Seven times, I begged Ethan Blackwell for a territory pass to see my dying mother.
Seven times, he lit a candle and made me play his sick game: stay silent while he’s on me until the flame burned out, and I could go.
One breath from the finish, he bit down on my shoulder.
I cried out, and he blew the candle out.
“You couldn’t hold on. Stop fighting Clara for the pass.”
Through tears, I saw it.
The candle of Clara, that orphan she-wolf he swore was nothing to him, sat right next to mine.
Hers was thin and short. Mine was thick and long. Twice the time.
The game was rigged from the very first flame.
The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 11 A Heart That Sleeps Better Ethan fell ill. Just like the year he had knelt for me in the rain outside the Pack Alpha’s study, he came down with a fever that wouldn’t break. I went to see him. Nothing more that the Grand Luna’s order. I changed
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 10 The Longer Candle Clara knew her place. She wouldn’t say to Ethan’s face what she thought. And Ethan couldn’t hear it on his own. He spent the next day walking around the sanctuary with a cold expression, as if I owed him gold. Then Callum came. Callum was
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 09 The Gifts He Repaired I noticed everything. I was considerate. I was good at reading a room. The Grand Luna took to me fast. Bit by bit, my place changed. Attendants who used to walk past me now bowed as I went by. Council wolves who came to
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 08 The Sanctuary Gate I heard him. Of course I heard him. I heard Ethan calling my name at the north gate, both times, clear as a bell over the wind. I didn’t want anything more to do with him. So I let him think I hadn’t. … The
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 07 What He Realized Too Late Ethan watched Jade walk away from the shop without looking back and it lodged in his chest like a splinter. She had gotten too spoiled. That was all. He’d let her have too much of him for too long, and now she was
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 06 The Fabric I knew that voice better than my own. “What a coincidence. The Alpha heir came into town with me to buy winter coats for the outer families. I didn’t think we’d run into you.” Clara. Careful. Sweet. Explaining nothing anyone had asked her to explain. I
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 05 The Fabric on the Shelf His voice was low. Something ugly moved under it. I kept mine even. “The Grand Luna knew I wanted to leave. She gave it to me last night.” A small pause. “Sorry to disappoint you, Alpha heir. It isn’t the token you were
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 04 The Token The next morning, Clara packed her things. She was leaving with the escort at sundown. Ethan came to me with instructions. “Clara’s on the pass list tonight. Her duties in the heir’s study fall to you today.” I gave a small nod. “Yes, Alpha heir.” He
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 03 The Grand Luna I finally understood: between me and Ethan, there had always been rank. I softened. Went back that night to apologize for talking back to him during the day. Outside his door, I heard Clara’s voice. “Thank you for giving me the pass-out spot again, Alpha
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The Alpha Heir’s Candle Game Chapter 02 The Crack Two years ago, a new face joined the heir’s wing. First day on duty, she dropped the blue-glazed cup I’d given Ethan for his birthday. Shattered it on the stone. Ethan rarely lost his temper, but that day he wanted her punished. Heavily. I wasn’t in
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