Third Person’s POV
45 Free Coms
Madison nced around the room and said, “Take my words to heart: some people are worth associating with, others are not. Keep your distance from those with narrow minds lest you catch their sour disposition.”
Madison was openly dering her feud with Adide.
Severaldies present were on good terms with Madison, partly due to her past hospitality and asional favors, and partly because she and Wanda co–owned a perfume and jewelry shop where they got first dibs on trendy items.
Over time, their rtionship had grown close.
Additionally, many she–wolves‘ partners were matched by Madison<b>, </b>so there was no shortage of supporters for her words.
A sh of malice crossed Madison’s eyes. With Adide absent, she felt free to disparage her.
“Prisci didn’t invite her, and Alpha Lance didn’t speak up either. Clearly, this future Luna of <b>the </b>ckthorn Pack isn’t beloved. There must be more to the story.”
Wanda snorted, “What more could there be? It’s like Ulrik and Velda–plotting to get close to Lance on the battlefield and forcing him into a bond.”
This remark stunned the crowd.
“Oh my, could it be true?”
“It’s hard to say. Why else would Alpha Lance mate with her?”
“Exactly.”
Whispers and malicious spection filled the air.
Skye was present but remained silent, her head bowed.
Rowena spoke up in a deep voice, “Wanda, watch your words and back them with evidence. Don’t spread unproven rumors and cause unnecessary gossip or misunderstanding for Adide.”
As Wanda’s mother–inw, Rowena’s rebuke silenced the crowd.
Wanda, not daring to cross Rowena, turned to her mother Madison.
Madison put down her coffee cup and said coldly, “Truth remains truth; lies stay lies.”
This nonchnt remark seemed to confirm Wanda’s insinuations.
“Prisci’s dislike of her makes sense now, using such despicable tactics<b>,</b>” someone muttered.
“As Frostfang Alpha Bentley’s daughter, resorting to this is truly repulsive.”
<b>1/3 </b>
“Luna Skye, now I understand why you keep your distance from her
Luna Skye, holding her coffee cup and wanting to speak, caught Madison’s icy gaze and merely smiled bitterly, taking a sip of coffee instead.
(
Prisci was thoroughly displeased. The gathering, meant to serve as a warning to Adide, had spiraled into public gossip.
Though Adide was Lance’s mate–a fact she couldn’t deny–Prisci was ufortable seeing her maligned.
Yet Madison’s words hung in the air, unverifiable but unsettling.
She sulked, nursing her coffee in silence.
Then a voice broke the tension, “My, everyone’s gathered so early.” All eyes turned to Mrs. Voss entering with an omega.
Bundled in winter clothes and holding leather gloves<b>, </b>she moved slowly but with a cheerful expression.
“Prisci,” she greeted with a curtsy.
Prisci, recognizing Mrs. Voss, smiled and said, “No need for formalities. Why thete arrival, Mrs. Voss<b>?</b>”
Mrs. Voss exined, “I stopped by the Frostfang Pack first. It was packed, so I headed <b>here</b>.”
Prisci frowned. “The Frostfang Pack? Why the crowd? Are they hosting a party <i>too</i>?”
“A horde of men!” Mrs. Voss replied, then curtsied to Madison before sitting down.
“A horde of men?” Wanda’s voice sharpened. “She invited men over? Why did you go, Mrs. Voss?<b>” </b>
“Because Cyrus was there,” Mrs. Voss said with a’wry smile.
“I tried to refuse, but Cyrus insisted Ie along to ‘broaden my horizons.”
Wanda pressed, “What horizons? Do tell.”
Mrs. Voss sighed, “What horizons, indeed? The ce was swarming with men–government officials and military generals, half of them already there, the other half likely on their way. I was <b>so </b>unnerved I left promptly.” She dabbed her nose with a handkerchief, still smiling.
“A horde of men surrounding her? What’s she up to?”
Wanda raised her voice again, ncing at Prisci and covering her mouth with a smirk. “This future Luna’s quite the charmer, isn’t she? No wonder Cyrus went too. That face of hers–it’s captivating.”
Prisci was fuming. What was Adide thinking?
The Frostfang Pack had male members, but why invite government and military officials?
Even Rowena of the Glenveil Pack was left speechless.
Sabrina, the unmarried girl previously humiliated, chimed in, “She’s always like this–fond of mingling2/3
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<b>11:10 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b>7 Jul
with men.”
Though it was unseemly for an unmarried girl to speak so, Adide’s behavior had stunned <b>everyone</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>no one took offense.