		854420719800208	1	1.1662928913471E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209419166260155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489481_856287456312980_9059876891935253638_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5cpXEM2B6nUAb4zagw7&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhnKT09GGlnHY0uyXPrngHacVGMfkjSW1VrMy8Z_zD3w&oe=6618CE1C	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435589886_404197109014832_4528757272626676201_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sd71IM3zbLUAb7xFRoW&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBvNCoJ61mlsxQb3OgN0s2ovV7q-MF_uqsXCyQY16Ppjg&oe=6618EAD0			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988399	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924923		442		886468940136315	1	9.089222775831E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	106001611760967		0	Random TD			120208585996900594		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	Crash your enemy now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.feelingtouch.rtd		1712479438	1.0600161176097E+14	Random TD	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/421929950_2643971322444033_796049117069429445_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ynlZQiNufAoAb7-fhq5&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD5AAeJ5JLkqk90XqP8j0hYDyxunIKeE-vuDQ0n87r_Dw&oe=6618CD42	person_profile	0	Random TD	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434057396_790986139606511_6933269067585262197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zB7PuSWiEvQAb4pqSrc&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDk_jkyUVnGtsO85GZpw9Mdb2YoY8i7EEJqaKOVWITClA&oe=6618C059			0	3	Defend your tower! 🚨 Battle anywhere, anytime. Get ready for a thrilling experience now!		Random TD		37502	https://facebook.com/randomtd	0		PLAY_GAME						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988385	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924923		442		3639566659638725	1	7.4001440492928E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233560155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488713	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434430231_2851278625011842_6083822264475891880_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U5pJ2cerqu0Ab7dLaRP&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDd7Fsq0rpt8pAVads8Lk6O-_0QOnbjKwgWbJCaXvPL6A&oe=6618D459	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434420659_1122103208916028_8474788516124323439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BvYyQetcEL8Ab4l6bkz&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDGCS2amHT9M2B2B5Um4AWxFfkSvPaLa0EmQfSiGsgswg&oe=6618EF0A			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988744	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/3/25, 3:36 AM	1712522046	1746261381		442		412951008155946	1	8.1158947748169E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100897312533782		0	Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya Chihuahua			120208452838060154		mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more		NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/Hairstyles?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712050572	1.0089731253378E+14	Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya Chihuahua	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434010861_1140761497061231_685784946830733864_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9N8j8JKZQzMAb4msx2P&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBS0ivt0mCgAzvYbSrMBjMe23ox7Mmqi1q5w48dqNsVrg&oe=6618EB6E	person_profile	0	Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433930985_827174169245005_8914094743454590736_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hcxchTStWcUAb5kTPiQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDeGo41lsClociVKyNM81irat0_Xy2SBM-qRwj40VFarw&oe=6618D30C			0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		Cafetería Universidad Vizcaya Chihuahua		164	https://facebook.com/100078336976813	0		LEARN_MORE						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988329	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522042	1734924925		442		335035206224053	1	2.710232692474E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	1768001686751495		0	Crossbow Telluride			120210371634340779		shopcrossbow.com	Shop Now		NONE	carousel			http://www.shopcrossbow.com/		1712198129	1.7680016867515E+15	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434741126_1364403720902755_7602914636324200844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8VC6auok61QAb7jVCe_&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAXIVQtyGfbrK3G0eDeNgMIG2YBaHPvaXdI_k-SwWt2dg&oe=6618DC35	person_profile	0	Crossbow Telluride	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434760798_366258053075391_9045322613930993850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMB4fegBJJgAb724ejZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCcCafqg3IJRGWUNMjmCo5v_JEh7BroI0Nd9Hl4Iv0FFg&oe=6618C493			0	3			Crossbow Telluride		633	https://facebook.com/crossbowtelluride	0		SHOP_NOW						1712127600		View Edit Delete
