hapter 356
“Third Person’s POV
Adide sat knitting a sweater and nced at the letter. “You’ve not only cleared yourself from this <b>case</b>, but you’re also getting to the truth. It’s a win–win situation,” she remarked.
Lance watched her needles fly, gradually shaping a duck.
After a moment, he said. “It’s more than a win–win. It’s a triple gain. Now everyone knows I <b>insisted </b>on a retrial, and <b>not </b><b>just </b>any retrial–a specialmissioner’s retrial. Someone’s trying to take me down, but I’ll use their scheme to boost my public support and leave them seething”
Adide smiled gently and returned to her knitting.
Curious, Lance asked, “Who’s the duck for?”
“It’s for Melinda’s baby–a little sweater. As an aunt, I should show some affection, she replied.
Lance frowned. “The thought’s sweet, but buying a gift would be simpler. The pack has professional weavers. Your <b>hands </b>are meant for weapons, not needles. It’s a bit of a waste, don’t you think?”
Τ
Adide rolled her eyes. “I know <b>you </b>think my knitting’s <b>not </b>great, but <b>Ivy </b><b>says </b>I’ve improved, and I actually <b>enjoy </b>it
Lance thought to himself that she did like it as a child, <b>even </b>if shecked talent.
He inquired about Melinda. “How’s she holding up? Dwight’s been ousted–surely he’s cooled down?”
Adide shook her head. “He’s all ‘true love. How could be <b>cool </b>down? He’s not only unrestrained but <b>now </b>won’t even visit Melinda’s room.”
“True love?” Lance grimaced. “<b>That’s </b>an insult to that term. What about his breeder–the merchant’s daughter?”
“She’s rarely seen him,” Adide said, her face flushing with anger.
“She’s only twenty, from a family that’s a far cry from the Soulrend Pack. She’s trapped, a pawn in her father’s and brother’s deals. Did she willingly choose to be Dwight’s breeder?”
“Outsiders say she volunteered, Ivy interjected as she brought in the soup.
Adide retorted, “They im she chose it. But who cares about her true feelings? Who bothers to see that she might just want a stable, ordinary life with a in mate?”
<b>Lance </b>was touched by her words. You’ve hardly interacted with her, yet you champion her… You genuinely empathize with she–wolves, unlike some who preach equality but secretly disdain them.
Adide was taken <b>aback</b>, recalling Velda.
Velda had posed <b>as </b>a role model for she–wolves<b>, </b>iming to fight for their rights, yet beneath it all, she
held them in contempt.
DIE THU, 17 Du H
At that moment, Beata announced, “Luna Adide, Georgina has arrived.”
“Show her to the conference hall at <b>once</b>, Adide said, rising quickly, wondering if the evening visit signaled some urgency.
Lately, Georgina and Paige had dropped by asionally, but always during the day, never in the
evening.
Although Lance and Georgina hadn’t crossed paths often during his time in the <b>Shadow </b>Peaks, they’d met a few times since she’de to the capital and were aware of each other’s affiliations.
“I’ll go with you. If she’se thiste, it must be important, Lance offered.
In the conference hall, Georgina sat with a cup of coffee. She didn’t wait for it to cool and drank it straight away, clearly <b>parched</b>.
Seeing Adide <b>and </b>Lance enter, she didn’t stand but simply greeted them by name.
“Georgina!” the couple chorused.
“Take a seat. I’ll make it quick,’ she said, her tone calm as always.
When she was <b>this </bposed, it usually meant something urgent.
“Is something wrong with Melinda?” Adide asked, pulling Lance into a chair.
Georgina nodded gravely. “Earlier, we said we wouldn’t usually intervene, but tonight <i>I </i>lost my cool. I decked that son of a gun and knocked out two of his teeth.”
“I figured I should let you know, Adide. If he tries to use our <b>status </b>to cause trouble, just hit him again. I couldn’t hold back <b>tonight</b>, I only got half my anger out.” she added.
“What did he do to make you hit him<b>?</b>” Adide asked.
<b>rovoke </b>Melinda. At first,
“Willow, who was under house arrest, was released a few days ago. She <b>came </b>Paige and I didn’t let her in, but today she deliberately tripped on the stone steps, grazed her scalp, and then <b>told </b>Dwight it was Melinda who pushed her. Dwight, of course, believed the obvious lie and stormmed over to confront Melinda, Georgina exined.
She then asked, “Another coffee? I’ve finished this one.”
145 Free Colta