Third Person’s POV


    Wanda had expected that after a few days at Madison’s estate, Winslow woulde to fetch her.


    But not only did Winslow not show up, but no one from the Glenveil Pack did either.


    Instead, she heard that Rowena had personally apologized to Adide at Frostfang’s residence.


    Bitterness welled up in Wanda’s heart- it seemed as long as Rowena was alive, she would never wield power in the Glenveil Pack, let alone attain any status.


    But her repeated malicious thoughts came to naught–Rowena’s meals and daily routines were closely monitored.


    As Winslow’s mate, Wanda, leaning on her royal heritage, never took the initiative to greet Rowena and had no chance to get close to her.


    Both mother and daughter, each burdened by their own troubles, temporarily left Adide in peace.


    By mid–August, Lance still hadn’t returned.


    A month had passed since he left, and Adide began to worry.


    Initially, he had said he would just file a report and return. The journey from here to the Shadow Peaks was but two or three days by car. Even with a stay, ten days should have sufficed for a round trip.


    Could something have happened at the Shadow Peaks?


    Adide happened to receive a letter from Paisley, filled with stories from the Shadow Peaks–Avery bought cosmetics and was grounded by the mentor, though fortunately not punished.


    The letter also congratted Adide on her uing mating bond, with friends at the training camp moring to send a grand gift for her ceremony.


    Adide felt somewhat reassured.


    It seemed Lance had indeed visited the Warscar Training Camp. The mentor must have approved of her mate bond with Lance, spreading the news throughout the camp.


    However, the letter made no mention of whether Lance remained at the Shadow Peaks.


    Adide sent someone to inquire at the ckthorn Pack. They found them busy preparing for the mating ceremony and arranging amodations for Prisci.


    Letting it go, Adide penned a letter to the mentor at the Shadow Peaks. Whether Lance was still there or not, the messenger would return with news.


    On second thought, perhaps Lance was dyed by business. She chose not to dwell on it.


    A few dayster, the Full Moon Festival arrived. The Frostfang Pack’s Packhouse was adorned with statues of the Moon Goddess, finally donning a festive air.


    Ivy personally made desserts. After tasting them, Adide had some sent to Melinda and Luna Rowena of the Glenveil Pack.


    As for Luna Skye, Adide made no special preparations.


    Rtionships should be reciprocal. She would respond in kind to how others treated her.


    The pce, naturally, was out of the question. Without rissa’s orders, she couldn’t enter freely, let alone with external food that required security checks for royal entry.


    The Full Moon Festival typically saw wolf packs hosting rituals for the Moon Goddess together. But this year, Adide was alone.


    She tried to put on a brave face but couldn’t hide the sorrow in her


    eyes.


    Beata, noticing her distress<b>, </b>teasingly suggested in Adide’s car, “I heard there’s a wolf gathering today. Want to join?”


    As Beata spoke, her eyes welled up too–she missed her family, long gone.


    Adide gently stroked her hair and said, “Tonight, you all go out and enjoy yourselves. Leave all your worries behind.”


    She harbored a quiet guilt toward Beata–born into the wolf pack, Beata had grown up with her, trained at the Shadow Peaks, joined the Bloodmoon Pack, and now, like Adide, was an orphan.


    Once lively and mischievous, Beata had be unusually reserved after the tragedy.


    Especially since returning to the Frostfang Pack, she managed Adide’s personal affairs and trained the omegas under her charge with a poise beyond her eighteen years.


    “Should I find you a fine mate?” Adide quickly shifted the topic as pain surged in her heart.


    “I’ll stay by your side forever,” Beata pouted, masking her tears. “You said you’d never drive me away.”


    “Deal!” Adide smiled and tapped her nose. “When you meet your true mate, I’ll preside over your bonding ceremony.”


    Lunch was light. Adide only had a bowl of oatmeal. Afterward, she headed to the Frostfang Pack’s Moonlight Altar.


    The altar, paved with a single b of moonstone, bore wolf–head carvings on the dome, casting an ethereal blue glow.


    As Adide lit the wolf–fat candles, the moonmark on the back of her neck suddenly red hot.


    Kneeling on the cushion, her wolf cars drooped with sorrow.


    “Father, Mother,” her wolf whimpered in her mind, “Elder Halsey and I have discussed adopting a child to train as the Frostfang Pack’s future Alpha, but no candidate has been chosen yet.”


    “All the children on the shortlist have parents to care for them… How am I to choose?” Adide’s nails dug into the wolfskin cushion, her knuckles scoring five bloody grooves.


    She recalled her nephews nailed to the moon altar, those young wolves who should have inherited the Frostfang Pack. None remained.


    They were exceptionally promising pups, irreceable in Adide’s heart.


    No one answered Adide’s questions, but here, it felt as though her parents and brothers were still by her side. This small sce cased her grief.


    After a while, she rose, rested in her room, and saw Beata leading Beta Valentine in.