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Joined by Blood

last update Last Updated: 2024-10-05 04:00:42

Ryan

The entire village is quiet and dark, which is strange. All of the lights and fires have been put out in the individual homes, and even the main fire in the large, open pit at the center of the village has burned down to embers that glow like stars. Andrew, Jacob, and I walk side by side into the village after taking the afternoon to rest and prepare for tonight, unsure of what’s to come.

I only managed to lie on my sleeping bag for a while staring at the roof of my tent, my mind whirling. Married. I’m getting married. And it doesn’t mean anything but unity between my pack and my bride’s people. 

I have a lot of business to take care of tonight other than bind myself to a woman I barely know. I was able to talk to Jerrod briefly this morning while showing him Aviva’s goat hide, but he’s a busy man and promised he’d find me after the ceremony before he walked off with Mercy to discuss the feast and

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  • The Alpha King's Breeder   Swollen River

    RyanJerrod stands beside me in the glare of early morning. Both of us are pretending like we’re watching the dark, angry storm clouds barreling toward us, directly in the path I’m supposed to be traveling today, and not the heart wrenching scene taking place only a few feet away.Aviva is doing her best to explain to a fitful Lora that they’ll see each other again. Lora is shaking her head and shoving her teddy bear against a desperate Aviva’s chest, telling her to take it to keep her safe at night. What's worse is that Shosanna is nowhere to be found. She didn’t come here, to the edge of the village, to say goodbye to Aviva, and I can tell by the forlorn look on Aviva’s face that this is one of the most painful things she’s ever had to do.I’m gutted. Absolutely gutted. This feels so incredibly unfair.Jerrod sighs beside me, cursing under his breath. I glance at him, notici

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