Deacon''s POV


    "Mom really adores her," my brother, King Desmond, uttered as he followed Elena''s figure like I did until she disappeared from our sight.


    Laughing a little, I replied, "Tell me about it.


    The party continued to prosper through the night. When the moonlight was covered by clouds and the warriors were enjoying themselves under the influence of alcohol, Desmond and I finally decided to call it a night and let the others serve those who remained.


    Entering his office, we were greeted by the rxing scent of aged wood and ink lingering in the air. While Desmond went straight to his chair, I stood formally in front of his desk with my posture straight and indifferent expression.


    His eyes surveyed me from head to toe before he raised his brows and let out a smirk. "Come on, Deacon! We''re brothers! We haven''t seen each other in a while, and you''re giving me that warrior look already."


    Standing up, he went to the mini bar on the left side of his room and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two rock crystal sses.


    "Whatever it is, let''s talk it out over a drink. You just won a war. Live a little!" he uttered, gesturing for me to sit on the opposite high chair of the bar from him while he filled the quarter of my ss with whiskey as he did with his.


    Raising my ss, I swivelled its content, watching it move before I inhaled deeply.


    "It''s serious," I replied before taking a gulp.


    Sighing as I put my ss down, I met his awaiting eyes and started, "Indeed, we won the war and gained back thends we lost, but there were...plications regarding Glenda and Bryson''s recent war they''ve won."


    His facial expression, which had looked chill earlier and expanded into a sibling bonding, immediately hardened, mirrored by how his grip tightened on his ss.


    He pursed his lips. "Go on."


    Without hesitation, I pulled the envelope from my back containing the confidential report rted to Glenda''s action.


    Tapping on the envelope with my finger, I narrated, "All the reasons for credits received by Glenda and Bryson were all fabricated. They didn''t win it in the right


    manner.


    "Do you mean to say there were downys?" he asked, voice turning firm andced with venom as his patience


    wore thin.


    I looked at him with knowing eyes in reply, making him let out a sharp exhale. "And the pack that colluded with the Rogues? Don''t tell me it''s rted to Glenda and Bryson"


    The air around us became heavy with tension, and despite the dim light shining on us, I could feel everything turn dimmer, especially upon seeing him finish his ss in one gulp.


    While pouring him another drink, I continued, "It''s all manipted by Glenda. Paving the way to victory through barbaric means that caused more than what she could chew herself. That''s why the Moonke pack colluded with the Rogues..."


    When I went silent as I observed his reaction like a fuming volcano about to erupt, he looked at me with zing


    eyes and growled, "There''s more. Tell me everything!"


    Leaning in, he uttered each of his next words with emphasis, "I. Want. Every. Details."


    Taking a deep breath, I stared at him cautiously for a while and read his body movements to see if he was in control of his raging wolf before I heaved a sigh. "So... this was what happened...”


    "I can''t believe we awarded those two ferocious people!" After hearing everything that happened, the tension of his grip on his ss shattered it to pieces, and blood dripped on his clenched palms.


    "Desmond..." I called you, wanting to calm him down, but he was far from calm. mming his hand on the table and standing domineeringly with his bulky body and gritting teeth, he imed, " Those two should be punished severely!" Both of his fists were tightly clenched together and leaning on the table.


    I nodded my head with understanding before reasoning out, “Yes, but punishing them publicly would only stir unrest. The truth behind this war is messier than anyone could imagine. Revealing Glenda''s role in all this and how she caused it will create more chaos. The Moonke Pack will face downfall as well."


    "Deacon, do you even hear what you''re saying?" He looked at me like he didn''t recognize me, and he let out a scoff.


    With fierce eyes and a reprimanding voice, he shouted, "No matter what the reasons are, they colluded with the Rogues! The Rogues, Deacon!"


    "I know, but..."


    "So, they''re victims now? They still betrayed our kingdom! he shouted, not letting me finish my words.


    He stared at me with narrowed eyes and clenched jaws,pletely on the edge, as I saw his eyes flickering with golden shade. He''s fighting control with his wolf.


    "That is not a good sign...''