Third Person’s POV


    Ulrik paused for a beat, then answered seriously, “I think focusing on the job is the most important thing right now. Gloria often talks about you, saying you’re a really generous and broad minded person. So, I figured you’d also prioritize work and wouldn’t


    sweat the small stuff.”


    Ampelio gave a dryugh, clearly awkward. “Well, now you’re making me sound like a petty jerk.”


    He secretly knew Gloria was too high and mighty to say anything nice about him besides her brother, Tad.


    Ulrik was careful not to offend anyone, especially Adide.


    He had just gotten this job, and if he fell off thisdder now, he knew he’d never climb back up.


    Seeing that Ulrik wasn’t biting, Ampelio grew bored and finally left.


    The thought of the impending assessment already gave him a headache.


    It wasn’t just him; all twelvemanders of the Royal Guard would be involved. He knew he was going to be universally hated- women are seriously petty!


    Once everyone was gone, Ulrik summoned the members of the Lycan King’s Personal Wolf–Guard.


    It was a small but rigorously selected elite force.


    Ulrik spotted a familiar face–Griffin, Eugene’s cousin.


    Ulrik checked the duty roster, then immediately promoted Griffin to the Lycan King’s personal bodyguard, allowing him to carry a weapon while on duty near Lycan Erasmus.


    The rest of the guards maintained their current posts for now.


    Ulrik felt a little nervous about his new position.


    Lycan Erasmus had ced great faith in him, but he had also explicitly told him to follow Adide’s lead.


    This meant his job would be impossible if she chose to make it difficult.


    She hadn’t been outright rude today, but she hadn’t been weing either, and that left him uneasy.


    He decided he should probably talk to Adide and clear the air.


    “Work is work, and personal grudges are personal grudges.” If she was still resentful about the past, he was willing to apologize.


    He suddenly remembered the day they ended their mating bond, when he had told Adide he “hoped she wouldn’t regret it.” Thinking about it now, he just felt foolish.


    It was painfully clear who the one regretting things was.


    Ulrik was working overtime, always the first to arrive and thest to leave.


    Sometimes he personally patrolled the pce grounds; other times, he waited for the duty officers to submit their log reports after shift change.


    ording to regtions, after handing over their shifts, the staff on duty had to record the details of their patrols.


    If there were any anomalies, they had to be recorded in detail; if there were none, they still had to note ‘no anomalies


    Even with the normal quitting time set for five, he rarely left before six.


    One day, Ulrik happened to run into Germain.


    He knew Germain usually came in early and leftte, so why was he leaving so soon?


    Ulrik quickly approached and saluted. “Alpha Germain. Good afternoon.”


    Germain looked at him with a warm smile. “Alpha Ulrik! I haven’t had a chance to congratte you on the promotion. I’ve always thought you were incredibly capable–it was a disservice how things were before. I wish you the very best in your career and hope you keep rising.”


    Ulrik was ttered by the praise. “Thank you for the kind words.”


    Germain put his hands behind his back and continued, “Alpha Ulrik, if you and Luna Gloria have time, you should swing by the estate. My Luna just moved to the capital and doesn’t know the city well. If Luna Gloria is free, she could show her around; that would make her day.”


    Ulrik exined, “Thank you for the invitation, but Gloria is pregnant and probably shouldn’t be traveling right now.”


    “Of course, that makes sense. Well, maybe you could stille over and visit sometime soon. We can just chat.”


    Germainughed heartily. “Alpha Ulrik, this is a double blessing–a promotion and soon to be a father. I have to congratte you again.”


    Ulrik found Germain exceptionally friendly, but a tiny voice in his head wondered, “Was this too much?”


    He didn’t dare say more than “Thank you” and quickly changed the subject. “Why are you leaving so early today, sir?”


    Germain stretched, his voice rxed and casual. “Ah, Pandora took her medicine and is resting, so I came out early. I’m a little tired today, or I’d absolutely take you out for dinner. I hear you did some serious work down at the Bloodscar and Southern Borders.”


    Hearing “Bloodscar Border,” Ulrik’s heart instantly jumped.


    He quickly said, “I will definitelye visit when I have the opportunity.”


    Germain smiled, ending the conversation.


    They walked together for a short distance before separating.


    Adide happened to be walking not far behind them and caught bits of their conversation.


    It was mostly Germain showering Ulrik with praise, while Ulrik looked both ttered and overly careful.


    Ulrik wasn’t stupid, but when a high–ranking official like Germain approved of him, it was hard not to feel a bit smug.


    <i>212 </i>


    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.