SNOW WOLVES ON BOARD

26 FEBRUARY, FRIDAY, MORNING

"Are you thinking about returning the stone again? Where did a weak puny human like you find the guts betray our pack like that?" Wolfgang was fuming by now.

Unfortunately, even though he was a fire wolf, he was only fuming figuratively speaking. There was no smoke or heat generated. Wolfgang fuming was like any other wolf fuming. That was rather disappointing to me. No special effects at all.

I must have been the only one waiting for smoke or some kind of exciting explosive force from the fire wolf. No one else seemed to feel that a fire wolf should be endowed with pyrotechnic effects when he got mad. Sigh. I guess the Lycan legends exaggerated a little.

Anyway, everyone else was more focused on the fire wolf's words.

Wilhelm, for one, could no longer just sit there and take the abuse.

"Sir Wolfgang, you are speaking out of line." Wilhelm stood up and declared firmly, "No matter what you say, Prince River is still our Alpha's heir."

"Do not talk back to me human." Wolfgang snapped, "You should know better than anyone else how much I've compromised exactly because he is our Alpha's heir! If not for that, why would I, the last and brightest hope of the Fire Wolves lower myself to run with humans, much less submit to one?"

"Have you, really?" Opps. Did I say that aloud? I really should really learn to shut up and stay out of other people's business.

Again the table froze for a minute. I seem to keep throwing spanners into their regular script.

For fear of awkwardness setting in, I quickly warded it off with a laugh and a joke, "If that's what you're like being submissive, I won't want to deal with you being defiant."

I mean, hahaha, okay, that was weak, but at this point, I also realized that if that were the case, wouldn't provoking the fire wolf, even with just as casual joke, be a really bad idea?

I internally braced myself for the fire wolf's wrath. At any rate, since his burning anger was more emotional than actually heat-generating, it probably wouldn't cause any physical harm.

To my surprise, Wolfgang spoke quite differently to me. With a polite bow he acknowledge in all seriousness, "That might be true, but fortunately, this wolf's control over his powers are flawless."

Eh, I was just joking...

"Furthermore, this wolf knows his place, unlike some puny disrespectful humans here." Wolfgang shot River and Keanu a hairy eyeball, and then gallantly assured me, "Please do not let yourself be troubled by these trivial humans, Alpha Princess."

To which River responded by laughing weakly and rubbing the back of his neck.

Keanu was the one who spoke up, "Yes, yes, since Sir Wolfgang says so, what can us trivial humans do?"

Which I had interpreted as full blown sacarsm. So did Wolfgang, who sparked immediately into an outrage, "You dare talk back at me?"

"Ah...ah.." River panicked now, "No, don't misunderstand, Sir Wolfgang! Keanu was just agreeing with you."

"As I always do." Keanu added with a closed mouth smile

River grabbed his friend to shut him up, but it was too late.

Wolfgang growled lowly. Congrats guys, you've officially cheesed off your Fire Wolf.

"Impudent humans." Wolfgang fumed (but again only figuratively, but unlike before, I knew he was really cheesed now because of the low growling underlining his words), "Our Alpha deigned to take you to represent our pack at the Silver Mountain's Young Alpha Inauguration, but you had to sneak out of your hotel room at night and create a ruckus at Alpha Kingsley's suite. Our Alpha brought you to be formally introduced to our long standing allies in Black Forest, but you again sneaked out and trespassed the Green Packlands. And as if that wasn't enough trouble, you sneaked out of your suite the moment our Alpha's back was turned and broke our host pack's alpha command!"

Wow, River was in so much trouble...

Wolfgang wasn't done, "And even now you insist on trampling into the warlock forest on your own... are you so spiteful that you cannot respond to the grace that has been bestowed on you? Or too selfish to care about the wolves and humans you will one day lead? Or are you really be so ignorant of the trouble you stir up at every turn?"

Harsh.

"I know already!" River stood up, his stone glowing suddenly. Unlike the Fire Wolf, River did not own a flawless control over his powers, so he was leaking blue light.

Finally! I thought River was never going to stand up for himself! Go, River! You can't be a pushover when dealing with wolves - particular wolves like Wolfgang who only respected power and lineage.

