Third Person’s POV

The Frostfang wolves loaded their luggage into trucks, their convoy rolling through Bloodmoon’s iron gates with finality.

No one from Bloodmoon dared to stop them–bLycan /bErasmus’s decree had taken effect.

Adide, now Frostfang’s Alpha and heir to a royal council seat, left with the blessing of the Moon Goddess’s council, far beyond

the Tenar n’s reach.

After a long silence, Isaiah, Ulrik’s father, murmuredb, /b“Adide would’ve made a fine Luna. She managed the pack well.”

Tamara turned to Ulrik. “What did you see in Velda? How is bshe /bbetter than Adide?”

Ulrik’s throat tightened as he recalled Velda’s letter–the one demanding half of Adide’s wealth.

He remembered her words, “Hesitating? So you do have greed in you.”

Tamara sighedb. /b“Velda won’t care for Luna Rosemary 1

like Adide did. Adide slept in her room every night.”

“Maybe it was all an act,” Ulrik said, his voice tinged bwith /breluctant doubt.

“An act deserves credit,” Tamara said sharply.

Tamara knew Velda bwouldn’t /btake responsibility for caring for Rosemary. Odds were it would fall to her. “Hopefully, Velda bwill /bat

least put on a show,” she muttered.

Ulrik insisted firmly, “Velda will honor bLuna /bRosemary.

Tamara snorted. “We’ll see about that.”

Sabrina chimed in, “If you miss her so much, why not just go after her?”

Tamara shot bher /ba re. “Adide treated me kindly–gifts band /ball. Unlike some who take bribes and stab in the back.”

She left, ignoring Sabrina’s flushed anger.

Tamara’s bfrustration /bsimmered as bshe /bjuggled bpack /bbfinances/b–Bloodmoon was nearly insolvent.

As dusk settled bover /bthe Mirror Lake, its bsurface /bbreflected /bthe bloodmoo’s glow. The temporary mark on Ulrik’s nape, still healing, throbbed faintly.

Velda’s pine scent,ced with snowstorm cold, bcouldn’t /bbmask /bthe silvermoon grass lingering on bhis /bcor.

Velda was unaware of the day’s upheaval. Expecting Ulrik to brief her on the progress of rejecting Adide, she was met with his

btense /bsilence.

Unable to contain her impatience, she stopped. “Is it done? Did you secure half her assets?”

+15 Bonus

The sunset’s light bathed her wheat–colored skin. Ulrik was suddenly reminded of Adide’s pale faceb, /ba sharp pain striking his

chest.

Ulrik’s jaw tightened. “No.”

“What? Are you insane?” Velda’s bone ws suddenly elongated half an inch, raking deep bgrooves /binto the maple tree.

“I specifically sent a message emphasizing we need to secure at least half,” she snarled. “You know Bloodmoon’s finances are a

disaster. Without the funds, how will we survive?”

Ulrik met her gaze bsteadily/b. “It’s her wealth, not mine. Velda, are byou /bafraid of a simpler life?b“/b”

“No, that’s not it,” Velda turned away, a flicker of calction in her eyes. “I just want us to focus on building our future without

financial distractions.”

“We’ll manage,” he said softly.

Velda whirled baround/b. “So she took everything?”

Seeing her disappointment, Ulrik felt a chill.

“Beta Fabian witnessed it. She bpetitioned /bLycan Erasmus to void the bbond/b.”

“What?”

“She said she disdains it,” Ulrik said tly.

Velda sneered. “Disdain? Who does she think she is?”

“Adide….” bUlrik’s /bbvoice /bbwas /bexpressionless. “Beta Fabian brought Lycan Erasmus’s decision–she’s now Frostfang’s Alpha.

bShe’ll /bjoin the royal council bas /bban /belder, and can even bnominate /bher mate for a seat.”

Velda’s eyes bwidened /bin shock. “Why bwould /bLycan bErasmus /bdo bthis/b? Her mate gets a seat too? So she goes from exile to-”

From outcast to the bmost /bbsought/b–after she wolf bovernight /b

“bVelda/bb, /bshe bcan /bfight,” Ulrik said, watching crimson leaves drift on theke. He brecalled /bbhow /bAdide bhad /bused her pressure to

turn bleaves /binto des.

Velda snorted. b“/bpping someone?”

“bToday/b, she bused /bher baura /bto lift leaves and scratched my bface/bb,/b” Ulrik bsaid/b. “bNo /bneed to pluck them–she turned falling leaves into weapons.”

Velda bsneered/b. “Leaf desb? /bImpossible”

“Not bimpossible/b,” bUlrik /bsaid. “She nearly drew blood today.”

Ulrik fell silent, too humiliated to recount the day’s events.

Velda pressed, “Is it true or not?

Ulrik sighed. “Let’s drop it”

Velda punched his arm. “Knew you’d dodge. Fine, but admit it–her underhanded tricks are beyond you.”