Chapter 57
Ulrik’s POV
e
A roar like thunder rolled over the plains outside Frostbite Town, shaking eardrums.
Adelaide straightened her spine, meeting the firm gaze of every wolf in the formation.
4
D
+8 Pearls
I and Velda stood apart, watching the Ironthorn Army stand to attention like a forest at sunset.
The wolf–head emblems on the warriors‘ shoulder armor gleamed coldly, a hundred times more brilliant than the tattered Bloodmoon Pack banner.
“These reinforcement wolves are ours. Why should they answer to Adelaide?” Velda fumed. “You shouldn’t have held me back earlier. Lance is clearly favoring her.”
I suppressed my irritation, cedar pheromones mingling with soothing undertones. “Even if they weren’t under her command, they wouldn’t follow us. The Ironthorn Army is Royal sodiers. Moreover, as supporting wolf generals, we should heed Alpha Lance’s orders.”
“Is that so? At the Bloodscar Battle, didn’t we lead our own troops?” Her wolf claws scraped the ground, leaving deep grooves.
“The situation was different. Before reinforcements arrived at the Bloodscar Battle, Alpha Zander had already held on for so long and was gravely injured. Remember our first battle at the Bloodscar? We were caught off guard. If it weren’t for…,” My thoughts drifted to Adelaide’s uncle, who had timely come to our rescue.
But he had paid the price of losing an arm.
At the thought, My heart tightened. I truly owed Adelaide a debt of gratitude.
My wolf magnified this sentiment, and Velda, marked by me, obviously sensed it.
She turned to me.
“On the battlefield, it’s either you save me or I save you. You don’t need to feel guilty, nor do you owe Adelaide anything. If you owe anyone, it’s her uncle,” Velda said.
I didn’t wish to dwell on it.
Some things, if pondered too much, might lead to regret.
Things had already progressed to this point–I and Velda had formed a mate bond and joined the southern border battlefield.
As long as I fought bravely and earned merits, I could restore the Bloodmoon Pack’s reputation.
“It’s unfair, and I believe our subordinates feel the same,” Velda complained.
173
331 PM & S
Chapter 57
My wolf sensed her agitation.
+8 Pearls
I grasped her wrist, warning her, “What are you planning? Don’t speak out of turn in front of the troops.”
She shook me off, her eyes flashing with mockery. “Need I say it? Everyone can see she’s climbed the ranks through bloodline. Your protection of her- are you still clinging to old feelings?”
“I only safeguard the battlefield.” My cedar pheromones intensified. “A major battle is imminent Don’t cause more trouble.”
“Causing trouble?” Velda sneered, gazing at the blood–red sunset. “Perhaps it’s time to reveal whether this so–called Alpha of the Frostfang Pack has real merit.”
My heart jolted as I warned, “Velda, I’m warning you. If you speak out of line, you’ll face the royal wolf court…“.
Velda’s pride flared. “I was the key contributor at the Bloodscar Battle and the first female Gamma in our kingdom. I’ve made no grave errors. Who dares to punish me?”
She moved to leave. I immediately followed.
I questioned, “You never explained why Solanke suddenly surrendered at Snowdeer Town.”
Her slit pupils narrowed, her tone impatient. “I’ve told you countless times. I spread news of Alpha Lance’s reinforcement and burned their food supplies. They panicked and surrendered.”
Yes, she had repeated this explanation many times before.
I had seen no issues with it until I and Velda formed a mate bond.
One day, she had mobilized over a hundred wolf warriors without prior approval, leading to a reprimand.
Yet she had the audacity to tell me she’d sought and received approval for mobilizing over a hundred wolf warriors–a flat–out lie, delivered without a flicker of deceit in her.
Recalling the Bloodscar victory, I felt something amiss.
The Western Tribes‘ thirty–thousand strong force, disguised as the Dragon Ash Kingdom’s wolves, was heading to the southern border.
It made no sense for them to suddenly send troops after signing a peace treaty.
Unless the Western Tribes had harbored resentment when signing the treaty at the Bloodscar.
“Ulrik, don’t you trust your own mate?”
Velda’s eyes softened, her mint pheromones sweet. “Solanke signed the agreement himself. With only three hundred of us, if he hadn’t willingly surrendered, he could have crushed us.”
3:31 PM
Chapter 57
If Solanke had fought back, he could have annihilated them along with Velda.
+8 Pearls
Guilt washed over me for doubting my mate. Softening my tone, I apologized, “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have speculated. Please don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry. I’m not that sentimental,” Velda replied nonchalantly, though her words carried a hint of sarcasm.
“Of course you’re not,” I said gently.
After a pause, seeing her smile return, I added, “We’re here as reinforcements. We’re unclear on the prior battles. So, regarding Adelaide’s merits and Alpha Lance placing the Ironthorn Army under her command, it’s best we stay out of it.”
Send Gifts
70
(B)
1
3/3
