They Called My Pups Bastards—Until the Alpha King Arrived

Twenty years in Moon Wolf Palace after tonight, I'm finally free. packed already. Dawn can't come fast enough for her. ; 20 years in the palace and still just a lowborn maid. Tonight of all nights, the Alpha King takes his blessing, then keep that old maid scent away from him. Old Moon Temple, we need hands now in that cursed place, no Omega goes in there, hot water clotting salve move every. You're going me, you leave at dawn, no one will miss you by morning. Listen carefully. what happened there. don't look at his face, don't leave your scent, and if anyone remembers you were there, you won't see dawn. His alpha aura, I can barely breathe hot water and salt, I was told to leave them here, I will, I won't come in. Poison. Leave! Do you want to die then leave? I will after I pull that blade out. One more step and I'm free. Stay with me. I should be running, so why am I holding on? Push me away. please. He's not some common elf. I learned dead. Your Majesty. Find her, your Majesty, the Omega from last night now.

Your Majesty, Sir Gideon. Those eyes. Sir Gideon. He was frightened. We'll leave. Leave? He brought a royal envoy to his knees. I didn't hurt him. —not yet. You all saw ita fiveyearold with no sireline just froze royal guards. Does that look normal? My knees almost gave down. I couldn't move. Something is wrong with that child. He could make us all kneel next time. and who suffers when he does? She came back from the royal city pregnant. no mate bond, no sour line, and now she's raised a monster, no, it's not a monster. then name his father. Say it, Emily. 20 years in the palace and you can't name their father? No answer. Then it was a rogue. Shut up, Noah! Wait, she left the Royal City six years ago. Yes, she served in Moon Wolf Palace. pregnant with no mate. no father named. This pack has sheltered her shame long enough. That was years ago. We won't cause trouble. No trouble. You just brought a royal envoy to his knees. She already brought shame here. Now her son brings danger. Don't let them drag us down with them. Everly Gray, the pack is spoken. You and those two pups are cast out. Mom, where will we go? Drag them out. You wouldn't die. Get out, no well water, no grain, not one stick of firewood. Kane, their children, you can't cast them out. Mabel, your daughter has shamed this pack long enough. Keep begging and you go with her. You already pushed her to the edge of the village how much further do you want to push. her She brought this on herself. Six years protecting her, And she still brought shame home, keep her off the registry if you must. Mabel. cut her off from the stores, even the well. Just don't pass them out too late.

Mercy, she came back with shame, she knew this pack wouldn't forget. mom get up. don't beg him, Emily, the children, I know. Still proud you kept their names off the register, don't play innocent. no sir line and they still think they belong here. Leave my mother out of this. This is about blood; yours has stained this pack. Don't tie the grace to her. My son has a sireline; her bastards have no claim to us. They're fine. old enough to shame us, they barely know the world outside this village, don't punish children for your pride. enough beg again and you leave with them. The moon goddess should judge. you. what did you say. you shame mothers, you make elders kneel. you don't deserve to leave this pack. Neil, apologize to her. Neil. Apologize to her. you dare bark orders at me before a royal envoy? I asked for justice. Who gave you the right to send a mother and her children out to die? Your Majesty. Noah. stop, please. Did I do something wrong? Those eyes, those words, just like His Majesty as a boy. call it sorcery and you answer to me. Sir Gideon, what happens to the children now. they go to the Royal City, His Majesty must see this boy.

Careful, mom just fell asleep, she coughed all night. Who told you to stoke the fire. the soup was getting cold, cold soup makes your cough worse. You take the big piece, Mom. No child goes hungry in this house. Where did you get these I hold wood for the blacksmith, I told you I'll get the academy fee registration closes at the end of the month. We're still short 27 silver coins; that doesn't mean you should haul firewood. I don't want you carrying everything alone. These hands should be turning pages, not hauling wood I'll make it in. I promise And I'll become a moon priestess and make your cough go away. Noah, no blacksmith today. then I'll carry the clothes. you'll carry your book, I'll get the silver. Fatherless pup thinks he belongs at the academy. Pick them up Are you giving me orders Your mother got kicked out of the palace No one even knows which road side you. Neil. They deserve it. save your claws for real enemies, not spoiled pups. they insulted you. then get into the Academy, earn your quest, make them swallow every word. Pick them up, Noah. Those eyes, they look more like his every day. The Elder Council smells weakness. I'm still. alive. and airless That's all they need. Your Majesty. let me stay tonight. Liv. please everyone out. you won't even look at me, I did. You're not her six years. Kael. Choose your next words carefully. no air, no Luna, all for an Omega from one night. she was never just one night. She's my fate of. mate If he won't choose a Luna, I'll give every pack a sign they can. 't ignore Grand Luna, you mean. the Moonborn blessing Every pup six or younger comes to the Royal City Noble Common Border Pack I want them all Every pack will talk Good let them talk We put every young pup before the Moonstone. For a sign. and the Elder Council? Then they'll stop treating the crown like it's theirs to divide.