988565	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	1	0	108974115788755		0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING			120206467056180695		campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More		NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jDcwg_Utl74Ab6Guhmt&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAgrc2cuHRkUGW0XLL6e6Yqn9FWmk2JVDYd2TSRHc49MA&oe=6618C842	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CfsTQ6X05xYAb4BMj1b&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJfGCR9vzdMiBPbZVhXnskVIRS6qlu08tk1BgYnrdhjA&oe=6618E693			0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.		EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING		8573	https://facebook.com/edmiston	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
988540	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522044	1734924925		442		3565638960351332	1	4.0780242531202E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165760155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326270	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434555213_749429893837857_8620851439615711120_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h3KN4kg8IaQAb60Wyql&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCTsMynUTSjPmgVcAPx2HlkTnr44cipaQwvAuX0dSst6A&oe=6618BFE7	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435464675_1505995663465501_5090512209499058309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nm0WZpSS2F4Ab7Iu3n3&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDHWDTSDUTksUc3Xz8yEpqPTYdtxig7IAuKXOD2ueyQLg&oe=6618D0F4			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988733	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522046	1734924925		442		1597748514315218	1	9.6631521161215E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100365976129594		0	Puzzles & Chaos			120207063844340257		play.google.com	Play game		NONE	video	GATHER HEROES		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056478	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434022498_1325774881424635_2186045114328719124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lFRnMDVrMtUAb6vCBvH&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCXN4Lj1-pR6ZcFTkOA5iVXulOc2m4LDbmN0ra9bVcfMA&oe=6618C4B5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434019373_1626038424818952_6874573626596794759_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CqfgQd5q6boAb6FfI5r&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqvkxVJ97mZ9zTnE9qezPFdab4fBShxVcZMOOisA1zDg&oe=6618D604			0	3	🦇An arcane world to explore Repulse evil and safeguard your homeland!		Puzzles & Chaos		11569	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	0		PLAY_GAME						1712041200		View Edit Delete
988491	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/3/25, 8:12 PM	1712522044	1748999537		442		1359852254732606	1	1.6091383065529E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169600155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901947_747557514111695_7269693715248732154_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DGvG4XHrl0wAb6ZuAZS&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBC8tyBjA3WzXPaJycFk8tWGx9ZVXxLIz-6C9UDoKpLMQ&oe=6618ED9E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435707686_1711399019675043_5170546078974212691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2KR49HHR0bEAb7Is5TQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAlCDoeJoEQKNiIFFOCjj4VzKnxTSY3qRE8ncrQ9-OtEg&oe=6618D8C0			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988383	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	1/30/25, 3:52 AM	1712522043	1738230739		442		2143215356017195	1	9.3227103859781E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209495233590155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488821	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489466_435182998917069_7873664016896123895_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yo1YtbYxnfgAb4j038Z&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHHJpzG4Tc6DBsyL6eC8ajEgMFyFuGDhHFgU1qLA27Fg&oe=6618D9E8	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489716_392724340197188_6363041643725959294_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jJplRWta3jcAb5Pe7eh&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB_lC1yb2h75IqdC6btbDgth-igCmkzkSRnkQgYFfoFLQ&oe=6618BE2C			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712473200		View Edit Delete
988393	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	12/22/24, 9:35 PM	1712522043	1734924925		442		7325522080902497	1	4.3832832539122E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			0	1	0	100458418740759		0	Pocket FM			120208267794200581		play.google.com	Install now		NONE	video	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1712480622	1.0045841874076E+14	Pocket FM	https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436121244_1585694995545533_8413529466928789841_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=faLPkIUkKskAb6KpQ_B&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAvXH8w96e21lcVw04_ttilQkf_oSzfKfvAN1uxOEEshw&oe=6618DCE6	person_profile	0	Pocket FM Dramas	https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435988156_1493266574880715_8092851525972940103_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Uwb7rs61GJsAb5zU7ZH&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBDRSCPsVj_rv65RwFHXcQzLoJtzSd3hRj6HHt7XbFrbg&oe=6618CAF7			0	3	Dave&#039;s life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom		Pocket FM		60006	https://facebook.com/pocketfmusa	0		INSTALL_MOBILE_APP						1712473200		View Edit Delete
