THE CONTINUED TRAVELS OF DAN LION

Dan left a few days later for Gold City, and then stopped at Silver Mountain - the largest market for business and political intel - if you had access to the right connections, which Dan Lion had.

As expected, he was unable to procure any information on Moon Bell beyond what was readily available on the LNC, but they did provide a file to Lord Wolfgang. The file was rather slim, so Dan knew at once he had only been given the "abridged version".

Most of the contents were lists: Academic publications, advisory boards, scholarly awards, military awards, political and diplomatic roles, personal financial background and property listings - it was an impressive collection of achievements and accolades, which Dan had fully expected from such an illustrious man as Lord Wolfgang. Dan was well acquainted with Professor WA Chimay's journal publications. They were the foundation of his understanding to the lycan perspective on business, politics, history, and culture.

Dan sighed as he reached the end of the file, he was just about to write it off as a wasted expense when it turned up a single sheet report on Lord Wolfgang's personal life. The information on it were very factual, dates, places, events in single sentences. He was an orphan, the last fire wolf in the plains, one of the Great Teacher's graduated disciples, the First King Gunter's personal advisor, the Second King River's teacher and personal advisor, served as advisor to Moon Bell's founding circle for 2 and a half years, he was single and had never mated, and it was an open secret that he was Alpha Sam's lover. In fact, it was in respect to this relationship that several treaties were drawn between Snow Moon and Moon Bell.

Dan had always assumed Snow Moon's special relationship with Moon Bell was due to King River's lovely Queen, who was Alpha Sam's only biological sibling. BUT suddenly…

Dan had to read the report a few more times, his eyes always resting on this by-the-way: Lord Wolfgang was Alpha Sam's lover. He KNEW IT! From the first meeting, he had sensed some undercurrent… but he still couldn't believe it.

Suddenly it all clicked together. The fire wolf's extremely good looks, that he remained unmated even with his pedigree and endangered bloodline, his freedom to live most of every year abroad despite being a pillar of Snow Moon Kingdom, his uncharacteristically casual relationship with the Grand King River, his special privileges in Moon Bell, his confidence in gaining Dan entry rights…

Dan wasn't sure why he was so surprised. He had seen a lot in his years at court. Politics was often toyed with between the sheets, and the fate of a nation left in the hands of a beautiful lover.

Except Lord Wolfgang was a man. Maybe that was why Dan was surprised.

Or maybe because he truly had admired Lord Wolfgang. He was a capable, intelligent, and powerful noble - everything that Dan could only wish to be.

So why would such a lycan subject himself to be a foreign alpha's lover? Or could it be that his title and rise to power something he gained through his lover? Was it just a political match or something more? Dan could not imagine what sort of circumstance could have forced a noble proud Lycan warrior into such a compromising position.

"I shouldn't be surprised by something like this." Dan reasoned to himself, but he was.

"Me neither." I told Bell, "That can't be true."

I didn't even have to live it to know.

Bell smirked, "I'll take your word for it."

WTH! He was being damn confident.

"How would you know what Dan was thinking anyway?" I groused.

"He wrote a book." Bell answered. Dan Lion eventually became quite the acclaimed novelist. His best seller was a fictional novel entitled, "The Fire Wolf's Secret."

It was a detective revenge drama where a Fire Wolf returned to life after a tragic death. With this second chance at life, he unraveled the sinister plot that had destroyed his Fire Wolf pack, and in the process of extracting vengence, he changed his fate, fell in love, and stepped up to the pinnacle of the world!

Which was NOT what happened in any kind of real life. It was the stuff of TV dramas - which it did become. It was a hit series that had ignited a passionate following of housewives in both the lycan and human world. Bell had watched it because I would make him binge watch the series with me.

"Don't mix scenes from a drama series into the story!" I scolded.

Was this a sign that my spell had run its course?

"It is rather amusing." Bell answered, "Till today, Dan still believes Wolfgang is your lover. He walks on eggshells whenever Wolfgang's name is spoken in front of me and has taken great pains to protect Henri from discovering the affair. He is also extremely considerate and goes to great length to avoid having Wolfgang and I cross each other's path."

