Chapter 154
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Third Person’s POV
After ordering, Adelaide handed the menu to Lance for review.
Lance scanned it and said cheerfully, “These are all my favorite dishes. Order them as listed.”
Tommy promptly took the menu and left.
+10 Free Coins
“What happened in the garden? They doubted your gift was genuine and tried to bully you, didn’t they?”
Lance had a pretty good idea but wanted to hear it from her.
Adelaide sipped some water and said, “No one could bully me, but some did target me. I didn’t take them seriously.”
Beata interjected, “Your last few remarks terrified me. What if Madison seeks revenge?”
Adelaide replied, “Whether I speak out or not, she’ll oppose me. I might as well say it to her face. After all these years with you, from the Frostfang Pack to the Shadow Peaks and back, when have you ever seen me fear anyone?”
“You were indeed fearless in the Bloodmoon Pack. But that’s not the point,” Beata said.
Beata recalled her time with the Bloodmoon Pack. Adelaide hadn’t changed, but she couldn’t say as much in front of Lance. “We’ve already made our stand, so there’s no use in being afraid now,” she thought.
Lance asked curiously, “What did you say before leaving?”
Adelaide recounted everything that happened in the garden, including her heated exchange with Wanda and the sharp words she left hanging.
Lance wasn’t surprised; he knew her well.
After all, who could tame the “little devil” from the Warscar Training Camp?
The Bloodmoon Pack thought they could control her, unaware that she’d joined them out of respect for her late parents‘ wishes.
She’d intended to care for the pack while Ulrik was away at war.
She was never one to be easily intimidated.
Lance remembered seeing her pin Prunella to the ground during his visit to the Shadow Peaks. Prunella hadn’t yielded–she’d simply been outmatched.
The training camp principal often spoke of Adelaide with pride, calling her a genius unmatched in combat
skills.
Lance was intrigued by his mother’s public announcement of his upcoming bond with Adelaide.
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Given Priscilla’s character , she would have opposed it fiercely and denied it outright.
Her unsolicited declaration was out of character.
“Priscilla will regret announcing it publicly tonight,” Lance mused.
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Adelaide found it amusing. “Your mother was arrogant with me but cowered before Madison and Wanda. It was quite a sight to see her seething but powerless to act.”
“Madison is my aunt. She grew up pampered and learned underhanded tactics from her mother, who lived in the palace. Even my father, the old Lycan King, treated her gently. No wonder my mother fears her,” Lance explained.
Lance’s long fingers gripped the water glass as he continued, “My grandfather practically gave her everything she wanted back then. But when she set her sights on your father, he drew the line. Ever since, she’s held a grudge against the Davidson family of the Frostfang Pack.”
Adelaide nodded. “Anyone with a shred of sense knows Father was a formidable general in his prime. The Lycan King wouldn’t let him become a royal princess’s mate. It’s clear she’s just bitter and looking for an outlet.”
Lance’s fingers tightened around his water glass. “True. She’s just venting her frustrations. Oh, how did you know about the deceased wolves, in her home?”
Dinner arrived, and Adelaide paused her story to admire the dishes.
Her favorite, French red–wine–braised beef with pasta, looked especially appetizing. The rich red sauce coated the noodles beneath, making her mouth water.
The table filled with a spread of dishes: American–style grilled ribs, Italian spicy sausage pasta, seafood risotto, pan–fried chicken with rosemary, Mexican chili beef, and garlic–sautéed vegetables. 1
The aroma filled the room.
Adelaide was indeed hungry. She picked up her knife and fork and first replied to his question, “When I left the pack, Valentine mentioned that Madison’s mate has had many breeders over the years, most of whom died after giving birth. I figure one breeder’s death could be an accident, but so many? That’s bound to make one suspicious.”
With that, she took her plate and scooped up the pasta from under the beef bourguignon—it was soaked in spicy sauce and particularly flavorful.
She served Lance some too. “Try this pasta; it’s the highlight of the dish.”
She also added a spoonful of red pepper flakes to his plate and drizzled some sauce over it.
“Yeah!” Lance stared at the pasta , looking serious but not yet using his cutlery. “You’ve got reason to suspect. Those Breeders of Hunt’s were all killed brutally.”
Adelaide said, “Then the kids the breeders had didn’t make it either, I suppose .”
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“Not exactly. But the kids … ”
He finally picked up his knife and fork, twirled some pasta onto them, and took a bite. After two chews, he swallowed hard, his eyes reddening instantly. He grabbed a glass of ice water and drank it down while
coughing. “I inhaled it, I inhaled it.”
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