Sister Stole My Mate I Got the Dragon King HOT OUT Dailymotion | Bound to the Dragon King 🐉─影片 Dailymotion

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Transcript

00:00:09To be continued...

00:00:30I chose my younger sister. In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying Dragon King.

00:00:40I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe, reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:00:46Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:00:48I choose Brenna Hale.

00:00:49Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate. She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:00:54Tribal Law was clear. Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond lost the right to choose

00:01:01her own mate.

00:01:02The Council of Elders would assign her a mate.

00:01:05Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:01:07Please don't blame him. My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:01:11I have no powerful family to protect me. The Elders could give me to a cruel old chief. I wouldn't

00:01:16survive with him.

00:01:17I'm only protecting her. Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again. You'll still

00:01:23be my mate.

00:01:24I'm older than Brenna. I turn 22 before she does.

00:01:27Only then did he remember the law. My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:01:32By rejecting me in front of both tribes, he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would

00:01:37have given me.

00:01:37The Elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying Dragon King.

00:01:42Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:01:45The Council will assign Mara first.

00:01:47Your chief hails eldest daughter.

00:01:49How could your father let the Elders send you to a dying Dragon King? He'll find a way to help

00:01:53you.

00:01:53There was nothing left to ask. He still chose Brenna.

00:01:57I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:01:59Our betrothal ends here.

00:02:04The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:02:10Mara.

00:02:11Don't worry. Mara must have said that in anger.

00:02:15She loves you so much. She can't live without you.

00:02:18Brenna looked at me. Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:02:23Mara, can I borrow your moonstone necklace for one night?

00:02:26I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:02:29Grant chose me. I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:02:33I can't give you this necklace.

00:02:35Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:02:38I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:02:41But I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:02:43Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:02:45Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:02:49Give it to Brennan.

00:02:50I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:02:57This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:03:00I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:03:02That was Mother's dying wish.

00:03:03I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:03:06She knows it isn't hers.

00:03:08She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:03:10Enough, Mara.

00:03:12Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:03:13If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:03:15Don't take it out on her.

00:03:16You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:03:21But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:03:24But it matches my ceremonial dress vest.

00:03:27It's only one night.

00:03:28Is that too much?

00:03:29How much is the necklace?

00:03:30I'll buy it.

00:03:31He still did not understand.

00:03:33He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:03:41Grant rip off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:03:44Give it back!

00:03:45I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:03:48Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:03:53You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:03:57I didn't do it on purpose.

00:03:58She had stolen my mate.

00:04:00Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:04:03I dropped to my knees and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:04:08Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:04:11Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:04:14It's just a necklace.

00:04:15Why are you making a scene?

00:04:17I'll replace it.

00:04:19Grant, you can never replace it.

00:04:20I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:04:24You knew Mother left this heirloom to me, but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:04:29Stop pretending.

00:04:30You never wanted that necklace.

00:04:31You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:04:33What?

00:04:34Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:04:36Why didn't you tell me?

00:04:37Would you have listened to me?

00:04:39All you ever think about is Brenna.

00:04:40I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:04:44That night, I stood before the ancestral fire with father.

00:04:47I'll accept the Elder's Decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:04:51Ronan is dying.

00:04:52If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:04:54I can arrange for you to bond with a shifter warrior instead.

00:04:57The Elder's Decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:05:01Grant's public rejection had made the Decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:05:05Choosing anyone else now would be open to fiance.

00:05:08The Hale Tribe would be punished because of me.

00:05:10I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:05:12Mara, if you don't want this...

00:05:14My voice held steady.

00:05:16My hands did not.

00:05:18I am willing.

00:05:23For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me and sealed every gift Grant had given

00:05:29me inside a wooden chest.

00:05:31On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer Tribe.

00:05:34Before the chest was sent away, Brenna entered my room carrying a grey ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:05:40Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:05:43The crystal necklace was costly.

00:05:45That only made the insult more obvious.

00:05:48Grant asked me to bring these.

00:05:50This grey ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:05:55After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:05:58Once I become the future chief's mate, you'll no longer be allowed to wear the gold clan marks reserved for

00:06:03that rank.

00:06:04The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone, but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after

00:06:09me.

00:06:10Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer Tribe with Grant.

00:06:13Who allowed you to speak?

00:06:14Get out!

00:06:15Or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:06:17Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:06:19You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:06:22Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:06:24Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer Tribe at all.

00:06:27If you want to become the future chief's mate, leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:06:31Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:06:35Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:06:38Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory, trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:06:45I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale Tribe.

00:06:49Three days later, the dragon court arrived to escort me.

00:06:52Ronan was too ill to come himself, so he sent 100 armored dragon guards.

00:06:57They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:06:59At the Hale Gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:07:02He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:07:04From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:07:07Who's the dragon court escorting?

00:07:08Mara Hale.

00:07:09Before nightfall, she'll be the dragon queen.

00:07:26Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:07:30Give it back!

00:07:31I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:07:34Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:07:39In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:07:46At our mate selection ceremony, my future mate, Grant, rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:07:52In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:08:01I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe, reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:08:07Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:08:09I choose Brenna Hale.

00:08:10Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:08:13She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:08:15Tribal Law was clear.

00:08:17Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:08:23The Council of Elders would assign her a mate.

00:08:26Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:08:29Please don't blame him.

00:08:30My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:08:32I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:08:34The elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:08:36I wouldn't survive with him.

00:08:38I'm only protecting her.

00:08:40Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:08:44You'll still be my mate.

00:08:45I'm older than Brenna.

00:08:46I turn 22 before she does.

00:08:48Only then did he remember the law.

00:08:50My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:08:53By rejecting me in front of both tribes, he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would

00:08:58have given me.

00:08:59The elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying dragon king.

00:09:04Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:09:06The Council will assign Mara first.

00:09:08You're Chief Hale's eldest daughter.

00:09:10How could your father let the elders send you to a dying dragon king?

00:09:13He'll find a way to help you.

00:09:15There was nothing left to ask.

00:09:16He still chose Brenna.

00:09:18I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:09:21Our betrothal ends here.

00:09:25The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:09:31Mara.

00:09:33Don't worry.

00:09:34Mara must have said that in anger.

00:09:36She loves you so much.

00:09:38She can't live without you.

00:09:39Brenna looked at me.

00:09:41Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:09:45Mara, can I borrow your moonstone necklace for one night?

00:09:48I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:09:50Grant chose me.

00:09:52I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:09:54I can't give you this necklace.

00:09:56Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:10:00I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:10:02But I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:10:05Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:10:07Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:10:10Give it to Brennan.

00:10:12I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:10:18This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:10:21I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:10:23That was Mother's dying wish.

00:10:25I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:10:27She knows it isn't hers.

00:10:30She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:10:31Enough, Mara.

00:10:33Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:10:35If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:10:37Don't take it out on her.

00:10:38You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:10:42But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:10:45But it matches my ceremonial dress best.

00:10:48It's only one night.

00:10:49Is that too much?

00:10:50How much is the necklace?

00:10:51I'll buy it.

00:10:52He still did not understand.

00:10:54He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:11:02Grant rip off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:11:06Give it back!

00:11:07I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:11:09Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:11:14You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:11:18I didn't do it on purpose.

00:11:19She had stolen my mate.

00:11:21Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:11:25I dropped to my knees and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:11:29Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:11:32Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:11:35It's just a necklace.

00:11:37Why are you making a scene?

00:11:38I'll replace it.

00:11:40Grant, you can never replace it.

00:11:42I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:11:45You knew mother left this heirloom to me, but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:11:50Stop pretending.

00:11:51You never wanted that necklace.

00:11:52You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:11:55What?

00:11:55Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:11:57Why didn't you tell me?

00:11:59Would you have listened to me?

00:12:00All you ever think about is Brenna.

00:12:02I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:12:05That night, I stood before the ancestral fire with father.

00:12:09I'll accept the Elder's decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:12:12Ronan is dying.

00:12:13If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:12:16I can arrange for you to bond with a shifter warrior instead.

00:12:18The Elder's decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:12:22Grant's public rejection had made the decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:12:26Choosing anyone else now would be open to fiance.

00:12:29The Hale tribe would be punished because of me.

00:12:31I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:12:33Mara, if you don't want this...

00:12:35My voice held steady.

00:12:37My hands did not.

00:12:39I am willing.

00:12:44For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me and sealed every gift Grant had given

00:12:51me inside a wooden chest.

00:12:52On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer tribe.

00:12:55Before the chest was sent away, Brenna entered my room carrying a gray ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:13:01Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:13:05The crystal necklace was costly.

00:13:07That only made the insult more obvious.

00:13:10Grant asked me to bring these.

00:13:11This gray ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:13:16After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:13:19Once I become the future chief's mate, you'll no longer be allowed to wear the gold clan marks reserved for

00:13:24that rank.

00:13:25The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone, but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after

00:13:31me.

00:13:31Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer tribe with Grant.

00:13:34Who allowed you to speak?

00:13:36Get out!

00:13:37Or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:13:38Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:13:40You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:13:43Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:13:45Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer tribe at all.

00:13:48If you want to become the future chief's mate, leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:13:53Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:13:56Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:13:59Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory, trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:14:07I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale tribe.

00:14:10Three days later, the dragon court arrived to escort me.

00:14:13Ronan was too ill to come himself, so he sent one hundred armored dragon guards.

00:14:18They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:14:21At the Hale gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:14:23He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:14:25From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:14:28Who's the dragon court escorting?

00:14:29Mara Hale.

00:14:30Before nightfall, she'll be the dragon queen.

00:14:47Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:14:51Give it back!

00:14:52I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:14:55Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:15:00In three days, tribal law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:15:07At our mate selection ceremony, my future mate, Grant, rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:15:13In three days, tribal law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:15:22I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe, reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:15:28Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:15:30I choose Brenna Hale.

00:15:31Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:15:34She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:15:36Tribal law was clear.

00:15:38Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:15:44The council of elders would assign her a mate.

00:15:47Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:15:50Please don't blame him.

00:15:51My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:15:53I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:15:55The elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:15:58I wouldn't survive with him.

00:15:59I'm only protecting her.

00:16:01Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:16:05You'll still be my mate.

00:16:06I'm older than Brenna.

00:16:08I turn 22 before she does.

00:16:10Only then did he remember the law.

00:16:12My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:16:14By rejecting me in front of both tribes, he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would

00:16:19have given me.

00:16:20The elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying dragon king.

00:16:25Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:16:27The council will assign Mara first.

00:16:30You're Chief Hale's eldest daughter.

00:16:31How could your father let the elders send you to a dying dragon king?

00:16:35He'll find a way to help you.

00:16:36There was nothing left to ask.

00:16:38He still chose Brenna.

00:16:39I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:16:42Our betrothal ends here.

00:16:46The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:16:53Mara...

00:16:54Don't worry.

00:16:56Mara must have said that in anger.

00:16:57She loves you so much.

00:16:59She can't live without you.

00:17:01Brenna looked at me.

00:17:02Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:17:06Mara, can I borrow your moonstone necklace for one night?

00:17:09I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:17:12Grant chose me.

00:17:13I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:17:15I can't give you this necklace.

00:17:17Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:17:21I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:17:23But I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:17:26Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:17:28Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:17:32Give it to Brennan.

