<b>272 </b>
Third Person’s POV
Prisci felt tears welling up–Wanda had scammed her.
She was upset but also grateful that Adide had helped her get the pink diamonds back yesterday and was still supporting her now.
But she knew it wouldn’t be easy to get the money back. Wanda had scammed a lot, after <b>all</b>.
There was a good chance the real financial reports wouldn’t even be essible. She might be running <b>in </b>circles for nothing.
Adide offered a brief word offort and then left after a bow.
Lance wasn’t involved in this. He had more important matters today–he was heading back to the Frostfang Pack.
Usually, packing gifts was an omega’s job, but Lance insisted on doing it himself. He carefully loaded each gift intended for the Frostfang Pack onto the carriage.
There was a reason for his caution–among Irene’s students was a mysterious one named Prune, who might be lurking near the ckthorn Pack, keeping an eye on things.
Lance knew the Warscar Training Camp doted on Adide. If it weren’t for Klein’s strictness<b>, </b>Adide would never face consequences for her mistakes there.
Sometimes when Adide messed up and returned, Irene would “discipline” her before Klein even had the chance. But it was all for show, to avoid Klein’s harsher punishments.
After Irene’s token “punishment,” Craig and others would plead for leniency, and the burden on Adide would be light.
However, if Klein took action, Adide would truly suffer–a fact she’d learned the hard way, making her avoid Klein like the gue.
As Lance packed gifts, he thought about the camp.
He was d Adide had friends backing her up, but he also wanted Irene and the others to know that Adide now had his support. They needn’t worry anymore.
Most importantly, he needed to tell Irene something today: going forward, he’d require Adide to send at least two letters to the Warscar Training Camp each month, sharing both good and bad news. The camp wouldn’t need to send people to gather information.
Once three car trunks were filled with gifts, Adide arrived with Cedric and B
She looked calm and poised in a light purple dress that highlighted her fair skin. Two orchids pinned <b>to </b>her hair added to her elegance
Lance, recalling the previous night, felt a rush of desire. His gaze was deep and meaningful.
C
178
<b>10:30 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>12 Jul </b>0
Adide noticed and recognized that look–the same one Lance had worn the <b>past </b>two nights <b>as </b><b>he’d </b><b>been </b>insatiable with her.
She blushed and looked away, her heart racing.
Lance approached and took her hand. “The gifts are all packed. Let’s go.”
“Okay,” Adide agreed meekly, herposure reced by shyness.
Though they were mated and had been intimate, his public gesture still filled her with <b>joy </b>and embarrassment.
Cedric asked Beata, “Why does Adide blush when Lance holds her hand?”
Beata, ncing at Adide’s rosy cheeks, replied nonchntly, “Men holding women’s hands naturally make them blush.”
Cedric pressed, “What if I hold your hand? Why don’t you blush?”
Beata chuckled, “My skin’s too thick. Even if I blush, you wouldn’t notice.”
Cedric seemed to understand with a newfound wisdom.
The group boarded the carriage, followed by a fleet of giftden vehicles, as they headed back to the Frostfang Pack.
In a twist of fate, they encountered Ulrik and Gloria returning to the Ironw Pack.
Ulrik was on horseback. Lance caught sight of him through the curtain, noting his swollen face–a clear sign that Tommy and his men hadn’t held back.
Ulrik nced over and locked eyes with Lance, his gaze ring with anger.
Lance lowered the curtain, a smirk ying on his lips. He hoped Ulrik resented him for the beating.
Adide, following Lance’s gaze, spotted Ulrik and guessed what had happened, “Did his two mates beat him up?”
Lance shook his head. “Not sure. Maybe. Their mates aren’t pushovers.”
Adide remarked, “That was a brutal beating. His face’s almost unrecognizable.”
Lance agreed. “Yeah, way overboard. Since we’re all back from the battlefield, I’ll have Tommy send him some swelling medicine tomorrow.”
Adide gaped at him. “You don’t have to…”
Lance insisted, “We wererades–in–arms.”
After a moment of silence, Adide whispered, “You ordered the beating, didn’t you<b>?</b><b>” </b>
No need to ask
Lance neither confirmed nor denied.
C
10:30 <b>Sat</b>, 12 Jul
Adide frowned. “That was reckless!”
Thinking Lance might be defending Ulrik, his tone turned sour. “He deserved it. Do you know <b>what </b><b>he </b>said to me on the mating day?”
Still frowning, Adide felt Lance was naive and would suffer for <ol><li>it. </li></ol>
“Klein’s still in the capital. If you wanted to beat someone up, wait till he’s gone. Do you want to <b>get </b>punished?”