Lucianne took a deep breath before she began spilling the beans. “So you both already know the number of rogue attacks last year was, by far, the worst. And applications for relief following those attacks were undoubtedly a lot as well. But less than 10% of the submitted applications ever made it past the phase of ‘being reviewed’. And out of our own 132 allies who were attacked last year, we found that only twenty of them got their relief applications approved. But only four out of those had the funds disbursed to their pack. The rest still have ‘funds disbursement pending’ on their status. Here comes the part that really hurts.”   She took another deep breath, and said, “We call the relief a gamble, like a Wheel of Fortune. And getting funds is like hitting the jackpot. So, packs who have successfully received funds are obliged to throw a pack party, just among their own pack members, to

Ellia had a guilty expression and looked like she was about to breakdown in tears. Lucianne asked, “Ellia, what’s wrong? Are some of the archives missing?” She shook her head, “No. It’s…Goddess, I’m so sorry. Uh…a while ago, shortly after you ascended the throne, my King, a few of us were ordered to…manipulate the finances for…a few of the governing members. We were warned that…if the real information was leaked, they will target our families…our kids, when we come to have kids.” She then looked at Russell on Lucianne’s lap as Ben held their daughter in his arms. The three of them were stunned. Lucianne was the first to recover, “Ellia, what are you saying? Does it mean what you’re printing now has been manipulated?”

When Dr Yeil asked if she herself knew about her own peculiarity, Xandar asked Lucianne to tell him about the childhood game she played with Juan and a few others. The doctor noted it and asked whether she had any other peculiarities, apart from her abnormal resistance to silver. “I have a striped tail, does that count?” Lucianne asked curiously. “I’m sorry, my Queen. A what?” The doctor asked in total confusion. Lucianne explained how her white wolf had grey stripes only on her tail. Xandar listened attentively but embarrassment soon crept into his being. How can he proudly declare that he loved her when he didn’t even know that distinct part of Lucianne’s wolf? He knew that it had white fur with blue eyes because h

Lucianne moved to position her small body right in front of Xandar’s large frame as soon as he growled. His black fur was starting to show on the visible parts of his skin, and he was still throwing a murderous glare at Caunterberg.  Lucianne then took Xandar’s slightly furry face in her hands, and she stroked his face slowly and soothingly. “Xandar. Xandar, look at me, please.” His fists were clenched tightly by his sides, both covered in black fur. Lucianne then pulled his face towards her to make his angered eyes lock with her soft ones, “Xandar, darling. Listen to me, okay? It’s just you and me. Nothing else is important. Okay? Breathe. It’s okay. We’re both okay. Breathe. We’re okay. We’re okay. Breathe. Breathe.”  

“Were you even going to tell me?” The menacing voice rang into Helena’s ear, sending a shiver down her spine.   Still, she tried to remain calm, “W-Well, your Grace. The audits have already been…adjusted to what we want it to reflect so I didn’t see a need to worry you about something like this.”   “Hm…” Greg contemplated, “Your people are sure that my cousins bought it? That the figures are real?”   Helena frantically answered, “Yes! I spoke to the three of them in charge when I got to the office. They practically knelt and pleaded, swearing that they did what we asked them to do. And the receptionists said one stack went with the King and one with the Duke…the other Duke. I mean, if they didn’t believe it, why bother splitting the documents between themsel