LOGINThird Person's POVAdelaide gently pressed Paisley down by her shoulders, guiding her into a chair.She turned to order Beata to bring some warm mulled mead and roasted nuts from the kitchen, and then smiled."Listen, you do whatever you want. That is hardly a major crisis. Even if it turns into one, Lance and I have more than enough clout to handle it.""Easy for you to say, but I really lost my head today." Paisley ran a frustrated hand through her hair.She'd honestly thought her wolf was getting less volatile, but she'd still gone and flipped out.Adelaide comforted her gently."The Independent Center is our baby, and someone actually had the nerve to drag its name through the dirt. Listen, if you'd told me yesterday that Sidney was the one pulling the strings, I swear I'd have gone with you to beat her up!""Come on, you've never been as reckless as me." Paisley looked up, staring deep into her eyes."Stop trying to make me feel better. Tell me the truth: is what I did today goin
Third Person's POVRaven gasped."Alpha, you can't be serious... No, absolutely not! Paisley is famous all over the capital for her violent temper. You wouldn't be able to control her.""Do you think I have a choice?" Germain growled under his breath."Madison has been captured. My entire network in the capital has been uprooted. Sidney is a moron, and Maya... no matter how capable she is, she's just a commoner. The noble ladies of this city look down on her; they won't even breathe the same air."But Paisley? She's the friend Adelaide would trust with her life. If I could mate with her, think about it—Adelaide would never target us again.""Alpha," Raven said with a bitter smile, "you're moving too fast. We need to calm down and plan this out slowly."Germain interrupted him, his patience gone."How much slower?! I've waited years for that throne! I'm not waiting anymore, and I'm sure as hell not giving up!"The w
Third Person's POVGermain let out a cold laugh."Gamma Adelaide is currently Lycan Erasmus' most trusted confidante, and you actually had the balls to provoke her?"Sidney frantically wiped the tears from her face."I just couldn't stand seeing the once-noble Wanda endure such humiliation, so I spoke up for her."Germain stepped closer, cornering her, refusing to let her wiggle out of it."Then why didn't you just take a squad of guards to the Glenveil Pack and argue her case for her? Or better yet, why didn't you just bring her here to live in our territory?"Sidney flinched back, stammering, "Her mother committed a major crime... she's still in the dungeon. I obviously didn't dare do that."Germain grabbed her by the chin, his grip bruising."Since you damn well know her mother committed treason, you still thought it was a good idea to hang out with her in private? Do you want to drag this entire pack into a treason c
Third Person's POVA long time ago, Germain had ordered Sidney to start winning Paisley over. Since they were family, he figured it would be easier for Sidney to gain her trust.Sidney, however, saw things differently. She had gone to the Blackthorn estate twice, and both times Paisley had refused to see her.She felt completely insulted. Upon returning home, she complained bitterly to her mate, claiming Paisley was too arrogant and declaring she wouldn't speak to her again unless Paisley came to the Blue Abyss territory to apologize in person.Her attitude had infuriated Germain. He felt that as a Luna, Sidney should put the pack's interests first, yet she refused to play the game.Despite coming from the Stephens family, Sidney provided him with zero political leverage.So today, regardless of why Paisley had shown up, Germain decided to use this as an opportunity for Sidney to fix their relationship.It wasn't long before Sidney entered the room, her face lighting up with joy."Oh,
Third Person's POVPaisley had been dead set against helping Wanda, but Adelaide's analysis started to win her over.If a high-society lady from the capital could start over at the Center, it would send a powerful message to all the women who were too terrified to ask for help.They couldn't afford to wait.They didn't want to wake up to the news of another suicide.Worse, Adelaide realized they had no idea how many desperate she-wolves were already dying in silence in the city's shadows.Paisley took a deep breath."Adelaide, maybe... maybe you should go to the Glenveil Pack yourself? Find out if Wanda really has no other options. Though..." she hesitated, "I don't know if Rowena will talk. This is pack business, after all."Before Adelaide could even start digging, a wave of nasty rumors hit the streets the next morning.The gossip was toxic. People were calling Adelaide and Harper hypocrites who only cared about their
Third Person's POV"And the result?" Lance continued. "Lycan Erasmus recently ordered a massive crackdown on gray-market industries like predatory lending. The Royal Court slapped her with a staggering fine. All the cash she took when she left the pack wasn't nearly enough to cover it. She had to sell off her last luxury estates just to stay out of a cold prison cell."He paused, a cold glint in his eyes."What's worse is that she still owes Luna Sidney ten million plus interest. The second she was kicked out of her pack, Sidney sent debt collectors to hunt her down. She's completely backed into a corner, which is why she ran to the Center for help."Paisley spat on the ground, her scent radiating pure contempt."She really is an idiot! She's flat broke and still had the nerve to be a loan shark? The King not throwing her in a dungeon was an act of mercy, and she couldn't even manage to keep a low profile. Honestly, she got exactly what she deserve
Third person's POVUlrik shook his head. He didn't want to talk more about Adelaide, fearing it would spark another argument.But Velda gathered her cloak and smirked, "Naturally, it's to keep her from causing trouble. I heard she went to Lycan Erasmus the day after our bonding cere
Adelaide's POVPaisley kicked Halbert.Alpha Lance also laughed, his gaze falling on me with unusual brightness. "Adelaide, well done!"I wanted to respond modestly, but my throat was as dry as if stuffed with wolf hair, leaving me only to tug at the corners of my mouth."You've got your father's s
Third Person's POVAdelaide gasped, a shiver running down her spine as pain prickled her neck.She fought the urge to reveal her wolf ears, but her nails dug half-moon trenches into her palms."Alpha Lance, it hurts," she said, her voice deeper than usual, a barely noticeable
Third person's POVThe urgent intelligence, carrying the chill of the ice plains, slapped against the oak desk. Lycan Erasmus's claws pierced the parchment, revealing the mark of the "Dragon Ash & Western Tribes Alliance."Moonlight, streaming through the parliamentary hall's wo







