The Nimbria Pack steeled their hearts and their resolve. They were forced to put aside all their grief and loss, if only for a moment. They could not allow themselves to wallow in grief. Instead, they would use it all as fuel to ignite their fighting spirit.
“There is no other way,” Torin said, looking at his trusted comrades. “The only way to avenge all this pain is to kill Vione and conquer the Frostholm Pack. We will burn Frostholm to the ground. We must kill them all without exception.”
James and the others nodded. Their determination was fierce. The desire for revenge, to destroy the Frostholm Pack and to kill Vione had become a vow of death that they would follow, no matter what obstacles or challenges stood in their way.
“Good enthusiasm, Torin, but I hope you haven’t forgotten that the Frostholm Pack is full of cunning people.”
A voice interrupted the conversation. Torin and the others turned to the door. They saw Connor enter, his face grave.
“Papa.”
Connor approached Torin, his gaze fixed on him, unwavering, filled with a mixture of emotions. Just like Torin, he was overwhelmed with uncontrollable rage and sadness, feeling as if he had been thrown back into the past, when he had lost Bethany and had to watch Torin cry in heartbreak.
Yesterday, Connor had been enthusiastic about the progress of their plan to conquer the Frostholm Pack. He believed that Torin could take advantage of the situation. The exchange of Vione for Mireya and Phillip was only a formality. They would use this opportunity to ambush the Frostholm Pack.
Especially since the timing of the exchange was perfect. There was no full moon. It was not a full moon night. Luck was on the side of the Nimbria Pack, and on paper they had already won.
But reality didn’t match their hopes. Worse, the beautiful dream had turned into a terrifying nightmare. Not only had their expectations fallen short, but the tragedy that had occurred was beyond anything they could have imagined. When Connor looked back, even Bethany’s death seemed more reasonable than Mireya’s.
Back then, the Frostholm Pack had been really strong, with several unrivaled pillars of strength. At the very least, Ivan and Ferdie had been the fearsome spearheads of the Frostholm Pack’s attack. They possessed remarkable personal skills and were able to work together seamlessly as a team.
It was different now. In Connor’s eyes, the Frostholm Pack no longer had warriors to fear. There was nothing special about the Frostholm warriors except for their strength and bravery-qualities he believed his own warriors also possessed. This, of course, had to do with the Bernathra magic that had plagued the Frostholm Pack for years.
As a result, Connor was overwhelmed with shock. The news of the Nimbria Pack’s retreat shook him. It left him speechless when he learned that Mireya had been brutally killed by Vione, a she-wolf who didn’t even have claws.
Connor couldn’t comprehend what had happened. So, he couldn’t resist the urge to join the meeting.
“I know exactly how you feel right now, Torin,” Connor said, placing a hand on Torin’s shoulder. His fingers squeezed, offering strength and moral support. “Because I’ve felt it before.”
Torin swallowed the bitterness that felt like a lump in his throat. “Papa.”
“I watched Bethany die before my eyes. I was forced to retreat from the battlefield, and when I returned to the palace, I saw you crying because you missed her.” Connor’s face hardened, his breath quickening, reflecting the loss that still lingered after all these years. “So, I know better than anyone the depth of the vengeance you feel right now.”
Torin’s breath caught in his chest. His jaw clenched. “I’m so angry I can’t even breathe. My desire to destroy the Frostholm Pack has increased tenfold.”
“I understand, Torin, and that’s exactly what you should do,” Connor replied, tightening his grip on Torin’s shoulder, fueling his anger even more. “You must wipe them out until there is not a single member of the Frostholm Pack left in this world.” Torin nodded firmly and Connor added a warning. “But remember one thing. The Frostholm Pack is full of cunning people. You must be careful when dealing with them.”
Torin exhaled briefly. “Don’t worry, Papa. I’ve already taken that into account. Thanks to Marcus’ plan, our chances of defeating the Frostholm Pack are greater now.”
“You’re right. Marcus was very clever to come up with such a thorough and well-organized plan.” Connor nodded repeatedly, but something was still bothering him. So, he asked, “But you’ve already confirmed this, haven’t you? Since you’re planning a follow-up attack, you must have checked out the current situation of the Frostholm Pack, right?”
Torin didn’t answer right away, but the slight wrinkle on his forehead was enough of an answer. Then he turned to James. “Contact her immediately.”
James nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
Both Torin and Connor waited impatiently for the call to go through. But when James lowered the phone from his ear and shook his head, they both growled in frustration.
Torin pointed at James. “Keep calling until you get through. I need to know the current situation of the Frostholm Pack immediately.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Meanwhile, Connor wiped his damp face. The uneasiness he felt increased. Torin clearly sensed what was on his mind and then said.
“Don’t worry, Papa. Everything will be fine, just like before.”
Connor shook his head. “Nothing is certain, Torin. I’ve fought the Frostholm Pack many times and still they are not to be underestimated.”
“I don’t underestimate them, but that’s the reality,” Torin said confidently. “My retreat from the battle does not mean that I could not defeat them. On the contrary, I could have destroyed them on the spot. But as you know, Mireya died. I couldn’t do anything because she was Phillip’s mother, the mother of the Nimbria Pack’s heir. She deserved a proper burial and respect, even if she wasn’t officially my Luna.”
Connor put his hands on his hips, his eyes fixed on the dark night sky. “I understand that, but for some reason I feel like you just let go of our only golden opportunity.” He sighed. “As I said, the Frostholm pack is extremely cunning. They’re experts at turning things around. Besides…” He looked at Torin out of the corner of his eye. “… haven’t you seen it yourself? Even a shewolf without claws managed to kill the mighty Mireya.”
Torin was stunned. Connor’s words hit him hard and left him speechless.
“I just hope my instincts are wrong,” Connor continued in a quieter voice, his eyes narrowing as if trying to focus on something in the distance. “I hope that luck really is on our side, just like it was twenty-six years ago.”
“Twenty-six years ago?” Torin tried to remember the story, but wasn’t sure. “What do you mean, Papa?”
Connor didn’t answer right away. Instead, he continued to stare at the night sky, as if it took him back in time, to days when fear followed his every step. Then he spoke a name, fully aware of its weight. “Vione.”
*