00:17:33I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:17:40This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:17:42I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:17:44That was Mother's dying wish.

00:17:46I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:17:49She knows it isn't hers.

00:17:51She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:17:53Enough, Mara.

00:17:54Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:17:56If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:17:58Don't take it out on her.

00:17:59You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:18:04But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:18:06But it matches my ceremonial dress best.

00:18:09It's only one night.

00:18:11Is that too much?

00:18:12How much is the necklace?

00:18:13I'll buy it.

00:18:13He still did not understand.

00:18:15He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:18:23Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:18:27Give it back!

00:18:28I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:18:31Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:18:36You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:18:40I didn't do it on purpose.

00:18:41She had stolen my mate.

00:18:42Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:18:46I dropped to my knees and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:18:50Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:18:53Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:18:56It's just a necklace.

00:18:57Why are you making a scene?

00:18:59I'll replace it.

00:19:01Grant, you can never replace it.

00:19:03I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:19:06You knew Mother left this heirloom to me, but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:19:11Stop pretending.

00:19:12You never wanted that necklace.

00:19:14You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:19:16What?

00:19:16Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:19:18Why didn't you tell me?

00:19:20Would you have listened to me?

00:19:21All you ever think about is Brenna.

00:19:23I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:19:26That night, I stood before the Ancestral Fire with Father.

00:19:30I'll accept the Elder's Decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:19:33Ronan is dying.

00:19:34If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:19:37I can arrange for you to bond with a Shifter Warrior instead.

00:19:40The Elder's Decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:19:43Grant's public rejection had made the Decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:19:48Choosing anyone else now would be open to Fiance.

00:19:50The Hale Tribe would be punished because of me.

00:19:52I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:19:54Mara, if you don't want this...

00:19:56My voice held steady.

00:19:58My hands did not.

00:20:00I am willing.

00:20:06For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me

00:20:10and sealed every gift Grant had given me inside a wooden chest.

00:20:13On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer Tribe.

00:20:16Before the chest was sent away,

00:20:18Brenna entered my room carrying a gray ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:20:22Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:20:26The crystal necklace was costly.

00:20:28That only made the insult more obvious.

00:20:31Grant asked me to bring these.

00:20:33This gray ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:20:37After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:20:40Once I become the future chief's mate,

00:20:43you'll no longer be allowed to wear the gold clan marks reserved for that rank.

00:20:46The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone,

00:20:49but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after me.

00:20:52Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer Tribe with Grant.

00:20:56Who allowed you to speak?

00:20:57Get out!

00:20:58Or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:21:00Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:21:02You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:21:04Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:21:06Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer Tribe at all.

00:21:09If you want to become the future chief's mate,

00:21:11leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:21:14Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:21:17Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:21:21Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory,

00:21:25trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:21:28I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale Tribe.

00:21:31Three days later, the dragon court arrived to escort me.

00:21:35Ronan was too ill to come himself,

00:21:37so he sent 100 armored dragon guards.

00:21:39They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:21:42At the Hale Gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:21:44He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:21:46From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:21:49Who's the dragon court escorting?

00:21:51Mara Hale.

00:21:52Before nightfall, she'll be the dragon queen.

00:22:09Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:22:12Give it back!

00:22:14I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:22:16Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:22:18then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:22:21In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:22:28At our mate selection ceremony, my future mate, Grant, rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:22:35In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:22:44I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe,

00:22:48reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:22:49Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:22:52I choose Brenna Hale.

00:22:53Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:22:55She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:22:58Tribal Law was clear.

00:23:00Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond

00:23:03lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:23:06The Council of Elders would assign her a mate.

00:23:09Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:23:11Please don't blame him.

00:23:12My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:23:14I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:23:17The elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:23:19I wouldn't survive with him.

00:23:21I'm only protecting her.

00:23:22Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:23:26You'll still be my mate.

00:23:28I'm older than Brenna.

00:23:29I turn 22 before she does.

00:23:31Only then did he remember the law.

00:23:33My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:23:36By rejecting me in front of both tribes,

00:23:38he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would have given me.

00:23:42The elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying dragon king.

00:23:46Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:23:48The Council will assign Mara first.

00:23:51Your chief hails eldest daughter.

00:23:53How could your father let the elders send you to a dying dragon king?

00:23:56He'll find a way to help you.

00:23:57There was nothing left to ask.

00:23:59He still chose Brenna.

00:24:00I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:24:03Our betrothal ends here.

00:24:08The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:24:14Mara.

00:24:15Don't worry.

00:24:16Mara must have said that in anger.

00:24:18She loves you so much.

00:24:20She can't live without you.

00:24:22Brenna looked at me.

00:24:23Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:24:27Mara, can I borrow your moonstone necklace for one night?

00:24:30I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:24:33Grant chose me.

00:24:34I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:24:37I can't give you this necklace.

00:24:39Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:24:42I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:24:45But I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:24:47Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:24:49Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:24:53Give it to Brennan.

00:24:54I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:25:01This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:25:03I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:25:06That was Mother's dying wish.

00:25:07I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:25:10She knows it isn't hers.

00:25:12She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:25:14Enough, Mara.

00:25:15Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:25:17If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:25:19Don't take it out on her.

00:25:20You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:25:25But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:25:28But it matches my ceremonial dress best.

00:25:30It's only one night.

00:25:32Is that too much?

00:25:33How much is the necklace?

00:25:34I'll buy it.

00:25:35He still did not understand.

00:25:36He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:25:44Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:25:48Give it back!

00:25:49I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:25:52Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:25:57You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:26:01I didn't do it on purpose.

00:26:02She had stolen my mate.

00:26:04Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:26:07I dropped to my knees and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:26:11Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:26:15Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:26:18It's just a necklace.

00:26:19Why are you making a scene?

00:26:21I'll replace it.

00:26:22Grant, you can never replace it.

00:26:24I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:26:28You knew Mother left this heirloom to me, but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:26:33Stop pretending.

00:26:33You never wanted that necklace.

00:26:35You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:26:37What?

00:26:38Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:26:40Why didn't you tell me?

00:26:41Would you have listened to me?

00:26:42All you ever think about is Brenna.

00:26:44I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:26:47That night, I stood before the ancestral fire with Father.

00:26:51I'll accept the Elder's Decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:26:54Ronan is dying.

00:26:56If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:26:58I can arrange for you to bond with a Shifter warrior instead.

00:27:01The Elder's Decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:27:05Grant's public rejection had made the Decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:27:09Choosing anyone else now would be open to Fiance.

00:27:11The Hale Tribe would be punished because of me.

00:27:14I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:27:16Mara, if you don't want this...

00:27:17My voice held steady.

00:27:19My hands did not.

00:27:22I am willing.

00:27:27For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me

00:27:31and sealed every gift Grant had given me inside a wooden chest.

00:27:35On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer Tribe.

00:27:38Before the chest was sent away,

00:27:39Brenna entered my room carrying a gray ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:27:43Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:27:47The crystal necklace was costly.

00:27:49That only made the insult more obvious.

00:27:52Grant asked me to bring these.

00:27:54This gray ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:27:59After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:28:02Once I become the future chief's mate,

00:28:04you'll no longer be allowed to wear the gold clan marks reserved for that rank.

00:28:08The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone,

00:28:11but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after me.

00:28:14Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer Tribe with Grant.

00:28:17Who allowed you to speak?

00:28:18Get out!

00:28:19Or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:28:21Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:28:23You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:28:25Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:28:27Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer Tribe at all.

00:28:31If you want to become the future chief's mate,

00:28:33leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:28:36Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:28:39Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:28:42Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory,

00:28:46trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:28:49I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale Tribe.

00:28:53Three days later, the dragon court arrived to escort me.

00:28:56Ronan was too ill to come himself, so he sent 100 armored dragon guards.

00:29:00They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:29:03At the Hale Gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:29:05He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:29:08From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:29:10Who's the dragon court escorting?

00:29:12Mara Hale.

00:29:13Before nightfall, she'll be the dragon queen.

00:29:30Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:29:34Give it back!

00:29:35I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:29:37Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:29:40then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:29:42In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:29:50At our mate selection ceremony, my future mate, Grant, rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:29:56In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:30:05I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe, reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:30:11Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:30:13I choose Brenna Hale.

00:30:14Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:30:17She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:30:19Tribal Law was clear.

00:30:20Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:30:27The Council of Elders would assign her a mate.

00:30:30Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:30:32Please don't blame him.

00:30:33My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:30:36I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:30:38The Elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:30:40I wouldn't survive with him.

00:30:42I'm only protecting her.

00:30:44Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:30:47You'll still be my mate.

00:30:49I'm older than Brenna.

00:30:50I turn 22 before she does.

00:30:52Only then did he remember the law.

00:30:54My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:30:57By rejecting me in front of both tribes, he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would

00:31:02have given me.

00:31:03The Elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying dragon king.

00:31:07Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:31:10The Council will assign Mara first.

00:31:12Your chief hails eldest daughter.

00:31:14How could your father let the Elders send you to a dying dragon king?

00:31:17He'll find a way to help you.

00:31:19There was nothing left to ask.

00:31:20He still chose Brenna.

00:31:22I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:31:24Our betrothal ends here.

00:31:29The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:31:35Mara.

00:31:36Don't worry.

00:31:38Mara must have said that in anger.

00:31:40She loves you so much.

00:31:41She can't live without you.

00:31:43Brenna looked at me.

00:31:44Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:31:49Mara, can I borrow your moonstone necklace for one night?

00:31:51I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:31:54Grant chose me.

00:31:56I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:31:58I can't give you this necklace.

00:32:00Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:32:03I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:32:06But I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:32:08Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:32:10Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:32:14Give it to Brennan.

00:32:15I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:32:22This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:32:25I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:32:27That was Mother's dying wish.

00:32:29I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:32:31She knows it isn't hers.

00:32:34She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:32:35Enough, Mara.

00:32:37Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:32:38If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:32:40Don't take it out on her.

00:32:42You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:32:46But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:32:49But it matches my ceremonial dress best.

00:32:52It's only one night.

00:32:53Is that too much?

00:32:54How much is the necklace?

00:32:55I'll buy it.

00:32:56He still did not understand.

00:32:58He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:33:06Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:33:10Give it back!

00:33:10I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:33:13Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:33:16then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:33:18You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:33:22I didn't do it on purpose.

00:33:23She had stolen my mate.

00:33:25Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:33:29I dropped to my knees.

00:33:30And wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:33:33Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:33:36Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:33:39It's just a necklace.

00:33:40Why are you making a scene?

00:33:42I'll replace it.

00:33:44Grant, you can never replace it.

00:33:45I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:33:49You knew Mother left this heirloom to me.

00:33:51But you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:33:54Stop pretending.

00:33:55You never wanted that necklace.

00:33:56You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:33:58What?

00:33:59Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:34:01Why didn't you tell me?

00:34:02Would you have listened to me?

00:34:04All you ever think about is Brenda.

00:34:06I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:34:09That night, I stood before the Ancestral Fire with Father.

00:34:13I'll accept the Elder's Decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:34:16Ronan is dying.

00:34:17If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:34:19I can arrange for you to bond with the Shifter Warrior instead.

00:34:23The Elder's Decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:34:26Grant's public rejection had made the Decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:34:30Choosing anyone else now would be open defiance.