Still chasing us, fatherless pup. Stay back, he could snap any second. He. aler. don't touch me. What's your name? Your Majesty. Is he your son. yes. he's bleeding, get him to the healer. yes, your Majesty. Your Majesty, the Grand Luna is waiting. That scent... No, it can't be. Bring the children forward. Those eyes, I've seen them before, little one, come here. What's your name. Alara Gray Gray? Who hurt you? Grand Luna, don't let that sweet face fool you. Who are you. Cora Gray? I'm her cousin. Cora, enough! Enough! You hid those children for six years. She left this palace pregnant with no mate and no father named. And they let her into the temple. Her son already started trouble outside. they tripped me first. See, even here he talks back. no mate bond. Grand Luna, she brought unclaimed children before the Moonstone that is an insult to this temple. Is that true?

This place is huge, stay close. He looked at you like he didn't belong. not here, Noah, no fights today, ever late, I almost didn't recognize you, Iris, it's been years and these two grandchildren, my children. Yours, that's the part she never explains, she left this palace pregnant. Six years later, no pack will claim. them. Everly. you brought them into the palace at her age with some rogue and now his pups are in the palace. Don't talk about my children like that, then put them before the moon stone. Let it prove me wrong, see, even she knows better. don't let your children hear. Noah, look at me, don't give them what they want. I won't know your place Everly, the moonstone isn't for old servants or unclaimed pups. I won't use my bow, I just want an apology Noah! Your Majesty, the Grand Luna is waiting inside. That boy, why do I know that walk?

Mercy, she came back with shame, she knew this pack wouldn't forget. mom get up. don't beg him, Emily, the children, I know. Still proud you kept their names off the register, don't play innocent. no sir line and they still think they belong here. Leave my mother out of this. This is about blood; yours has stained this pack. Don't tie the grace to her. My son has a sireline; her bastards have no claim to us. They're fine. old enough to shame us, they barely know the world outside this village, don't punish children for your pride. enough beg again and you leave with them. The moon goddess should judge. you. what did you say. you shame mothers, you make elders kneel. you don't deserve to leave this pack. Neil, apologize to her. Neil. Apologize to her. you dare bark orders at me before a royal envoy? I asked for justice. Who gave you the right to send a mother and her children out to die? Your Majesty. Noah. stop, please. Did I do something wrong? Those eyes, those words, just like His Majesty as a boy. call it sorcery and you answer to me. Sir Gideon, what happens to the children now. they go to the Royal City, His Majesty must see this boy.

Still chasing us, fatherless pup. Stay back, he could snap any second. He. aler. don't touch me. What's your name? Your Majesty. Is he your son. yes. he's bleeding, get him to the healer. yes, your Majesty. Your Majesty, the Grand Luna is waiting. That scent... No, it can't be. Bring the children forward. Those eyes, I've seen them before, little one, come here. What's your name. Alara Gray Gray? Who hurt you? Grand Luna, don't let that sweet face fool you. Who are you. Cora Gray? I'm her cousin. Cora, enough! Enough! You hid those children for six years. She left this palace pregnant with no mate and no father named. And they let her into the temple. Her son already started trouble outside. they tricked me first. See, even here he talks back. no mate bond. Grand Luna, she brought unclaimed children before the Moonstone that is an insult to this temple. Is that true?

Grand Luna. they're my children. Then answer for them They did nothing wrong Then why are they on no pack record. And why bring them before the Moonstone She wanted the Moonstone to wash it all away! This palace gave her a home, she brought scandal back. You served in this palace? Yes, Grandmother. And when you left. Were you already carrying them? She won't answer because whatever happened to her happened inside these walls. Don't talk about my mother like that. Look at you, rogueborn through and through. Don't call us that, and don't lie about my mom. Grand Luna, he's challenging you in your own temple. An unclaimed pup bares his teeth in my temple. Grand Luna, please He's just a child, punish me not him Mom, you did nothing. wrong No. She raised us alone, she never hurt anyone, why punish her for a lie? Grand Luna, he's talking back to you if the boy is this dangerous, what about the girl? Touch my sister and see. You release your error in my temple and expect mercy. he wasn't trying to hurt anyone, he was protecting his sister, protecting her, he's losing control inside the palace. Everly Grey, you knew the law of this temple I never meant to insult it yet you brought unclaimed children before the Moonstone. My children are innocent. Then you should have spared them this shame. Take her to the front, Grand Luna. Twenty strokes. Let every pack know this temple will not protect disgrace. Noah. take care of your sister. I'm not leaving you. Noah, please don't hurt mom, don't touch her. You don't get to hurt her. your mother is being punished, what can a bastard do? You're the ones who don't belong before the. Moonstone. What did you. say You don't want the truth? You listen to lies and you punish the weak. Noah stop. then you have no right to judge my mother. Grand Luna, he's defying the temple! A fatherless child dares lecture me on justice? You don't get to decide if I have a father. take this bastard away, seal his wolf.