Chapter 6

Third Person's POV

After Adelaide left, the temperature in the palace parlor dropped noticeably.

Beta Fabian strode in and respectfully addressed the Lycan King, "Lycan Erasmus, Clarissa sent an Omega to ask if you could see her."

Clarissa, the former Lycan Luna, no longer held the position but still commanded immense respect within the palace.

Erasmus sighed, "This must be about Adelaide. Let's go."

Clarissa lived alone in the East Tower villa with its private garden, where vibrant flowers bloomed.

She sat in a pavilion at the garden's center, wearing a claret robe and holding a moonstone-staff topped with a lunar crescent.

Her face looked haggard.

"Good afternoon, Clarissa," Erasmus greeted with a bow.

Clarissa's claws dug into her seat.

Frost-laced pheromones crystallized the air, forcing Fabian to kneel ten paces away, his Beta ears trembling under her pressure.

"You condone this madness?" she hissed, her slit pupils glowing blood-red. "When Frostfang's Alpha spilled seven lives to pave your throne, did you smell the silvermoon grass in his blood?"

Fabian hung his head, unable to meet her gaze.

"This was my doing," Erasmus said firmly. "Fabian's not to blame."

Clarissa sighed. "You're all dismissed."

Her aura lifted. The Omegas and Fabian hurried out.

"This decree is reckless," Clarissa said gravely. "You dishonor Frostfang's fallen Alpha and his pack. As Lycan, we're role models for all shifters. How can you violate the Moon Goddess's traditions like this?"

Erasmus's iron armor clashed against the ice crystals on the floor. "Ulrik earned his right to bond with Velda through battle."

"Sacrifice Frostfang's last light?" Clarissa rose abruptly, her purple skirt sweeping down a bronze candlestick. Melted wax snaked across the floor like blood tears.

"Wolf Code, Article Three—No second Luna until the first bond is rejected. When you trampled the code, do you remember who shielded you from the rebels' poison arrow with their fangs?"

"Ulrik left the day he bonded with Adelaide, without even marking her properly. Now he plans to bond with another. Did you consider how this might destroy her and her wolf?"

Tears streamed down Clarissa's face. "Frostfang's Alpha and Luna had only one daughter left. How much more can she endure?"

Clarissa's grief stemmed from her lifelong friendship with Adelaide's mother, whom she'd watched grow up.

Seeing his mother's tears, Lycan Erasmus knelt before her, head bowed in guilt.

"This was my oversight," he admitted quietly. "Ulrik returned victorious and made his demand public. I know it's unreasonable, but both he and Velda insisted—this was the only thing they wanted. If I'd refused…"

Clarissa's voice sharpened. "So you'd rather Adelaide sacrifice herself to spare Ulrik embarrassment? Frostfang's suffered enough! Do you have any idea what she's been through this year?"

As Lycan King, Erasmus was well aware of the struggles of major packs.

"Ulrik's heart has turned," he said. "Even without my approval, he'd find a way to bond with Velda. And Adelaide would suffer for it."

He paused. "Adelaide just asked me for a mutual rejection from Ulrik. I agreed."

"What?!" Clarissa's voice shot up. "She wants to reject Ulrik? Where will she go after leaving Bloodmoon? Frostfang's already in ruins."

"She says she'll return to Frostfang and take in any wolf who wishes to join."

Clarissa sighed deeply. "Can Frostfang even be home to her again? She's seen the bodies of her kin—how can she live there without nightmares?"

Her heart ached. "Why didn't she come to me? I could've helped her, taught her to handle Velda. Why choose such a hard path?"

"Adelaide's made up her mind. She won't endure a lifetime of watching Ulrik and Velda despise each other. Keeping their bond intact would hurt her more."

Clarissa winced—this struck too close to home.

The former Lycan King had stayed mated to her despite finding his true mate in an omega.

To preserve the royal pack's stability, he'd kept their bond, but the omega remained.

Clarissa had endured the pain of his betrayal.

"Velda's a decorated general—I once admired her, thought she'd elevate she-wolves' status. Now I'm deeply disappointed," Clarissa said, her face pale.

"I'll address them," Erasmus promised.