00:34:32The Hale Tribe would be punished because of me.

00:34:35I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:34:37Mara, if you don't want this...

00:34:39My voice held steady.

00:34:41My hands did not.

00:34:43I am willing.

00:34:48For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me

00:34:52and sealed every gift Grant had given me inside a wooden chest.

00:34:56On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer Tribe.

00:34:59Before the chest was sent away,

00:35:01Brenna entered my room carrying a gray ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:35:05Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:35:08The crystal necklace was costly.

00:35:10That only made the insult more obvious.

00:35:13Grant asked me to bring these.

00:35:15This gray ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:35:20After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:35:23Once I become the future Chief's mate,

00:35:25you'll no longer be allowed to wear the Gold Clan marks reserved for that rank.

00:35:29The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone,

00:35:32but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after me.

00:35:35Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer Tribe with Grant.

00:35:38Who allowed you to speak?

00:35:39Get out, or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:35:42Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:35:44You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:35:47Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:35:49Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer Tribe at all.

00:35:52If you want to become the future Chief's mate,

00:35:54leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:35:57Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:36:00Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:36:03Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory,

00:36:07trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:36:10I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale Tribe.

00:36:14Three days later, the Dragon Court arrived to escort me.

00:36:18Ronan was too ill to come himself, so he sent 100 armored dragon guards.

00:36:22They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:36:24At the Hale Gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:36:27He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:36:29From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:36:32Who's the Dragon Court escorting?

00:36:33Mara Hale.

00:36:34Before nightfall, she'll be the Dragon Queen.

00:36:45Before nightfall, she'll be the Dragon Queen.

00:36:51Grant ripped off my Moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:36:55Give it back!

00:36:56I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:36:58Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:37:01then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:37:04In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying Dragon King.

00:37:11At our mate selection ceremony, my future mate, Grant,

00:37:14rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:37:17In three days, Tribal Law would send me to the dying Dragon King.

00:37:26I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe,

00:37:30reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:37:32Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:37:34I choose Brenna Hale.

00:37:35Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:37:38She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:37:40Tribal Law was clear.

00:37:42Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond

00:37:46lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:37:48The Council of Elders would assign her a mate.

00:37:51Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:37:53Please don't blame him.

00:37:55My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:37:57I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:37:59The Elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:38:02I wouldn't survive with him.

00:38:03I'm only protecting her.

00:38:05Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:38:09You'll still be my mate.

00:38:10I'm older than Brenna.

00:38:11I turn 22 before she does.

00:38:14Only then did he remember the law.

00:38:15My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:38:18By rejecting me in front of both tribes,

00:38:20he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would have given me.

00:38:24The Elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying Dragon King.

00:38:29Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:38:31The Council will assign Mara first.

00:38:33You're Chief Hale's eldest daughter.

00:38:35How could your father let the Elders send you to a dying Dragon King?

00:38:38He'll find a way to help you.

00:38:40There was nothing left to ask.

00:38:41He still chose Brenna.

00:38:43I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:38:46Our betrothal ends here.

00:38:50The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:38:56Mara.

00:38:58Don't worry.

00:38:59Mara must have said that in anger.

00:39:01She loves you so much.

00:39:03She can't live without you.

00:39:05Brenna looked at me.

00:39:06Her gaze dropped to the Moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:39:10Mara, can I borrow your Moonstone necklace for one night?

00:39:13I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:39:16Grant chose me.

00:39:17I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:39:19I can't give you this necklace.

00:39:21Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:39:24I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:39:27But I really love this Moonstone necklace.

00:39:30Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:39:32Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:39:36Give it to Brennan.

00:39:37I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:39:43This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:39:46I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:39:48That was Mother's dying wish.

00:39:50I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:39:52She knows it isn't hers.

00:39:55She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:39:57Enough, Mara.

00:39:58Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:40:00If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:40:02Don't take it out on her.

00:40:03You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:40:07But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:40:10But it matches my ceremonial dress best.

00:40:13It's only one night.

00:40:14Is that too much?

00:40:15How much is the necklace?

00:40:17I'll buy it.

00:40:17He still did not understand.

00:40:19He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:40:27Grant ripped off my Moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:40:31Give it back!

00:40:32I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:40:34Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it, then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:40:40You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:40:43I didn't do it on purpose.

00:40:45She had stolen my mate.

00:40:46Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:40:50I dropped to my knees and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:40:54Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:40:57Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:41:00It's just a necklace.

00:41:01Why are you making a scene?

00:41:03I'll replace it.

00:41:05Grant, you can never replace it.

00:41:07I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:41:10You knew Mother left this heirloom to me, but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:41:15Stop pretending.

00:41:16You never wanted that necklace.

00:41:17You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:41:20What?

00:41:20Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:41:22Why didn't you tell me?

00:41:24Would you have listened to me?

00:41:25All you ever think about is Brenna.

00:41:27I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:41:30That night, I stood before the Ancestral Fire with Father.

00:41:34I'll accept the Elder's Decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:41:37Ronan is dying.

00:41:38If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:41:41I can arrange for you to bond with a Shifter Warrior instead.

00:41:44The Elder's Decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:41:47Grant's public rejection had made the Decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:41:51Choosing anyone else now would be open to fiance.

00:41:54The Hale Tribe would be punished because of me.

00:41:56I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:41:58Mara, if you don't want this...

00:42:00My voice held steady.

00:42:02My hands did not.

00:42:04I am willing.

00:42:09For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me

00:42:13and sealed every gift Grant had given me inside a wooden chest.

00:42:17On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer Tribe.

00:42:20Before the chest was sent away,

00:42:22Brenna entered my room carrying a gray ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:42:26Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:42:29The crystal necklace was costly.

00:42:32That only made the insult more obvious.

00:42:35Grant asked me to bring these.

00:42:37This gray ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:42:41After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:42:44Once I become the future chief's mate,

00:42:46you'll no longer be allowed to wear the gold clan marks reserved for that rank.

00:42:50The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone,

00:42:53but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after me.

00:42:56Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer Tribe with Grant.

00:42:59Who allowed you to speak?

00:43:01Get out!

00:43:02Or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:43:03Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:43:05You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:43:08Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:43:10Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer Tribe at all.

00:43:13If you want to become the future chief's mate,

00:43:15leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:43:18Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:43:21Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:43:24Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory,

00:43:28trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:43:32I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale Tribe.

00:43:36Three days later, the dragon court arrived to escort me.

00:43:39Ronan was too ill to come himself, so he sent 100 armored dragon guards.

00:43:43They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:43:46At the Hale Gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:43:48He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:43:50From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:43:53Who's the dragon court escorting?

00:43:54Mara Hale.

00:43:55Before nightfall, she'll be the dragon queen.

00:44:12Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:44:16Give it back!

00:44:17I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:44:20Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:44:22then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:44:25In three days, tribal law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:44:32At our mate selection ceremony, my future mate, Grant, rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:44:39In three days, tribal law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:44:47I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercal Tribe, reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:44:53Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:44:55I choose Brenna Hale.

00:44:56Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:44:59She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:45:02Tribal law was clear.

00:45:03Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:45:10The council of elders would assign her a mate.

00:45:13Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:45:15Please don't blame him.

00:45:16My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:45:18I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:45:20The elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:45:23I wouldn't survive with him.

00:45:24I'm only protecting her.

00:45:26Once Brenna is safe, I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:45:30You'll still be my mate.

00:45:31I'm older than Brenna.

00:45:33I turn 22 before she does.

00:45:35Only then did he remember the law.

00:45:37My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:45:39By rejecting me in front of both tribes, he had also stripped me of the protection a mate bond would

00:45:45have given me.

00:45:45The elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford, the dying dragon king.

00:45:50Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:45:52The council will assign Mara first.

00:45:54Your chief hails eldest daughter.

00:45:57How could your father let the elders send you to a dying dragon king?

00:46:00He'll find a way to help you.

00:46:01There was nothing left to ask.

00:46:03He still chose Brenna.

00:46:04I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:46:07Our betrothal ends here.

00:46:11The certainty drayed from Grant's face the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:46:18Mara.

00:46:19Don't worry.

00:46:20Mara must have said that in anger.

00:46:22She loves you so much.

00:46:24She can't live without you.

00:46:26Brenna looked at me.

00:46:27Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace at my collarbone.

00:46:31Mara, can I borrow your moonstone necklace for one night?

00:46:34I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:46:37Grant chose me.

00:46:38I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:46:40I can't give you this necklace.

00:46:42Father can have the tribe's jewelers bring you new ones to choose from.

00:46:46I know you're upset because Grant chose me.

00:46:48But I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:46:51Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:46:53Mara, do you have to be this hard on her over one necklace?

00:46:57Give it to Brennan.

00:46:58I'll have the jewelers send you two more to make up for it.

00:47:05This necklace was the last thing Mother left me.

00:47:07I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:47:09That was Mother's dying wish.

00:47:11I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:47:14She knows it isn't hers.

00:47:16She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:47:18Enough, Mara.

00:47:19Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:47:21If you're angry, take it out on me.

00:47:23Don't take it out on her.

00:47:24You can give her every jewel in the Mercer tribe's treasury for all I care.

00:47:29But she won't touch a single thing that belongs to me.

00:47:31But it matches my ceremonial dress vest.

00:47:34It's only one night.

00:47:36Is that too much?

00:47:36How much is the necklace?

00:47:38I'll buy it.

00:47:39He still did not understand.

00:47:40He thought money could buy my mother's heirloom.

00:47:48Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:47:52Give it back!

00:47:53I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:47:55Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:47:58then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:48:01You tried to snatch it from me, so I lost my grip.

00:48:04I didn't do it on purpose.

00:48:06She had stolen my mate.

00:48:07Now she had deliberately destroyed the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:48:11I dropped to my knees and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:48:15Tears kept falling to help me gather my hand.

00:48:18Grant crouched down to help me gather the fragments.

00:48:21It's just a necklace.

00:48:22Why are you making a scene?

00:48:24I'll replace it.

00:48:26Grant, you can never replace it.

00:48:28I slapped Brenna hard across the face when she tried to speak again.

00:48:31You knew Mother left this heirloom to me, but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:48:36Stop pretending.

00:48:37You never wanted that necklace.

00:48:39You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:48:41What?

00:48:42Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:48:43Why didn't you tell me?

00:48:45Would you have listened to me?

00:48:46All you ever think about is Brenna.

00:48:48I carried the fragments out and never looked back.

00:48:51That night, I stood before the ancestral fire with father.

00:48:55I'll accept the Elder's Decree and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:48:58Ronan is dying.

00:48:59If you bond with him, you may be widowed before winter.

00:49:02I can arrange for you to bond with a shifter warrior instead.

00:49:05The Elder's Decree already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:49:08Grant's public rejection had made the Decree take effect three days before my birthday.

00:49:13Choosing anyone else now would be open to fiance.

00:49:15The Hale Tribe would be punished because of me.

00:49:17I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:49:20Mara, if you don't want this...

00:49:21My voice held steady.

00:49:23My hands did not.

00:49:25I am willing.

00:49:31For the next three days, I packed away everything Mother had left me

00:49:35and sealed every gift Grant had given me inside a wooden chest.

00:49:38On the day I leave, send all of these back to the Mercer Tribe.

