Third Person’s POV
The Frostfang wolves loaded their luggage into trucks, their convoy rolling through Bloodmoon’s iron gates with finality.
No one from Bloodmoon dared to stop them–<b>Lycan </b>Erasmus’s decree had taken effect.
Adide, now Frostfang’s Alpha and heir to a royal council seat, left with the blessing of the Moon Goddess’s council, far beyond
the Tenar n’s reach.
After a long silence, Isaiah, Ulrik’s father, murmured<b>, </b>“Adide would’ve made a fine Luna. She managed the pack well.”
Tamara turned to Ulrik. “What did you see in Velda? How is <b>she </b>better than Adide?”
Ulrik’s throat tightened as he recalled Velda’s letter–the one demanding half of Adide’s wealth.
He remembered her words, “Hesitating? So you do have greed in you.”
Tamara sighed<b>. </b>“Velda won’t care for Luna Rosemary 1
like Adide did. Adide slept in her room every night.”
“Maybe it was all an act,” Ulrik said, his voice tinged <b>with </b>reluctant doubt.
“An act deserves credit,” Tamara said sharply.
Tamara knew Velda <b>wouldn’t </b>take responsibility for caring for Rosemary. Odds were it would fall to her. “Hopefully, Velda <b>will </b>at
least put on a show,” she muttered.
Ulrik insisted firmly, “Velda will honor <b>Luna </b>Rosemary.
Tamara snorted. “We’ll see about that.”
Sabrina chimed in, “If you miss her so much, why not just go after her?”
Tamara shot <b>her </b>a re. “Adide treated me kindly–gifts <b>and </b>all. Unlike some who take bribes and stab in the back.”
She left, ignoring Sabrina’s flushed anger.
Tamara’s <b>frustration </b>simmered as <b>she </b>juggled <b>pack </b><b>finances</b>–Bloodmoon was nearly insolvent.
As dusk settled <b>over </b>the Mirror Lake, its <b>surface </b><b>reflected </b>the bloodmoo’s glow. The temporary mark on Ulrik’s nape, still healing, throbbed faintly.
Velda’s pine scent,ced with snowstorm cold, <b>couldn’t </b><b>mask </b>the silvermoon grass lingering on <b>his </b>cor.
Velda was unaware of the day’s upheaval. Expecting Ulrik to brief her on the progress of rejecting Adide, she was met with his
<b>tense </b>silence.
Unable to contain her impatience, she stopped. “Is it done? Did you secure half her assets?”
+15 Bonus
The sunset’s light bathed her wheat–colored skin. Ulrik was suddenly reminded of Adide’s pale face<b>, </b>a sharp pain striking his
chest.
Ulrik’s jaw tightened. “No.”
“What? Are you insane?” Velda’s bone ws suddenly elongated half an inch, raking deep <b>grooves </b>into the maple tree.
“I specifically sent a message emphasizing we need to secure at least half,” she snarled. “You know Bloodmoon’s finances are a
disaster. Without the funds, how will we survive?”
Ulrik met her gaze <b>steadily</b>. “It’s her wealth, not mine. Velda, are <b>you </b>afraid of a simpler life?<b>“</b>”
“No, that’s not it,” Velda turned away, a flicker of calction in her eyes. “I just want us to focus on building our future without
financial distractions.”
“We’ll manage,” he said softly.
Velda whirled <b>around</b>. “So she took everything?”
Seeing her disappointment, Ulrik felt a chill.
“Beta Fabian witnessed it. She <b>petitioned </b>Lycan Erasmus to void the <b>bond</b>.”
“What?”
“She said she disdains it,” Ulrik said tly.
Velda sneered. “Disdain? Who does she think she is?”
“Adide….” <b>Ulrik’s </b><b>voice </b><b>was </b>expressionless. “Beta Fabian brought Lycan Erasmus’s decision–she’s now Frostfang’s Alpha.
<b>She’ll </b>join the royal council <b>as </b><b>an </b>elder, and can even <b>nominate </b>her mate for a seat.”
Velda’s eyes <b>widened </b>in shock. “Why <b>would </b>Lycan <b>Erasmus </b>do <b>this</b>? Her mate gets a seat too? So she goes from exile to-”
From outcast to the <b>most </b><b>sought</b>–after she wolf <b>overnight </b>
“<b>Velda</b><b>, </b>she <b>can </b>fight,” Ulrik said, watching crimson leaves drift on theke. He <b>recalled </b><b>how </b>Adide <b>had </b>used her pressure to
turn <b>leaves </b>into des.
Velda snorted. <b>“</b>pping someone?”
“<b>Today</b>, she <b>used </b>her <b>aura </b>to lift leaves and scratched my <b>face</b><b>,</b>” Ulrik <b>said</b>. “<b>No </b>need to pluck them–she turned falling leaves into weapons.”
Velda <b>sneered</b>. “Leaf des<b>? </b>Impossible”
“Not <b>impossible</b>,” <b>Ulrik </b>said. “She nearly drew blood today.”
Ulrik fell silent, too humiliated to recount the day’s events.
Velda pressed, “Is it true or not?
Ulrik sighed. “Let’s drop it”
Velda punched his arm. “Knew you’d dodge. Fine, but admit it–her underhanded tricks are beyond you.”