380- Shadows Gathering at the Edge of War
POV Viktor Averwyn:
After a week, I received another note from Katarina.
When an omega came to deliver it, I was at the mine overseeing the stone removal process. He handed me two, and I opened Katarina’s envelope quickly, my heart pounding frantically.
“We haven’t been able to meet all the time. I was transferred to a bar in the village, where Adelina doesn’t go. She stays mostly at the mansion. But I’ve seen her from afar more than once, and she seemed well. Yesterday, we managed to exchange a few words in a rush. She asked me to say she loves you and is happy. I spoke about the possibility of escaping with me, but she refused. I’ll remain attentive. In a week, I’ll bring more news. Tell Anica and Georgeta that I’m fine. Soon we’ll all be together.”
It was a temporary relief that didn’t calm me at all. The fact that Katarina was no longer in the house’s kitchen proved she didn’t see what was happening inside.
I tucked the note into my pocket, worried. I tried to tell myself that if Adelina were being mistreated, she would agree to flee with the she-wolf or at least warn me. But I knew well how easily the mind creates foolish hopes, deceiving itself.
I opened the other one, from the informant Virgil. He stayed among the armies and only withdrew to collect messages and leave them at one of the secret entrances, where a guard would pick them up. His was written in hurried, scrawled handwriting:
“Rumors of two simultaneous attacks: to the south, by the river, in an attempt to climb the cliff. And from the east, with a large number of soldiers. News that packs from Hungary, Moldova, and Eastern Europe are arriving, with promises of wealth and occupation of your territory. Heightened alert for the coming days.”
He didn’t use a phone because of the difficulty of recharging it while in the forest, and to leave no evidence or trace. That more archaic method had always been used and worked, with proper precautions.
I returned to the office, already calling Cezar and asking him to gather the council.
When they arrived, I was drinking a glass of ţuică, analyzing the map and the cameras, noticing the increased movement. I showed them the notes, and Emil sat down, tense.
“If they try by the river, we throw explosives from up here. They won’t be able to climb, the sentries won’t leave their posts. We just need to reinforce.”
“They know it’s impossible through the cliffs, they just want to split us.” I looked at him. “If we put more guards there, we lose ground around us. And they’re coming with more packs.”
“That’s true,” Cezar agreed, circling the table. He frowned. “Why this desperation to fight us, even spending resources, calling wolves from outside? Most of them are greedy, they charge high. They must be gaining something more than just the promise of dividing Averwyn.”
“Someone is funding this.” I thought of Edric and Aldren. Could they be behind it along with the others?
It didn’t seem like this was about punishing me for Konrad’s death and delivering justice. They wouldn’t invest lives and money for that. Or perhaps it was the interest of just one group, one of the alphas, like Lucian—or someone above him. The elders.
“The mines are extremely profitable. We have diamond mines and silver reserves. It seems the three remaining alphas are ambitious. With Konrad dead and you imprisoned, they could benefit greatly. Only they would own everything,” Florian pointed out, making valid arguments.
“So the Elders agreed to this? Weren’t they the ones who defended equal division for all, without wars for power?” Lonut pressed the bridge of his nose, outraged. “All bullshit!”
“If it were only about money, they could have taken me out of the game long ago.” I finished my drink. “I gave plenty of reasons—skipping meetings in Noctheria, not respecting rules, bringing as many human women here as I wanted without informing anyone. But they always left me alone and never fought over the mines. Why now?”
“That’s the question. And why was Konrad so desperate to kill Seraphine?” Florian continued. “If ambition were the reason, he would’ve attacked only you with those four wolves in the forest. Your territory would’ve been theirs.”
“Exactly. I also doubt Edric and Aldren would agree to dishonest deals.” I stood up, pacing, my mind working. “They’re in this for justice, for following the laws, for wanting peace to continue. They see me as the cause of discord.”
“Greed changes people,” Cezar shrugged.
I stopped by the window, my eyes drifting over the cemetery. I didn’t think of the women buried there, but of how many would die if the war dragged on. Including the risk of that happening to me and the two who were my brothers.
It was still hard to believe, but I felt it was true. I had promised my father I would take care of them, and now we stood as enemies. There was no way to fight without guilt. It held me from all sides.
Winning could mean the defeat or destruction of Aldren and Edric, as well as Adelina under Lucian’s power. Losing would affect Seraphine, if someone still wanted her dead and found her through me.
I had asked the two alphas to stay away from the eastern side. I hoped they would listen, especially considering they had wives and children to care for.
It was a fucking mess.
“Viktor, are we continuing with the same line of defense and attack?” Lonut asked.
“Throw explosives at anyone who comes through the cliff. Blow them all up in the traps. We’ll stop the first ones from climbing, but if they come in large numbers, they’ll take part of the land. Let them think it’s a victory. We’ll launch a surprise attack on the camp at dawn and wipe out the rest. They’ll come back with more, but they’ll be more cautious. And slower.”
As soon as I finished, Cezar jumped to his feet.
“I’ll take care of it. We’ll be ready.”
We discussed more details, and I returned to the castle past eleven at night. I had barely stepped inside when Seraphine came to meet me, waiting downstairs. Worried and beautiful.
“You took so long! Did something happen?”
I pulled her into my arms, small and warm, and that alone eased my turmoil. She clung to me, her scent soothing me.
“The usual problems,” I downplayed.
After we returned from the waterfall, things had been strange between us for a few days. She didn’t ask me to mark her again, and I tried to maintain some control when we went to bed. It wasn’t easy, especially with my wolf dying to sink his teeth into her.