For three long winters, my life had devoted its whole heart to Draven's family, honing my baking skills until my sweet pastries rivaled any top chef in the territory. Maelis loved my treats, and every holiday moon eve, her mouth had insisted my hands make enough batches for the whole pack council.Back then, my wolf had foolishly believed that if my body worked hard enough, if I gave enough of my own flesh and energy to their name, my spirit would finally earn their true approval.Right now...Maelis's bad moods, her likes and dislikes—they no longer mattered to my chest.Not even Draven Calder did.None of their pack business was my concern anymore.Maelis was caught completely off guard by my flat refusal. She falls totally silent on the other end, turning my short words over inside her brain, searching for some deeper hidden meaning behind my voice.She knew my mild temperament real well—always patient with her demands, always considerate of the alpha line. Whenever her mouth asked
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