Third Person’s POV
Madison had to cough up the cash since the check couldn’t cover the amount.
+5 Free Coug
Her family’s wealth was evident as she produced over twenty million dors without much trouble, though her pained expression suggested it hurt her deeply.
The facade of harmony was shattered, but at least they got back what was rightfully theirs and the stolen money–no loss there.
This hypocritical peace was never worth maintaining.
“Let’s go!”
Madison and her daughter watched Adide walk away–her posture, no longer polite, radiated an unassable strength.
“Adide!” Madison gritted her teeth, powerless to act.
Wanda’s mint pheromones turned sour, her wolf ears drooping in anger. “Years of effort down the drain, all because of that woman Adide. I won’t let her off the hook.”
Her hardened nails dug into her palm, and the temporary mark on her neck oozed tiny red bumps.
Though Madison also despised Adide, hearing her daughter’s words, she swiftly warned, “Don’t provoke her. You’re no match. The Golden Jewelry Store fiasco was your carelessness. How could you leave the ledgers in the store?”
Madison’s white musk pheromones exploded like ice shards, her pupils slitting into blood–red lines in the shadows.
Her Moon Goddess emblem at the nape of her neck scorched hot–a typical ndr reaction for a noble werewolf in rage.
Wanda’s wolf tail curled defensively under her skirt, her mint pheromones chaotic with regrets. “I was afraid of Rowena finding out about the store if I took the ledgers home.”
“You should have sent them elsewhere,” Madison said, her wolf ws subconsciously elongating and scratching the wolfhide chair, “or better yet, shredded them after annual reconciliation-
“Johnson said not to burn them. The Golden Jewelry Store was the only one fullypliant with taxes. He insisted on keeping the ledgers just in case,” Wanda growled, her mint pheromones sharp with frustration.
Madison reined in her pheromones, her white musk now tinged with sulfur.
She frowned, “Forget it. Who would have thought Prisci would actually leave the pce to live elsewhere, or that Lance would marry Adide–a she–wolf abandoned by Ulrik? With no family left and rejected by Ulrik, she has nothing to lose. There’s no point in shing with her. Keep your other businesses clean–don’t give her a chance to expose you.”
“The other businesses haye nothing to do with her or Prisci,” Wanda said.
THE
O
“Didn’t you hear her? She’s determined to watch our every move.”
s
Madison, annoyed and pained by the loss of money, said, “Just be careful. Don’t provoke her. Understand?“.
“I understand.” Wanda replied, though her heart seethed with hatred for Adide–this grudge would be settled.
Adide and Prisci exited Madison’s manor to find Lance waiting with Tommy at the crossroads.
Seeing them emerge, Lance approached and asked Adide, “Is everything settled?”
He exhaled a visible breath. It was freezing, and the wind howled–no telling how long he and Tommy had waited..
“It’s done. You didn’t need toe,” Adide said, stepping forward and stopping Lance from removing his coat.
His hands were ice–cold. “Go back now, we’ll talk in the car.”
Prisci waved and grinned, unfazed by the cold, her heart warm. “Yes, let’s go back.”
Lance nced at his mother’s beaming face–a rare sight–and said, “Alright, get in the car, don’t catch a cold.”
“dly,” Prisci said, feeling a rare surge of maternal care from her son.
The dim light hid Lance’s gaze, but the words were clear.
Both the speaker and listener understood.
In the ck sedan, with Lance and Tommy up front and Adide and Prisci in the back, the car pulled
away.
Prisci clutched Adide’s hand, her excitement barely contained. “I never thought you could get all the money back. You don’t know Madison–she’s friendly to everyone’s face but extremely domineering underneath.”
Adide slowly withdrew her hand and said, “If you know what she’s like, just keep your distance from
now on.”
Prisci agreed but fretted, “I’m worried that after a fallout with her, she’ll spread rumors about us and ruin our reputation.”
“What’s there to worry about?” Adide’s tone was calm.
“You wouldn’t worry, your reputation’s already…”
Prisci caught herself mid–sentence, flustered, and quickly backtracked, “That’s not what I meant. Zelda is searching for a mate. Madison has connections with many nobles and prestigious packs. I’m afraid her gossip could harm Zelda’s standing.”
Adide replied, “Zelda is a royal princess, protected by Lycan Erasmus and Lycan rissa, with the ckthorn Pack backing her. Who would dare nder her? Only those courting death.”
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Recalling Lycan Luna Cami’s words, it seemed someone had hoped Alger would mate with Zelda.