341- The First Blood and a Daughter’s Plea
POV Viktor Averwyn:
I spent the entire afternoon in meetings with the council, deciding on strategies.
The cameras and sensors were designed to cover large areas, and I had installed the same systems used in major city streets or airports—high-quality, with zoom and full three hundred and sixty-degree coverage, via satellite.
I had been preparing for this for a long time, thinking it might be an exaggeration on my part, an unnecessary expense. I followed my instincts and, for many years, even believed the equipment would deteriorate without ever being used. This would be the test.
At that moment, when a group of armed wolves spread through the forest coming from the direction of neutral northern territories, we were able to monitor them from where we stood. That’s when I triggered the first trap.
They were plates covered with dirt and pieces of the ground, hidden around the forest. Normally, they remained firm, but with a control system, I automatically released all the connectors between them, making them fragile and unstable.
“Now we’ll really see if they work.”
I spoke attentively, watching them advance. Screams echoed when the front line stepped onto the disguised plates, which gave way instantly. They plunged into pits, where the mechanism resembled my Death Pit. Silver blades were fixed at the bottom, and they were impaled.
Those behind them recoiled, terrified, not understanding what was happening. Lonut zoomed in, capturing their expressions, confusion, while they listened to the screams of those who hadn’t died immediately. Even if they managed to pull them out, it wouldn’t be in time, with silver cuts in vital organs.
“They’re already terrified. They’re looking around, searching for more traps.” Florian pointed.
It was true. They gathered, talking, waiting for another attack. Then they spread out again, jumping over the open pits to the other side, leaving the dead behind.
“This is only the beginning, idiots.” Cezar stood up, tense.
And it was. Time stretched as we discussed tactics, until more than half of them were blown into the air by explosions from buried mines. Panic spread, and they turned back, fleeing toward the neutral forest territory.
“They’ll report that the system here is brutal!” Emil laughed, celebrating. “Mangy mutts!”
“They’ll be back. But now with more fear and caution.” I smiled slowly. “There must always be one of us monitoring this, day and night.”
“Absolutely!” The head of the guard stepped forward and pointed at the map. “From the south it’s impossible—there are cliffs. From the west we have the secret passages. Our wolves will be ready to come out of the tunnels and fire silver bullets and arrows as soon as they pass through there. To the east, more traps and mines. Just to advance a little, they’ll lose days, maybe weeks—and many lives.”
Since the attack paused, we stopped for coffee with sandwiches and more discussions. We would monitor continuously, rotating commands so everyone could rest. That night, Lonut would be on duty.
I was exhausted from the sleepless night and all the stress. But I would stay there until late. When I returned, the insolent and childish human would already be asleep and wouldn’t torment my sanity. I needed to focus on the battles.
It was almost dark when Cezar and Florian went home. Only Emil, Lonut, and I remained in the office when Adelina appeared.
“Can I talk to you, Father? I won’t take long.”
“Get some rest for an hour. I’ll call if anything happens,” I told them.
They said goodbye and left. She approached my desk, looking at the camera feeds on the monitors, the maps, and notes.
“Can you see the whole forest?”
“Almost. These are focused on the northern section, where the first aggressive act came from. Want some coffee?”
“No.”
She sat on the edge of the desk while I poured myself a shot of ţuică. It helped keep me alert and awake. I studied her carefully.
“Did something happen? Did Seraphine cause more trouble?”
“She’s in the room, sewing your clothes.”
“Then what is it?”
“I wanted to talk about this war. It’s just started—we still have time to stop it.”
“We’ve already talked about this.” I grew irritated, downing the drink in one go.
“Just listen to me, please!”
“Go ahead.”
“I’m talking about a truce—or even ending the battles. You just need to show willingness to negotiate.”
“By handing the human over to them,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Or using me as a bargaining chip.”
“Stop talking nonsense, girl!” I slammed the glass on the table, and she hurried closer, blurting everything out:
“Think about it. If you release one of us, the Elders will approve. They’ll be the first to calm the other alphas, especially Konrad and Lucian. I’ll go. I’m strong, I can handle myself, I’ll talk to them and—”
“Adelina, enough.”
My patience was nonexistent at that moment. I was tired, nervous, worried, and furious. I didn’t want to deal with her childishness and foolish romantic dreams.
I was about to tell her to go home when her dark eyes filled with tears, fixed on mine. Painful, lost, alone. That shook me.
I sighed and stepped closer, holding her delicate face in my large hands, wanting her to understand.
“I just want to protect you. Lucian is not your destined mate, not some charming prince you’ll live happily ever after with. Being with him is signing your death sentence. Don’t you see that?”
“I know you’re thinking of my well-being, but I’m an adult. Everything is different now.”
“I’ve known that alpha for centuries. You’ve never even seen him. This isn’t the time to discuss this again—it won’t solve anything.”
“I just wanted you to listen and understand. I feel it here inside that he is my destined mate. And everything will change when he meets me.”
Rage threatened to consume me just at the thought of that possibility.
In her innocence, my daughter was projecting an illusion, a romantic fantasy about a bastard who had ordered a baby’s death and admitted it before a council without remorse. What wouldn’t he do to Adelina now that she was grown?
Her tears fell, and I wiped them away with my thumbs, pulling her into an embrace, breathing in her scent. I loved her deeply—my stubborn, spoiled girl, full of naivety. That made the anger fade and the concern grow.
“I won’t make deals with them. You and Seraphine will stay here, under my protection. This involves much more than you think—politics, interests, ambition. When it’s over, I promise I’ll give you more freedom. For now, forget these foolish ideas.”