00:49:41Before the chest was sent away,

00:49:43Brenna entered my room carrying a gray ceremonial dress and a crystal necklace.

00:49:47Grant believed expensive gifts could make betrayal look generous.

00:49:51The crystal necklace was costly.

00:49:53That only made the insult more obvious.

00:49:56Grant asked me to bring these.

00:49:58This gray ceremonial dress is for the day he brings you into the Mercer household.

00:50:03After all, I'll join his household before you do.

00:50:06Once I become the future chief's mate,

00:50:08you'll no longer be allowed to wear the Gold Clan marks reserved for that rank.

00:50:11The crystal isn't as precious as your mother's moonstone,

00:50:14but it's enough for a woman who joins the household after me.

00:50:17Lady Mara never said she would enter the Mercer Tribe with Grant.

00:50:21Who allowed you to speak? Get out!

00:50:23Or I'll have the guards drag you away.

00:50:25Your mother is only father's second mate.

00:50:27You don't give orders to anyone in my room.

00:50:29Your bond with Grant isn't sealed.

00:50:31Father can still refuse to send you to the Mercer Tribe at all.

00:50:34If you want to become the future chief's mate,

00:50:37leave my room and keep quiet about everything you see.

00:50:39Brenna did not dare risk the position she had stolen.

00:50:42Sure enough, she told no one what she had seen.

00:50:46Grant kept sending jewelry, dyed hides, and carved ivory,

00:50:49trying to make up for the humiliation he had caused me.

00:50:53I sold everything and gave the money to the poor of the Hale Tribe.

00:50:57Three days later, the dragon court arrived to escort me.

00:51:00Ronan was too ill to come himself,

00:51:02so he sent 100 armored dragon guards.

00:51:04They filled the road beneath black and gold banners.

00:51:07At the Hale Gate, our procession met Grant's.

00:51:09He had come to seal his bond with Brenna.

00:51:11From inside the carriage, I heard him ask a guard a question.

00:51:14Who's the dragon court escorting?

00:51:16Mara Hale.

00:51:16Before nightfall, she'll be the dragon queen.

00:51:34Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace and handed it to Brenna.

00:51:38Give it back!

00:51:39I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:51:41Brenna stepped back, deliberately dropped it,

00:51:43then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:51:46In three days, tribal law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:51:53At our mate selection ceremony,

00:51:56my future mate, Grant, rejected me and chose my younger sister.

00:52:00In three days, tribal law would send me to the dying dragon king.

00:52:09I, Grant Mercer, future chief of the Mercer tribe,

00:52:13reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:52:15Then he turned and took Brenna's hand.

00:52:17I choose Brenna Hale.

00:52:18Brenna was the daughter of my father's second mate.

00:52:21She had cried through the entire ceremony.

00:52:23Tribal law was clear.

00:52:25Any female shifter who reached 22 without forming a mate bond

00:52:28lost the right to choose her own mate.

00:52:31The council of elders would assign her a mate.

00:52:34Brenna would turn 22 in six months.

00:52:36Please don't blame him.

00:52:37My mother is only our father's second mate.

00:52:39I have no powerful family to protect me.

00:52:42The elders could give me to a cruel old chief.

00:52:44I wouldn't survive with him.

00:52:46I'm only protecting her.

00:52:48Once Brenna is safe,

00:52:49I'll end my betrothed to her and choose you again.

00:52:51You'll still be my mate.

00:52:53I'm older than Brenna.

00:52:54I turn 22 before she does.

00:52:56Only then did he remember the law.

00:52:58My 22nd birthday was three days away.

00:53:01By rejecting me in front of both tribes,

00:53:03he had also stripped me of the protection

00:53:05a mate bond would have given me.

00:53:07The elders had assigned me to Ronan Ashford,

00:53:09the dying dragon king.

00:53:11Grant rejected Mara for her sister.

00:53:14The council will assign Mara first.

00:53:16Your chief Hale's eldest daughter,

00:53:18how could your father let the elders send you

00:53:20to a dying dragon king?

00:53:21He'll find a way to help you.

00:53:22There was nothing left to ask.

00:53:24He still chose Brenna.

00:53:26I accept your rejection, Grant Mercer.

00:53:28Our betrothal ends here.

00:53:33The certainty drayed from Grant's face

00:53:35the moment I accepted his rejection.

00:53:39Mara.

00:53:40Don't worry.

00:53:41Mara must have said that in anger.

00:53:43She loves you so much.

00:53:45She can't live without you.

00:53:47Brenna looked at me.

00:53:48Her gaze dropped to the moonstone necklace

00:53:50at my collarbone.

00:53:52Mara,

00:53:53can I borrow your moonstone necklace

00:53:54for one night?

00:53:55I have no jewelry worthy of the ceremony.

00:53:58Grant chose me.

00:53:59I can't let our family be humiliated.

00:54:02I can't give you this necklace.

00:54:04Father can have the tribe's jewelers

00:54:05bring you new ones to choose from.

00:54:07I know you're upset because Grant chose me,

00:54:10but I really love this moonstone necklace.

00:54:12Please, will you let me borrow it?

00:54:14Mara,

00:54:15do you have to be this hard on her

00:54:16over one necklace?

00:54:18Give it to Brennan.

00:54:19I'll have the jewelers send you

00:54:20two more to make up for it.

00:54:26This necklace was the last thing

00:54:28Mother left me.

00:54:28I would wear it at my bonding ceremony.

00:54:31That was Mother's dying wish.

00:54:32I would not let anyone destroy the necklace.

00:54:35She knows it isn't hers.

00:54:37She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

00:54:39Enough, Mara.

00:54:40Choosing Brenna was my decision.

00:54:42If you're angry,

00:54:43take it out on me.

00:54:44Don't take it out on her.

00:54:45You can give her every jewel

00:54:47in the Mercer tribe's treasury

00:54:48for all I care.

00:54:50But she won't touch a single thing

00:54:52that belongs to me.

00:54:53But it matches my ceremonial dress best.

00:54:55It's only one night.

00:54:57Is that too much?

00:54:58How much is the necklace?

00:54:59I'll buy it.

00:55:00He still did not understand.

00:55:02He thought money could buy

00:55:03my mother's heirloom.

00:55:09Grant ripped off my moonstone necklace

00:55:12and handed it to Brenna.

00:55:13Give it back!

00:55:14I reached out to snatch the necklace back.

00:55:17Brenna stepped back,

00:55:18deliberately dropped it,

00:55:20then crushed it beneath her boot.

00:55:22You tried to snatch it from me,

00:55:24so I lost my grip.

00:55:26I didn't do it on purpose.

00:55:27She had stolen my mate.

00:55:29Now she had deliberately destroyed

00:55:30the only keepsake her mother had left me.

00:55:33I dropped to my knees

00:55:34and wrapped every fragment in my handkerchief.

00:55:37Tears kept falling

00:55:38to help me gather my hand.

00:55:40Grant crouched down

00:55:41to help me gather the fragments.

00:55:43It's just a necklace.

00:55:44Why are you making a scene?

00:55:46I'll replace it.

00:55:48Grant, you can never replace it.

00:55:49I slapped Brenna hard across the face

00:55:51when she tried to speak again.

00:55:53You knew Mother left this heirloom to me,

00:55:55but you still destroyed it on purpose.

00:55:58Stop pretending.

00:55:59You never wanted that necklace.

00:56:00You only wanted to steal what was mine.

00:56:02What?

00:56:03Mara, your mother left this to you?

00:56:05Why didn't you tell me?

00:56:06Would you have listened to me?

00:56:07All you ever think about is Brenda.

00:56:09I carried the fragments out

00:56:10and never looked back.

00:56:12That night,

00:56:13I stood before the ancestral fire with Father.

00:56:16I'll accept the Elder's Decree

00:56:18and bond with Ronan Ashford.

00:56:19Ronan is dying.

00:56:21If you bond with him,

00:56:22you may be widowed before winter.

00:56:23I can arrange for you to bond

00:56:25with a shifter warrior instead.

00:56:26The Elder's Decree

00:56:27already bore the Dragon King's seal.

00:56:30Grant's public rejection

00:56:31had made the Decree take effect

00:56:32three days before my birthday.

00:56:34Choosing anyone else now

00:56:35would be open defiance.

00:56:36The Hale Tribe

00:56:37would be punished because of me.

00:56:39I won't let them take that punishment for me.

00:56:41Mara, if you don't want this...

00:56:43My voice held steady.

00:56:45My hands did not.

00:56:47I am willing.

00:56:52For the next three days,

00:56:53I packed away everything Mother

00:56:55had left me

00:56:56and sealed every gift

00:56:57Grant had given me

00:56:58inside a wooden chest.

00:57:00On the day I leave,

00:57:01send all of these back

00:57:02to the Mercer tribe.

00:57:03Before the chest was sent away,

00:57:05Brenna entered my room

00:57:05carrying a gray ceremonial dress

00:57:07and a crystal necklace.

00:57:08Grant believed expensive gifts

00:57:10could make betrayal look generous.

00:57:12The crystal necklace was costly.

00:57:14That only made the insult more obvious.

00:57:17Grant asked me to bring these.

00:57:19This gray ceremonial dress

00:57:21is for the day he brings you

00:57:22into the Mercer household.

00:57:24After all,

00:57:25I'll join his household

00:57:25before you do.

00:57:27Once I become

00:57:28the future chief's mate,

00:57:29you'll no longer be allowed

00:57:30to wear the gold clan marks

00:57:31reserved for that rank.

00:57:33The crystal isn't as precious

00:57:34as your mother's moonstone,

00:57:36but it's enough

00:57:36for a woman who joins

00:57:37the household after me.

00:57:39Lady Mara never said

00:57:40she would enter

00:57:41the Mercer tribe with Grant.

00:57:42Who allowed you to speak?

00:57:43Get out!

00:57:44Or I'll have the guards

00:57:45drag you away.

00:57:46Your mother is only

00:57:47father's second mate.

00:57:48You don't give orders

00:57:49to anyone in my room.

00:57:50Your bond with Grant

00:57:51isn't sealed.

00:57:53Father can still refuse

00:57:54to send you

00:57:54to the Mercer tribe at all.

00:57:56If you want to become

00:57:57the future chief's mate,

00:57:58leave my room

00:57:58and keep quiet

00:57:59about everything you see.

00:58:01Brenna did not dare risk

00:58:02the position she had stolen.

00:58:04Sure enough,

00:58:05she told no one

00:58:06what she had seen.

00:58:07Grant kept sending jewelry,

00:58:09dyed hides,

00:58:10and carved ivory,

00:58:11trying to make up

00:58:12for the humiliation

00:58:13he had caused me.

00:58:14I sold everything

00:58:15and gave the money

00:58:16to the poor

00:58:17of the Hale tribe.

00:58:18Three days later,

00:58:19the dragon court

00:58:20arrived to escort me.

00:58:21Ronan was too ill

00:58:22to come himself,

00:58:23so he sent

00:58:24100 armored dragon guards.

00:58:26They filled the road

00:58:26beneath black and gold banners.

00:58:28At the Hale gate,

00:58:29our procession met Grant's.

00:58:31He had come to seal

00:58:31his bond with Brenna.

