My mate, Alpha Victor, kept putting off our marking ceremony. Then, just before my father died, he temporarily marked a she-wolf from another pack, claiming it was to “secure an alliance.”"Dad, please, just hold on."I clutched my father’s cold hand, a golden healing light pouring from my palms.The power of my runes burned through his veins, but it couldn’t stop his life from fading."Elara…" My father’s voice was a faint whisper. "Your bonding ceremony…""It's going to happen," I said through gritted teeth, pushing more power into the healing. "Alpha Victor promised me."The light in my father's eyes dimmed. "I wanted to see it…"The golden glow from my hands grew weaker.My own healing gift sputtered, a silent scream of failure in my soul.I burst out of the healing room, my hands shaking as I activated my communication crystal."You need to get here now," my voice trembled, but the words shot through the crystal like steel. "My father is dying.""Elara, I understand you're upset,"
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