Adide’s POV


    I held Cedric’s hands, my cedar pheromones releasing a calming aura.


    “Digby says you’ll be fine. The potent medicine is just purging the Silencing Leaf toxins trapped in your neck. Once you spit them out, you’ll speak again. No need to worry,” I reassured him.


    Cedric nodded vigorously.


    I knew he was anxious, closely following the preparations for my mating ceremony with Lance.


    I suspected he wanted to offer his blessings in person.


    Plus, with many wolf guests at the ceremony, he likely didn’t want to be mocked as a voiceless wolf.


    After admiring the wax–plum blossoms and ice crystals for a while, we returned to the room.


    Galvin arrived just then with wolfsbane ointment for a dressing change.


    My moon goddess ne glimmered in the candlelight as I asked, “How’s his leg now?”


    “The bone’s set well. Even after shifting, there’ll be no deformities. Once the silvermoon ointment fully activates the healing factors, he’ll run like any healthy pup,” Galvin exined while applying the wolfsbane ointment and wrapping the wound with bandages that carried a faint sulfurous scent–a secret medicine to elerate werewolf bone healing.


    “Thank you,” I said gratefully.


    Galvinughed and replied, “No need. We’d feel guilty epting payment for such services.”


    I responded with a wry smile, “That’s out of the question. Doctor Digby’s medicine is expensive, and with him visiting frequently and youing every other day, I’d feel terrible not paying.”


    After finishing the dressing, Galvin stood up and said, “I was joking. Digby insists on a one–dor charge— no more. He was <i>so </i>pleased Cedric returned that he couldn’t sleep for three days.”


    I was naturally unable to pay just one dor, but I was deeply moved by Digby’s care.


    In the evening, Lance came to visit Cedric. Hisfort proved more effective than that from Galvin and <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    With a single sentence-“As a powerful werewolf, you must learn patience“-he eased Cedric’s anxiety.


    Lance also spent half an hour practicing writing with Cedric, whose handwriting and finger dexterity improved noticeably.


    Clearly, Cedric was a sociable child.


    While Lance was there, he asked numerous trivial questions on paper, just for casual chat.


    Lance patiently replied to each one.


    After apanying them for a while, I arranged for dinner and invited Lance to stay.


    As he asionally dined with the Frostfang Pack, Ivy had learned his dietary preferences.


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    He wasn’t fond of sweets but would tolerate them, and though he couldn’t handle spicy food well, he always tried to apany me in eating it.


    With arge appetite, he ate arge amount, epting both meat and vegetables.


    Tommy had once mentioned that Lance fully shifted morning and evening, running in the forest for an hour each time, in addition to his court duties during the day, leaving him with hardly any free time.


    This exined why a busy day would lead to a hearty appetite.


    After dinner, I watched Cedric take his medicine—a ck liquid darker than ink.


    Under my supervision, he drank it in one go.


    I gave him a candy and said with a smile, “You’re being such a good boy.”


    Cedricy down obediently.


    Dr. Digby had said that the best medicine was sleep. Sufficient rest allowed the medicine to work effectively.


    I didn’t disturb him and went out to chat with Lance.


    Lance had just finished talking with Beta Valentine and learned about the message from the Ironw Pack.


    He brought up Ulrik and Gloria’s situation.


    “Finding a Luna for Ulrik was Lycan Erasmus’s idea,” Lance said, standing before a tree with his hands behind his back.


    The sky had darkened, and the Frostfang Pack’snterns illuminated the square, casting half in brightness and half in dimness, making his face appear in shadows.


    “Was it Lycan Erasmus who authorized the Royal Elder Council President?” I asked, somewhat surprised.


    “Why would he do that? He agreed to Ulrik and Velda’s mating bond. Now he’s seeking a Luna? I recall Velda’s mating ceremony was conducted as the pack’s Luna.”


    “Regardless of the ceremony’s basis, the royal family now considers Velda Ulrik’s breeder. Lycan Erasmus wants to make her life difficult,” he replied.


    I acknowledged this, knowing Lycan Erasmus had been holding a grudge over the Bloodscar Border


    incident.


    Such suppressed resentment was understandable.


    “Why choose Gloria Olson?” <b>I </b>questioned.


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    “When Cyrus presented the list, Lycan Erasmus specifically designated her. The reason will be clear if you think it through,” he said.


    I paused<b>, </b>considering his words.


    He continued, “Lycan Erasmus is helping you get revenge, though that’s not his main goal. He’s primarily using Ulrik. Tad now leads the Royal Army. Though his abilities are limited, his reputation holds weight. A union between the two packs benefits Ulrik.”


    My eyes narrowed. “I understand why Lycan Erasmus would use Ulrik, but he doesn’t need to do this for me. Gloria had no choice but to agree.”