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988536	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/12/25, 1:31 AM	1712522044	1749709893		442		1378364459519020	1	3.2655104044263E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165720155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326264	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982833_948405769827285_6761553779600405763_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LvvYiKY7njsAb7yj3gb&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAT-oComlN2dB0bH0XJYPH8NKm65jKwtQ7Y2fdth09dUg&oe=6618DC79	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434831645_1145914590154944_3557428516369124045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NhkHYUCtFL0Ab5W_cM_&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA9vdz2ZJnc7zje96KkKnDDSVOEHdulw1t2dpxbIP5eUw&oe=6618BB7D			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988520	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	2/10/25, 9:15 PM	1712522044	1739243714		442		2086904768348601	1	4.4352668813328E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419167550155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435900502_956709476099084_5195021621820317599_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=l4-IFINCDPMAb7F5jpI&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBens54-O-ciS_lAfMrsryb5r4UUAWsJFycYFUev5IYdw&oe=6618D08D	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434834477_1082659989476078_874111066070811343_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sm1eeR1l_qcAb5FEdvT&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBJsNOim57db_ea4zjTY-bQPdeiILvzJILhPuur6iH5YA&oe=6618E1F8			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988502	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/9/25, 5:16 AM	1712522044	1749464165		442		1069140850840054	1	1.6241020616592E+15		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168010155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435502558_946389883560239_8063324588779684334_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmOrTphIPV8Ab52mbFg&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaSsy20FdU6V_5-I3QHr57dI33f0gbBxnetb0G8L3mmA&oe=6618DA08	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435397278_1606457716805584_6972571707161182820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oHT69w39YJgAb4Dfo6H&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBAeXzrRPFN93M6xbNsGwK2vIOZc4RmPmEs_SKDKgAa2g&oe=6618CE8E			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988534	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	3/17/25, 6:26 AM	1712522044	1742210780		442		1157926558536603	1	4.2880385316575E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419166180155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326276	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435989036_1086967465924185_6404595012688713563_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iosGnjyeVWIAb5txMx9&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZo1RRHgQrowlarcZ93UlENd0GpdC8SNesnUm3Y3iiJg&oe=6618B9AC	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435912903_2334482543422255_5783816954567106542_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ExZKvW6mJoAb4f0bZp&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDRxvu51iLsS-sXvT-ghbsVqGWhod57eMXa_G4uu9r4jg&oe=6618D9A8			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988553	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/1/25, 4:44 PM	1712522044	1746135888		442		690004706465416	1	4.5303494043365E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	127476320437895		0	Joylit Novel			120209381871910155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247653	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434556834_303239556118622_5498646322134783509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6084vWGKmIcAb5j4B97&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDnDrbFmudTcfX5vpaVKKNNTK-_0ynu9Rr13h5aSjgHCQ&oe=6618D4F2	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435508956_1469620883907092_7033058298699478901_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M5ysyg5DPScAb76S8Dl&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCuwKz91GK7BFRWfvX29hvpRH9myXXeQhVaqStOwV3Qzg&oe=6618E7E2			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Joylit Novel		137	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989080	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/1/25, 10:04 PM	1712522049	1746155082		442		7316197208416949		2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525816890638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937040	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434059035_431604159264075_9209842322437943663_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Rg4MIxQQkYAb6m6DU8&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAU_5-7eK5A0l3kugoXSPfGGa9ObHIxZOPkgQftm64IQg&oe=6618E94C	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432465152_424429646932892_7822572108135239136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TWk49d73w_sAb4sIONv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDfpzHcC0YO_3k4jX4ZB_zifzJUvruoRZvD-q5z8XAvWw&oe=6618C122			