Chapter 137 up
The city of Valerith had survived centuries by refusing to choose sides.
Built in a deep valley between three mountain ranges, the city was a crossroads of trade routes, migration paths, and old alliances. Merchants from dozens of territories passed through its gates every season. Wolves from rival packs had walked its streets for generations without drawing claws.
Valerith was not ruled by a single pack.
Instead, it was governed by a council of neutral elders representing the many wolves who lived there—traders, craftsmen, scholars, and wanderers who had chosen the city precisely because it stood apart from the endless rivalries of the wider world.
For decades, that neutrality had protected it.
But now the world had changed.
And neutrality was becoming dangerous.
The council hall of Valerith was carved directly into the mountain cliff above the city. Massive stone pillars lined the circular chamber, each etched with ancient symbols representing the founding packs that had once agreed to keep the valley neutral.
Tonight, the hall was filled with tense voices.
Elder Taren, the oldest member of the council, raised a hand for silence.
“Enough.”
Gradually, the arguments faded.
Around the stone table sat representatives from the city’s governing council—wolves who had spent their entire lives maintaining Valerith’s delicate balance.
But even they could not ignore the growing storm outside their walls.
Elder Mira leaned forward.
“Our scouts confirmed it this morning.”
She pointed to a map of the surrounding territories.
“Three packs aligned with Kael are now less than two days away.”
Across the table, Elder Corvin responded immediately.
“And two alliance patrol groups loyal to Lyra passed through the eastern mountain pass yesterday.”
The room fell quiet.
Valerith had become surrounded.
Not by enemies.
But by allies of opposing factions.
That situation could not last long.
Taren rubbed his temples slowly.
“For centuries we have remained neutral.”
Corvin nodded.
“But the world no longer respects neutrality.”
Another council member spoke quietly.
“If we declare support for one side, the other may see us as hostile.”
Mira added grimly,
“If we refuse to choose… they may fight here anyway.”
That was the real fear.
Valerith sat directly between territories aligned with both Kael and Lyra.
If the conflict escalated, the city could easily become a battlefield.
And that would destroy everything the council had spent generations protecting.
Taren looked around the table.
“There is one possibility.”
All eyes turned toward him.
He continued slowly.
“We invite both leaders.”
Corvin frowned.
“You mean…”
“Yes.”
Taren’s voice remained steady.
“We ask Lyra and Kael to come here.”
Mira blinked.
“As mediators?”
Taren nodded.
“If the leaders themselves negotiate the status of this city…”
He gestured toward the valley below.
“…perhaps neutrality can survive.”
Silence followed his proposal.
Because everyone understood how unlikely that sounded.
The two most powerful figures in the werewolf world.
Both invited to the same city.
Both asked to protect its neutrality.
Corvin finally asked the obvious question.
“And if they refuse?”
Taren’s expression darkened slightly.
“Then Valerith’s time as a neutral city is over.”
Two days later, messengers departed from the valley.
One traveled north toward Kael’s territories.
The other moved east toward Lyra’s alliance.
Both carried identical messages.
Lyra received the message late at night.
Selka entered the council chamber carrying the sealed document.
“You should read this.”
Lyra took the letter and broke the seal.
Her eyes moved quickly across the page.
Then she read it again.
Selka watched her carefully.
“Well?”
Lyra placed the letter on the table.
“It’s from Valerith.”
Selka’s eyebrows rose.
“The neutral city?”
“Yes.”
Selka leaned closer.
“What do they want?”
Lyra hesitated for a moment.
Then she said quietly,
“They want mediation.”
Selka frowned.
“Between who?”
Lyra looked directly at her.
“Between the two sides of this conflict.”
Selka blinked.
“And they want you to represent one side.”
Lyra nodded.
“Yes.”
Selka crossed her arms.
“And the other side?”
Lyra’s voice remained calm.
“They sent the same invitation to Kael.”
Selka stared at her for several seconds.
“You’re telling me the last neutral city in the werewolf world just asked you and Kael to solve their problem together.”
“Yes.”
Selka exhaled slowly.
“That’s… bold.”
Lyra walked toward the map.
“Valerith sits directly between multiple territories aligned with both sides.”
Selka nodded.
“If the conflict spreads there, the city could be destroyed.”
Lyra’s gaze remained thoughtful.
“They’re trying to prevent that.”
Selka tilted her head.
“Do you think Kael will come?”
Lyra thought about the last time they had met beneath the moonlit valley.
“Yes.”
Selka looked surprised.
“You’re that sure?”
Lyra nodded slowly.
“He values independence.”
Selka frowned.
“And neutrality.”
“Yes.”
Lyra folded her arms.
“Valerith represents both.”
Selka studied her carefully.
“And you?”
Lyra didn’t hesitate.
“I’m going.”
Selka sighed.
“This meeting will make half the world nervous.”
Lyra gave a faint smile.
“Only half?”
Far to the north, Kael stood in the fortress strategy room reading the same message.
Torren leaned against the wall, watching his expression.
“Well?”
Kael finished the letter.
“Valerith is asking for mediation.”
Torren raised an eyebrow.
“You and Lyra.”
“Yes.”
Torren walked closer.
“That’s risky.”
Kael placed the letter on the table.
“Valerith has remained neutral longer than any other city.”
Torren nodded.
“True.”
Kael continued.
“If it falls into the conflict…”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
He didn’t need to.
Torren understood.
The destruction of the last neutral city would send a message to the entire world.
The conflict had become unstoppable.
Torren scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“So you’re considering it.”
Kael looked at him.
“Yes.”
Torren smirked slightly.
“You know what this means, right?”
Kael waited.
Torren grinned.
“You and Lyra in the same room again.”
Kael sighed softly.
“That’s not the important part.”
Torren chuckled.
“Maybe not politically.”
Kael ignored the comment.
Torren studied the map on the table.
“If both of you attend…”
He paused.
“…the entire world will be watching.”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
Torren crossed his arms.
“And if the meeting fails?”
Kael’s voice was quiet.
“Then neutrality may die with that city.”
The room fell silent.
Finally Torren asked,
“So… are we going?”
Kael looked at the letter one more time.
Then he said calmly,
“Yes.”
Three days later, the city of Valerith prepared for something it had never experienced before.
Two leaders.
Two opposing visions for the future of the werewolf world.
Both traveling toward the same valley.
Both asked to protect the last place that refused to choose sides.
And throughout the global networks of the werewolf world, news spread quickly.
Lyra was coming.
Kael was coming.
And the fate of the last neutral city would soon be decided.