The tragedy that struck the Moonlight Pack had spread to the neighboring packs, leaving them to wonder if they might be next, uncertain about what to prepare for. Allies of the Moonlight Pack were devastated, while rivals were pleased and began plotting their schemes. Kings who had harbored enmity towards Valex for years celebrated the downfall of his pack. However, the burning question on everyone’s mind—both ally and rival—was: what had attacked them?

Malrik, on the other hand, was thriving. He sat on his throne, holding a glass filled with a mysterious liquid, as his elders gathered before him. With a broad smile, Malrik raised his glass and declared, "A toast to the destruction of my dear brother Valex! Good riddance to him!"

The elders exchanged smiles, and one, wearing a long blue hat, says, "Your Highness, that was a very clever plan. Whatever Elder Elias did was magnificent."

Malrik laughed in agreement. "Yes, it was genius. Soon my brother’s pack will crumble, and that human girl will be gone—totally dead."

Suddenly, a soft voice interrupted, like a gentle breeze. "Malrik, what have you done?"

Malrik turned to see his mother, Queen Elowen, approaching him with a look of disgust. His smile faltered as he responded, "Mother, come celebrate with us."

"Celebrate what?" she retorted. "Are we celebrating your brother’s pack being in total ruin—ruin that you caused? How could you?"

Malrik’s smile changed to a frown as he took a sip from his glass. "Mother, why do you have to taint the atmosphere with your bitter presence? You know it would have been better if you had never joined us. So why come here to spit venom and burn the people here?"

She looked at him, her voice firm. "Why do you do this to your brother, Malrik? What did he ever do to you? You know he did nothing."

Malrik regarded her with no emotion and said, "I just love the fun, and as king, I can do whatever I please."

"Bear in mind that you will reap what you sow," she warned.

"Is that what you’re reaping now?" Malrik replied dismissively. An elder wearing a black robe with claw prints spoke up. "Your Highness, that is no way to speak to the queen. You need to show some respect, at least for your late father."

Another elder, whose beard was knotted, added, "His Highness need not respect anyone who doesn’t comply with his rules and order."

The elder in the black robe responded, "That is a nonsensical way of speaking, Elder, and very unethical."

Queen Elowen, facing the elder in the black robe, expressed her gratitude. "Thank you for helping me, Elder."

But the elder quickly interrupted, "I wasn’t helping you; I’m respecting the late king, since you are his wife." Her heart sank at the realization.

Looking at Malrik with scorn, she said, "I don’t know how you turned out like this, but you better remember that I am your mother."

Malrik laughed loudly, standing up and walking toward her. With an upset expression, he replied, "My mother? Oh please, stop that pretense. You know very well..."

At that moment, a guard interrupted. "Your Highness, we have news about the situation at the Moonlight Pack."

Malrik promptly returned to his seat, crossing his legs and resting his chin in his hand. "Go on," he ordered.

The guard nodded and spoke. "Yes, Your Highness." The elders exchanged glances filled with anxiety, and one asked, "I hope this is good news." Queen Elowen stood frozen in fear, tears rolling down her cheeks.

The guard continued, "Your Highness, the High Chief has arrived at the Moonlight Pack."

Malrik and the elders stood in shock, exclaiming in unison, "What!?" Queen Elowen’s eyes widened.

Malrik pondered, "What could the High Chief want at the Moonlight Pack?" The elders murmured amongst themselves, and one with a long, knotted beard remarked, "The High Chief has never left his palace except for anything trivial."

A mischievous smile spread across Malrik’s face. "Something dire? This is perfect! The High Chief has probably come to dethrone my dear, lovely brother." He turned to his mother, grinning, and added, "Your darling son Valex and his human mate will definitely be executed. His pack will crumble. This is better than I expected. The shadows didn’t need to do much; they were just the opening act. The High Chief will declare the end."

The elders laughed, and one said, "This is so true." Queen Elowen looked at them but could do nothing but stand there and cry.

In the moonlight pack, Odesse was seated outside the palace, not too far from three other maids who were washing clothes together. As she sat there washing some clothes alone and eavesdropping on their conversation, one maid, who looked tall and slender, said, "I hope this pack stays. I can’t go back to where I came from; they’re cruel to humans over there." The other two nodded in agreement, and one of them, who had black curly hair, added, "Yes, Master Valex is truly the only wolf king who would let humans live in such good conditions and freely. So I just hope nothing happens."

The girl with freckles then said, "I wonder what happened. I wonder who did all this." The one with curly hair responded, whispering lower, "I heard from someone that it was shadows." The two girls exclaimed, "Shadows? What do you mean?" Odesse’s eyes opened wide as she whispered to herself, "Shadows?"

The girl with curly hair continued, "Yes, shadows. I couldn’t really understand what the old lady was saying, but she said she got attacked by them and they killed her son and daughter-in-law." The girl with freckles then exclaimed, "What? That’s nonsense! Do you really believe that? How can shadows attack us? It’s impossible."

The tall one said, "I believe it because anything can happen in this world ruled by wolves." Odesse whispered to herself, "Where have I heard that before?" The girl with freckles added, "Oh yes, are you both aware that the high chief is in the palace?" Their eyes opened wide. "What? The high chief? What could he possibly be doing here?"

The girl with freckles replied, "I don’t know." Odesse whispered to herself, "The high chief, shadows—why is the high chief here?" The tall one stated, "See, the shadow story might be real after all."

Just then, a guard walked toward Odesse and said, "Odesse, you have been summoned by the king." The three girls stood up in shock. "What? How is that possible?" Odesse stood up and asked, "What? Why?"

The guard replied, "Follow me and do not ask questions," giving her a disgusted look. Odesse thought, "What’s his problem?" The guard began walking, and Odesse followed behind. The girls watched her go, looking at her with disdain. The girl with freckles remarked, "I’m pretty sure whatever is going on, she has something to do with it. Ever since she arrived here, she’s been nothing but pain and useless."

The girl with curly hair agreed, saying, "Yes, she does absolutely nothing." She looked at the tall one and asked, "Right, Beatrice?" But Beatrice didn’t answer; instead, she looked worried and concerned.

Odesse paused outside the parlor doors, smoothing her skirts and arranging her hair. Her reflection in the hallway mirror looked pale, and her eyes were wide with a frantic energy. She took a shallow breath, trying to still the frantic drumming in her chest. As the doors swung open, the quiet conversation inside died instantly, leaving only the crackle of the hearth to fill the awkward void as all eyes turned toward her.

She stopped and looked around, seeing the high chief seated, shining in his white attire with a covered face. Valex’s voice came as he said, "Odesse, come in here." The walk across the thick Persian rug felt like wading through sand. She felt the guests’ gazes tracking her every step, weighing her worth. She kept her eyes low, focusing on the rug until she was close enough to smell the faint scent of cedar and old parchment that clung to Valex robes.

She stopped at a respectful distance and sank into a deep, trembling curtsey. "You summoned me, Your Majesty?" her voice came out as a thin whisper. Valex didn’t answer immediately; he leaned back, narrowing his eyes as he studied her. Then the high chief spoke, "Odesse." She turned and looked at him.

There was a measured symmetry to the way he stood. He rose in one continuous motion, his shoulders squared and his head held high, as if he were being pulled upward by an invisible thread. He walked toward her with grace and elegance and said, as he felt her long, straight, white hair, "You look just like her."