Chapter b25 /b

Adide’s POV

I returned to my courtyard band /bimmediately penned a letter, dispatching a former Frostfang guard–shifted and under cover

bWarscar /bbTraining /bCamp by night.

The southern border battle bgnawed /bat me like a splinter.

Scattered clues hinted at something amiss, but I’d keep conjectures buried until hard evidence surfaced.

to

My maternal grandfather, Alpha Zander, and my two uncles had been stationed at the border for years. Last winter, they deployed

with wolf warriors to aid the Southern Tribe’s war effort. When the Western Tribe retaliated, Bloodmooncked the warriors bto /b

hold the line.

Ulrik and Velda had gone to reinforce them, but what exactly transpired on the battlefield?

For the following month, I sealed Frostfang’s borders.

I appointed suitable individuals as Beta, Gamma, and wolf bguard /bcaptain–all loyal Frostfang members.

The new Beta, now returned from retirement, had served Frostfang before the new Beta took over.

His silver–flecked temples were a stark reminder of his experience.

ral

That night, after a run along the border and ba /bsoak in the tub, I emerged to find Beata entering with a letter.

“Alpha Adide, a message for you,” she said.

As the note unfurled in my palm, searing pain erupted–wolf ws bbursting /bbthrough /bbmy /bbskin/b.

Before deciphering the script, my wolf erupted in a soul–shattering howl bwithin /bmy consciousness.

Silver–blue blood welled from my elongated ws, bcarving /bdeep trenches into bmy /bbpalm/b.

My bwolf’s /bself–muttion screamed a warning.

The parchment, reeking of bcedar /band violet bpheromones/b, bbore /bgrave btidings/b.

“Velda massacred an entire surrendered vige. Border wolf generals have bjointly /bpetitioned in secret.”

Beata’s bvoice /bdrifted through the fog, “What’s wrong?”

I stared at my reflection band /bsaid, “Fetch a bottle of vodka.”

The candle flickered bas /bHeata hurried out. Once alone, I suppressed bthe /brising wolfish bsnarl /b

Cedar musk exploded bin /bthe air, and the note–now scorched at the bedges/b–was shredded into snowke–like fragments.

+15 Bonus

In the swirling ash, invisible bws /bshredded the script, each stroke disintegrating into dust finer than moonstone bpowder/b.

The Western Tribe and our kingdom bhave /balways spared civilians and captives–an unspoken rule.

Could Velda have broken it?

Recalling Ulrik’s averted gaze when he spoke of “battlefield bruthlessness/b,” the pieces clicked. Their “victory” was baptized in

civilian blood

When Beata returned with the vodka, I was calm, though the pour trembled slightly.

Outside, a distant howl pierced the night. I traced the wolf–head engraving on my ss and remembered the day I joined

Bloodmoon. Ulrik bhad /bbsaid/bb, /b“When I return victorious, we’ll share this drink.”

Some victories are built on mountains of bones.

My suspicions solidified–this war was tainted.

Velda’s massacre of an entire vige, including civiliansb, /bhas ignited the Western Tribe’s spies into a vengeful frenzy against

Frostfang. They’ve targeted our elderly and vulnerable members to settle both new and old scores.

My father, Alpha Bentley, had repelled the Western Tribe’s forces at Bloodscar Border multiple times.

This attack was their way of avenging past defeats and present bgrievances/b,

Besides, I was Ulrik’s Luna.

But what I didn’t understand is, if Velda did massacre the vige, the Western Tribe wolves would be even angrier.

They should gather their forces and attack the Bloodscar Border to avenge the innocent civilians, rather than surrender and sign

a peace treaty with Veldab, /bdelineating the border band /bpledging no further aggression.

The treaty, brokered by Velda with Ulrik as secondary, granted her the greatest merit.

Why was Velda in charge? Where was my grandfather?

I resolved to wait for Craig’s return bfrom /bthe Bloodscar bBorder /bfor answers.

One thing was bcertain/b–Frostfang’s disaster stemmed from Velda’s ughter of defenseless captives.

But why did Lycan bErasmus /bdeem bthis /ban achievement?

The Lycan Erasmus I know wasn’t bloodthirsty.

Perhaps he was unaware.

And my grandfather, bAlpha /bZander, who’s never bharmed /ba Western civilian in decades of guarding the Bloodscar Border–would

he condone Velda’s actions?

Fortunately, Alpha Zander regrly sent intelligence from the border.

The royal archives likely held copies.

I’d need to infiltrate the royal archive room.

The Western Tribe’s wolves were vengeful.

Regardless of their reasons for surrendering, the Western Tribe wolves wouldn’t let this go easily.

If Velda massacred an entire vige, they’d ally with the Dragon Ash Kingdom to invade the Southern Border.

Alpha Lance, currently stationed thereb, /bbwould /bface certain defeat with their reinforcements.

This variable was unknown to him, leaving bhim /bunable to prepare in advance.

Even forewarned, without aid, Lance would still fall.