Chapter 37
37
Third person’s POV
Finished
The urgent intelligence, carrying the chill of the ice plains, slapped against the oak desk. Lycan Erasmus’s claws pierced the parchment, revealing the mark of the “Dragon Ash & Western Tribes Alliance.”
Moonlight, streaming through the parliamentary hall’s wolf–head emblem window, cast fractured shadows across his ashen face.
He immediately notified Lycan Gamma Elias Kell and the werewolf generals remaining in the capital to convene at
ne palace.
Among them were Ulri
and Velda.
Lycan Gamma Elias’s forehead glistened with cold sweat.
“The Western Tribes have allied with the Dragon Ash Kingdom to annex our southern borders? How could this happen? They only recently signed a non–aggression peace pact with us.”
“Our warriors led by Alpha Lance have already taken losses in battle. Food supplies are likely insufficient now. How can they possibly hold the line?” another voice added.
“Lycan Erasmus , it’s probably too late to send reinforcements now. We failed to detect this intelligence. It seems all our informants in the Dragon Ash Kingdom and Western Tribes have been eliminated,” said a royal elder anxiously.
“It does seem too late to dispatch aid now,” another elder echoed.
Erasmus closed his eyes, and the events of ten days ago flashed before him.
Adelaide knelt before the throne, a wolf’s–head dagger pinning a bloodstained letter bearing the Warscar Training Camp’s wolf–paw emblem.
She had claimed, “Ulrik’s military honors are stained with civilian blood.” He had dismissed her claims as jealousy toward Velda.
He had even ordered the royal guard to restrict Adelaide from leaving the Frostfang Pack’s territory.
Little did he know she had spoken the truth.
“If I had believed her ten days ago, immediately dispatched reinforcements, and arranged for supplies, we might have stood a chance against the alliance of the Western Tribes and the Dragon Ash Wolf Kingdom,” he thought.
Velda and Ulrik exchanged glances. The opportunity they had awaited had finally arrived.
They had used their merits at the Bloodscar Border to secure Lycan Erasmus’s favor and
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Should they distinguish themselves on the southern border battlefield, they would become influential werewolf generals.
Then, no one would dare mock them.
Ulrik could not forget the humiliation of their bonding ceremony.
ག་བྱ་
Though he had fully marked Velda since then, a lingering resentment remained.
Rosemary, upon learning of his affair with Velda–a betrayal of their mating bond–had fallen ill with rage.
Ulrik had personally sought Shaman Digby, only to fail to meet him.
Later, Velda had also tried to appeal to Digby, who refused to even open his door, enraging her.
It was Tamara who had eventually pleaded with Digby, securing his services for a hundred thousand dollars.
However, Rosemary’s condition required more than a single cure. If this continued, the Bloodmoon Pack would be unable to bear the cost.
Tamara had earned the praise of many wolves for her filial piety.
Yet, Ulrik and Velda faced ridicule. The merits of their triumphant return had been forgotten; all that remained was the memory of their embarrassment at the bonding ceremony where guests had deserted them.
Thus, they desperately needed merits to reclaim their glory.
“Your Majesty?” Ulrik’s voice interrupted Erasmus’s thoughts.
The Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack knelt on one knee, the frost–wolf emblem on his armor gleaming brightly. Before he could speak, Velda interjected.
“Lycan Erasmus, please dispatch reinforcements immediately. Alpha Ulrik and I can lead them to the southern border and strive to arrive before the Western Tribes‘ forces,” Velda declared.
Ulrik was taken aback, but it was too late to object.
Lycan Erasmus immediately asked, “Can you arrive before the Western Tribes‘ troops?”
“I will do my utmost,” Velda replied resolutely.
“Very well. Ulrik shall be the chief commander, and Velda the deputy. Depart at once with a hundred thousand werewolf warriors,” Erasmus ordered.
Velda paused and said, “Lycan Erasmus , a hundred thousand may not be sufficient. With less than two hundred thousand warriors on the southern border and the combined forces of the Western Tribes and the Dragon Ash Kingdom, I request the royal wolf warriors‘ support as well.”
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protection and cannot be casually redeployed.”
Finished
Lycan Erasmus pondered for a moment. “Then half of them shall accompany Ulrik. Once the reinforcements arrive, they shall be placed under Alpha Lance’s command.”
Velda’s pheromones suddenly fluctuated, and her wolf claws emerged slightly.
“Lycan Erasmus, the capital’s wolf warriors may not heed Alpha Lance. It would be better if Alpha Ulrik and I command them.”
“Nonsense!” Elias’s face darkened. “A battlefield cannot have two commanders. Moreover, the capital’s wolf warriors were trained by Alpha Bentley and have fought alongside Alpha Lance. They will obey him. If they refuse orders, what use are such warriors?”
The president of the Royal Elder Council, Cyrus Voss, arrived late.
Upon understanding the situation, he concurred that immediate deployment was necessary, with all reinforcements placed under Alpha Lance’s command.
Cyrus, though over seventy, had not yet retired.
His opinion carried weight with Lycan Erasmus and was logically sound.
Lycan Erasmus declared, “So be it. Return to your packs to prepare. Lead the reinforcements to the southern border and hand them over to Alpha Lance upon arrival.”
“Yes, my lord!” Ulrik and Velda acknowledged the order.
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