<In Hein, Frisia Kingdom>
<Blood River Pack Headquarters>
A beautiful older woman with dark skin paced angrily in her beautiful chamber, facing the vast garden outside the villa. In her hand was a magic mirror which she used to communicate with her spy, an older lycan among those sent to go with the Alpha to Riga.
This was only one of the few magical artifacts that the grand witch gave her as a token of their friendship. It's proven to be so useful in situations like this.
"I apologize, even though the pack is ambivalent to Sophie Hansley's position as Luna, they respect and fear Leland too much to do anything besides grumble underneath their breaths."
"Stupid and useless, Elder! You should do something to make them question the Luna's loyalty to the pack. She still sees herself as a human does she not? Use that to your advantage."
"What do you mean, Luna?" the Elder blinked and was confused with the orders of Leland's mother. Even though the pack already had a new Alpha and when he chose his mate, Sophia Hansley, they also had a new luna, the elder still looked up to Isolde as their true Luna. Not, some weak hybrid who couldn't even shift.
"Make Sophia Hansley reveal that she is sympathetic to humans and prefers them over us lycans." Isolde's gaze narrowed at the Elder. "That will further tarnish her reputation in the pack."
"Oh, I will do just that!" the Elder grinned and nodded his head. "I will do it when the Alpha is away to make sure that he cannot save his wife."
"Good. Stir up some trouble before I get there." Isolde said. "I need these lycans in Leland's castle to think that he is too in love with the woman and cannot make good judgments."
"Of course," the Elder bowed his head. "As the cunning mate and former Luna of the Blood River Pack, you truly are wise beyond your ways. I will eagerly wait for your arrival here in Riga."
Isolde cursed underneath her breath and shoved the magical mirror in her pocket.
"Prepare my carriage. I need to visit the witches and discuss the next step," she roared her order. Three lycans immediately bowed down their heads and scrambled to do what she ordered them to do.
***
After traveling for two weeks, finally, Isolde and her entourage arrived in Gazi Desert.
"We are close, Lady Isolde." one of her lycan guards called out to her.
"I know that." Isolde snapped at the lycan guard and continued forward. "I am familiar with this place far more than you people. I used to live here…"
The female lycan traveled along the sands of Gazi to visit the witches. She promised to meet with Grand Witch Elaine to discuss the next steps in the conquering of Riga Kingdom and soon the entire continent.
As usual though, the Elder that was staying with Leland in Livstad right now kept requesting her to come and deal with the Alpha herself. She shook her head and tried not to grit her teeth.
"Why do I have to do everything to get the job right?" Isolde complained as she eyed the witch gathering in the distance. She thought she could smell blood and wondered if an unfortunate traveler saw the witches and died.
"I really don't like witches." one of the lycan guards chatted with their fellow guard. "They are mysterious and scary."
"Shut up and make sure that you do not offend them or I will offer you as a sacrifice to them!" Isolde narrowed her eyes at the lycans who came with her.
She had a lot of problems she needed to take care of and among them was the news that Leland married Anne's stupid daughter.
"That stupid bitch just had to seduce my son." Isolde gritted her teeth and grumbled to herself. "And yet my son is too deceived. It's incredible that he's still fawning over that woman when it's clear that she already had children with another lycan."
Every little event that happened over the course of months was reported to Isolde but she had been too far away to do anything. It vexed the woman to no end because of how it was deterring her from her plans.
"Hah. At least I've managed to keep this away from Elaine and her daughter," Isolde sighed to herself. "I'll have to deal with this after my visit here."
Ever since the late Alpha Leon, her mate, died several years after her beloved son died, Isolde had to ensure that Leland became the Lycan King. So, it was monumental that the witches helped them.
There were a lot of Alphas from different packs who wanted to be King as well and she wouldn't let anybody else steal that title from Leland. As the mother of her son, she would be able to ensure that her legacy lived on.
Isolde's old pack, Obsidian Sand Pack was among those that disappeared over the course of the war between lycans and humans, and she was hellbent on ensuring that the humans would suffer for their transgressions.
She finally came to the Gazi Desert to meet with Elaine and her daughter, but the atmosphere of the witches' gathering was different. There was a certain dark atmosphere that bothered her and the lycans.
The first thing that greeted Isolde Salazar was the head of a witch that rolled across the sands. The female lycan looked up and saw Witch Eloise greet her with a deadly smile.
"Ah, Isolde… can I call you mother-in-law?" Eloise asked. "Or perhaps that is wrong because you already have a daughter-in-law. Can you explain to me about my dearest Leland's choices?"
Isolde stared down coldly at Eloise despite the shudder that went down her back. "No greetings? I thought Elaine would have taught you some better manners, child. I am still older than you."
"Isolde!" Grand Witch Elaine stomped down towards Isolde and threw a crystal ball into the sands. It scattered across numerous shards and yet there was one thing evident in all of them.
There was a reflection of Leland and Sophie in them.
The appearance of Duke Romanov and his wife in parties and gatherings.
All of the Witches were furious and Isolde clenched her fist so much that they turned white. Isolde's expression was cold as she saw the shards and then the woman sighed and looked at her best friend and the Grand Witch's daughter.
"What is the meaning of this?" Grand Witch Elaine shouted at Isolde. "We made a promise to wed our children together. Who is this woman currently in your son's arms? Did you think you could hide this from me?"
"Mother calm down." Eloise's voice called out to her mother and stepped forward to Isolde with a bright smile. Her eyes twinkled. "I do not think this is intentional on Isolde's part, right?"
"Of course not. I'm actually about to go to Livstad to rectify this situation." Isolde said without breaking a sweat.
"Really? Perfect!" Eloise beamed and then held out a small vial to her. "I'd like to send you a gift to the woman that Leland married. Just a tiny housewarming present."
Isolde narrowed her eyes at the beautiful witch before her. She always liked Eloise. She actually saw herself in this young woman. A crooked smile appeared on her face as Isold accepted the vial.
"You are such a good friend," she commented with a sneer.
***
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