LOGINThird Person's POV
Adelaide managed a choked-up "Mhm" in response.
She bit her lower lip hard, struggling for a few seconds just to find her voice. "I'll... I'll send someone to the city guard post to see if Lance is back. Go inside and get some hot tea; warm up a bit. Paisley, look after Lisa for me, okay?"
With that, she turned and bolted toward the estate gates, as if staying near those crates of gifts would physically burn her.
Lisa watched Adelaide vanish into
Third Person's POVMelinda was actually amused by Skye's logic."Use your brain for once. Back then, the negotiations hadn't even started, and the King hadn't handed down a verdict. Every official in the city was watching Adelaide's every move. You really think she'd be stupid enough to pull a stunt like a birthday party?"Skye buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled."Whatever. His birthday is over. What's the point of a meal now? I'm not going.""When they dragged him back to the capital, I actually went to the gates of the estate to see him," Skye added defensively. "The guards wouldn't let me in. That's not my fault. I tried my best."Melinda looked at her mother with a mix of disappointment and disgust, as if she were looking at a particularly dim-witted wolf."Fine. I always thought you were just weak. I didn't realize you actually just don't care."Skye's sobs leaked through her fingers."Is seeing him rea
Third Person's POVAfter dinner, Alpha Zander and Lance headed into the study. The soundproofing barrier went up the moment the door clicked shut.Adelaide tried to follow them in, but Zander placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, blocking her path."I have some things I need to say to Lance in private."Adelaide puckered her lips but eventually turned away, heading toward the front courtyard where Prunella and Craig were still lingering.During dinner, Klein had officially announced his return to the Shadow Peaks. He wasn't just leaving on his own, either; he had ordered Prunella and Craig to get out and head back with him immediately.Craig had taken the brunt of the scolding—Klein complained that ever since they arrived at the Blackthorn estate, a swarm of noble wolves had been dropping by just to admire his paintings.Klein worried that Craig becoming too cozy with high-ranking officials in the capital would only bring unnecessary heat to Lance.Prunella couldn't help but grumble pr
Third Person's POVThe more Adelaide listened, the more the fire in her blood rose. Without a word, she unsheathed her silver-dipped dagger and drove it deep into one spy's abdomen.As she yanked the blade out, hot blood sprayed the frozen ground. Her face remained a mask of stone as she flipped the knife and buried it into the other man's side.She was done trying to reason with brainwashed killers. Most of all, she was done hearing them bark in this sacred resting place, disturbing the peace of her family's souls.Adelaide reversed her grip on the dripping dagger and held the hilt out to Beata. Her voice was cold and steady in the winter wind."Beata. Do you want to finish them yourself?"Beata stared at the bloody blade.She didn't reach for it. Instead, as tears fell into the mud, she slowly shook her head."No... I'm afraid they'll die too fast. I want to watch them bleed out. I want them to suffer every second until the e
Third Person's POVNight fell over the capital like a heavy sheet of black velvet, and within the Blackthorn territory, the magical crystal lamps flickered to life one by one.Adelaide took the silver-plated dagger Prunella handed her, gripped Beata's hand, and stepped out into the biting wind.Lance and Paisley followed close behind.Craig and Prunella had planned to join them, but Klein stopped them."Let her mate and her best friend handle this," he said simply."You two only need to step in if she actually falls."As he spoke, Klein felt a sense of pride. Having come to the capital and watched this pair navigate the shark-infested waters of royal politics and rival packs with such composure, he felt truly satisfied.Inside the Royal Marshal's office, Lucas stood in the blood-scented courtyard, waiting.The Blackthorns were coming tonight to collect the two prisoners, and a transfer of such high-value targets required
Third Person's POVThe iron chains were wound so tight around Velda's jaw that she couldn't even tilt her head back to howl. She could only curl into a twisted, pathetic heap.It was a mirror image of the scene back at Snowdeer Town, where she had locked Lucian in a beast cage.Back then, she had felt nothing but a thrill of triumph; now, for the first time, she felt a fear that made her soul shiver.Beata stood beside Adelaide, her cold gaze fixed on Velda's panicked state.Beata was trembling, tears of fury streaming down her face as she thought of the torture her pack-mates in the Frostfangs had endured."Gamma, can I... can I slap this bitch?" Beata asked, her voice shaking. "I'm just a weak omega. I won't hurt her enough to mess up the prisoner exchange. Could you... could you ask Princess Helia for me?"Adelaide looked at the girl's bloodshot eyes and knew that if Beata didn't vent this rage today, she might never escape the sha
Third Person's POVHelia sat back on her bed, her gaze drifting into the distance.She hadn't revealed a single thing to Digby, yet he had read her like an open book.What made the glands at the back of her neck tighten even more was the fact that he didn't question her political maneuvers like other male wolves often did. This silent validation from an enemy healer moved her in a way she couldn't quite explain.In the carriage ride back, Digby remained silent for a long time before finally speaking."It wouldn't be a bad thing if the throne of the Western Tribe found a new owner."Adelaide understood exactly what he meant. She knew the road Helia was choosing was paved with challenges, and she found herself admiring the woman's sheer guts.If Helia ever became the Lycan Queen, the border conflicts between their two nations could likely be settled with ink and paper rather than blood and steel.Alpha Lance arrived at the the pr
Third Person's POVAdelaide followed a group of noble she-wolves to pay their respects to Luna Clarissa.The Lunas were gathered together, Priscilla among them, excitedly showing off her new manicure.When she-wolves get together, it's usually a mix of mutual flattery and a low-key arms race over w
Third Person's POVCraig frowned, tracing a line across the map with his finger as he jumped in."The dispute over this border is ancient history. But during Late Lycan King Jason's reign, we signed the Icefields Treaty. It clearly states the border is defined by the current line of
Third Person's POVThe beta heard Vanya's statement and realized Tamara was likely not there, so he had no choice but to go back and report the situation to Rosemary.Rosemary listened, then sneered, recalling the events of the previous night. "She's probably just sulking because she got lectured l
Third Person's POVWhy would he try to steal the one thing Adelaide was most proud of?Besides, he was just being honest. After years of hard training, he truly believed he was more hardworking than naturally talented.Adelaide, on the other hand, was genuinely gifted.