00:58:33From inside the carriage,

00:58:34I heard him ask

00:58:34a guard a question.

00:58:35Who's the dragon court

00:58:36escorting?

00:58:37Mara Hale.

00:58:38Before nightfall,

00:58:39she'll be the dragon queen.

00:58:55Grant ripped off my

00:58:56moonstone necklace

00:58:57and handed it to Brenna.

00:58:59Give it back!

00:59:00I reached out

00:59:01to snatch the necklace back.

00:59:02Brenna stepped back,

00:59:04deliberately dropped it,

00:59:05then crushed it

00:59:06beneath her boot.

00:59:08In three days,

00:59:09Tribal Law would send me

00:59:10to the dying dragon king.

00:59:15At our mate selection ceremony,

00:59:17my future mate, Grant,

00:59:18rejected me

00:59:19and chose my younger sister.

00:59:21In three days,

00:59:22Tribal Law would send me

00:59:23to the dying dragon king.

00:59:30I, Grant Mercer,

00:59:32future chief of the Mercer tribe,

00:59:34reject Mara Hale as my mate.

00:59:36Then he turned

00:59:37and took Brenna's hand.

00:59:38I choose Brenna Hale.

00:59:39Brenna was the daughter

00:59:40of my father's second mate.

00:59:42She had cried

00:59:43through the entire ceremony.

00:59:44Tribal Law was clear.

00:59:46Any female shifter

00:59:47who reached 22

00:59:48without forming a mate bond

00:59:49lost the right

00:59:51to choose her own mate.

00:59:52The council of elders

00:59:53would assign her a mate.

00:59:55Brenna would turn 22

00:59:56in six months.

00:59:57Please don't blame him.

00:59:59My mother is only

00:59:59our father's second mate.

01:00:01I have no powerful family

01:00:02to protect me.

01:00:03The elders could give me

01:00:04to a cruel old chief.

01:00:05I wouldn't survive with him.

01:00:07I'm only protecting her.

01:00:09Once Brenda is safe,

01:00:10I'll end my betrothed to her

01:00:11and choose you again.

01:00:13You'll still be my mate.

01:00:14I'm older than Brenna.

01:00:15I turn 22 before she does.

01:00:17Only then did he remember the law.

01:00:19My 22nd birthday

01:00:20was three days away.

01:00:22By rejecting me

01:00:23in front of both tribes,

01:00:24he had also stripped me

01:00:26of the protection

01:00:26a mate bond

01:00:27would have given me.

01:00:28The elders had assigned me

01:00:29to Ronan Ashford,

01:00:30the dying Dragon King.

01:00:32Grant rejected Mara

01:00:34for her sister.

01:00:35The council will assign

01:00:36Mara first.

01:00:37You're Chief Hale's

01:00:38eldest daughter.

01:00:39How could your father

01:00:40let the elders send you

01:00:41to a dying Dragon King?

01:00:42He'll find a way

01:00:43to help you.

01:00:44There was nothing left to ask.

01:00:45He still chose Brenna.

01:00:47I accept your rejection,

01:00:48Grant Mercer.

01:00:49Our betrothal ends here.

01:00:54The certainty drayed

01:00:56from Grant's face

01:00:56the moment I accepted

01:00:58his rejection.

01:01:00Mara.

01:01:01Don't worry.

01:01:03Mara must have said that

01:01:04in anger.

01:01:05She loves you so much.

01:01:06She can't live without you.

01:01:08Brenna looked at me.

01:01:09Her gaze dropped

01:01:10to the moonstone necklace

01:01:12at my collarbone.

01:01:13Mara,

01:01:14can I borrow your moonstone

01:01:15necklace for one night?

01:01:17I have no jewelry

01:01:18worthy of the ceremony.

01:01:19Grant chose me.

01:01:20I can't let our family

01:01:22be humiliated.

01:01:23I can't give you

01:01:24this necklace.

01:01:25Father can have

01:01:26the tribe's jewelers

01:01:27bring you new ones

01:01:27to choose from.

01:01:28I know you're upset

01:01:29because Grant chose me,

01:01:31but I really love

01:01:32this moonstone necklace.

01:01:33Please,

01:01:34will you let me borrow it?

01:01:35Mara,

01:01:36do you have to be this hard

01:01:37on her over one necklace?

01:01:39Give it to Brennan.

01:01:41I'll have the jewelers

01:01:41send you two more

01:01:42to make up for it.

01:01:47This necklace

01:01:48was the last thing

01:01:49Mother left me.

01:01:50I would wear it

01:01:51at my bonding ceremony.

01:01:52That was Mother's

01:01:53dying wish.

01:01:54I would not let anyone

01:01:55destroy the necklace.

01:01:56She knows it isn't hers.

01:01:59She shouldn't be

01:01:59grabbing for it.

01:02:01Enough, Mara.

01:02:02Choosing Brenna

01:02:02was my decision.

01:02:04If you're angry,

01:02:04take it out on me.

01:02:05Don't take it out on her.

01:02:07You can give her

01:02:07every jewel

01:02:08in the Mercer tribe's

01:02:09treasury for all I care.

01:02:11But she won't touch

01:02:12a single thing

01:02:13that belongs to me.

01:02:14But it matches

01:02:15my ceremonial dress best.

01:02:17It's only one night.

01:02:18Wait, is that too much?

01:02:19How much is the necklace?

01:02:20I'll buy it.

01:02:21He still did not understand.

01:02:23He thought money

01:02:24could buy my mother's heirloom.

01:02:31Grant rip off

01:02:32my moonstone necklace

01:02:33and handed it to Brenna.

01:02:35Give it back!

01:02:35I reached out

01:02:36to snatch the necklace back.

01:02:38Brenna stepped back,

01:02:39deliberately dropped it,

01:02:41then crushed it

01:02:42beneath her boot.

01:02:43You tried to snatch it

01:02:45from me,

01:02:45so I lost my grip.

01:02:47I didn't do it on purpose.

01:02:49She had stolen my mate.

01:02:50Now she had deliberately

01:02:51destroyed the only keepsake

01:02:53her mother had left me.

01:02:54I dropped to my knees

01:02:55and wrapped every fragment

01:02:56in my handkerchief.

01:02:58Tears kept falling

01:02:59to help me gather my hand.

01:03:01Grant crouched down

01:03:02to help me gather

01:03:03the fragments.

01:03:04It's just a necklace.

01:03:05Why are you making a scene?

01:03:07I'll replace it.

01:03:09Grant, you can never

01:03:10replace it.

01:03:11I slapped Brenna hard

01:03:12across the face

01:03:12when she tried to speak again.

01:03:14You knew Mother

01:03:15left this heirloom to me,

01:03:16but you still destroyed it

01:03:18on purpose.

01:03:19Stop pretending.

01:03:20You never wanted

01:03:20that necklace.

01:03:21You only wanted

01:03:22to steal what was mine.

01:03:24What?

01:03:24Mara, your mother

01:03:25left this to you?

01:03:26Why didn't you tell me?

01:03:27Would you have listened to me?

01:03:29All you ever think about

01:03:30is Brenda.

01:03:30I carried the fragments out

01:03:32and never looked back.

01:03:34That night,

01:03:35I stood before

01:03:36the Ancestral Fire

01:03:37with Father.

01:03:38I'll accept the Elder's Decree

01:03:39and bond with Ronan Ashford.

01:03:41Ronan is dying.

01:03:42If you bond with him,

01:03:43you may be widowed

01:03:43before winter.

01:03:44I can arrange for you

01:03:45to bond with a Shifter Warrior

01:03:47instead.

01:03:48The Elder's Decree

01:03:49already bore

01:03:49the Dragon King's seal.

01:03:51Grant's public rejection

01:03:52had made the Decree

01:03:53take effect

01:03:53three days before my birthday.

01:03:55Choosing anyone else now

01:03:56would be open to Fiance.

01:03:58The Hale Tribe

01:03:58would be punished

01:03:59because of me.

01:04:00I won't let them

01:04:01take that punishment for me.

01:04:02Mara, if you don't want this...

01:04:04My voice held steady.

01:04:06My hands did not.

01:04:08I am willing.

01:04:13For the next three days,

01:04:15I packed away

01:04:16everything Mother

01:04:16had left me

01:04:17and sealed every gift

01:04:19Grant had given me

01:04:20inside a wooden chest.

01:04:21On the day I leave,

01:04:22send all of these

01:04:23back to the Mercer Tribe.

01:04:24Before the chest

01:04:25was sent away,

01:04:26Brenna entered my room

01:04:27carrying a grey

01:04:27ceremonial dress

01:04:28and a crystal necklace.

01:04:30Grant believed

01:04:30expensive gifts

01:04:31could make betrayal

01:04:32look generous.

01:04:33The crystal necklace

01:04:34was costly.

01:04:35That only made

01:04:36the insult

01:04:37more obvious.

01:04:38Grant asked me

01:04:39to bring these.

01:04:40This grey ceremonial dress

01:04:42is for the day

01:04:43he brings you

01:04:44into the Mercer household.

01:04:45After all,

01:04:46I'll join his household

01:04:47before you do.

01:04:48Once I become

01:04:49the future chief's mate,

01:04:50you'll no longer

01:04:51be allowed to wear

01:04:52the gold clan marks

01:04:52reserved for that rank.

01:04:54The crystal isn't

01:04:55as precious

01:04:55as your mother's moonstone,

01:04:57but it's enough

01:04:58for a woman

01:04:58who joins the household

01:04:59after me.

01:05:00Lady Mara never said

01:05:01she would enter

01:05:02the Mercer Tribe

01:05:03with Grant.

01:05:03Who allowed you to speak?

01:05:05Get out!

01:05:05Or I'll have the guards

01:05:06drag you away.

01:05:07Your mother is only

01:05:08father's second mate.

01:05:09You don't give orders

01:05:10to anyone in my room.

01:05:12Your bond with Grant

01:05:13isn't sealed.

01:05:14Father can still refuse

01:05:15to send you

01:05:15to the Mercer Tribe

01:05:16at all.

01:05:17If you want to become

01:05:18the future chief's mate,

01:05:19leave my room

01:05:20and keep quiet

01:05:20about everything you see.

01:05:22Brenna did not dare

01:05:23risk the position

01:05:24she had stolen.

01:05:25Sure enough,

01:05:26she told no one

01:05:27what she had seen.

01:05:28Grant kept sending

01:05:29jewelry,

01:05:30dyed hides,

01:05:31and carved ivory,

01:05:32trying to make up

01:05:33for the humiliation

01:05:34he had caused me.

01:05:35I sold everything

01:05:37and gave the money

01:05:37to the poor

01:05:38of the Hale Tribe.

01:05:39Three days later,

01:05:40the dragon court

01:05:41arrived to escort me.

01:05:43Ronan was too ill

01:05:43to come himself,

01:05:44so he sent

01:05:45100 armored dragon guards.

01:05:47They filled the road

01:05:48beneath black and gold

01:05:49banners.

01:05:49At the Hale Gate,

01:05:50our procession met Grant's.

01:05:52He had come to seal

01:05:53his bond with Brenna.

01:05:54From inside the carriage,

01:05:55I heard him ask

01:05:56a guard a question.

