Half an hour passed in agonizing slowness. It seemed as if there had never been such a long half hour before. Garth's heart was pounding and he almost lost his patience when Scott finally finished examining Usher's condition.Reflexively, Garth stepped forward. Passing Mireya, he immediately asked Scott, "How is Alpha?""Don't worry, Garth. Alpha is fine."Garth was stunned for a moment and Scott nodded with a smile. Then Scott stepped back so that Garth could approach Usher fully.Usher sat leaning against the headboard. He looked at Garth with tired eyes, then spoke softly. "Garth.""Alpha."There were many words Garth wanted to say, but suddenly his tongue was tied. His chest filled with happiness. He was so relieved he could barely breathe."You're finally awake, Alpha. I'm so—""Oh, Usher!"Suddenly, Mireya stepped forward and deliberately pushed Garth. Garth stumbled and quickly regained his balance.Mireya sat down on the bed. Then she reached for Usher's hand. Her eyes seemed t
Mireya's panic was understandable when she found Usher waking from his sleep. Her heart felt like it wanted to jump out of her chest and she almost jumped when she saw that Usher actually opened his eyes and sat up.Fortunately, Mireya was able to control herself. She quickly replaced her panicked expression with one of joyful surprise. She showed the happiness a woman would feel when she saw her beloved finally awake and conscious.Mireya calmed herself. She reassured herself again and again that everything would be fine. Usher was awake, but that didn't mean he was fully recovered like before. Usher was still skinny and looked helpless.However, Mireya was surprised again. The reason was Usher's unexpected question."Shouldn't you be back with the Nimbria Pack?"Mireya could barely breathe. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she raced to think of an excuse."I-I'm sure you still need to rest, Usher. So, I won't disturb you. The maid will bring you something to eat later."Mi
The Frostholm Pack was rejoicing. Last night, Cora had announced the long-awaited news that Usher had awakened. Cora didn't say much about Usher's condition, but she did assure them that Usher was fine, which was further confirmed by Scott's diagnosis.The relief prompted the Frostholm Pack to visit the palace the next day. Their goal was to express their joy, though they realized it was impossible to meet Usher in person. They gathered outside The Palace gates before the sun rose over the eastern horizon. They were jubilant, but their mood turned to confusion when news spread.Garth had been arrested. The Palace accused him of trying to kill Usher. The sudden explosion of joy among the pack was immediately replaced by confusion. They looked at each other with puzzled expressions, barely believing what they were hearing."It can't be. How could they make such a vile accusation against Beta Garth? Beta Garth would never harm Alpha."No one believed it. They all filed into the open High
The chaos became uncontrollable. Everyone present at the High Court was in a state of panic, while some were in shock, unable to believe Mireya's accusations against Garth. In their eyes, Garth was a Beta who would undoubtedly sacrifice his life for Usher. No one questioned Garth's loyalty.Instead, many began to point fingers at Mireya. They accused her of tarnishing Garth's dignity with baseless slander. Their reasoning echoed Garth's earlier statement: Usher woke up right after Garth administered the medicine.The commotion grew louder. Usher closed his eyes and held his head. He took a deep breath before bellowing in a thunderous voice, "Silence!Everyone immediately fell silent. Not a word was spoken as the Alpha gave the command. The atmosphere became solemn, only Usher's heavy breathing could be heard.Usher swallowed his pride to suppress the weariness that washed over him. He clenched his fists, then raised his face, his gaze fixed directly on Garth. "It seems you didn't just
Mireya's words provoked various reactions. The courtroom erupted. The situation became uncontrollable, forcing the guards to intervene and restore order.But it was not enough to quell the chaos. Some continued to speak out in defense of Garth, believing that he could not have betrayed Usher. Even if the man had seemed suspicious from the start, there was no concrete evidence that he was a criminal.Everything that was happening was shrouded in mystery. They understood if Usher was cautious about any possibility of betrayal. But that didn't mean that decisions could be made hastily.One person who wouldn't let that happen was Cora. She, who had chosen to remain silent, finally stepped forward in the hope of calming the chaos. Then she shouted, "Alpha! I believe this trial cannot be rushed. Therefore, I suggest that you order Storm to investigate this case further. Furthermore, if Beta Garth has indeed poisoned you, what if we ask Scott's help to check your health, Alpha? If poison is
The courtroom, which had been difficult to keep order from the beginning, became increasingly uncontrollable. Hysterical screams erupted everywhere. Some people were shocked, while others did not hesitate to express their anger.The situation was truly chaotic. The guards quickly intervened, but there wasn't much they could do. Garth's death sparked the crowd's anger.On the other hand, Usher remained stunned. He stood still with blank eyes. All the commotion and cursing seemed to have no effect on his hearing.Usher slowly lifted his hand for a moment. He rubbed his face, then saw the blood stains on his fingers—Garth's blood."Garth," Usher whispered as he blinked once. Then he saw Garth's motionless body on the floor. "Garth."Usher tried to move forward. An unseen force pushed him towards Garth's body. Then he knelt down and reached out. He touched Garth's body as he called out again. "Garth."But Garth didn't answer. This time Garth ignored Usher's call. Even when he called again
