Third Person’s POV


    Velda took a few deep breaths, reaching through the bars to grab his hand.


    “Fine. Which assassins are you going to hire? Are they reliable?”


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    “I know a few rogues on the ck market with solidbat skills,” Ulrik said. “As long as the money’s right, they’ll do anything. Hiring seven or eight of them should be plenty. But you have to tell me: how can you be so sure Alpha Zander is going to be hauled off by the Wester Tribe just like you?”


    Velda eyed him coldly.


    “What’s it to you? Just trust me.”


    Ulrik shook his head firmly.


    “The pack is broke. I’m going to have to borrow the money from Gloria to pay these guys.”


    He paused, looking humiliated.


    “And we aren’t exactly on great terms. She won’t just hand it over.”


    Mid–sentence, he acted as if he’d just had an epiphany. He looked up at Velda.


    “Wait, don’t you have money? How much? If you can cover it, I won’t have to go crawling to her…”


    Velda’s lip curled.


    Of course she had a private stash, but that was supposed to be her getaway fund for after the


    escape.


    “I can give you my money, but you still need to borrow some from her. How am I supposed to live once I’m out if you spend it all?”


    Beforeing to see her, Ulrik had nned this out. He had to keep the focus on money <b>so </b>she wouldn’t get suspicious.


    “How much do you have? Look, I’ll leave you a portion. I’ll use some for the hit squad, and if it’s still not enough, I’ll ask Gloria for the rest.”


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    Velda thought it over.


    “I’ve got about two or three hundred thousand, but you’re only taking ten.”


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    Ulrik wasn’t about to settle for that. They went back and forth for a while until they finally agreed on a 150,000–coin withdrawal.


    Velda stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked, “Ulrik, you aren’t selling me out, are you?”


    He froze for a second, then channeled a perfect mix of hurt and rage.


    “If you don’t trust me, why the hell are you asking me to save you!”


    Velda believed she knew Ulrik inside and out. After all their years together, she was convinced he still loved her.


    After a long silence, she finally lowered her voice.


    “Don’t worry. The people from the Madison faction have already been in touch with a female Lycan on Helia’s team.”


    Ulrik’s eyes widened.


    “You mean Helia is secretly working with Madison?”


    “Not Princess Helia–the female Lycan by her side,” Velda said, finally spilling the whole n.


    “Tina Barker came to me at your mother’s funeral to set it up. She told me I had to insist Alpha Zander gave


    the orders. The Westerners want Zander. If they get him, they win the war at the Bloodscar border, hands down.”


    Ulrik thought it over, frowning.


    “Wait. If they’re nning to take Zander, even if the ckthorn Pack tries to rescue him, the odds of sess are slim.”


    “Exactly.” A cold glint appeared in Velda’s eyes, as if she were already watching Zander’s


    downfall.


    “Every soldier will be watching Zander. And if Lycan Erasmus agrees to the extradition terms, then any rescue attempt by the ckthorn Pack bes illegal.”


    She leaned closer to Ulrik.


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    “That’s when you strike to save me. The chances of sess go way up in that kind of chaos.”


    She stopped abruptly.


    Her wolf stirred, a faint warning bell ringing in her chest, but she didn’t have much of a choice. She had to trust him.


    Ulrik still acted like it didn’t make sense.


    “No way. From what I know, Princess Helia is anti–war. If someone in her delegation was pulling a stunt like this, why would she let it happen?”


    Velda let out a coldugh. “Don’t be <i>so </i>sure about her.”


    Ulrik’s pupils shrank. “You mean… they’d openly defy Helia?”


    Velda shrugged.


    “How should I know? Tina didn’t give me the y–by–y. She just promised <i>that </i>if I yed along, they’d help me get away. But since I changed my story for you, they won’t give a damn about me anymore.”


    “Still,” she added, “I bet their n is going ahead as scheduled. I’ve still got a shot at getting out.”


    Ulrik stared at her in shock.


    “Don’t y me for a fool. You didn’t change your testimony for me. You did it because you don’t trust those Western wolves and you wanted me as your backup. So, you’re paying every cent of that money, <i>or </i>I’m not lifting a finger.”


    Caught in her lie, Velda didn’t show a hint of guilt.


    “So what? Don’t forget, you owe me. Ulrik, you’re my Alpha–you’re supposed to be on my side, forever.”


    Ulrik sucked in a sharp breath.


    “I almost threw my life away trying to save you when you were captured at the Southern border. Did you forget that?”


    Velda’s voice turned ice–cold.


    “That was your choice. You fell for me. You’re the one who walked away from your career and betrayed Adide to mate with me. Nobody forced you. You did it all on your own.”


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    Ulrik was so angry he wanted to rip her throat out. Remembering Lance’s instructions, he forced the rage down, stood up, and looked at her. Tl help you. But this is thest time?


    Shortly after, Ulrik ryed every word of the conversation to Lance.


    Lance listened, his brow furrowing


    A female Lycan?


    Almost every female Lycan in the Western Tribe relied on Helia’s support to have <b>any </b>say in politics. What could they possibly gain by betraying her now?


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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.