Chapter 17
17
Adelaide’s POV
My voice was soft, but my pheromones carried the chill of silverfir–like ice blades slicing through the air.
Ulrik froze, his suppressed whine choked off by my aura as I brushed past him.
Halsey
immediately asked, “Adelaide, stand firm. I’ll fight for your justice.”
My eyes welled up as I bowed before her. “I’ve brought shame to the family–I failed.”
“Rise!” Her tail lashed like a whip, silver fur revealing old battle scars. “Even Frostfang’s last pup deserves respect–not exile for keeping vows Blood Moon broke.”
Her pheromones surged , rotting lilacs flooding the room. “Since you joined Bloodmoon, has any Tenar wolf cursed or harmed
you? ”
I shook my head slowly. “No.”
Rosemary’s fury boiled over. “Then why attack me? Jealous of Velda? It’s Lycan Erasmus’s decree! Your jealousy’s a sin–what
more do you want?”
Halsey cut her off. “The whole city knows she nursed you day and night!”
Rosemary sneered. “I thought her ‘devotion‘ was sweet–until she cut off Digby. That’s attempted murder.”
Halsey fell silent, momentarily stumped.
“Exile me,” I said coolly, “but let me ask–what about the pre–nuptial assets I brought?”
Rosemary coughed lightly . “Bloodmoon doesn’t cover your wealth, but by law, exiled wolves can’t take all their assets. Considering you managed the pack for a year, we’ll only retain 70%, leaving the rest for you.‘
“Shameless!” Elder Halsey’s pheromones flared. “This isn’t about justice–it’s about scavenging from a fallen clan. You’re
openly stealing from Adelaide . ”
Turning to Ulrik, she demanded, “Alpha Ulrik, I respect your service to
seize seventy percent of Adelaide’s pre–nuptial wealth?”
he Lycan King Alme true–do you really intend to
Ulrik stood at the doorway, avoiding my gaze. “Fifty percent,” he said, scanning the room. “I’ll return half. Report me to Lycan King if you will–see if my actions align with shifter traditions.”
Halsey snarled, “How greedy can you get?”
Ulrik’s knuckles whitened around the crumpled letter. “ Go ahead–report me.”
A Beta handed him a parchment.
1/2
+15 Bonus
I glanced at it–his signature declared my exile.
“Hope you find your mate someday,” Ulrik said, his voice laced with irony. “But learn honesty first.”
“Thank you for the lesson,” I said , holding up the document. “But this lacks the council’s seal.”
He looked away. “I’ll file it myself… As for the assets, 50% is my final offer. This is on you .”
I’d already transferred core assets to Frostfang’s offshore accounts. They’d only get furniture and trinkets.
I didn’t want to wait any longer. I suspected Lycan Erasmus was delaying until Velda and Ulrik formalize their bond.
“No price is too high to see Bloodmoon’s true colors,” I said.
Ulrik paled. “Stop provoking me-”
“Or what? Take 90%?” I challenged. “Leave enough to keep me from starving.”
Ulrik’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice, his fingers nervously twisting the edge of the agreement.
“ 50 % is final,” he insisted , his knuckles whitening. “I’ve delayed you a year– I … ”
“Drop the act,” I said. “Want the money? Just take it.”
Rosemary turned to Halsey, her voice shrill. “See her attitude?! ”
Halsey’s beard trembled. “She’s kinder than you deserve.”
Rosemary’s chest heaved. “Adelaide, hand over the asset list!”
I pulled out the real list from my sleeve, the paper snapping crisply. “You have a copy—why mine?”
“Hand it over, or leave empty– handed ,” Rosemary snapped.
Halsey’s staff slammed the floor . “ You-
I stared at Rosemary, struck suddenly by the absurdity of it all–how had I spent the past year keeping vigil by her bedside, begging shamans for help, and footing her medical bills , all for someone like her?
I tossed the list at Ulrik , the pages fluttering to his chest. “Here.”
The asset list was practically pressed against Ulrik’s chest–within arm’s reach if he chose to take it.
Take it i
“Take it,” Rosemary urged. “End this
today.”