"I… I understand." Sophie bit down on her lip. She wanted to go out and experience what it was like to attend a gathering like this one, but she understood what her mate asked of her.
"Do not worry, Sophia," Leland reassured his mate. "My men will be able to converse with healers and even shamans from other packs."
Sophie remembered the healers back in Frisia and she suddenly hesitated. "Would they still be able to help even if they know… who I am?"
"We will be looking for a possible cure that won't require them coming near you, or if they do, they will be sworn to secrecy, Luna," Lucas explained with a kind smile. "You need not worry about it."
If there was anything that the Beta had known for the past months of living with both the Luna and the Alpha, he knew that Leland would do anything for his mate. If there were any consequences whatsoever, he would damn them.
After a little more reluctance, Sophie and Leland parted ways. Sophie remained in the carriage and silently prayed for a successful gathering. Even though Blood River Pack had a loss, she hoped they would be fine.
"Please be safe, Leland," she whispered after Leland left. She knew her husband was very formidable and could definitely win against anyone in combat. However, she felt that it was the right thing to say when Leland was leaving to meet people from the other packs.
Even though the lycans all had the same goal, to topple human's dominion, many Alphas were also eyeing the same position, to be the Lycan king. They would see Leland as their competition and might act hostile toward him. She didn't wish to see him engage in any fights if possible.
***
"Blood River Pack has arrived at last."
Leland and all of his men that accompanied him moved forward towards the circle where all of the packs gathered together for their meeting. Several lesser packs, especially those who only brought a few members, gave way to the Blood River Pack.
However, there were others who were around the same level of influence and power as Leland's pack.
Among them, he saw the familiar and great ones like Red Moon Tribe, The Nightwalkers Pack, and others who preferred to combat with humans regularly. They were among those who Leland had communications with.
The Alpha of the Red Moon Tribe gave him a feral and toothy grin in greeting. He had participated in distracting the Riga Kingdom with his men. Nightwalkers Pack only nodded politely. This Alpha's goals lay elsewhere.
Leland returned their greetings as his gaze wandered about the rest of the packs who joined them tonight. Most of their positions in the circle revealed their standing and preference in the ongoing wars.
Some packs were more neutral or didn't always oppose the human kingdoms, they only wished to join when it was sure that the humans were about to be crushed. Obsidian Sand Pack was among them…
Leland paused at the new face.
It was no longer Alpha Zaros who came but someone else.
Was his uncle defeated by someone? Even though Leland was not close to Obsidian Sand Pack, he didn't have any problems with Alpha Zaros. So who was this new person—Leland nearly did a double take at a woman's face.
Among the Obsidian Sand Pack, Leland thought he saw Isolde with them, but another look revealed it to be a woman around his age. This was not Isolde but seemed close enough in terms of appearance.
"Cousin," Leland muttered underneath his breath. He had not seen Isla for a very long time but now that he saw her he remembered her.
Leland finally understood what had happened. The Alpha thought that Zaros finally stepped down to let his daughter's mate become their Alpha.
Isla's eyes widened when she heard Leland's voice. She immediately hid behind her husband's back. She was rather startled by her cousin and didn't expect that she would get acknowledged by him.
Leland and Isla were not close. So, seeing Leland for the first time after how many years, looking buffed and imposing, she felt intimidated.
Leland didn't know if the decision to give the role of Luna and Alpha to his cousin and her husband was a good choice. However, the Alpha didn't have time to be concerned with the welfare and affairs of other packs.
Until Leland became the Lycan King, it was not necessary for him to pay attention to what autonomous packs did and chose.
"What are you looking at?" Elias flatly called out to Leland. His voice immediately disrupted the atmosphere that had been filled with idle chit-chat.
Some members of their packs were immersed in trading goods, secrets, and information, but the Obsidian Sand Pack Alpha's voice took away the chance and opportunity for conversation.
Leland's face remained unmoved that some of the packs wondered if Elias' voice actually reached him or if the man simply didn't care. It simply pissed off Elias further because he knew how much Blood River Pack fell from glory.
Didn't anybody else know what had happened in Riga? The great Blood River Pack that was previously glorified in the past had fallen from grace when they foolishly tried to overthrow the Riga monarchy with bad planning and ended up being chased out and slain..
The Great Shaman Elder of the Whiteclaw Hunters Pack cleared his throat and finally addressed the entire packs to formally start the meeting. "Greetings to all who have arrived here at long last. Blessings of the Moon Goddess be bestowed upon you all."
A murmur of polite replies and gestures were done in respect to their goddess before the Lunar Gathering officially began.
"For the past twenty-one years since our Lycan King passed away, nobody has been able to reunite all of the packs together under one rule. We squabble, argue, and even fight amongst one another."
Elias's expression darkened, but he didn't say a thing. He was tempted to provide the information he received from Isolde about the traitorous things that Leland had done.
"Not one of us has been able to join together," the Great Shaman spoke with a frown.
Elias winced his brows. He even brought some of the exiled members of the Blood River Pack for that very purpose. The Alpha of the Obsidian Sand Pack was just waiting for the right opportunity to expose Leland.
"The last orders of the Lycan King Malachi fell apart two decades ago due to unfortunate circumstances," the Great Shaman continued his words. "And yet some still wished to continue his legacy and pick up his mantle."
Leland was mollified that the shaman didn't exactly shame or specify Anne.
"We've had some great candidates for the past decade." The Great Shaman eyed the Alphas around him. "Among them was the current leader of the Blood River Pack who chose to lead the operation in conquering Riga."
Leland didn't miss the shift in the older man's tone. He wasn't quite tense, but he was only waiting for the truth to be revealed.
"Red Moon Pack has informed us of the mutiny that occurred in Riga. Elder Brin took five hundred of your men without permission and launched an invasive and foolish attack on the kingdom of Riga. What exactly happened?"
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