+16 Bonus

Adide’s POV

din,

bBeata /brushed inb, /bbher /bgreen eyes glistening with tears.

b“/bYour love is your business, but don’t bully Luna Adide–or unt your battle merits!”

“Insolent wretch!” Velda roared, her warrior presence crashing down blike /bba /bboulder.

“SLAP!”

Ulrik’s iron–d paw struck Beata’s face with a crack. “Is this the Omega you’ve raised? Defiance?”

I sprinted to Beata’s sideb, /bcatching her as her cheek swelled, flushed unnaturally–Alpha pheromones burning her tender nds.

Turning, I summoned my wolf. My knuckles burst into silver–gray ws.

A howling sh raked Ulrik’s cheek, five shallow trenches flipping flesh open, blood droplets falling like rubles.

“Touch my people again, and feel my ws deeper,” I growled, my ws dripping silver–blue blood.

Ulrik staggered back, pupils slitting with painb, /bcedar musk souring with sulfur.

His wounds healed swiftly, leaving five pink scars branded beneath his eye.

“bYou /bdare…” His voice mixed with a suppressed howlb, /bmuscles under his iron armor taut as bowstrings.

I shook off the bblood /bfrom my wolf ws, the fur on my fingertips receding. “Consider this a warning.”

Velda stepped forward, a threatening growl rising in her throat, but Ulrik held her back.

He locked eyes with me, cedar musk soured with fury almost tangible, then turned and dragged Velda away. His boot heels

crushed the moonstone tiles, the gust from his departure scattering the remnants of his humiliation.

I touched Beata’s swollen cheek. “Does it hurt?”

“No,” she lied, her eyes glistening. “Soon we’ll be free of Bloodmoon.”

Gazing at her bruised bface/bb, /bmy throat btightened/b.

Lycan Erasmus had promised the decree dissolving our mate bond was imminent–but how long bwas /b“soon“?

Every moment in Bloodmoon felt like a lifetime.

Their bonding ceremony bwas /bset for October. Now in August, the Bloodmoon elders buzzed with preparations.

Only I band /bVanya, Ulrik’s baunt /band the former Alpha’s mate, could officiate.

I’d sworn off involvement, but Rosemary summoned bme /bto the family councilb, /bbno /bdoubt to pressure me into funding bthe /b

ceremony with Frostfang’s wealth.

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bIn /bthe council bhall/b, Vanya pped the ledger onto the table, her tone icy. “Velda’s parents expectpensation for the bonding

ceremony.”

When a shifter finds their mate and joins their pack, tradition dictates the mate’s family or original pack receives payment for the

loss.

Vanya sneered. “Velda’s parents want a million. Bloodmoon’s ounts bhave /bless than ten.”

Ulrik scanned the ledger, frowning “Who’s managing the books?”

“I am,” I said tly.

He snapped his head up. “Where’s the money?”

“The pack isn’t a goldmine,” Vanya said. “Rosemary’s meds alone cost thousands daily. Not to mention luxuries.”

She turned to Ulrik, her gaze cutting. “Your grandfather’s legacy? It barely covers the Alpha family’s expenses, let alone the

bentire /bpack. We’ve relied on Adide’s Frostfang assets for a year.”

Ulrik looked unconvinced, pushing the ledger away. “You’re just stonewalling. I’ll find another way. Lycan King owes me for my

meritsb./b”

Vanyaughed coldly. “The merits you used to propose to Velda? If you two are so in love, ask her parents for a discount.”

Listening to this, I found it all absurd.

Gazing at the darkening sky outside, I bit my lip until it hurt–let it be. Once Lycan King’s decree arrives, bthis /bwill no longer be my

concern.

Rosemary turned to me, smiling as she beckoned, “Adide, lend us the money first. We’ll repay you when we’re more bliquid/b.”

Sabrina snorted, “bMother/b, we’re family. A million is pocket change to her–she can spare it.”

Rosemary feigned irritation. “Adide has done so much for Bloodmoon this past year. Remember that.”

All beyes /bturned to meb, /beven Ulrik’s–still uneasy from yesterday’s p.

I shook my head slowly. “It’s inappropriate for me to cover the cost. Velda bis /bUlrik’s new mate. The pack should fund it.”

Turning to Ulrik, I basked/b, “Alpha Ulrik, what’s your btake/bb?/b”

Ulrik shook his head. “I’ll figure it out myself. No need for your help.”

With that, he left.

The broom /bfell silent, all eyes on me. I smiled. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“Adideb, /bstay,” Rosemary said sharply. “I know you’ve petitioned Lycan King. It’s improper. Velda as Ulrik’s mate strengthens

the pack–it benefits you too.”

I offered no rebuttal. “As you say.”

Satisfied, Rosemary continued, “Then the million isn’t much for you. Cover