Isolde had no news if Elder Brin survived, but she was more than happy to believe that the old man died during their cowardly run from the Kingdom of Riga. The former Luna of Blood River Pack didn''t care at all because he was nothing more but a pawn in her ns.


    Now that he no longer had use, he was better off dead.


    "Will you take charge of the Blood River Pack warriors who survived?" Alpha Zaros approached her. "Even though theye here, they are still disrespectful. I believe that they have been deeply hurt by my nephew''s casting them out."


    "Of course, dear brother." Isolde smiled. "Do not worry, I will make all of these lycan warriors be of asset to you."


    "Good." Alpha Zaros looked at Isolde with a frown. "Do not think of starting a coup, Isolde. Just because I''m handing off these men to you, it doesn''t mean that you can break the Obsidian Pack from within."


    "Of course not!" Isolde shook her head and smiled innocently. "Why would I do something like that? You are too paranoid that you could even think that way about me."


    Isolde realized it was a bad n to attack her brother head-on anyway. She was not stupid.


    Alpha Zaros sighed but then looked at his daughter who was ying with the lycan pups. The sight of his daughter made him smile and his expression softened immediately.


    He loved I so much because she was the only connection he had to his deceased mate. Everything that he was doing was for his daughter.


    "In a couple of weeks, it will be I''s birthday and I''m nning to head up into the Zekkyl Heights to obtain the Moon Desert Flower as a gift for her," he said.


    Isolde raised a brow. "That''s a dangerous ce with the harshest winds and sun. Many lycans have fallen to their deaths there, brother."


    "I will do anything for my daughter, Isolde." Alpha Zarosughed. "She is but a simple woman that does not want for anything, but if I could give her the world, then I would do it."


    "You never even got me anything during my birthdays, brother." Isolde pursed her lips.


    Alpha Zaros narrowed his eyes. "It is a warning, Isolde. I may be leaving the pack to obtain the flower, but if you attempt to do anything during those times, I have my trusted men staying here."


    "Of course, of course." Isoldeughed and gave Alpha Zaros a yful smile. "You think I cannot sway them with my beauty? Have you forgotten that I''ve obtained Alpha Leon''s heart before?"


    "I have no time for your jokes, Isolde," Alpha Zaros said. "You''re an old hag in my eyes."


    "I hope that the winds kill you, brother." Isolde hissed.


    "You can only wish that, Isolde." Alpha Zaros narrowed his eyes. "If it weren''t for my daughter''s kindhearted nature, you would have already long been begging for other packs to ept you."


    "Then I am fortunate indeed." Isolde smiled and nced at I from faraway. "I think she takes after her mother, doesn''t she? I see no ounce of you in her at all. A pity, she could have used some more bite. Kindness kills."


    "I love my daughter the way that she is." Alpha Zaros narrowed his eyes.


    Isolde crossed her arms. "You say that now, but it''s necessary to raise them tougher. I would have ended up nowhere if I were to act like your daughter."


    Alpha Zaros sighed. "In the past, we had the need to be ruthless because of the human kingdoms attacking us. I lost my mate because of King Mchi''s decision to slow down the war… but now it''s different."


    "Different how?"


    "Obsidian Sand Pack is stronger than ever." Alpha Zaros said and gestured to the great number of lycans in front of them. "The Kingdom of Armeria is incredibly wary of our strength and does not provoke us."


    "Then it means that you can take them." Isolde pointed out.


    Alpha Zaros shook his head. "No. I am aware that the rest of the packs wish to conquer the human kingdoms, but I have grown weary and tired of bloodshed. Did you know that I visits Armeria sometimes?"


    "What?" Isolde narrowed her eyes on her brother. "I thought you hated humans! Why are you letting her go there?"


    "Because she likes to," Alpha Zaros said. "I could have forbidden her to, but she would rebel. She finds the inventions and cities of humans as an interesting concept. I''m proud of her."


    Isolde shook her head. "You have grown weak, brother. I do not remember you being like this before."


    "People change over time, Isolde," Alpha Zaros said. "I still hate humans for taking away my mate. I despise that King Mchi''s daughter fell in love with a human, but right now, I am happy to protect my daughter."


    "I used to respect you before, brother," Isolde smiled thinly at him. "You once worked hard to be an Alpha and even made Obsidian Sand Pack into what it is today. However, now, you have grown too content."


    "I find nothing wrong with it," Alpha Zaros said and extended a hand to his sister. "I wish that you would also understand it."


    "I loathe it." Isolde stomped away.


    She didn''t think that she would be epted in the Obsidian Pack since her brother, Alpha Zaros, truly hated her for leaving their pack at its lowest point… but his daughter made him soft.


    It weakened him.


    Unlike Isolde.


    Ever since she lost both Alpha Leon, her mate, and Lowell, her beloved son, she knew better than to make herself weak. Now she knew that there was an uing feast and ceremony that was celebrating her niece''s birthday.


    Zaros didn''t trust her to do anything but with little I being a naive lycan, she was confident enough to pull up with her n. Isolde quietly pulled out a small vial from out of her robes.


    There were some droplets still remaining.


    It was enough.


    .


    .


    ______________________


    From Missrealitybites:


    If you read "The Cursed Prince" and are used to reading about the sweet mother figure like Queen ra, seeing a mother so wicked like Isolde might make you want to pull your hair. Unfortunately, mothers like Isolde exist.


    One book I read twenty years ago that affected me greatly was "A Child Called It" by Dave Peltzer. He recounted his experience of being abused since he was 5 by his biological mother so, so badly, while his brother was doted on by her.


    He was not even referred to as human by his wicked mother. She called him ''it''. And her hatred for him was baseless. There was absolutely no reason whatsoever for her to treat one son lovingly and another son like sh*t.


    I don''t want to go into detail how bad it was... You can google it. :(