Isolde nodded. "Yes. Seeds of discontent and unfulfillment have already been present in our Pack. We were divided and I believe that Elder Brin has led a great majority of the warriors to a suicide attack."


    "Do not try to pull me along with your schemes, Isolde." Her brother narrowed his eyes on her. "Even if you are bright and strategic, I will not risk anything. A wounded wolf simply fights more furiously until it is healed."


    Compared to anybody else, it was true that a family member was more familiar with the motivations and methods of their rtives. Was it better for Isolde to just retire and stay here with content?


    As long as she could hide, then she and her son would never meet again.


    Or so anybody would think.


    Isolde did not live long enough to simply rx because she had gotten away. She knew Lnd. He was vengeful just like his mother. If Isolde let her guard down, her son would kill her.


    If not today, sometime in the future.


    She had made too many enemies to think of peace.


    Isolde pursed her lips. She looked at the empty space beside her brother and sighed. "It is hard to manage the Obsidian Sand Pack, especially when there is no one to support you."


    At Isolde''s words, the Alpha stiffened because Isolde knew how to hit where it hurt. His expression became gloomy. "Nobody has ever taken the ce of Luna here, I would rather lead it by myself than take anyone else but Eryea for my mate."


    "I am sorry, Zaros…"


    The reason for their hatred for humans was evident. Both Isolde and her brother remembered how the sands were bathed in red, and among them had been Eryea''s own life vanishing before their very eyes.


    Little I had been the only thing that was left for Isolde''s brother.


    "If you were sorry, then you would have stayed, Isolde." the Alpha red at her. "You could have helped me raise my daughter and the pack, but you chose to desert us."


    "There was no hope for the Obsidian Sand Pack before." Isolde frowned at him. "How can you me me for taking the best option to survive?"


    "It is truly your nature isn''t it?" the Alphaughed. "You will do whatever it takes to survive."


    Isolde clenched her fists in frustration. "You were the one who refused to merge the remaining members with the Blood River Pack. The suffering that has happened is your fault!"


    "Father!" I finally intercepted between them with a frown. "Even if Aunt Isolde abandoned the Obsidian Sand Pack in favor of the Blood River Pack and you have your differences, the two of you are still siblings."


    The Alpha softened at his daughter''s words then nced over to Isolde with a frown. "Well? Shall we stop arguing?"


    Isolde only looked at I and smiled. "You seem to have raised a kind-hearted daughter."


    "And you have failed to raise your son properly."


    Isolde narrowed her eyes at the Alpha. "I can''t help but wonder if you didn''t get a Luna after Eryea was gone simply because of that horrible tongue of yours."


    "Do not test my patience, Isolde." Her brother said. "I can still throw you out."


    "Why thank you, dearest brother of mine." Isolde let out a fakeugh. "But I still offer my services to you. I can help you manage the Obsidian Sand Pack."


    The Alpha shook his head and smiled at his daughter. "Do not worry, I will take the role of the Luna after she and her husband take over. They will be the ones to usher in a bright future."


    Isolde raised a brow at those words and nced over to her niece.


    I smiled brightly at Isolde and opened her arms. "Wee back to your old home, Aunt Isolde."


    Isolde looked at her niece and smiled to herself. Fine. Even if she couldn''t convince her brother to take a stand against Lnd, she could always influence the next Alpha of the Obsidian Sand pack.


    I, her niece, would be a nice option too. This good girl would be far easier to ''assist'' than her brother.


    ***


    "Alpha!" A lycan rushed up the mountain and intercepted the next spar between Lnd and Lucas. They bowed in front of the Alpha and said. "You muste down, Alpha!"


    Lnd''s eyes widened. "Did something happen to Sophia?"


    No.


    He would have felt it.


    The Alpha''s connection with Sophie would allow him to notice if something happened to his mate. Instead, something else had happened and the Alpha nced towards the castle and saw a great congregation of lycans heading up.


    "Survivors of the Blood River Pack, Alpha! They just returned," said the lycan. "They want to see you."


    Lnd narrowed his eyes when he heard the report. So, those traitors decided toe home and see him… for what?


    Didn''t they think Brin was a better leader and chose to follow him and his orders?


    "Where are they?" he scoffed.


    "They are on the foot of the mountain and asking permission to go up," the lycan responded.


    "Don''t let theme up," Lnd said coldly. He motioned Lucas to follow him and soon they met with thepany of the survivors outside of the castle. Lnd did not let the betrayerse in or even enter the walls of the castle. He and Lucas met with them at the entrance.


    "What brings your deserters'' lot to the Blood River Pack?" Lucas frowned at them as the Alpha stared at them silently. He was furious to see them.


    "Wee here to bring important news," one tried to say but was quickly intercepted by his brother.


    "Beta, we apologize for our actions." One of the lycans knelt low and modted his voice. "Elder Brin has moved us to anger, but it was a fruitless attack."


    "He did not know how to lead us," another agreed.


    "Elder Brin was a coward and only hid in the back while sending the rest of us to our deaths that are meaningless. Many have died and we could not even recover their bodies, Alpha."


    .


    .


    _________________


    From Missrealitybites:


    Thank you so much for all yourments, reviews, and votes. I am feeling unwell and can''t respond to yourments. I''ll do so tomorrow after I get better. In the meantime, take care and stay healthy. xx