01:05:57Who's the dragon court

01:05:58escorting?

01:05:58Mara Hale.

01:05:59Before nightfall,

01:06:00she'll be the dragon queen.

01:06:16Grant ripped off

01:06:17my moonstone necklace

01:06:18and handed it to Brenna.

01:06:20Give it back!

01:06:21I reached out

01:06:22to snatch the necklace back.

01:06:23Brenna stepped back,

01:06:25deliberately dropped it,

01:06:26then crushed it

01:06:28beneath her boot.

01:06:29In three days,

01:06:30Tribal Law would send me

01:06:31to the dying dragon king.

01:06:36At our mate selection ceremony,

01:06:38my future mate,

01:06:39Grant,

01:06:40rejected me

01:06:40and chose my younger sister.

01:06:42In three days,

01:06:44Tribal Law would send me

01:06:45to the dying dragon king.

01:06:51I,

01:06:52Grant Mercer,

01:06:53future chief of the

01:06:54Mercer tribe,

01:06:55reject Mara Hale

01:06:56as my mate.

01:06:57Then he turned

01:06:58and took Brenna's hand.

01:06:59I choose Brenna Hale.

01:07:00Brenna was the daughter

01:07:01of my father's second mate.

01:07:03She had cried

01:07:04through the entire ceremony.

01:07:06Tribal Law was clear.

01:07:07Any female shifter

01:07:08who reached 22

01:07:09without forming a mate bond

01:07:11lost the right

01:07:12to choose her own mate.

01:07:13The council of elders

01:07:14would assign her a mate.

01:07:16Brenna would turn 22

01:07:17in six months.

01:07:19Please don't blame him.

01:07:20My mother is only

01:07:21our father's second mate.

01:07:22I have no powerful family

01:07:23to protect me.

01:07:24The elders could give me

01:07:25to a cruel old chief.

01:07:27I wouldn't survive with him.

01:07:28I'm only protecting her.

01:07:30Once Brenna is safe,

01:07:31I'll end my betrothed to her

01:07:32and choose you again.

01:07:34You'll still be my mate.

01:07:35I'm older than Brenna.

01:07:37I turn 22

01:07:37before she does.

01:07:38Only then

01:07:39did he remember the law.

01:07:40My 22nd birthday

01:07:42was three days away.

01:07:43By rejecting me

01:07:44in front of both tribes,

01:07:46he had also stripped me

01:07:47of the protection

01:07:47a mate bond

01:07:48would have given me.

01:07:49The elders had assigned me

01:07:50to Ronan Ashford,

01:07:52the dying dragon king.

01:07:54Grant rejected Mara

01:07:55for her sister.

01:07:56The council will assign

01:07:57Mara first.

01:07:58You're Chief Hale's

01:07:59eldest daughter.

01:08:00How could your father

01:08:01let the elders send you

01:08:02to a dying dragon king?

01:08:03He'll find a way

01:08:04to help you.

01:08:05There was nothing left

01:08:06to ask.

01:08:06He still chose Brenna.

01:08:08I accept your rejection,

01:08:10Grant Mercer.

01:08:11Our betrothal ends here.

01:08:15The certainty

01:08:16drayed from Grant's face

01:08:18the moment I accepted

01:08:19his rejection.

01:08:22Mara.

01:08:23Don't worry.

01:08:24Mara must have said that

01:08:25in anger.

01:08:26She loves you so much.

01:08:28She can't live without you.

01:08:30Brenna looked at me.

01:08:31Her gaze dropped

01:08:32to the moonstone necklace

01:08:33at my collarbone.

01:08:35Mara,

01:08:35can I borrow your moonstone

01:08:37necklace for one night?

01:08:38I have no jewelry

01:08:39worthy of the ceremony.

01:08:40Grant chose me.

01:08:42I can't let our family

01:08:43be humiliated.

01:08:44I can't give you

01:08:45this necklace.

01:08:46Father can have

01:08:47the tribe's jewelers

01:08:48bring you new ones

01:08:49to choose from.

01:08:50I know you're upset

01:08:51because Grant chose me,

01:08:52but I really love

01:08:53this moonstone necklace.

01:08:55Please,

01:08:55will you let me borrow it?

01:08:57Mara,

01:08:57do you have to be this hard

01:08:58on her over one necklace?

01:09:01Give it to Brennan.

01:09:02I'll have the jewelers

01:09:03send you two more

01:09:03to make up for it.

01:09:09This necklace was

01:09:10the last thing

01:09:10Mother left me.

01:09:11I would wear it

01:09:12at my bonding ceremony.

01:09:13That was Mother's

01:09:14dying wish.

01:09:15I would not let anyone

01:09:16destroy the necklace.

01:09:18She knows it isn't hers.

01:09:20She shouldn't be

01:09:21grabbing for it.

01:09:22Enough, Mara.

01:09:23Choosing Brenna

01:09:24was my decision.

01:09:25If you're angry,

01:09:26take it out on me.

01:09:27Don't take it out on her.

01:09:28You can give her

01:09:29every jewel in the

01:09:30Mercer tribe's treasury

01:09:31for all I care.

01:09:32But she won't touch

01:09:33a single thing

01:09:34that belongs to me.

01:09:35But it matches

01:09:36my ceremonial dress best.

01:09:38It's only one night.

01:09:39Wait, is that too much?

01:09:40How much is the necklace?

01:09:42I'll buy it.

01:09:42He still did not understand.

01:09:44He thought money

01:09:45could buy my mother's heirloom.

01:09:52Grant ripped off

01:09:53my moonstone necklace

01:09:54and handed it to Brenna.

01:09:56Give it back!

01:09:57I reached out

01:09:58to snatch the necklace back.

01:09:59Brenna stepped back,

01:10:01deliberately dropped it,

01:10:02then crushed it

01:10:03beneath her boot.

01:10:05You tried to snatch it

01:10:06from me,

01:10:06so I lost my grip.

01:10:08I didn't do it on purpose.

01:10:10She had stolen my mate.

01:10:11Now she had deliberately

01:10:12destroyed the only keepsake

01:10:14her mother had left me.

01:10:15I dropped to my knees

01:10:16and wrapped every fragment

01:10:18in my handkerchief.

01:10:19Tears kept falling

01:10:20to help me gather my hand.

01:10:22Grant crouched down

01:10:23to help me gather

01:10:24the fragments.

01:10:25It's just a necklace.

01:10:27Why are you making a scene?

01:10:28I'll replace it.

01:10:30Grant, you can never replace it.

01:10:32I slapped Brenna hard

01:10:33across the face

01:10:34when she tried to speak again.

01:10:35You knew Mother

01:10:36left this heirloom to me,

01:10:37but you still destroyed it

01:10:39on purpose.

01:10:40Stop pretending.

01:10:41You never wanted that necklace.

01:10:43You only wanted to steal

01:10:44what was mine.

01:10:45What?

01:10:45Mara, your mother

01:10:46left this to you?

01:10:47Why didn't you tell me?

01:10:49Would you have listened to me?

01:10:50All you ever think about

01:10:51is Brenda.

01:10:52I carried the fragments out

01:10:53and never looked back.

01:10:55That night,

01:10:56I stood before

01:10:57the Ancestral Fire

01:10:58with Father.

01:10:59I'll accept the Elder's Decree

01:11:00and bond with Ronan Ashford.

01:11:02Ronan is dying.

01:11:03If you bond with him,

01:11:04you may be widowed

01:11:05before winter.

01:11:06I can arrange for you

01:11:07to bond with a Shifter Warrior

01:11:08instead.

01:11:09The Elder's Decree

01:11:10already bore

01:11:11the Dragon King's seal.

01:11:12Grant's public rejection

01:11:13had made the Decree

01:11:14take effect

01:11:15three days before my birthday.

01:11:16Choosing anyone else now

01:11:17would be open defiance.

01:11:19The Hale Tribe

01:11:20would be punished

01:11:20because of me.

01:11:21I won't let them

01:11:22take that punishment for me.

01:11:23Mara, if you don't want this...

01:11:25My voice held steady.

01:11:27My hands did not.

01:11:29I am willing.

01:11:34For the next three days,

01:11:36I packed away

01:11:37everything Mother

01:11:38had left me

01:11:38and sealed every gift

01:11:40Grant had given me

01:11:41inside a wooden chest.

01:11:42On the day I leave,

01:11:43send all of these

01:11:44back to the Mercer Tribe.

01:11:45Before the chest

01:11:46was sent away,

01:11:47Brenna entered my room

01:11:48carrying a grey

01:11:49ceremonial dress

01:11:50and a crystal necklace.

01:11:51Grant believed

01:11:52expensive gifts

01:11:53could make betrayal

01:11:53look generous.

01:11:55The crystal necklace

01:11:56was costly.

01:11:57That only made

01:11:58the insult more obvious.

01:12:00Grant asked me

01:12:00to bring these.

01:12:01This grey ceremonial dress

01:12:03is for the day

01:12:04he brings you

01:12:05into the Mercer household.

01:12:06After all,

01:12:07I'll join his household

01:12:08before you do.

01:12:09Once I become

01:12:10the future chief's mate,

01:12:11you'll no longer

01:12:12be allowed to wear

01:12:13the gold clan marks

01:12:14reserved for that rank.

01:12:15The crystal isn't

01:12:16as precious

01:12:17as your mother's moonstone,

01:12:18but it's enough

01:12:19for a woman who joins

01:12:20the household after me.

01:12:21Lady Mara never said

01:12:23she would enter

01:12:23the Mercer Tribe

01:12:24with Grant.

01:12:24Who allowed you

01:12:25to speak?

01:12:26Get out!

01:12:27Or I'll have the guards

01:12:28drag you away.

01:12:29Your mother is only

01:12:29father's second mate.

01:12:30You don't give orders

01:12:31to anyone in my room.

01:12:33Your bond with Grant

01:12:34isn't sealed.

01:12:35Father can still refuse

01:12:36to send you

01:12:37to the Mercer Tribe

01:12:37at all.

01:12:38If you want to become

01:12:39the future chief's mate,

01:12:40leave my room

01:12:41and keep quiet

01:12:42about everything you see.

01:12:43Brenna did not dare

01:12:44risk the position

01:12:45she had stolen.

01:12:46Sure enough,

01:12:47she told no one

01:12:48what she had seen.

01:12:49Grant kept sending

01:12:50jewelry,

01:12:51dyed hides,

01:12:52and carved ivory,

01:12:53trying to make up

01:12:54for the humiliation

01:12:55he had caused me.

01:12:57I sold everything

01:12:58and gave the money

01:12:59to the poor

01:12:59of the Hale Tribe.

01:13:01Three days later,

01:13:02the dragon court

01:13:02arrived to escort me.

01:13:04Ronan was too ill

01:13:05to come himself,

01:13:06so he sent

01:13:06one hundred

01:13:07armored dragon guards.

01:13:08They filled the road

01:13:09beneath black and gold

01:13:10banners.

01:13:11At the Hale Gate,

01:13:12our procession met

01:13:12Grant's.

01:13:13He had come to seal

01:13:14his bond with Brenna.

01:13:15From inside the carriage,

01:13:16I heard him ask

01:13:17a guard a question.

