Chapter 175
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175
Third Person’s POV
Wanda had expected that after a few days at Madison’s estate, Winslow would come to fetch her.
But not only did Winslow not show up, but no one from the Glenveil Pack did either.
Instead, she heard that Rowena had personally apologized to Adelaide at Frostfang’s residence.
Bitterness welled up in Wanda’s heart- it seemed as long as Rowena was alive, she would never wield power in the Glenveil Pack, let alone attain any status.
But her repeated malicious thoughts came to naught–Rowena’s meals and daily routines were closely monitored.
As Winslow’s mate, Wanda, leaning on her royal heritage, never took the initiative to greet Rowena and had no chance to get close to her.
Both mother and daughter, each burdened by their own troubles, temporarily left Adelaide in peace.
By mid–August, Lance still hadn’t returned.
A month had passed since he left, and Adelaide began to worry.
Initially, he had said he would just file a report and return. The journey from here to the Shadow Peaks was but two or three days by car. Even with a stay, ten days should have sufficed for a round trip.
Could something have happened at the Shadow Peaks?
Adelaide happened to receive a letter from Paisley, filled with stories from the Shadow Peaks–Avery bought cosmetics and was grounded by the mentor, though fortunately not punished.
The letter also congratulated Adelaide on her upcoming mating bond, with friends at the training camp clamoring to send a grand gift for her ceremony.
Adelaide felt somewhat reassured.
It seemed Lance had indeed visited the Warscar Training Camp. The mentor must have approved of her mate bond with Lance, spreading the news throughout the camp.
However, the letter made no mention of whether Lance remained at the Shadow Peaks.
Adelaide sent someone to inquire at the Blackthorn Pack. They found them busy preparing for the mating ceremony and arranging accommodations for Priscilla.
Letting it go, Adelaide penned a letter to the mentor at the Shadow Peaks. Whether Lance was still there or not, the messenger would return with news.
On second thought, perhaps Lance was delayed by business. She chose not to dwell on it.
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175
A few days later, the Full Moon Festival arrived. The Frostfang Pack’s Packhouse was adorned with statues of the Moon Goddess, finally donning a festive air.
Ivy personally made desserts. After tasting them, Adelaide had some sent to Melinda and Luna Rowena of the Glenveil Pack.
As for Luna Skye, Adelaide made no special preparations.
Relationships should be reciprocal. She would respond in kind to how others treated her.
The palace, naturally, was out of the question. Without Clarissa’s orders, she couldn’t enter freely, let alone with external food that required security checks for royal entry.
The Full Moon Festival typically saw wolf packs hosting rituals for the Moon Goddess together. But this year, Adelaide was alone.
She tried to put on a brave face but couldn’t hide the sorrow in her
eyes.
Beata, noticing her distress , teasingly suggested in Adelaide’s car, “I heard there’s a wolf gathering today. Want to join?”
As Beata spoke, her eyes welled up too–she missed her family, long gone.
Adelaide gently stroked her hair and said, “Tonight, you all go out and enjoy yourselves. Leave all your worries behind.”
She harbored a quiet guilt toward Beata–born into the wolf pack, Beata had grown up with her, trained at the Shadow Peaks, joined the Bloodmoon Pack, and now, like Adelaide, was an orphan.
Once lively and mischievous, Beata had become unusually reserved after the tragedy.
Especially since returning to the Frostfang Pack, she managed Adelaide’s personal affairs and trained the omegas under her charge with a poise beyond her eighteen years.
“Should I find you a fine mate?” Adelaide quickly shifted the topic as pain surged in her heart.
“I’ll stay by your side forever,” Beata pouted, masking her tears. “You said you’d never drive me away.”
“Deal!” Adelaide smiled and tapped her nose. “When you meet your true mate, I’ll preside over your bonding ceremony.”
Lunch was light. Adelaide only had a bowl of oatmeal. Afterward, she headed to the Frostfang Pack’s Moonlight Altar.
The altar, paved with a single slab of moonstone, bore wolf–head carvings on the dome, casting an ethereal blue glow.
As Adelaide lit the wolf–fat candles, the moonmark on the back of her neck suddenly flared hot.
Kneeling on the cushion, her wolf cars drooped with sorrow.
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“Father, Mother,” her wolf whimpered in her mind, “Elder Halsey and I have discussed adopting a child to train as the Frostfang Pack’s future Alpha, but no candidate has been chosen yet.”
“All the children on the shortlist have parents to care for them… How am I to choose?” Adelaide’s nails dug into the wolfskin cushion, her knuckles scoring five bloody grooves.
She recalled her nephews nailed to the moon altar, those young wolves who should have inherited the Frostfang Pack. None remained.
They were exceptionally promising pups, irreplaceable in Adelaide’s heart.
No one answered Adelaide’s questions, but here, it felt as though her parents and brothers were still by her side. This small solace cased her grief.
After a while, she rose, rested in her room, and saw Beata leading Beta Valentine in.