"River!" Keanu looked worried. If River used the stone now, he would probably pass out and miss his ride into the warlock forest with me. But River only released his friends arm and stepped forward to face the fire wolf squarely.

"You don't have to say anymore!" River grounded out at the Fire Wolf. (Wait, there's more? What other trouble did my friend get himself into?)

"I know, I'm weak, I'm human..." River continued.

(Actually, you're a formling, but River was having his hero moment, and it would kill the mood to correct him now.)

"There are a hundred things I don't get - but I need to follow my heart." River grasped tighter at the blue stone in his hand, "Returning the stone to its rightful owner is the right thing to do."

"This warlock is old and crafty. He had inlaid a spell in your stone." Wolfgang was unmoved, "If you turn against us and return the stone, no good would come out of it."

"I don't do the right thing because I want something good to come out of it." River argued, his blue stone shining brightly in his hand, "I do the right thing because it is the right thing to do!"

"You're being possessed by its spell." Wolfgang's eyes widened.

Nope, I was quite sure this was just how River was to begin with.

"Prince River, I urge you to reconsider." Beta Glenn spoke now, and with these words, I realized one very important fact - Beta Glenn was unable to stop River, and if Beta Glenn could not stop River, then none of the Snow Wolves could - not without breaking hierarchy.

Hahaha, must be really frustrating for the snow wolves - to have to bow their powerful heads and follow behind this "puny human." River wasn't even a fast runner, how could their wolves be content to trot behind their human king?

River was just a human, I mean formling, yes, but he was their Alpha's heir. It was a little like how Beta Lucas would never go against me. The betas were just too loyal. All they could do was to "strongly encourage" their young alpha successors in the right direction.

Now that I knew this, everything was so much easier. I just needed a good opening.

"Pardon, Alpha," My good beta leaned closer to inform me, "Your wolves are ready. Alpha Kingsley and Beta Lucas have arrived at the rendezvous."

I felt my mouth spread into another wide grin. Just in time.

Standing up, I decided aloud, "It's time and I must leave for the warlock forest..."

"Wait!" River spun around immediately, "I'm coming with you!"

I shrugged, as nonchalantly as possible, because #imsosneaky, "You should listen to your elders. The warlock lands is a dangerous place, and if something were to happen to you, how would they explain it to your Alpha dad?"

Why did everyone freeze again? Did this possibility not occur to them until now?

"Don't you dare go!" Wolfgang shouted when River took the few steps to come over to where I was.

"Don't stop me!" River yelled back at the fire wolf, "I've already made up my mind!"

Ideally, the snow wolves would figure out by now that they should come with us, but we really didn't have the luxury of time to let them think it through and arrive at such a conclusion on their own.

"Beta Glenn, you may come too if you like." I graciously extended the invitation coolly in my best fairy queen persona. I was very careful not to sound too enthusiastic about it. And just to be sure he took the bait, I added, "It would probably be easier to explain why you had to accompany your prince into the warlock forest than why you had let him enter alone."

Muahahaha. I might be just a young wolf in the old snow beta's sight and I've never been to the Snow Moon kingdom, but I had survived living in the regular care of Beta Lucas. If Beta Glenn was anything like my dad's beta, he would not refuse this invitation. #imsosneaky.

"Thank you, Alpha Princess." Beta Glenn bowed reluctantly, "It seems I will have to trouble you."

"It's no trouble." I waved it off quickly. I mean, it was exactly the result I wanted.

"I will come too." Wolfgang declared.

River pretty much jumped out of his skin at that, "Ah...ah... No need, no need, Sir Wolfgang..."

"I volunteered out of my goodwill. Are you rejecting my help?" Wolfgang asked sharply.

"No, no, I wouldn't dare!" River shook his head profusely, "I uh.... I just don't want to cause you any trouble."

Hahaha. River was so scared of Wolfgang, it was funny.

"If you're worried about troubling this wolf, then you shouldn't run recklessly into trouble in the first place!" Wolfgang huffed, "Forget it. Talking to you is like trying to explain the universe to a worm. Since it's already like this, I will come with you and save your worthless human hide."

It's true. I just realized it. Most animal hide can be used to craft useful things. A wolf's pelt was one of the most valuable fur in the black market, but whoever heard of human hide?