01:13:18Who's the dragon court

01:13:19escorting?

01:13:20Mara Hale.

01:13:21Before nightfall,

01:13:21she'll be the dragon queen.

01:13:38Grant ripped off

01:13:39my moonstone necklace

01:13:40and handed it to Brenna.

01:13:41Give it back!

01:13:42I reached out

01:13:43to snatch the necklace back.

01:13:45Brenna stepped back,

01:13:46deliberately dropped it,

01:13:47then crushed it

01:13:49beneath her boot.

01:13:50In three days,

01:13:52Tribal Law would send me

01:13:53to the dying dragon king.

01:13:57At our mate selection ceremony,

01:13:59my future mate,

01:14:00Grant,

01:14:01rejected me

01:14:02and chose my younger sister.

01:14:03In three days,

01:14:05Tribal Law would send me

01:14:06to the dying dragon king.

01:14:12I, Grant Mercer,

01:14:15future chief of the

01:14:15Mercal Tribe,

01:14:16reject Mara Hale

01:14:17as my mate.

01:14:18Then he turned

01:14:19and took Brenna's hand.

01:14:20I choose Brenna Hale.

01:14:22Brenna was the daughter

01:14:23of my father's second mate.

01:14:24She had cried

01:14:25through the entire ceremony.

01:14:27Tribal Law was clear.

01:14:28Any female shifter

01:14:29who reached 22

01:14:30without forming

01:14:31a mate bond

01:14:32lost the right

01:14:33to choose her own mate.

01:14:35The Council of Elders

01:14:36would assign her a mate.

01:14:37Brenna would turn 22

01:14:39in six months.

01:14:40Please don't blame him.

01:14:41My mother is only

01:14:42our father's second mate.

01:14:43I have no powerful family

01:14:45to protect me.

01:14:45The Elders could give me

01:14:46to a cruel old chief.

01:14:48I wouldn't survive with him.

01:14:49I'm only protecting her.

01:14:51Once Brenna is safe,

01:14:53I'll end my betrothed to her

01:14:54and choose you again.

01:14:55You'll still be my mate.

01:14:56I'm older than Brenna.

01:14:58I turn 22 before she does.

01:15:00Only then did he remember the law.

01:15:02My 22nd birthday

01:15:03was three days away.

01:15:04By rejecting me

01:15:06in front of both tribes,

01:15:07he had also stripped me

01:15:08of the protection

01:15:09a mate bond

01:15:09would have given me.

01:15:10The Elders had assigned me

01:15:12to Ronan Ashford,

01:15:13the dying Dragon King.

01:15:15Grant rejected Mara

01:15:16for her sister.

01:15:17The Council will assign Mara first.

01:15:20Your Chief Hale's

01:15:21eldest daughter,

01:15:21how could your father

01:15:22let the Elders send you

01:15:23to a dying Dragon King?

01:15:25He'll find a way to help you.

01:15:26There was nothing left to ask.

01:15:28He still chose Brenna.

01:15:29I accept your rejection,

01:15:31Grant Mercer.

01:15:32Our betrothal ends here.

01:15:37The certainty

01:15:38drayed from Grant's face

01:15:39the moment I accepted

01:15:40his rejection.

01:15:43Mara.

01:15:44Don't worry.

01:15:45Mara must have said that

01:15:46in anger.

01:15:47She loves you so much.

01:15:49She can't live without you.

01:15:51Brenna looked at me.

01:15:52Her gaze dropped

01:15:53to the Moonstone necklace

01:15:54at my collarbone.

01:15:56Mara,

01:15:57can I borrow your Moonstone necklace

01:15:58for one night?

01:15:59I have no jewelry

01:16:00worthy of the ceremony.

01:16:02Grant chose me.

01:16:03I can't let our family

01:16:04be humiliated.

01:16:06I can't give you

01:16:07this necklace.

01:16:07Father can have

01:16:08the tribe's jewelers

01:16:09bring you new ones

01:16:10to choose from.

01:16:11I know you're upset

01:16:12because Grant chose me,

01:16:13but I really love

01:16:15this Moonstone necklace.

01:16:16Please,

01:16:16will you let me borrow it?

01:16:18Mara,

01:16:19do you have to be this hard

01:16:19on her over one necklace?

01:16:22Give it to Brennan.

01:16:23I'll have the jewelers

01:16:24send you two more

01:16:25to make up for it.

01:16:30This necklace was the last thing

01:16:31Mother left me.

01:16:32I would wear it

01:16:33at my bonding ceremony.

01:16:34That was Mother's dying wish.

01:16:36I would not let anyone

01:16:38destroy the necklace.

01:16:39She knows it isn't hers.

01:16:41She shouldn't be grabbing for it.

01:16:43Enough, Mara.

01:16:44Choosing Brenna

01:16:45was my decision.

01:16:46If you're angry,

01:16:47take it out on me.

01:16:48Don't take it out on her.

01:16:49You can give her

01:16:50every jewel

01:16:51in the Mercer tribe's treasury

01:16:52for all I care.

01:16:54But she won't touch

01:16:55a single thing

01:16:55that belongs to me.

01:16:56But it matches

01:16:57my ceremonial dress best.

01:16:59It's only one night.

01:17:01Is that too much?

01:17:02How much is the necklace?

01:17:03I'll buy it.

01:17:04He still did not understand.

01:17:05He thought money

01:17:06could buy my mother's heirloom.

01:17:13Grant rip off

01:17:14my moonstone necklace

01:17:15and handed it to Brenna.

01:17:17Give it back!

01:17:18I reached out

01:17:19to snatch the necklace back.

01:17:21Brenna stepped back,

01:17:22deliberately dropped it,

01:17:23then crushed it

01:17:25beneath her boot.

01:17:26You tried to snatch it from me,

01:17:27so I lost my grip.

01:17:30I didn't do it on purpose.

01:17:31She had stolen my mate.

01:17:33Now she had deliberately destroyed

01:17:34the only keepsake

01:17:35her mother had left me.

01:17:36I dropped to my knees,

01:17:38and wrapped every fragment

01:17:39in my handkerchief.

01:17:40Tears kept falling

01:17:42to help me gather my hand.

01:17:44Grant crouched down

01:17:45to help me gather the fragments.

01:17:47It's just a necklace.

01:17:48Why are you making a scene?

01:17:49I'll replace it.

01:17:51Grant, you can never replace it.

01:17:53I slapped Brenna hard

01:17:54across the face

01:17:55when she tried to speak again.

01:17:57You knew Mother

01:17:57left this heirloom to me,

01:17:59but you still destroyed it

01:18:00on purpose.

01:18:01Stop pretending.

01:18:02You never wanted that necklace.

01:18:04You only wanted to steal

01:18:05what was mine.

01:18:06What?

01:18:06Mara,

01:18:07your mother left this to you?

01:18:09Why didn't you tell me?

01:18:10Would you have listened to me?

01:18:11All you ever think about

01:18:12is Brenda.

01:18:13I carried the fragments out

01:18:14and never looked back.

01:18:16That night,

01:18:17I stood before the

01:18:18ancestral fire with Father.

01:18:20I'll accept the Elder's Decree

01:18:22and bond with Ronan Ashford.

01:18:23Ronan is dying.

01:18:24If you bond with him,

01:18:25you may be widowed

01:18:26before winter.

01:18:27I can arrange for you

01:18:28to bond with a

01:18:29Shifter warrior instead.

01:18:30The Elder's Decree

01:18:31already bore

01:18:32the Dragon King's seal.

01:18:33Grant's public rejection

01:18:35had made the Decree

01:18:35take effect

01:18:36three days before my birthday.

01:18:38Choosing anyone else now

01:18:39would be open defiance.

01:18:40The Hale Tribe

01:18:41would be punished

01:18:41because of me.

01:18:42I won't let them

01:18:43take that punishment for me.

01:18:45Mara,

01:18:45if you don't want this...

01:18:46My voice held steady.

01:18:48My hands did not.

01:18:51I am willing.

01:18:56For the next three days,

01:18:57I packed away

01:18:58everything Mother

01:18:59had left me

01:19:00and sealed every gift

01:19:01Grant had given me

01:19:02inside a wooden chest.

01:19:03On the day I leave,

01:19:05send all of these

01:19:05back to the Mercer Tribe.

01:19:06Before the chest

01:19:07was sent away,

01:19:08Brenna entered my room

01:19:09carrying a gray

01:19:10ceremonial dress

01:19:11and a crystal necklace.

01:19:12Grant believed

01:19:13expensive gifts

01:19:14could make betrayal

01:19:15look generous.

01:19:16The crystal necklace

01:19:17was costly.

01:19:18That only made

01:19:19the insult more obvious.

01:19:21Grant asked me

01:19:22to bring these.

01:19:23This gray ceremonial dress

01:19:25is for the day

01:19:25he brings you

01:19:26into the Mercer household.

01:19:28After all,

01:19:28I'll join his household

01:19:29before you do.

01:19:31Once I become

01:19:31the future chief's mate,

01:19:33you'll no longer

01:19:33be allowed to wear

01:19:34the gold clan marks

01:19:35reserved for that rank.

01:19:36The crystal isn't

01:19:38as precious

01:19:38as your mother's moonstone,

01:19:39but it's enough

01:19:40for a woman

01:19:41who joins the household

01:19:42after me.

01:19:43Lady Mara never said

01:19:44she would enter

01:19:45the Mercer Tribe

01:19:45with Grant.

01:19:46Who allowed you to speak?

01:19:47Get out!

01:19:48Or I'll have the guards

01:19:49drag you away.

01:19:50Your mother

01:19:50is only father's

01:19:51second mate.

01:19:52You don't give orders

01:19:53to anyone in my room.

01:19:54Your bond with Grant

01:19:55isn't sealed.

01:19:56Father can still refuse

01:19:57to send you

01:19:58to the Mercer Tribe

01:19:59at all.

01:19:59If you want to become

01:20:00the future chief's mate,

01:20:02leave my room

01:20:02and keep quiet

01:20:03about everything you see.

01:20:04Brenna did not dare

01:20:05risk the position

01:20:06she had stolen.

01:20:08Sure enough,

01:20:08she told no one

01:20:09what she had seen.

01:20:11Grant kept sending

01:20:12jewelry,

01:20:13dyed hides,

01:20:13and carved ivory,

01:20:15trying to make up

01:20:16for the humiliation

01:20:17he had caused me.

01:20:18I sold everything

01:20:19and gave the money

01:20:20to the poor

01:20:20of the Hale Tribe.

01:20:22Three days later,

01:20:23the dragon court

01:20:24arrived to escort me.

01:20:25Ronan was too ill

01:20:26to come himself,

01:20:27so he sent

01:20:28100 armored dragon guards.

01:20:29They filled the road

01:20:30beneath black and gold

01:20:31banners.

01:20:32At the Hale Gate,

01:20:33our procession met Grant's.

01:20:34He had come to seal

01:20:35his bond with Brenna.

01:20:36From inside the carriage,

01:20:38I heard him ask

01:20:38a guard a question.

01:20:39Who's the dragon court

01:20:40escorting?

01:20:41Mara Hale.

