Chapter 45
Julian's POV
I hadn't even processed what Brian meant by "informant" when three wolves lunged forward with killing intent sharp enough to tear through flesh.
Their target was Kane.
Golden, copper, and iron-gray shadows wove into a lethal net, the murderous aura so thick I understood instantly—this wasn't a test. This was an execution.
Kane was already spent.
I could tell his fight with Seraphina had drained nearly everything he had. He'd barely managed to shift back into Blaze, his footing unsteady. The black wolf's body was covered in blood and burns, his breathing heavy and labored.
Sage whispered in the depths of my consciousness: "Letting him die here would be the best outcome for you."
My wolf spirit wasn't wrong.
Kane had always been my greatest threat in the fight for the Alpha position—his ambition, his methods, the undercurrents of power backing him. If I stood aside now and let Blood River's Three Claw Generals eliminate this threat for me, I could secure my position as heir once and for all.
But I heard my own voice saying: "He's Silver Moon's. If he dies, it should be under Silver Moon's law, not at the hands of another pack."
Sage fell silent for a moment, then sighed: "You always insist on making things difficult for yourself."
I had no time to respond.
The Three Claw Generals had already deployed their signature tripod formation—Brian feinting from the front, Gregory circling to the flank for ambush, Zachary holding position in the rear for support.
This was Blood River's most classic killing tactic.
Blaze struggled to respond, spitting dark flame orbs to drive back his attackers, but the Three Claw Generals moved with such agility that every attack missed its mark.
I watched Kane's movements grow slower, his reactions duller. At this rate, he'd be torn to shreds within ten exchanges.
I took a deep breath and let Sage take control.
The silver-gray wolf charged into the battlefield, ice-blue eyes meeting Blaze's for a brief moment.
In that instant, without words, we reached an understanding—like many years ago when we were pups, fighting side by side against the wolves who'd bullied Fiona.
I unleashed Frost Seal. Frost-white cold spread from beneath my paws, the ground rapidly coating with thick ice. Brian lunged for Blaze's throat but found all four paws frozen to the ice, his movement suddenly arrested.
Blaze seized the opportunity, launching a dark flame orb straight at Brian's chest.
Brian dodged hastily, but the slick ice beneath him threw off his balance. The fireball grazed his shoulder, scorching a patch of fur. He roared, forcibly shattering the ice beneath his feet, but Gregory and Zachary's attack rhythm had already been disrupted.
I continuously created ice walls and ice spikes, restricting the Three Claw Generals' movement, while Blaze seized every opening to spit dark flames.
For a moment, we actually held back their assault, even gaining a slight advantage.
But I knew this was only temporary.
Brian clearly realized it too. He suddenly shifted back to human form, his naked body gleaming bronze in the moonlight, muscle definition sharp as sculpture. In human form his speed was faster, more flexible—he easily dodged my ice spikes and charged straight at Kane, who had also returned to human form.
Two men locked in hand-to-hand combat, the sound of fist meeting flesh echoing through the night.
I seized the chance to cast Ice Pillar. A massive column of ice erupted from the ground, rising over ten meters high, lifting both Brian and Kane into the air.
The top of the pillar formed a narrow platform where the two continued their deadly duel.
This way, I only needed to focus on Gregory and Zachary.
Kane's POV
Julian's ice element had created an aerial arena for Brian and me.
My enemy was actually helping me now, and his reason was "can't let you die at the hands of another pack."
But I had no time to dwell on that. Brian's fist was already swinging toward my face.
I dodged sideways, countering with a hook to his ribs. The dull thud of bone on bone told me the blow had landed hard. But Brian only grunted, using the impact's momentum to spin, his leg sweeping mine out from under me and slamming me onto the ice.
"Your fighting style is pure Blood River," he sneered, attacking as he spoke. "What, forget who taught you all this? You fucking informant!"
Informant.
Those words drove into my chest like a spike.
Everything about Blood River was a shadow I wanted to forget—those endless nights, the frozen cages, the constant hunger, the guards who treated me like a plaything to torture.
I'd fought so hard to bury those years in the deepest recesses of my memory.
But now, under Brian's roar, something was coming loose.
A warm memory was surfacing from the depths—
A middle-aged man with golden eyes like Brian's, though crow's feet creased their corners.
He would call me aside after training, correcting my grip, teaching me how to protect my vital points.
His voice, deep and strong: "Little wolf cub, remember—fist like this, keep your center low..."
I froze.
That moment of distraction gave Brian his opening. His fists rained down like a storm. My combat skills had never matched his, and now I was driven back step by step toward the edge of the ice pillar.
Below the edge was a ten-meter drop. The fall wouldn't kill me, but it would leave me badly injured.
Brian's eyes were bloodshot, his handsome face twisted with rage.
He grabbed my collar, dangling me over empty air, screaming hoarsely:
"Today, I'll eliminate you for the Crimson Flame Warlord, you informant!"
Crimson Flame Warlord.
That name struck like lightning, splitting apart all the fog in my mind.
Fragmented memories surged forward: the man who'd taught me to fight, those warm golden eyes, and his desperation when he was gravely wounded on the battlefield...
No.
It wasn't like that.
I wanted to explain, but Brian's fist was already raised high, carrying enough force to shatter my skull, falling hard—
In that instant, the massive ice pillar shattered completely.