Third Person’s POV


    :


    A


    <b>+5 </b>Free Coins


    Cole looked like he’d seen his own ghost. He knew his big mouth had just started a fire he couldn’t put out.


    He hung his head, not daring to make another sound.


    The other warriors exchanged panicked looks, the scent of pure terror filling the room. They gave Magnus a shaky bow.


    Bary took a deep breath, trying to shove down his own despair.


    “Let’s go.


    Don’t make things harder for them,” Bary said. “We have to trust… trust that Alpha Lance has a n to get Alpha Zander out of this mess<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    They filed out one by one. A few looked like they wanted to beg for more help, but they were terrified that one more wrong word would bury Zander instead of saving him.


    Magnus waited until the door was shut and bolted before spinning around to face Martin, his face pale. “Who was it?” he hissed.


    Martin’s expression was grim. “Alfred.”


    Magnus felt the air leave his lungs. “Damn it.”


    “Yeah,” Martin nodded, his knuckles cracking as he balled his fists. “I tried to chase him down to see how much he heard, but Zach called him away before I could get a word in.”


    “This is bad!” Magnus started pacing the room like a trapped animal. “Zach is Lycan Erasmus’s most loyal shadow. If Alfred’s big mouth tells Zach exactly what Cole said…” He stopped, eyes wide with fear. “It won’t matter who said it. To the paranoid Lycan Erasmus, that’s the official stance of the entire Northern border. He’ll think Alpha Zander is harboring a grudge. That’s treason, Martin. That’s a death sentence.”


    Martin leaned heavily against the wall, his brow furrowed.


    “I know. Cole wasn’t exactly whispering. Alfred definitely heard it. The only question is whether he talks.”


    “He’ll talk,” Magnus said, his voice t and pessimistic. “Zach and Alfred aren’t like us. They’ve been Lycan Erasmus’s personal bodyguards since he was a pup. Plus, they’ve been attached at the hip this whole trip.”


    Martin closed his eyes and let out a long, ragged sigh. “We’re in deep trouble.”


    +10 Free Coins


    Magnus and Martin spent the next hour hunting for a chance to corner Alfred alone, but the guy was sharp; he stayed glued to Zach.


    Finally, a break came.


    Alfred headed to the restroom, and Martin immediately distracted Zach with some small talk while Magnus doubled back to wait outside.


    A few minutester, the door creaked open. The dim outdoor lights flickered in the wind as Alfred stepped out, buckling his belt. He jumped when he saw a tall shadow looming in the dark. Once he realized who it was, he let out a frustrated breath.


    “Magnus? You’re gonna give me a heart attack standing there like a statue. What’s up?”


    Magnus forced a stiff smile. “I was waiting for you. I wanted to talk. Privately.”


    “Can’t it wait? I’m freezing my tail off out here. Let’s talk inside where it’s warm,” Alfred said, stomping his boots against the frozen dirt.


    Magnus didn’t budge. “Let’s be real, Alfred. Those soldiers who came to see me tonight? They’ve served under Alpha Zander for decades. They’re just terrified for him and lost their cool. Don’t take what they said seriously.”


    Alfred stopped stomping. He slowly looked up, his narrow eyes glinting with a cold, predatory light.


    “Are you asking me… to lie to Lycan Erasmus?” Alfred’s voice was dangerously smooth. “If those guys are shouting that kind of stuff out loud, it’s probably because everyone’s thinking it, right?”


    He took a step toward Magnus, his tone turning into a warning.


    “If I were you, I’d stay out of it. They said what they said, and you heard what you heard. As for my report, I’m not leaving out a single word. If I mess this mission up, my career is toast.”


    Magnus felt like he’d been hit with a bucket of ice water. He gritted his teeth and tried onest time.


    “Please. Just act like you didn’t hear that one part. I’ll owe you a massive favor. Martin will, too.” “Stop,” Alfred interrupted, cutting him off with a cold wave of his hand.


    “You know the score. The Royal Guard just went independent from the Legion. Whether I get


    11:31 <b>Mon</b><b>, </b>Feb 9


    promoted or not depends on this mission being ‘perfect.”


    “I need results. Even if I have to climb over a few bodies to get them.”


    +10 Free Coins


    “You-!” Magnus grabbed his arm, ignoring the fact that his own hands were shaking from the cold. “You know Alpha Zander is a legend! You know Cole was just talking trash because he was emotional! If Zander goes down for this, and Cole gets punished, you’re ruining two innocent lives!”


    “So what?”


    Alfred shoved Magnus’s hand away, his gaze icy.


    “It just proves Alpha Zander has zero control over his men. If his soldiers feelfortable trash–talking Lycan Erasmus on the border, they’re a liability. If they don’t screw up now, they’ll do itter. I’m just doing Lycan Erasmus a favor by vetting these guys.”


    He pointed a finger at Magnus, releasing a sharp pulse of aura as a warning.


    “Don’t follow me, and don’t try to talk me out of it again. Otherwise, when I give my report to Lycan Erasmus, I won’t mind mentioning that you tried to cover for them.”


    He pulled his coat tight and marched off into the darkness, leaving nothing behind but the lingering scent of pure, cold ambition.


    admin


    <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.