Adide’s POV


    I knew rissa<b>, </b><b>as </b>the former Lycan Luna, wouldn’t wait for me to report everything.


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    Since she intended to look out for me, she must have someone monitoring Prisci’s actions. So, she’d surely aware of what happened.


    Beata and I guzzled honey–orange cold drinks, ignoring rissa’s uncontrobleughter.


    We’d been so thirsty on our detour that we just wanted to soothe our throats.


    After finishing, I said, “Actually, Prisci’s not that hard to deal with.” At least she’s more straightforward than some.


    “Hard to deal with? You must be talking about my sister,” rissa’s arctic wolf pheromones spread with amusement, shaking frost from the crystal chandelier.


    Her fingers brushed the gilded wolf–head teacup, and I caught a glimpse of my silver–tipped ears in the cup’s reflection.


    “Prisci’s struck fear into the entire pce. Even Luna Cami avoids her,” she said.


    I thought to myself, Who wouldn’t steer clear of Prisci’s domineering attitude?


    But if I had to choose, I’d rather deal with Prisci than Luna Cami, whose words areced with hidden barbs.


    I picked up my cup for another drink.


    The beverage, infused with honey–orange and wolfsbane, was refreshingly cool.


    I added, “Having weathered the battlefield’s storms, I’vee to value Prisci’s blunt nature.”


    This was partly true and made rissaugh even harder.


    Beata suddenly grasped my wrist, her wolf ears ttened with worry. “Don’t drink too much. Shaman Digby said your wolf needs rest; overusing wolfsbane might hinder your self–healing.”


    rissa, upon hearing this, had water brought over. “I’m well–aware of Digby’s expertise. Heed his advice and cut down on wolfsbane–infused drinks. Battle–scarred wolves are already weakened from overusing their abilities. You must recover soon. Once the bonding ceremony is done, you’ll be ready to bear pups.”


    2


    My face flushed, and I quickly drank some water.


    rissa teased, “Shy now, aren’t you? It’s inevitable.”


    “What’s inevitable?<b>” </b>came Lycan Erasmus’s hearty voice from the door.


    1:06 am


    His white musk pheromones surged in like a cial st<b>, </b>forcing the candles to lean.


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    Dressed in a bright–yellow dragon–patterned war–mail with frost<b>–</b>wolf badges still dusted with snow, he’d evidently just left the conference hall.


    I stood up promptly. “Lycan Erasmus.”


    2


    As I bowed, my silver–blue eyes caught the tooth patterns on his golden war–boots.


    “Oh? Gamma Adide’s here too?” His voice carried the royal detachment, yet his gaze lingered briefly on the silver moon fang emblem at my cuff–a flicker of intensity in his eyes.


    “Yes, Prisci summoned me for a chat,” I replied.


    Once seated, Erasmus nced at me and said with a smile, “rissa’s quite fond of you. Do visit the pce often to keep herpany.”


    I acknowledged his words, but rissa interjected, “You’d better leave now. Lycan Erasmus must have business with me.”


    When Erasmus sat down, his armor shed with the throne in a sharp ring. “No need. I’m just resting. Adide’s presence is a bonus. I’d like to ask about the Southern Border.”


    I stiffened slightly, clutching my skirt.


    Beata stood nearby. I knew she sensed my unease–the Frostfang–born pride in me rebels at submission.


    rissa chuckled softly. “Tired just now, yet eager for war talk? Why not ask Lance for details?”


    Her arctic wolf pheromones formed a shield, easing the room’s tension.


    “Adide’s here, so I’ll ask her,” Erasmus said, turning to me. His vertical pupils, etched with aurora patterns, shimmered. “I hear you led the Ironthorn Army as vanguard in the Darkw Town siege, with Ulrik supporting you. So the victory was a joint effort?”


    My wolf growled a warning in my mind–I sensed danger.


    The battle reports clearly outlined the roles.


    But Lycan Erasmus deliberately blurred the lines, likely for a reason.


    I kept my voice steady. “Battlefield sess hinges on teamwork. Alpha Lance had Ulrik back me and the Ironthorn Army.”


    Erasmus tapped the throne’s armrest. The wolf–carved eyes caught my whitening knuckles. “I’ve been to war too. I understand. But didn’t Alpha Lance take a risk by partnering you two? Given your past disputes.”


    His words were like a poisoned dagger, reopening old wounds.


    I looked up in surprise. “Alpha Lance’s decision wasn’t wrong. We did take Darkw Town. As for any past issues with Alpha Ulrik, they were set aside in the face of amon enemy.”


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    Erasmus’s expression turned grave. “You could set them aside, but Velda couldn’t. She disrupted your mission, nearly derailing the siege. Asmander, should Alpha Lance have anticipated Velda’s jealousy- driven interference? The Southern Border’s recapture was decisive. Every risk should have been averted, yet he failed.”