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT3aQNkGYRJDmipAT90w8LvAG7QHtsU0weF9YXMSFXcfllb0I0atvZcKQUlfYPIiicFFhZL0-6qkJzFA6L6cbTz7H7sAyPElHVBESCQ_4L8kHhbv7-IC-cctcH3bMXo_nefHVQRuIXjqwPzUp4LioRq5CZCQ-kLzaGWw6MRDfaQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988550	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/27/25, 7:16 AM	1712522044	1751026573		442		628835726092167	1	3.8823692068868E+14		1712300400	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209381875100155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247646	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435460454_228002963697666_8005756814523861345_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gND5kakf14Ab7jzRh8&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDIuTTnT3PGweWzDeFSyZW3a8ighenvCKZdN8mUJA2UvQ&oe=6618DFE5	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435516665_1452578488972761_4714242035106415195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uqBpvgDzhtEAb5EgYWB&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC6S3O1RPk8AL0_242fUiFsxRJtZJLP-EIS3tieqFpAZA&oe=6618D0C5			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. &#039;I need to find the maid, Claudia.&#039;<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can&#039;t help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. &#039;I still do, but with the festival...&quot;<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. &quot;Why are we using this path?&quot;<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they&#039;re not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> &quot;That&#039;s animal blood,&quot; Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. &quot;We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn&#039;t really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands.&quot;<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> &quot;Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?&quot; I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. &quot;Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won&#039;t provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless.&quot;<br /> I keep quiet. I don&#039;t know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it&#039;s Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> &quot;Claudia!&quot; she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. &quot;You&#039;re home! It&#039;s been so long!&quot;<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. &quot;I figured it was time to retire and just stay here.&quot;<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I&#039;m lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. &quot;Give us a good reason why we shouldn&#039;t kick you out of here. Now.&quot;		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712214000		View Edit Delete
989078	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/2/25, 6:23 AM	1712522049	1746185031		442		983386476547788	5	2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525817020638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937039	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434061840_298553116589258_3849041646729052766_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DVeOJfYl8tQAb7KZXB5&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBmRFPSG1HZrPy_7Nxl-XyBFCJ1znOZ3aeBtYC48cO-dQ&oe=6618DEA6	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433648115_1087994055783712_5916866709637000879_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=epDLhLSGAl8Ab5Fb6O4&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC64dYw4oJ8Fdm4NpTvVnb79IeN5CTnDXW42juaw2ciFA&oe=6618BB7D			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT07o1bKsGaGCGT9h36rn_QMaRqynuZXsOf3wkaYM95NGpvkREhQQsAq7uCC2b7FfJJGZzJ3dZFnUSA7CVAfGIXY0ly1shRJOFfyBS7x0Fzh9UowCyY_glKDo4lN4enp26kHGExLG7KVgULMhB7aiZilJbn7sBsjaQWrb7wyOwk" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
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989081	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/2/25, 7:19 AM	1712522049	1746188366		442		367552646248518		2.6564703992983E+14		1710918000	person_profile		taken-down	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	214429651760593		0	Cassey Edmonds World			120206525816840638		www.dealwbig.top	Learn more		NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937041	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057570_335349225716308_8511402710475645504_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N1aZiCruRv8Ab6-wuQF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDH0ILQ_wOdIBtDpt-ONgWoIeeUSKcg56nkR7XaAuUGNQ&oe=6618C2A3	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432052985_1513053442587772_2069210872770648744_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M6OOPhm7QYYAb7bvvy1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlICuuP0gpJ-mLtdt8xvUpdfk4GxPRKRn_R3hI-2R1Qg&oe=6618EABE			0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&amp;h=AT0AlJJo_1F-TyKXMh48j2dgXpz7EcBdMWkt-2DOQ6OYS_aExP8vbQ2CbGQlhNIcNiUJjnvEFtaTuxUybEKss-Ie035pXc_IQIpmxt-E6p-06yxh0ppDwxFAs5EITEt_ESlJjfWqjJPd2pdoMGoSTT6jSKUUXZmI5Ufsdr5poyU" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>		Cassey Edmonds World		4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	0		LEARN_MORE						1710918000		View Edit Delete
