Third Person’s POV
But Klein soon broke into a smile again when Lance brought coffee over, first to Irene and <b>then </b><b>to </b><b>him</b><b>. </b>
It was strange to see Klein smile twice in one day.
So, he could smile!
Lance said, “Sir, I need to speak with you privately.”
“Alright.” Klein stood up and lightly flicked his sleeve as he left with Lance.
Lance winked at Adide with a mischievous grin.
Everyone realized he’d deliberately asked Klein to leave.
Prune gently massaged Adide’s arm and hugged her.
When Adide first arrived at the Warscar Training Camp, Prune used to carry her around.
Adide had been terribly homesick, and it was Prune whoforted her to sleep.
“Don’t spoil her too much,” Irene said, though her eyes held more affection for Adide than anyone else’s.
“As a Luna of the same pack, you must grow stronger. If you’re wronged, don’t suffer in silence. Tell the Warscar Training Camp–we’ll stand up for you.”
Adide leaned into Prune’s embrace and softly replied, “I understand, teacher.”
Irene heard her reply meekly, then gestured for her to approach, “Come here.”
Adide walked over docilely, and Irene flicked her nose.
“Ouch, that hurts,” Adideined.
“It’s a punishment,” Irene said sternly. “For not speaking up. Consider yourself lucky it’s light.”
Adide’s eyes flickered with pain, but she quickly masked it. “I understand. I won’t do it again.”
Irene noticed and sighed inwardly. This child’s past was too painful to dwell on.
She took Adide’s hand and said, /Lance’s character surpasses Ulrik’s. I believe he won’t forsake you. But people and circumstances change/Once he yearned for you, now that you’re mated, he might grow tired. So, if you love him, don’t give your heart entirely. Understand?”
Alistair agreed, “Right. Men are/despicable. We can’t trust them fully, lest we <b>face </b>another heartbreak.”
“Silence!”
Craig pped Alistair’s forehead. He had wanted to object when Irene spoke but didn’t dare with her
O
<b>173 </b>
present.
Now Alistair echoed her words, and Craig seized the chance.
Paisley chuckled, “Alistair, you’re a man too. Why do you despise men?”
Alistair, from the Tudor family and skilled in music, replied coldly, “I do despise them. That’s why <b>I </b><b>avoid </b>men and befriend women.”
“You just made an excuse for yourself,” Paisley teased.
Paisley sneered. Everyone knew Alistair loved to hang out in pubs and ballrooms.
He yed the piano and sang, and the dance hall girls swayed to his tunes–Paisley had seen it <b>with </b>her own eyes.
Alistair nced out the window, tense, “Don’t speak recklessly. If Klein hears…”
Paisley shrugged, “He might find out someday.”
Alistair turned away expressionlessly, “Seeing you has made me lose interest in women too.”
“Enough!”
Irene interrupted, “We’re leaving tomorrow. Say your goodbyes without nonsense<b>.” </b>
Craig was ushered out–he had stayed at the Frostfang Pack before the mating ceremony and shouldn’t take time from Adide now.
Adide was surrounded by ssmates, each speaking one by one.
Whatever they said, the message was clear: remember your friends in times of need.
Prune held Adide, the usually strong she–wolf shedding tears.
Adide, once a little girl in a red dress at the training camp, had grown up.
Prune had carried her from the training ground to their room in the early days.
She remembered Adide’s coquettish requests for cherries and her radiant, carefree smile.
Her eyes back then were full of brilliance and freedom.
Now, seeing Adide all grown up and mated, Prune felt bittersweet.
Tears streamed down her face as she thought of Adide’s experiences over the years.
Wiping her tears, Prune said, “I won’t leave. I’ll stay in the city with you, at the Frostfang Pack. Come back anytime you miss me.”
“We’ll stay
too!” others chimed in.
Adide hid in Prune’s embrace, feeling a long–lost sense <b>of </b>safety.
και
She wanted to cry. She would miss them terribly.
W