Third Person’s POV


    He looked up, his golden pupils shing with that signature Lycan arrogance.


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    “In our society, it’s the norm for a powerful Alpha to have multiple mates. High–ranking nobles take on chosen mates or breeders after their primary mating bond all the time to ensure elite heirs. Why is it that Adide couldn’t handle Velda’s existence?”


    “The only reason I allowed her to sever that mating bond was out of respect for the Frostfang Pack’s service to this kingdom.”


    Fabian wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. He didn’t dare push back.


    He could sense Lycan Erasmus’s growing suspicion; if he kept de be kicked out of the inner circle in a heartbeat.


    He just lowered his head, listening in respectful silence.


    Then, Lycan Erasmus’s tone softened slightly.


    ng Adide now, he’d


    “But Ulrik… he really isn’t strong enough. I’ve given him countless chances to be a general I can actually trust, but he’s indecisive. Hecks the ruthlessness an Alpha needs.”


    “I me that overbearing mother of his. Now that Rosemary is dead, maybe., he’ll finally change.”


    Fabian echoed, “Yes, Lycan Erasmus.”


    Lycan Erasmus tossed a sealed envelope across the desk. Inside was a list of names.


    “Have the agents put a tail on him,” he ordered, his voice turning cold and ruthless.


    “If he reaches out to anyone on this list for help… kill him immediately.”


    Fabian took the list, his fingers trembling.


    He didn’t dare stare, but his peripheral vision caught one name: Alpha Germain.


    Lycan Erasmus definitely suspected Germaon.


    He quickly folded the list and tucked it into his coat. “Understood. I’ll get on it right away.”


    After Fabian left, Lycan Erasmus picked up his coffee and blew on it.


    14:46 Wed, Jan 21 0 GG


    The weather was brutal; even with the heat on, the coffee had gone lukewarm.


    He took a sip, staring out at the leaden sky.


    “Ulrik, this is yourst shot. Don’t let me down.”


    Late night, inside the ckthorn underground war room.


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    A specially trained night–hawk fought through the blizzard to deliver a top–tier encrypted intel brief.


    The message was short, but it hit like a bomb.


    Coup in the Western Tribe. Old Lycan King Karl is dead. Crown Prince Orion has seized the throne in a bloodbath.


    His first decree? The arrest of Pierce–the man who had always diplomacy–on charges of treason for “illegally altering the bo Western territory and betraying national interests.


    The war room went dead silent.


    ioned peace and


    ding to the loss of


    Everyone had expected a power struggle in the West to stir up trouble regarding the sovereignty of Snowdeer Town, but no one thought Orion would move this fast.


    Pierce had barely survived several assassination attempts as it was and was still recovering.


    Being thrown into a dark hole of a prison now was basically a death sentence.


    After a long silence, Lance spoke up.


    “Orion’s second move will be to officially tear up the alliance treaty and demand Snowdeer Town back.”


    “No doubt about it,” Caldwell added. “He’s already got his casus belli.”


    Adide turned to Lance. “Do we have scouts sessfully embedded in the Western capital yet?”


    “They’ve set up shop,” Lance replied.


    “Besides them, how many people do we have on the ground?”


    “We started with thirteen, but Jefferson sent reinforcements. We’re looking at forty or fifty sleeper agents now.”


    At the mention of Jefferson, Adide’s eyes dimmed.


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    He was Alpha Zander’s adopted son and one of the few surviving males of the Doyle line.


    These days, the Doyles in the capital was down to just the Frostfangs and that erratic Luna, Skye.


    Sensing her anxiety, Lance stepped in and pulled her against his shoulder.


    “Don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ve been prepping for this. If Lycan Erasmus tries to use this as an excuse to haul Zander back for a trial, I’ve alreadyid the groundwork with the Ministry of Justice and the Council.”


    “I promise you, Adide: Alpha Zander will not be treated unfairly.”


    “I know.”


    Adide took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay sharp. Panic was useless.


    She began to analyze the board.


    “Lycan Erasmus just made the Royal Guard an independent unit. I hat means any trial for Zander might bypass the regr courts and go straight to the Guard. He’s closing his circle to ensure every werewolf with a gun is a fanatic loyalist.”


    She looked up, her gaze piercing.


    “What worries me is–now that he’s got his independent unit, is he going to use Zander as their first target to set an example?”


    Silence fell over the room. It was a very real possibility.


    “We don’t need to go to the worst–case scenario yet,” Lance said, his mind racing through the variables. “For now, Lycan Erasmus only needs to give the West a diplomatic response. Don’t forget, Lycan Erasmus still has Velda. Orion captured her once during the Southern campaign; he’s probably not done taking his frustrations out on her yet.”


    Caldwell sighed.


    “But the core issue is that border. The current line is a ‘done deal‘ in our eyes. Lycan Erasmus will never give back Snowdeer Town.”


    “And Orion has spent months stoking the fires of nationalism, telling his people the border is a joke and that we robbed them. The public over there is starving for a redraw.”


    ?


    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.