Adide’s POV

I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling.

Rebellious since childhood, bI’d /bnever obeyed–except that one time.

I followed my mother and brothers‘ mates, learning to be a Luna, managing the packb, /babandoningbat books, and ditching my dreams of bing a wolf warrior.

I learned quickly. Mother said if I couldn’t be the best female Gammab, /bI’d excel bas /ba Luna.

But she was wrong. I was wrong.

I should’ve kept rebelling. Then I wouldn’t be alone now.

I still didn’t understand why the Western Tribe rogues did this.

The official story–Alpha Bentley’s defeat shamed them, bdriving /btheir revenge.

But it doesn’t add up.

The rogues‘ survival near the Royal pack wasn’t easy.

If they could infiltrate that deeply, their priority bwould /bbe intelligence–not exposure.

The Western Lycan King wouldn’t order such senseless bloodshed.

The truth was buried.

I was reminded of my father and brothers, grief and anger swell

swelling.

They reimed the Southern Territory but couldn’t hold it, dying honorably in battle.

If Alpha Lance avenged them by breiming /bthe South, it would fulfill btheir /blegacy.

My first night back in bFrostfang /bbwas /bsleepless.

bVisions /bof my family’s murder haunted my bdreams/b.

Iy wide–beyed /buntil dawn.

The next day, managing pack baffairs /bin the Packhouse, Beata informed bme/bb, /b“Elder Halsey band /bsome wolves went to Bloodmoon to retrieve belongings.”

I nodded, but said bnothing/b.

I no longer bcared /babout bBloodmoon/b.

+15 Bonus

After a pause, Beata said, “We brought back the high–end furniture and decorations we took to Bloodmoon.”

“Luna Rosemary’s inconsble, cursing us bas /bselfish thieves,” bshe /badded,

I snorted. “She’s just upset about the assets. If she keeps this upb, /bevery pack will know Bloodmoon’s reputation is in tatters.”

“Alpha Adide, you’re right. Elder Halsey pointed that out, and Rosemary fell silent. But Ulrik said something.”

“What?”

“He said, “Hope you don’t regret this.”

“Regret?” I smiled faintly. “I regret not rejecting him a year ago.”

Third Person’s POV

Once Adide’s belongings were removed, Rosemary seethed, “He took everything! Bloodmoon can’t even afford

now!”

my

medicine

Ulrik, though buneasy/b,forted her, b“/bThe Southern front will bneed /bVelda band /bbme /bsoon. bWe’ll /breturn with new meritsb./b”

Rosemary bwailed/b, “How could she be so heartless? Just because she’s not a lover? Does she think she’s the Lycan King’s

daughter?”

Uirik’s mouth opened, but no words came.

Adide’s newfound influence, backed by the Lycan King’s bdecree/b, was undeniable.

“Good riddance to her family!” Rosemary spat.

Ulrik also found it strange that the Western rogues had ughtered Frostfang’s Alpha family, including the defenseless she-

wolves and pups.

Why would Western rogues ughter defenseless she–wolves and bpups/b?

It was ban /bact with no strategic value.

But Frostfang’s baffairs /bbno /bblonger /bbconcerned /bbhim/b, band /bbhe /bbrefused /bto bget /bbinvolved/b.

bAdide /bwould regret thisb. /bUlrik had considered helping her binvestigate /bwhen he first learned about the massacre, but she

refused the bopportunity/b.

bThe /bbremoval /bof bvaluable /bfurniture left Rosemary heartbroken.

Spotting bTamara /bbobserving /bfrom the porch, she snapped, “Why didn’t you stop them?”

Tamara replied coolly, “I won’t stoop to such shame.”

Rosemary red, “Are you defying me btoo/bb?/b”

Tamara, recalling Adide’s year of diligent leadership versus Rosemary’s current venom, felt a chill. “Adide honored you. Look what it got her. Hope Velda treats you the same.”

“She will!” Rosemary hissed. “Don’t speak of that bitch! If she were truly filial, she’d ensure my medicine.“.

Tamara rified, “Adide didn’t cut your medicine. Shaman Digby refused to return, deeming the Tenar n dishonorable.”

Sabrina erupted, “How dare you side with outsiders against your own bmother/b? Alpha Ulrik will reject you when he hears of this!”

Tamara, knowing the Tenar n’s selfishness, thought of her own plight.

bUnlike /bAdide, if she were rejected, she’d be a rogue with nowhere to go.

“Fine, I was wrong,” Tamara said, turning to leave.

Ulrik noticed her fleeting panic–a look he recognized all too well.

He consoled himself, thinking things would improve once Velda and he earned new merits.

“Adide bwill /bregret this,” he muttered.