988518	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	5/2/25, 2:40 PM	1712522044	1746214859		442		1189481518880927	1	3.3212291612728E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419168140155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435399974_389446827289421_4894376704931443124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bsa4FI2TI50Ab5wCvLt&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDVkogp23BKnex7bci4zSzDWEbbQpSesZ4GCUKfWMyPTg&oe=6618E950	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434649174_956834922622676_8234365415258112171_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BC0yDBWwdnYAb6w6Adx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBFmWE1Fwbg_y_rHrGFOC0zTtTYPhnF0OvFtY_uSghC7w&oe=6618C2F3			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988494	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	6/21/25, 1:34 AM	1712522044	1750487680		442		7393633064024610	1	3.9857803976518E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419169350155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435460858_1624341025014581_739467339243255239_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pJ4QiLu1PrsAb5xtV2Y&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCoGs2SaaXePrnfaAQzHqyy5mw5Ze_eQi-QsnSWKbBa0g&oe=6618CE43	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435912907_252535554606583_8318534491128381018_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ry2KsM_izsUAb4_ggyK&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDF_EgqqJ7QioJw97E2wP2gnsvrZtZ_R5jv8zSoNKkGyQ&oe=6618EE92			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
988539	1	active	4/7/24, 3:34 PM	4/2/25, 1:48 AM	1712522044	1743576538		442		2698801206954107	1	7.93483138874E+14		1712473200	person_profile		eligible	0	0	NONE			1	0	0	118879321169142		0	Popular Novels			120209419165580155		cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more		NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435683131_733946771920651_6246124630391577699_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sSpc6ZKcYyUAb7OWY_h&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBSYlPXXfNmZe8N3z63EcJRLlagP4DRI-ThJXThyxqmQg&oe=6618D848	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435736703_7379701688780853_3374785693898820793_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uF8anq5nVD4Ab6NcXep&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDZgiAogRlxBhaedvO_BdH6GEx-6i-6jjl5AkjhBpmUdA&oe=6618C087			0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: &#039;Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.&#039;<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> &#039;If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,&#039; he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. &#039;Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.&#039; <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> &#039;We are going to fight,&#039; I tell him through signing. &#039;The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.&#039;<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. &#039;You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.&#039;<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> &#039;Don’t do it,&#039; I warn her. &#039;Don’t cross him.&#039;<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I&#039;m banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> &#039;Take him to the infirmary,&#039; I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, &#039;I will be here for a while.&#039;<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> &#039;I don’t know how you can hear me,&#039; I say coldly, &#039;and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.&#039;<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. &#039;Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.&#039;<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> &quot;I can&#039;t leave,&quot; I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. &quot;I... this is the only home I know.&quot;<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.&#039;<br /> I shake my head. &quot;I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?&quot;<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can&#039;t bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it&#039;s just because he can&#039;t stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it&#039;s because he doesn&#039;t want me to see something.<br /> &quot;Tell me,&quot; I urge him. &quot;What&#039;s the problem? You know it&#039;s not my fault.&quot;<br /> &#039;It doesn&#039;t matter,&#039; he finally says. &#039;It has to end here. I&#039;m sorry, Claudia.&#039;<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what&#039;s remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don&#039;t want to go, that I shouldn&#039;t. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don&#039;t know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don&#039;t know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it&#039;s Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. &#039;I have done my best. I protected the people—&#039;<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> &#039;I’m afraid I don’t understand,&#039; I sign to her. &#039;The battle ended there.&#039;<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”		Popular Novels		15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	0		LEARN_MORE						1712300400		View Edit Delete
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