The pack immediately fell silent. The fight stopped and everyone froze as Jemma stepped in. It dawned on them that a former Luna should not be involved in such chaos.Jemma's involvement, with her firm and combative attitude, drastically changed the dynamics of the situation. The guards, who had been aggressive at first, became hesitant, unsure of what to do.Seconds passed with no movement from either side. However, Jemma refused to let her guard down. She continued to assess the situation, firmly believing she had no choice. The steps she was taking were not without consequences. On the contrary, they could lead to further conflict. But her instincts as a former Luna made her feel responsible to protect Ayla, even if it meant taking great risks."Why are you all silent?!" Mireya's voice broke the silence. All eyes turned to her and Mireya glared at them."Do you not hear the orders of Alpha Usher? Alpha Usher orders you to capture Ayla! Capture her and eliminate anyone who tries to
The man's presence stopped all the chaos and fighting. The ongoing skirmish was no longer of concern to them. One thing that immediately caught their attention was the fact that the man was actually there.In fact, some of the pack had doubted the man's existence. They thought that perhaps he was a fictional character created to stir up trouble within the pack all the time. They also suspected that there were evil forces deliberately creating him as a scapegoat for all the problems. Thus, many of them considered the man to be just a pawn, much like a chess piece, and the real player was Mireya.However, these speculations were shattered. The unexpected appearance of the man completely dispelled such possibilities. They could see that the man and Mireya were on opposite sides. Mireya's face changed and became pale. Her reaction clearly indicated that the man's appearance was not what she had hoped for. Then they all fell silent.On the other hand, the man's presence also had an effect
Vione couldn't answer Jemma's words. Her heart was truly touched and she fell silent, only able to look at Usher, knowing that everything Jemma had said was the undeniable truth. Pregnancy was always a happy announcement. But Vione's pregnancy was more than joy; it was a blessing. For Usher, Jemma, Rowena and the Frostholm Pack, Vione's pregnancy was the greatest gift the Moon Goddess had given them. So, it was no surprise that when the palace announced Vione's pregnancy, the entire pack rejoiced and celebrated everywhere. Without exception, the news spread to the farthest corners of the Frostholm Pack territory. Smiles and beaming eyes adorned the faces of every member of the pack. They continued to give thanks for all the good things that had happened to the pack—from their victory in the war to Vione's pregnancy—and they didn't forget to pray for Vione's wellbeing. Ayla, the Sacred Elder, made hasty preparations. She arranged for a blessing ceremony for Vione's pregnancy to be h
There was a bright, blinding light. It seemed to be the morning sun, its warmth soothing her soul. Vione wasn't alone. Next to her was Usher, always holding her hand. They were talking, laughing, when suddenly a scene made her eyes widen. "Sylvia, come back! Don't go too far! Oh, God! Silas, can you go after her?"Usher pulled Vione into his arms. "Don't worry, she won't get lost. They're smart kids." "Usher," Vione groaned, pressing her lips together and raising her hand to point. "That's too—" Vione frowned. Something was holding her hand. Something was stroking the back of her hand, squeezing her fingers. "U-Usher." "Vione? Are you awake?" Usher's voice echoed in her head, like the buzzing of a thousand bees, driving that beautiful memory from her mind. It made her slightly dizzy and she moaned softly. "Vione? Can you hear my voice?" Vione frowned and slowly opened her eyes. She saw Usher's face, filled with immeasurable relief. "Usher." "Oh, thank God," Usher whispered, k
The meeting was only ten minutes old—it had only just started—and the first presentation had only just been given, but Usher's concentration was already disturbed. He couldn't concentrate on the data being presented. His mind kept wandering back to Vione. He had tried to ignore it, but suddenly his heart was pounding with an unfamiliar rhythm.Usher held his breath. Vione. Had something happened to her?At the same time, Usher saw Garth reach into the inside pocket of his suit. He watched as Garth stepped out of the meeting to take a phone call and for some reason Usher was certain that the call had something to do with Vione.Usher's intuition was right. Immediately after the call, Garth approached him and whispered in his ear."Alpha, Cora just reported that Luna fainted at a banquet—"Usher immediately got up from his seat. He left and Garth quickly said, "The meeting will be postponed."Then Garth hurried after Usher. They left the office five minutes later, Garth driving as fast
Two days later Rowena was ready. With her was Cora, whom Usher had specially assigned to accompany her on her journey.Rowena cupped Vione's cheeks. "Don't worry, Vione. We'll see each other often. Besides, it's the only way I can make up for leaving you as a baby.""No, Mama." Vione held Rowena's hands. "You did it so I could live with other werewolves. I understand that."Still, Rowena's guilt remained. So, she promised to make up for it with happiness and togetherness in the future."I hope you take good care of yourself, Mama," Vione said, calming her heart. Then she took off the moon necklace she was wearing. She put the moon necklace into Rowena's hand. "Let me know if anything happens."Rowena nodded. "Of course."Vione and Usher watched Rowena leave, certain that this wasn't goodbye. In truth, they were just living apart. They would keep in touch. They would still meet and visit. So, everything would be fine. There was nothing to worry about.That was what Rowena believed too.
