Chapter 66

66
Jul
66
Third Person’s POV
The air buzzed with deafening cheers, but all Velda heard was a persistent droning in her head.
“ I won’t accept it! I won’t accept it!”
She was well aware that she didn’t have Adelaide’s noble birth or stellar mentors.
Adelaide’s prowess stemmed from being the daughter of the Frostfang Pack’s Alpha, which naturally drew the guidance of powerful werewolves.
Velda’s defeat wasn’t just at Adelaide’s hands–it was at the mercy of their disparate backgrounds.
“Velda,” Ulrik said, grasping her hand. “Are you alright?”
“I didn’t lose,” Velda insisted, her voice trembling as tears streamed down. “If I had her advantages, I’d never be defeated.”
Ulrik fell silent for a moment, then murmured in acknowledgment.
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Lance had already risen to his feet, tossing Adelaide’s silver spear back to her. His voice, mingled with a wolf howl, boomed across the scene, “The Ironthorn Army remains under Gamma Adelaide’s command. As for Velda’s insubordination, she’ll be punished after the southern border conflict concludes.”
With those words, the outcome was sealed.
Velda spat out another mouthful of blood, her mind in turmoil.
2
Yet, she stood firm, her eyes blazing with unyielding defiance.
She wouldn’t give Adelaide the satisfaction of seeing her broken. Even in defeat, she’d maintain her dignity.
Adelaide, however, paid her no mind. Instead, she locked eyes with Lance, her grip on the silver spear trembling ever so slightly.
For a fleeting moment during the duel, she’d considered killing Velda.
When she’d shattered the stick into fragments, the sharpest piece had been aimed at Velda’s neck.
It was only under the weight of Lance’s piercing gaze that she’d restrained herself.
Had that shard struck with the same force as the ones that merely scratched Velda’s armor, it would have slit her throat and ended her life swiftly.
Meeting Lance’s gaze now, Adelaide’s emotions were a tangled mess .
Paisley was the first to rush over, clapping Adelaide on the shoulder. “What’re you thinking ? You won !
66
Adelaide managed a faint smile. “Of course I did.
She’d never doubted her victory for a second.
Paisley , still holding her shoulder, pointed to the jubilant lupine warriors. “See those folks ? They used to badmouth you, but now they’re cheering you on. Though I inust say,
ay, I didn’t expect Velda to be such a pushover.”
The Ironthorn Army had now fully acknowledged Adelaide’s strength, especially Ellen.
His gaze, fixed on the battlefield, was filled with awe as the events replayed in his mind.
Adelaide’s ability to split the stick into perfectly uniform shards was nothing short of extraordinary.
It wasn’t mere brute strength–it was a masterful display of technique, a testament to her refined combat skills.
What chilled Ellen to the bone, though , was how those flying shards, though fierce, had miraculously eased off as they grazed Velda’s neck. The control over force was simply mind–blowing..
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the camp’s bonfires cast a warm glow over the wolf warriors , who dispersed in small groups, excitedly rehashing the duel.
“That stick shattered way too easily! This wasn’t a fight–it was pure magic!”
“The Davidson bloodline’s no joke. She’s one tough cookie.”
“I told you the Silver Claw Gamma title wasn’t handed to her for nothing!”
“Save it! You were the one egging Velda on. If I hadn’t held you back, you’d be sporting a sore rear end right now!”
“You fell for Velda’s lies? She claimed Adelaide was out for revenge, wanting Ulrik to regret leaving her.”
“Looks like Velda was just stirring up trouble, playing the righteous card before the battle.”
“Shut it! Want a piece of me?”
These barbs, like thorny vines, coiled around Velda’s ears.
Her cheeks burned with shame and fury as she roughly wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
“I’m weak, Velda. I need rest,” her wolf whimpered.
“Silence!” Velda barked back.
She glared at Adelaide, her eyes brimming with jealousy and rage, blaming her wolf for not being strong enough.
Gritting her teeth against the churning pain in her body, she strode up to Adelaide.
“You knew I was watching from the battlements during Ellen’s challenge. You staged that fight to provoke me, didn’t you?” she accused.
17:06 Sat , 5 Jul
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Paisley sneered. “Staged for you? Who do you think you are?”
*5 Fres Coins
“Shut your mouth! Who’re you to talk? Were you even asked?” Velda’s face contorted as she bellowed at Paisley.
Taken aback, Paisley’s eyes flared with indignation. She raised her whip, ready to strike.
“Paisley!” Adelaide caught her whip mid- swing. “Don’t.”
Jesse, Adelaide
How dare you?” Paisley
go of me, No one, aside from Adelaide, would dare speak to
her like this.
To Paisley, Velda was just a common she–wolf, once a rogue without a pack.
How dare she challenge her? Her wolf growled in disconten