"Oh the poor guy." I felt sorry for Dan. I knew my wolves, they were all probably ganging up against Dan, "How could you do that to him?"

It seemed like the poor human would be walking on his toes all his life - even after his happily ever after.

Bell smirked, "Fluffy had a better plan."

"No." I answered automatically. (See, I knew it wouldn't be just Bell. Wolves ran in packs, even big bad ones.)

Bell laughed, "Ben said we better not."

Who was another big bad wolf, but since when did Bell ever listen to Ben?

"He said if Dan ever told you he walked in on Wolf and I kissing, you'd kill him." Bell told me proudly.

Wait, who and who kissing? After all these years and Fluffy was still coming up with stoopid plans like that? I looked to Bell who was smirking without a shred of embarrassment. Like seriously, what's wrong with the future?

Anyway, back to Dan Lion's story: Time flew by as quickly as the passing scenery from Dan Lion's carriage window as his entourage travelled across the continent in the next few months. Dan would watch the autumn slowly ebb away with each passing week. By Winter, the King increased pressure on Dan to produce concrete proof of the mission progress. Dan could only conclude that the war preparations were complete and the King was itching to pull the trigger. If he did not enter the Green Packlands by Spring, the King would probably just have him assassinated, it would be an easy job, a sniper, a poison… he was just a very mortal human after all.

Dan was not a religious man, but his promised entry with the delegations of young snow wolf warriors with Lord Wolfgang must have been God sent, or goddess sent as the lycans believed.

After procuring the information he required at Silver Mountain, he visited old contacts at Black Forest before visiting the smaller packs along the grey zones. The grey zones were uncolored packlands, mostly home to small scattered populations of lycan, human, and vampires. It was hard living, but the landscape reminded Dan of his childhood, so he always made it a point to do some "charity work" with the surpluses from his mission.

It was thankless and dangerous, but this would be Dan's last chance to make any difference for these overlooked communities. Best to move quickly through this part of the continent before sheltering at Gate City where he was due to meet Lord Wolfgang and the Snow Wolf Delegation.

Dan and his caravan was exhausted after two weeks of hard traveling. They had to stay on the move, sleep in shifts, and keep moving to avoid being waylaid by bandits. Dan was thankful for the armed guards with him. The Captain of his guards in particular had proven to be experienced and level headed. They had a few little security issues as long journeys were bound to surface, but they were all dealt with in a timely and appropriate way. The team of guards and servants in this trip were also cooperative and respectful. Dan could not guess who might betray him at all, although he was sure someone must be reporting his activities from the shadows.

Just as they were exiting the grey lands, they were ambushed. It was a good thing Dan predicted as much and the Captain of the Guards had been readied for it. The woods here made it conducive, and the rogues would have seen them pass through, seen the goodies they were handing out, and had plenty of time to set up and wait for their return.

Dan's men were tired, but they were well trained and prepared for the trap when it sprang, even so, it would still be a hard fight since they were fighting off lycan rogues. Guns were shot, swords were brandished… Dan waited in the carriage and hoped the rogues would not throw fire on his roof. They probably wouldn't. After all, the carriage was carrying valuables and it was likely that Dan himself was potential ransom in their attackers eyes. So long as they were not idiots, he would survive this easily enough. He wouldn't be able to say the same for the men outside. He sighed. It was unfortunate. The King had attached rather brave and good men to his entourage this trip.

It wouldn't take much longer, maybe another ten minutes. The battle outside was fierce but it also meant that his men were putting up a strong fight. Rogue lycans were different from pack warriors - the latter were really far more coordinated and deadly.

Just as Dan was beginning to settle down to wait for the siege to pass, the battle suddenly heated up. Dan was alarmed enough to be tempted to look out, but he didn't want to risk his head or hand or whatever by popping out of the window. Within a minute it got quiet.

Which either meant they had won, or lost, depending on which side had received last minute reinforcement. Dan sighed. Why were things taking an unexpected turn suddenly?