Chapter 43
+25 BONUS
Elena’s POV
Before I knew it, I already lost count of the glasses I drank. Luckily, Prince Deacon only gave me a wine, and the fact that I wasn’t drunk after all that made me realize that it only had a low alcohol level.
Narrowing my eyes, I looked at him to scold him, but then was gritted by his dimmed eyes filled with fury and his fingers with stains of blood on them.
“What happened?” Panic coursed through my body. Hurriedly, I leaned forward and grabbed his hand, examining his fingers.
But when I lifted up his hand, I found that the side of the armrest of the chair he was sitting on was chipped.
I was so drawn into expressing my pain and burden to him that I didn’t think of how it might have affected him. He must have been angry upon hearing about all the mishaps I’ve experienced, considering how righteous he was.
Feeling guilty, I grabbed my handkerchief and wiped off the blood from his fingers to find that it had already healed. Indeed, he’s a Lycan, healing way faster than werewolves.
“Thank you…” I whispered while continuing to wipe the blood from his hand.
“I didn’t do anything.”
I laughed at that. “No, you did a whole lot more than you imagined. Thank you for listening.‘
>>
It wasn’t a lie, though. After telling him everything, the heaviness I’d been carrying over my shoulders was lifted off, and the clench in my heart had loosened enough for me to breathe.
After a long time, I felt so relieved. Even Ava, who had been silently dwelling on my sorrows, felt better.
Though I couldn’t explain how much he helped me, I still had to thank him.
“If that’s what you say.” He then patted my head.
“I swear to you, Elena. I’ll make them pay for what they did to you,” he suddenly vowed, taking me aback,
I let go of him and looked at him in shock as I saw determination flickering in his eyes. It warmed my heart, but I shook my head at him. He’s the prince, and he has many responsibilities on his shoulders, so I couldn’t let him handle trivial matters in my life.
Shaking my head, I smiled and explained, “There’s no need Besides, divorcing Bryson was one of my best decisions in life, and it gave me relief.”
It was the truth. My divorce and rejection of Bryson was my door to freedom. It completely separated me from the toxic binds that tied me with him, his family, and his pack.
“And…” A mischievous glint formed on my lips as I swiveled my brows and added, “Seeing Glenda gritting in jealousy and Bryson fuming mad whenever they see me unbothered with what happened was so satisfying.”
Since I saw Glenda, she had been reeking with envy and jealousy. Despite the glory and honor she received as a warrior, she always wanted more and felt greedy to be above everyone else–not because she aimed for excellence but to be on top.
Instead of using her influence as the kingdom’s first female general to encourage and give hope to others, Glenda had chosen to mock and belittle me for what she’d assumed was a privilege handed down to me by my father.
She looked down on others only because she was a high–ranking warrior.
Chapter 43
+25 BONUS
Reflecting on that, I felt a surge of determination rose within me. I silently vowed to myself and the Moon Goddes that I would never become like Glenda.
Sitting back on my chair, I leaned back and proudly smiled as my father’s teachings flashed in my mind.
Happily, I shared it with Prince Deacon. “My father had worked tirelessly and brought honor to Ironpaw Pack. We were known for bravery and loyalty. It’s the legacy he passed down to me and my pack, and I refused to damage that by sinking to Glenda’s level. I won’t use power for petty rivalry, so there is no need to take revenge for me.”
“What?” I asked when he kept staring at me with a huge smile that reached his eyes.
He shook his head and raised his glass, asking me for a toast. Despite my confusion, I grabbed mine and clung to the glass with him.
Before he put the rim of the glass on his lips, he replied, “You’re amazingly kind, you know? An angel.”
I almost gagged at the angel and put down’my drink, laughing. “I know you cheated, and this wine has too low of an alcohol level to be even called an alcohol. There’s no way you’re drunk right now to compare me to an angel.”
“You got me! Rules are rules, right?” he uttered, winking at me, subtly reminding me of the first night he caught me sneaking a drink with Maise and Saige. “Cut me some slack, though. At least it still has some kick on it. It still has alcohol.”
I shook my head and took another sip before getting serious again, “My family won’t ever succumb to fate. I’ll see these through.”
“I know. I trust you, Elena. I know you’ll do your family’s name justice and bring light to what really happened that led to that massacre,” he replied without missing a beat.
Then, with a quiet resolve, he added, “And I’ll help you. I’ll look into the southern battlefield. Whatever caused the massacre will be exposed, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
My heart clenched at the mention of the southern battlefield.
I knew his promise was sincere, yet the truth about that was tangled in deep conspiracies, like a web of lies and messed up schemes. Glenda and Bryson’s victory, the rise of Rogues, the massacre of my pack, and the formed rebellion here in the north… was all too coincidental.
After reading the report Prince Deacon’s investigation team acquired and learning that Glenda and Bryson’s ” victory” that they were so proud of was achieved through inhuman means, I was positive that these matters had a deeper cause hidden somewhere.
We had to dig deeper.
“No need. I appreciate your help, Prince Deacon, but I already asked one of my seniors in Custodes to investigate what happened in the South.” I respectfully declined his offer.
The North still had an issue of its own. I couldn’t be so selfish and divide his attention. After all, the safety of the northern borderland was more critical now.
I froze for a while, though, when a thought suddenly came into my mind.
This couldn’t be… connected to my grandfather, was it?
Anxiety rushed into me once again as I was reminded that my grandfather was also in Southern Borderland back then. Thinning about all the tangled webs made me more agitated.
As my thoughts spiraled deeper, I suddenly felt a thumb gently brushing my furrowed brows. “Don’t let this consume you,” he uttered softly but firmly. “You’re not alone in this, Elena. I’ll be by your side, and I’ll make you
Chapter 43
to find out what really happened.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 44
Chapter 44