I actually chuckled aloud at Wolfgang's remark.

"The more the merrier." I allowed.

"It's not going to be merry at all..." River muttered under his breath.

"What did you say, human?" Wolfgang demanded, although I was quite sure all our wolf hearing had caught it.

Adele stood up and bowed quickly at this point, "Beta Glenn..."

Beta Glenn bowed towards me in turn, "Apologies, Alpha Princess. Might we bring our healer, the lady Adele too?"

Lady Adele was truly a lady like in the Lycan legends. She was beautiful with the gentlest smile and hadn't uttered a single word.

"Of course." I allowed with a wide smile.

"Our Lady Adele's heal is limited, but powerful. Since we are running together, we will naturally also extend her care towards you, Alpha Princess." Beta Glenn informed me.

"Oh, don't worry about that." I quickly waved it off. How could I allow the beautiful Adele to burn off her life so easily?

But Beta Glenn did not look relieved at being brushed off. I quickly tried to explain a little, "I will not need any healing. It would be better to save Lady Adele's heals for yourselves."

My words kind of started stumbling around at this point. On one hand I didn't want to sound like I was rejecting their goodwill, on the other, I also didn't want Adele to feel she was useless to the team.

"We also have Ki and my mate is a strong healer too (if you weren't afraid the black curse would spread to you)..." I trailed off.

Wait, why were the snow wolves wearing complicated expressions? The more I said, the more I felt like the words were coming out wrong. I looked to my betas for help. Ki smiled his beautiful smile and assured the snow wolves, "Do not worry. The Alpha Princess has already invited you to run with her. It is not in her nature to be calculative in her partnerships, but if you have reservations, then why not have the healers responsible for healing the wolves form their respective packs? Of course if circumstances prove too overwhelming on one side, the other side will naturally assist as far as it is practical to do so, and no matter what the outcome, no blame would be laid on anyone's doorstep."

Oh. Was that what Beta Glenn meant to discuss? I suppose since healing came with a cost, when running together, most packs would try to ensure the healing cost borne by both parties would be fairly distributed.

Beta Glenn nodded a bow, "The Alpha Princess is gracious and upright like her Alpha Father. It would be an honor to run with you. We will do as you say."

Bonus side quest completed! Snow wolves were now on board the mission. Hahaha, sorry. It just felt like that.

"Harvey will update you with the rest of the mission details en route. We have to go now." I said.

There were windows on one side of the private dining room, and I could see the morning sky lightening. It was getting late. Part of me felt a little surprised that Dad had not sent mindlinks through my betas to hurry me, or worse, brave the forest with Beta Lucas on their own.

Okay, this is good. No news was good news right now.

We had to wait a few minutes for the Snow Wolves to go back to their rooms to change and gear up. River, Keanu, and Wilhelm were already ready to go - which didn't escape Beta Glenn's notice, but the Beta snow wolf only frowned darkly at them. He probably didn't want to confront these three troublemakers in front of me again.

Overall, snow wolves turned out to be rather conservative and considerate wolves. Although Adele and Wolfgang looked like they couldn't be older than Ki or Flynn, or Hank, or Esther, or Macy... You get the idea. They should at the peak of their cool, but their mannerisms were like they were brought up in my Grandpa Alpha and Grandma Luna's generation.

The three snow wolves joined us presently. To my surprise, the men donned the same olive green warrior jackets with red trimming as Wilhelm. I had always thought Wilhelm was wearing a ceremonial warrior jacket - you know the fancy ones with brass buttons for parades, or fancy events, or just to stand behind a prince as his body guard.

Who wore such fancy jackets to do any actual hunting or fighting? Wouldn't it hurt if your body was slammed to the ground and you landed on your stomach over all those brass buttons?

But it was Adele who stole the show. She had returned in a full length dress, like a really proper one. It was a practical dull brown, and the sleeves were olive green too... But beside the dull colors, it looked like the kind of dress my Grandma Luna used to wear in old photographs.

Oh well, despite their dress sense, they seemed to know what they were doing. Beta Glenn had nodded his approval and reported, "All present and accounted for."

I nodded, Boo was rearing to go, "Let's go."