Adide’s POV

The moonstone on the bronze candbra cast a silverleaf grass scent through the air. I took a deep breath–time to stop beating

around the bush.

Once Beata left, I said, “Pleaseb, /bbhave /ba seat.”

Velda wore a wine–red pleated skirt, a wolf–tooth pendant symbolizing her battle merits gleaming at her throat.

When she sat, her bloodmoon sigil belt clinked against the basalt chair. The pendant caught the moonlight, making the fang seem almost alive against the night sky.

Velda wasn’t ssically beautiful, but her sharp features and the killing edge honed in northern tribes radiated a shifter warrior’s

bJura /b

“Frostfang’sst scion,” she said, her slit pupils like poisoned des. “Hear you bwanted /bto see me. I’m here. One question–Will you coexist with me in Bloodmoon?”

Her tone was unyielding, a low growl warning in her throat. “Give me the truth. ying weak won’t work on me.”

I met her gaze. “Lycan Luna rissa called you every she–wolf’s pride. How about bthis/b–do I have a choice besides coexisting?”

Velda’s reply was ice. “Depends on you.”

Iughed a sharp sound that caught her off guard, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

“I’m all for coexisting peacefully,” I said evenly.

Once the mating bond is severed, we’ll have no ties left–where’s the conflict?

Velda bared her teeth in a predator’s grin. “I told you, don’t lie. Think putting on this meek act will change Lycan Erasmus’s

mind?”

My nape nds red hot. “Watch your tone, Velda,” I bgrowled/b, my voice dipping into a blupine /brasp.

I let a flicker of Alpha aura escape–enough to make Ulrik’s bbrow /btwitch.

But bVelda’s /bpupils slit, her ears sprouting wolf–tipped fur.

I wasn’t about to let her blose /bcontrol here.

“Not every she–wolf can rip through battle like you,” I continued. “Does that bmake /bthe rest of us frauds?”

Turning to Ulrik, I bpressed/b, “You swore before the Moon bGoddess /bto bhonor /bme as your only mate. You broke that blood oath first

-don’t paint me as the viin.”

Velda snorted. “Blood boaths/bb, /bbhuh/b? Makes me look like a scavenger hyena bnow/b.”

Ulrik squeezed her bhand /band fined to me. “I didn’t understand love back then. Meeting Velda changed that. My careless promises were wrong, but now my heart’s with her. We never meant to hurt you. You’re still Luna Adide. Once Velda and I are at war for Lycan King, our pups can stay with you. It’ll secure your standing in the pack.”

1 shot to my feet, ws elongating three inches. “What did you say? You want me to raise your pups?”

Dirik plowed on. “If you want pups of your own, we can mate. But after you’re pregnant

I turned to Velda, “And you agree to this?”

I’m done with you,” he finished..

Velda’s face soured, but she bsaid/b, “I don’t do jealousy. Have your pups, secure your future. His visits to your bed? Not my

concern.”

A blow/b, threatening growl rumbled in her throat.

bUlrik /bjumped in. “Don’t worry, bonce /bshe’s pregnant, I’ll never touch her again.”

“No need for promises,” Velda muttered, turning away, her brows lilited in displeasure.

Looking at the two before me, I felt utter absurdity. “You’re a woman too–why demean our kind? Do you think 1, Adide, need Ulrik’s pups to survive? Must I stay in Bloodmoon, ying bsecond /bfiddle to you forever?”

Velda froze, then frowned. “That’s bdramatle/b.”

“Let’s just reject each other. No more words,” I said coldly.

“Reject? Is that a bthreat/b?” Velda sneered. “I’m not intimidated. bGo /bbahead/b–hurt your own bstanding/b.”

Ulrik chimed in, “Adide, I won’t reject you. This is for your own good.”

“No need!” I unleashed my bAlpha /bbaura/b, my voice bced /bwith a wolf’s bhowl/b. “You fear being branded an oathbreaker, yet you im to act for my sake. How hypocritical.”

bUlrik’s /bface fell. “I didn’t bmean /bthat. Please understand-

Velda scoffed, her tail bshing/b, “How out of btouch/b. Clinging to your ‘noble blood‘ in a time like this–it’sughable. I came to warn you that once the bond’s severed, you’ll be a stray. The wilds won’t be kind. But if you won’t listen, suit yourself. I love Ulrik openly I won’t cower from the pack’s gossip.”

“If you’re not afraid of gossip, why are you here?” I retorted.

Velda stepped closer, her gaze icy, “I’m here to ensure no whining wolf uses a blood oath to sabotage Ulrik and me. Our bond, earned through battle, won’t be destroyed by you.”

I shook my bhead/b, pitying their arrogance. “Leave. This conversation’s bpointless/bb. /bI respect warriors who fight for their pack–1 bwon’t /bwaste more breath.”

“bBeta/bb, /bshow bthem /bout,” I said..