01:20:41Before nightfall,

01:20:43she'll be the dragon queen.

01:20:59Grant ripped off my

01:21:00moonstone necklace

01:21:01and handed it to Brenna.

01:21:03Give it back!

01:21:04I reached out

01:21:04to snatch the necklace back.

01:21:06Brenna stepped back,

01:21:07deliberately dropped it,

01:21:09then crushed it

01:21:10beneath her boot.

01:21:11In three days,

01:21:13tribal law would send me

01:21:14to the dying dragon king.

01:21:19At our mate selection ceremony,

01:21:21my future mate, Grant,

01:21:22rejected me

01:21:23and chose my younger sister.

01:21:25In three days,

01:21:26tribal law would send me

01:21:27to the dying dragon king.

01:21:34I, Grant Mercer,

01:21:36future chief of the Mercer Tribe,

01:21:38reject Mara Hale as my mate.

01:21:39Then he turned

01:21:40and took Brenna's hand.

01:21:42I choose Brenna Hale.

01:21:43Brenna was the daughter

01:21:44of my father's second mate.

01:21:46She had cried

01:21:46through the entire ceremony.

01:21:48Tribal law was clear.

01:21:50Any female shifter

01:21:51who reached 22

01:21:52without forming a mate bond

01:21:53lost the right

01:21:54to choose her own mate.

01:21:56The council of elders

01:21:57would assign her a mate.

01:21:59Brenna would turn 22

01:22:00in six months.

01:22:01Please don't blame him.

01:22:02My mother is only

01:22:03our father's second mate.

01:22:05I have no powerful family

01:22:06to protect me.

01:22:07The elders could give me

01:22:08to a cruel old chief.

01:22:09I wouldn't survive with him.

01:22:11I'm only protecting her.

01:22:13Once Brenna is safe,

01:22:14I'll end my betrothed to her

01:22:15and choose you again.

01:22:16You'll still be my mate.

01:22:18I'm older than Brenna.

01:22:19I turn 22 before she does.

01:22:21Only then did he remember the law.

01:22:23My 22nd birthday

01:22:24was three days away.

01:22:26By rejecting me

01:22:27in front of both tribes,

01:22:28he had also stripped me

01:22:29of the protection

01:22:30a mate bond

01:22:31would have given me.

01:22:32The elders had assigned me

01:22:33to Ronan Ashford,

01:22:34the dying dragon king.

01:22:36Grant rejected Mara

01:22:37for her sister.

01:22:39The council will assign

01:22:40Mara first.

01:22:41Your chief hails

01:22:42eldest daughter.

01:22:43How could your father

01:22:44let the elders send you

01:22:45to a dying dragon king?

01:22:46He'll find a way

01:22:47to help you.

01:22:47There was nothing left to ask.

01:22:49He still chose Brenna.

01:22:51I accept your rejection,

01:22:52Grant Mercer.

01:22:53Our betrothal ends here.

01:22:58The certainty

01:22:59drayed from Grant's face

01:23:00the moment I accepted

01:23:02his rejection.

01:23:04Mara.

01:23:05Don't worry.

01:23:07Mara must have said

01:23:08that in anger.

01:23:08She loves you so much.

01:23:10She can't live without you.

01:23:12Brenna looked at me.

01:23:13Her gaze dropped

01:23:14to the moonstone necklace

01:23:15at my collarbone.

01:23:17Mara,

01:23:18can I borrow

01:23:19your moonstone necklace

01:23:19for one night?

01:23:20I have no jewelry

01:23:21worthy of the ceremony.

01:23:23Grant chose me.

01:23:24I can't let our family

01:23:26be humiliated.

01:23:27I can't give you

01:23:28this necklace.

01:23:29Father can have

01:23:29the tribe's jewelers

01:23:30bring you new ones

01:23:31to choose from.

01:23:32I know you're upset

01:23:33because Grant chose me,

01:23:35but I really love

01:23:36this moonstone necklace.

01:23:37Please,

01:23:38will you let me borrow it?

01:23:39Mara,

01:23:40do you have to be this hard

01:23:41on her over one necklace?

01:23:43Give it to Brennan.

01:23:44I'll have the jewelers

01:23:45send you two more

01:23:46to make up for it.

01:23:51This necklace

01:23:52was the last thing

01:23:53Mother left me.

01:23:53I would wear it

01:23:54at my bonding ceremony.

01:23:56That was Mother's

01:23:57dying wish.

01:23:57I would not let anyone

01:23:59destroy the necklace.

01:24:00She knows it isn't hers.

01:24:02She shouldn't be

01:24:03grabbing for it.

01:24:04Enough, Mara.

01:24:06Choosing Brenna

01:24:06was my decision.

01:24:07If you're angry,

01:24:08take it out on me.

01:24:09Don't take it out on her.

01:24:10You can give her

01:24:11every jewel

01:24:12in the Mercer tribe's

01:24:13treasury for all I care.

01:24:15But she won't touch

01:24:16a single thing

01:24:17that belongs to me.

01:24:18But it matches

01:24:18my ceremonial dress best.

01:24:21It's only one night.

01:24:22Is that too much?

01:24:23How much is the necklace?

01:24:24I'll buy it.

01:24:25He still did not understand.

01:24:27He thought money

01:24:27could buy my mother's heirloom.

01:24:35Grant rip off

01:24:36my moonstone necklace

01:24:37and handed it to Brenna.

01:24:38Give it back!

01:24:39I reached out

01:24:40to snatch the necklace back.

01:24:42Brenna stepped back,

01:24:43deliberately dropped it,

01:24:45then crushed it

01:24:46beneath her boot.

01:24:47You tried to snatch it

01:24:48from me,

01:24:49so I lost my grip.

01:24:51I didn't do it on purpose.

01:24:53She had stolen my mate.

01:24:54Now she had deliberately

01:24:55destroyed the only keepsake

01:24:56her mother had left me.

01:24:58I dropped to my knees

01:24:59and wrapped every fragment

01:25:00in my handkerchief.

01:25:02Tears kept falling

01:25:03to help me gather my hand.

01:25:05Grant crouched down

01:25:06to help me gather

01:25:07the fragments.

01:25:08It's just a necklace.

01:25:09Why are you making a scene?

01:25:11I'll replace it.

01:25:13Grant,

01:25:13you can never replace it.

01:25:14I slapped Brenna hard

01:25:15across the face

01:25:16when she tried

01:25:17to speak again.

01:25:17You knew Mother

01:25:19left this heirloom to me,

01:25:20but you still destroyed it

01:25:21on purpose.

01:25:23Stop pretending.

01:25:24You never wanted

01:25:24that necklace.

01:25:25You only wanted

01:25:26to steal what was mine.

01:25:27What?

01:25:28Mara,

01:25:28your mother left this to you?

01:25:30Why didn't you tell me?

01:25:31Would you have listened to me?

01:25:32All you ever think about

01:25:33is Brenda.

01:25:34I carried the fragments out

01:25:36and never looked back.

01:25:38That night,

01:25:38I stood before

01:25:40the ancestral fire

01:25:40with Father.

01:25:41I'll accept

01:25:42the Elder's decree

01:25:43and bond with Ronan Ashford.

01:25:45Ronan is dying.

01:25:45If you bond with him,

01:25:47you may be widowed

01:25:47before winter.

01:25:48I can arrange for you

01:25:49to bond with a shifter warrior

01:25:50instead.

01:25:51The Elder's decree

01:25:52already bore

01:25:53the Dragon King's seal.

01:25:55Grant's public rejection

01:25:56had made the decree

01:25:57take effect

01:25:57three days before my birthday.

01:25:59Choosing anyone else now

01:26:00would be open to fiance.

01:26:01The Hale tribe

01:26:02would be punished

01:26:03because of me.

01:26:04I won't let them

01:26:05take that punishment for me.

01:26:06Mara,

01:26:06if you don't want this...

01:26:08My voice held steady.

01:26:10My hands did not.

01:26:12I am willing.

01:26:17For the next three days,

01:26:19I packed away

01:26:20everything Mother

01:26:20had left me

01:26:21and sealed every gift

01:26:23Grant had given me

01:26:23inside a wooden chest.

01:26:25On the day I leave,

01:26:26send all of these

01:26:27back to the Mercer tribe.

01:26:28Before the chest

01:26:28was sent away,

01:26:30Brenna entered my room

01:26:31carrying a grey ceremonial dress

01:26:32and a crystal necklace.

01:26:34Grant believed

01:26:34expensive gifts

01:26:35could make betrayal

01:26:36look generous.

01:26:37The crystal necklace

01:26:38was costly.

01:26:39That only made

01:26:40the insult more obvious.

01:26:42Grant asked me

01:26:43to bring these.

01:26:44This grey ceremonial dress

01:26:46is for the day

01:26:47he brings you

01:26:47into the Mercer household.

01:26:49After all,

01:26:50I'll join his household

01:26:51before you do.

01:26:52Once I become

01:26:53the future chief's mate,

01:26:54you'll no longer

01:26:55be allowed to wear

01:26:55the gold clan marks

01:26:56reserved for that rank.

01:26:58The crystal isn't as precious

01:26:59as your mother's moonstone,

01:27:01but it's enough

01:27:01for a woman who joins

01:27:02the household after me.

01:27:04Lady Mara never said

01:27:05she would enter

01:27:06the Mercer tribe with Grant.

01:27:07Who allowed you to speak?

01:27:08Get out!

01:27:09Or I'll have the guards

01:27:10drag you away.

01:27:11Your mother is only

01:27:12father's second mate.

01:27:13You don't give orders

01:27:14to anyone in my room.

01:27:15Your bond with Grant

01:27:17isn't sealed.

01:27:18Father can still refuse

01:27:19to send you

01:27:19to the Mercer tribe at all.

01:27:21If you want to become

01:27:22the future chief's mate,

01:27:23leave my room

01:27:23and keep quiet

01:27:24about everything you see.

01:27:26Brenna did not dare risk

01:27:27the position she had stolen.

01:27:29Sure enough,

01:27:30she told no one

01:27:31what she had seen.

01:27:32Grant kept sending

01:27:33jewelry,

01:27:34dyed hides,

01:27:35and carved ivory,

01:27:36trying to make up

01:27:37for the humiliation

01:27:38he had caused me.

01:27:39I sold everything

01:27:40and gave the money

01:27:41to the poor

01:27:42of the Hale tribe.

01:27:43Three days later,

01:27:44the dragon court

01:27:45arrived to escort me.

01:27:46Ronan was too ill

01:27:47to come himself,

01:27:48so he sent

01:27:49100 armored dragon guards.

01:27:51They filled the road

01:27:51beneath black and gold banners.

01:27:53At the Hale gate,

01:27:54our procession met Grant's.

01:27:56He had come to seal

01:27:57his bond with Brenna.

01:27:58From inside the carriage,

01:27:59I heard him ask

01:28:00a guard a question.

01:28:00Who's the dragon court

01:28:01escorting?

01:28:02Mara Hale.

01:28:03Before nightfall,

01:28:04she'll be the dragon queen.

01:28:19She'll be the dragon queen.

Sister Stole My Mate I Got the Dragon King HOT OUT Dailymotion | Bound to the Dragon King 🐉

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