Vione's hope was the promise she had made to Ivan. After so much suffering and sacrifice, there was only one thing she wanted most: to live a peaceful life surrounded by those she loved—Usher, Jemma and Rowena.They were owed many happy days because of the tragedies that had unfolded over the years, along with the war. Now Vione simply wanted to repay that debt by enjoying their time together, especially with Rowena.For countless days, Vione had longed for the loving touch of her biological parents. Despite the fact that her life with Addy and Hilary had been happy and full of love, she could not deny that deep down there was a part of her that longed for the warmth and love of her real parents. And when she learned that Ivan was long gone, all her hopes were placed in Rowena.Vione wanted to experience the affection she had only imagined. She wanted to spend endless days with Rowena in the palace. But it seemed that Rowena had other thoughts than her own."W-what do you mean, Ma?" V
Silence. Ivan and Rowena both stood still, staring at Vione without blinking."I'm meeting Usher, Dad," Vione said again. She pouted as she continued, "We've been dating since the night of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony." Her face flushed, obviously embarrassed. "When we were celebrating at the palace, and that's when we..."Vione didn't finish her sentence, but both Ivan and Rowena understood. They could guess what had happened that night. But one thing was still unclear to them.Ivan cleared his throat. He rubbed his chin, looking puzzled. "Usher?" he asked. "Which Usher are you talking about?""Papa," Vione groaned, feeling even more helpless. She was completely embarrassed. "There's only one Usher I know, the one you both know, Usher Thorne."Ivan's mouth opened, but no words came out. He seemed genuinely shocked and needed a little more time to fully process the name Usher Thorne.Ivan stared at Vione. "Usher Thorne?"The doorbell rang at the same moment. Vione's eyes widened. She lo
A month had passed since the war against the Nimbria Pack, and now normal days were once again colouring the Frostholm territory. Everyone carried on with their activities as before, full of energy and joy. The children played and went to school without a trace of fear, while the adults worked diligently, occasionally breaking into light chatter and laughter.There were no worries. Fear and anxiety about the future had vanished, replaced by happy, vibrant faces. They knew that the danger that had loomed over them for years had been overcome.On the other hand, the peace that now surrounded the Frostholm Pack did not lull Usher into complacency. He refused to become arrogant. Instead, the tragedy that had befallen the Nimbria Pack had taught him many lessons. He would not be careless and would make sure that this would never happen again.As a basis for preventive measures, Berg continued to increase security throughout the territory. Inspections of outsiders became more thorough and r
A heavy silence had fallen over the Frostholm territory since the night before. The area was truly desolate, with no sign of the Frostholm pack except for Berg and the guards stationed everywhere to protect the borders and the palace. The rest of the pack had evacuated to Amerotha Forest, hiding under the protection of Rowena's magic.The tension was palpable. The members of the pack seemed restless, their minds filled with fear, even though their safety was guaranteed within the forest. They knew that this security did not extend to those fighting in the war; there was no guarantee of safety for them.No one could close their eyes. They couldn't even stay in their tents. Instead, they chose to gather together and pray without ceasing.Hope poured from the depths of their hearts. Every prayer was accompanied by sincerity, and many shed tears. Their sorrow ran deep, and the Amerotha Forest could feel it.A blue-golden light slowly emerged, flowing from the ground and spreading everywhe
One thing Usher would remember for the rest of his life was that war never brought anything good. On the contrary, only bad things came out of war—death, pain, loss, suffering. For this reason, he would do everything in his power to ensure that there would be no more wars in the future—at least not in his lifetime—even if it meant making extreme choices.Usher hated war and he hated killing, but this time he put those feelings aside to ensure the safety of the Frostholm Pack. He had learned from experience that Kendrick's compassion could never touch the humanity of the Nimbria Pack. In truth, greed had blinded the Nimbria Pack, causing them to ignore the opportunity presented by the Frostholm Pack. Worse still, the Nimbria Pack saw Kendrick's decision as a sign of weakness, leading them to attack again whenever they had the chance.So, this time, Usher abandoned all compassion and humanity. The Nimbria Pack didn't deserve it. Instead, he would make sure that the Nimbria Pack felt all