Third Person’s POV


    s


    Night fell, and the wind howled around the royal lodge. Security was tighter than ever; the silence of the guest house was shattered by the arrival of the military escort.


    Under the cover of darkness, Alpha Zander’s core officers tracked down Magnus and Martin.


    The flickering wallmps cast long shadows over these battle–hardened men, their skin tanned and tough as iron from years on the permafrost.


    The officers were frantic. Their wolves were on edge, and the room was thick with the bitter, sharp scent of high–tier stress.


    Seeing these proud warriors–men who had dedicated their lives to holding the line–now reduced to pleading was almost too much for Magnus and Martin to handle.


    One officer, his face marked by a jagged w scar, spoke up desperately.


    “I swear on the Moon Goddess, Alpha Zander had no clue! He was poisoned. The best doctor said he was a goner. He only pulled through because of sheer willpower. He was in a deepa for nearly three months! He could barely walk when he finally woke up. He’s frail–he won’t survive a royal interrogation if they start getting rough!”


    “He’s right!” another massive warrior grunted, pounding his chest. “The Snowdeer Town mission was my call! It had nothing to do with Alpha Zander! Take me back to the capital. Interrogate me. I’ll sign whatever confession you want! Just leave him alone. You can have my life instead!”


    “Magnus, Martin…”


    Bary, a senior officer, stepped forward.


    His voice was steady, but there was a flicker of hopelessness in his eyes. “You two fought alongside Adide on the Southern Border. Tell us the truth–what is Lycan Erasmus really nning? If he just needs a fall guy, take me! I’m just a low–tier grunt. It doesn’t matter what happens to me.”


    One by one, the wolves started shouting,peting to take the hit. None of them could stand the thought of Alpha Zander–a man who had given everything to the kingdom–facing a humiliating trial in his twilight years.


    Magnus let out a long, weary sigh. The usual yful smirk was gone, reced by a grim mask.


    <b>11:31 </b>Mon, Feb <b>9 </b>


    EZD


    <b>+5 </b>Free Coins


    He lowered his voice, feeling the weight of his own powerlessness. “Look, Martin and I are just the messengers. We’re cogs in a machine. We’re here to carry out Lycan Erasmus’s orders, nothing more. Don’t drive yourselves crazy–Alpha Lance is on the case. He’ll find a way


    “How can we not worry?”


    Bary’s eyes were bloodshot. He gestured wildly with his rough, calloused hands.


    “This isn’t an escort; it’s a prisoner transport! Why else would you have a squad of Royal Guards breathing down our necks?”


    “It’s almost Zander’s 70th birthday! He’s spent his whole life in this frozen hellscape, using his own body as a shield for this country. It’s not fair to pin the crimes of two arrogant idiots on him! It’s just wrong!”


    Cole, a hot–headed warrior standing nearby, started pacing. His ws extended involuntarily, leaving deep gouges in the wooden floorboards.


    “Exactly!” Cole barked. “Those two weren’t even our soldiers! If anyone’s responsible, it’s that prick Ulrik! Or maybe…”


    Cole took a sharp, ragged breath, his anger getting the better of him. “Maybe it’s Lycan Erasmus himself! He’s the one who sent them! He’s the one who shoved those two idiots into our ranks! Why should Zander take the fall for Lycan Erasmus‘ bad judgment?”


    The air in the room instantly turned to ice.


    Magnus and Martin’s pupils snapped shut. They both spun around, their eyes wide with horror as they stared at the half–open door.


    With their heightened hearing, they caught the sound of a faint, muffled footstep in the hallway–someone was out there, moving with calcted stealth.


    A shadow–a member of the Royal Guard–slipped past the door like a ghost.


    At that distance, and with Cole’s shouting, there was no way the guard hadn’t heard every single word.


    Martin reacted like a shot, lunging for the door to see who was retreating down the hall.


    Inside, Bary looked like he’d seen a ghost. He let out a low, warning growl.


    “Cole! Are you out of your mind? Shut up!”


    The growl finally snapped the room back to reality.


    ???


    * Free Cossio


    Cole froze, his blood turning to lead. He looked at the pale faces around him and realized exactly what he’d just done. He had forgotten that Magnus and Martin weren’t the only ones in the building–the Royal Guards were there to watch everyone.


    “I… I…”


    Cole’s lips trembled as he tried to backpedal. “I didn’t mean it like that… Magnus, Martin, I was just stressed. I’m talking nonsense! Lycan Erasmus saved us by sending reinforcements when we needed them most. We’re grateful, really…”


    But the apology fell t. The damage was done.


    Magnus knew he had to shut this down before he and Martin were dragged into the mess.


    “Go back to your quarters,” Magnus said, his voice turning cold and professional. “Lycan Erasmus will make his own judgment. As far as I’m concerned, I never heard a word of this.” Then, he added a desperate whisper, “Get out! Now! Do you want to be the reason Alpha Zander gets executed for treason?”


    11:31 Mon<b>, </b>Feb <b>9</b>…


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    <strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.