Third Person’s POV


    “But your daughter will be living there,” Adide reminded her.


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    Julia turned her face away, strands of long hair slipping over her shoulder. She spoke softly. “I know. But she won’t suffer there. She’ll grow up safely, like any normal child.”


    Her eyes were full of longing.


    That was the stable life she had never had, and now that her daughter could have it, she was


    content.


    Adide’s voice warmed. “Good. If you don’t want to go back, no one can force you. You have no formal status in Styxwarden, so they have no right to make you leave here.”


    Julia slid off the bed, barefoot, and bowed deeply to Adide, her voice catching with emotion. “Thank you… You don’t know what this means to us. The knife that was hanging over our heads is finally gone. Now, when I dream, I won’t have those terrible nightmares anymore.”


    Adide quickly helped her up. “The case isn’tpletely closed yet, so you haven’t truly gained your freedom. Once the treason case is finalized, you can go wherever you wish.”


    “This is good enough for now. No one will hurt me again.” Julia sat back on the bed, forcing a deste smile as tears streamed down her cheeks.


    “I never liked Stanley, actually. Every time he came, I was terrified. I never expected him to be kind, but he was always so rough.”


    As she spoke, she unbuttoned her top, revealing a dense pattern of bite marks: some fresh, some old.


    They covered her chest, arms, and even her legs. The ovepping marks were horrifying.


    Adide’s heart ached. Who could say these women weren’t victims?


    They were the ones truly forced into an impossible situation.


    Thinking back to Hunt’s repeated ims that he was “forced” felt incredibly hollow and hypocritical byparison.


    Adide helped Julia re–fasten her top. “No one will ever hurt you again. Rest here and be at peace.”


    2700


    “Thank you, truly, thank you… You saved us.” Julia was dressed, but her tears continued to fall.


    Adide had just stepped out of the Pearwater Shelter when she saw Ramona walking toward


    her.


    Ramona didn’t have a vehicle, so she had walked all the way up the hill. Her face was drenched in sweat, her eyes red and bloodshot, and she looked utterly exhausted.


    “Gamma Adide.” Ramona came forward to bow, her voice heavy with fatigue.


    “Why are you here? How is your mother?” Adide asked.


    She had heard from Galvin that Ramona’s mother, Aireanna, was in very poor health and wasn’t expected tost much longer.


    Ramona fought back her tears, her voice hoarse. “She has passed away. I want to bury her on the hill behind the Pearwater Shelter. I think she would want to stay with the sisters here. I was actually going to ask the shelter director for permission.”


    Adide was taken aback–Galvin had said Aireanna might hold on a bit longer.


    She offered quietfort. “I’m sorry for you.”


    “She died in my arms. Before she went, she coughed terribly, even bringing up blood… For her, perhaps death was a release.” Ramona’s voice broke.


    Adide felt a wave of sadness. She said, “If you want to bury her on the hill behind the shelter, you don’t need to ask the director. I can authorize it. This hill was awarded to our pack by the old Lycan King after my father’s service.”


    “Truly? Thank you so much!” Ramona immediately thanked her.


    Adide nodded gently and asked, “I’ll send someone to help you handle the arrangements. Are you ready?”


    Ramona replied, “I am. The money Paisley loaned me, well, I didn’t end up needing to use it.” Adide said, “If you need any more helpter on, don’t hesitate to ask.”


    “There is one more favor I want to ask,” Ramona continued. “I have no family left now, and there are several sisters here at the Pearwater Shelter who are disabled. I want to stay here and care for them. I only ask for a ce to live and my meals.”


    Adide was happy to agree. “Of course. I thank those sisters on your behalf.”


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    “We are all unfortunate women; it’s only right that we care for each other<i>,</i>” Ramona said softly.


    “Luckily, I’m strong. I can handle any heavy or tiring work.”


    The next day, Hunt was scheduled for execution. Lance was in charge of supervising the execution, while the Capital Guard was responsible for setting up the perimeter and maintaining order.


    Lance initially didn’t want Adide to attend.


    As hateful as Hunt was, he wasn’t the mastermind of the treason case, and the execution was going to be gruesome. Lance preferred Adide not <i>to </i>witness it.


    But Adide had seen more than enough cruelty in her life.


    Even if Hunt wasn’t the mastermind, his willing participation for personal gain, and his weakness that had harmed so many, made his crime heinous.


    So, she insisted on going.


    Early that morning, the area around the execution site was already packed with people.


    Since the execution wasn’t scheduled until noon, the Capital Guard hadn’t yet been deployed to keep order. The area was chaotic, with vendors even setting up stalls to do business nearby.


    Sara Lili


    <strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.