“Afterward, you left Aldrich and betrayed the Blue Moon Pack. You became a rogue,” the Grand Elder spoke, his pain evident in every word. “If I had known it would come to this, I would have insisted that Elwin let you stay with me, no matter what. You wouldn’t have ended up wandering, and the Elder Council could still be your support.”
Grace continued to shake her head desperately. “I don’t deserve your trust and guidance. I let you down, and I let down everyone in the Blue Moon Pack.”
Ethan’s patience was wearing thin. “Enough of this reminiscing,” he said, his venomous gaze fixed on the Grand Elder. “About my proposal earlier, will you accept or not?”
The Grand Elder hadn’t expected this man to be so persistent. “Give Grace back to me. She can’t add any more value to your future election. Why continue to keep her on a leash? Give her back to me, then we can discuss terms.”
“Give her back?” Ethan revealed a malicious smile, as if savoring the thought. “This is my little wolf cub. How can I just give her back so easily?”
“So, you want Aldrich to lose his advantage in the election, right? I agree,” the Grand Elder looked at him, betting that this man would agree to his proposal for the sake of power. “I can say that Maggie isn’t suitable to be Luna. Is that what you want?”
“Yes,” Ethan answered. “But earlier, you clearly despised me and swore that you would never help me. How have you suddenly changed your mind?”
The Grand Elder kept a close watch on his every move, fearing he might harm Grace at any moment.
“I’ve grown old and need a successor. Grace is my best student, and I consider her my daughter. The Elder Council needs new blood, and I need someone to take care of me. If you’re willing to give Grace back to me, we can make a deal.”
“Very well.”
Ethan turned his gaze toward Grace. “You’re free now, my little wolf. Go back to your teacher.”
The Grand Elder moved in front of Grace. “Young man, unfasten her collar.”
“It’s not very complicated magic; you could do it yourself.”
Without thinking about whether Ethan’s words held any hidden meaning, the Grand Elder attempted to release the collar himself, and indeed, it was a straightforward spell that didn’t take much time. He genuinely cared about Grace, which led to a fatal mistake. He shouldn’t have turned his back to Ethan, allowing him to disappear from his sight.
Grace nervously watched her teacher. She wasn’t sure if he was temporarily stalling Ethan to deliver a deadly blow in the Elder Council or if he was genuinely too old, his mind not entirely clear, and he wanted to negotiate with Ethan.
Soon, she felt the choking sensation around her neck vanish. She was free. She was about to hug the Grand Elder but watched in horror as he collapsed like a falling mountain. He fell straight to the ground.
Behind him was Ethan’s cold smile.
“The old man thought he could deceive me,” Ethan said, “he didn’t really believe that his crude trickery would fool me. He was just criticizing me for not understanding love ten minutes ago, and now he wants to negotiate with me. But it’s clear that he has deep feelings for you. He’s even willing to engage in false negotiations with someone he despises, all for your freedom.”
“But it’s a pity,” he continued, walking over and holding her chin, “you’ll never have that chance. Whether it’s going back to your beloved teacher or the freedom he wanted to give you. You can only be my pet.”
Grace looked at the lifeless Grand Elder on the ground, and a piercing scream echoed through the entire forest.
“Someday, I will kill you!”
Ethan put the collar back on her. “I look forward to that day.”
Maggie, who was far away in the Blue Moon Pack, had been sleeping soundly but suddenly woke up.
“What’s wrong?” Aldrich also woke up instantly. “Is there something bothering you?”
Maggie wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She couldn’t put her finger on what had awakened her and pulled her out of the chaotic dream. It left her with a strong sense of unease, but she couldn’t pinpoint the source. “If only I had the vast knowledge that the Grand Elder possesses. I wouldn’t feel so helpless, staring at these clues with no idea of how to proceed.”
Aldrich understood that his partner was getting fixated on trivial matters again. He knew that in these moments, comforting her was more important than a logical analysis. He gently patted Maggie’s back, recalling how his mother used to soothe him when he was very young. “The Grand Elder is the oldest among the surviving werewolves. You don’t have to compare yourself to him. I’m far from matching up to him.”
Her occasional vulnerability made Maggie even more endearing to Aldrich. “Do you ever feel helpless, too?”
“Perhaps you won’t believe it, but I often feel powerless. It’s precisely because I can sense that powerlessness that I strive harder to compensate for its consequences.”
Maggie nestled back in her lover’s embrace. “In my heart, you and Alisa are the type of people who can’t be knocked down. You exude confidence and strength, and you can handle anything that comes your way. But I can’t. I feel like I can only rely on you.”
“Why are you always so lacking in self-confidence?” Aldrich tilted his head and gazed deeply into her eyes. “You saved Charlie, remember? You were pregnant at the time, with no physical strength, yet you charged forward to protect him. You awakened another kind of power within yourself, so you succeeded.”
Maggie added in her mind, thanking her mother Selene for it.
“I’m not very sure if I can control this power. Sometimes, it doesn’t listen to me, and I can’t use it effectively. What if there’s danger next time, and I can’t harness this ability? I’m so scared of losing you, of losing all of you.”
“Maggie,” the man’s warm and firm hand cupped her cheeks. “Don’t get lost in unnecessary self-doubt. Grace told me this. Everyone has different strengths. Fire consumes everything, water suffocates, sharp winds cut through the skin. Each element has its unique strength, and so do people. Marvin and I have the strength of fangs and claws, Grace’s power lies in her extensive knowledge from the Grand Elder and her inherent intelligence, while Alisa transforms everything she observes into her way of action. As for you, Maggie, you have your strength.”
“Your strength might not be visible to the naked eye because it’s like rainwater slowly gathering into the vast sea-quiet yet substantial. The catalyst for your strength was to protect Charlie, so your power is about guardianship. As long as you stay committed to protecting everyone you care about, your strength will grow, bit by bit. Stop comparing yourself to us, Grace, or anyone else. You are yourself, and you possess your unique strength.”