Two Wolf Kings, One Lie Chapter 04 (Continue)
The moment the Silver Wolf Guard stepped into the altar, every wolf–person felt a shift in the air- something cold and final.
The leader wore silver armor, the wolf–head crest on
his shoulder catching the firelight. His gaze swept the space, then settled on me and Lucas – me on the ground, face covered in blood; Lucas standing over me, wounds all over his body.
The captain’s expression darkened.
He walked directly to Ryan, his voice calm but carrying its own weight: “Ryan, Alpha – you are aware of the iron law between wolf–kind and humans? No wolf may
harm a human without cause.”
Ryan’s face went instantly pale.
He opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
The Silver Wolf Guard was a force Lucas himself had
built – peacekeepers standing above every clan, completely fair. When any wolf broke the iron law, they acted at once, showing no favors.
The captain raised a hand: “Seize Ryan. Take him to
the tribunal.”
Two silver–armored guards stepped forward, their
chains rattling.
“Wait!”
Luna shrieked and threw herself in front of Ryan, arms
spread wide, her face full of scorn and pride.
“Who do you think you are? You dare touch my man?”
Her voice cut through the altar. “Open your eyes – I am White Wolf Clan! Ryan is my husband! If you touch him, you are declaring war on the White Wolf Clan!”
She lifted her chin, eyes blazing: “Do you have the nerve to face the White Wolf Clan’s anger?”
Ryan, hearing this, let his cold smile return. He put his
arm around Luna’s shoulders and stood up straighter.
What Luna didn’t know was that the Silver Wolf
Guard’s captain standing before her had grown up in
the White Wolf Clan himself.
His name was Erik. He had once been the top fighter in
the White Wolf Clan’s arena – unbeaten, uncrowned.
Lucas had personally chosen him for the Silver Wolf Guard, and his skill and iron will had taken him all the
way to captain.
Erik listened to Luna’s speech.
He didn’t grow angry. He smiled.
A smile as cold as a knife edge in winter.
“Fine.” He nodded slowly, his voice unnervingly quiet.
“You say you’re White Wolf Clan. Call your people. Let me see exactly which branch of the White Wolf Clan
raised something as clueless as you.”
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Luna’s nerve wobbled under his gaze – but she had
gone too far to back down. She reached into her robe, pulled out a horn, and blew it.
Wuu–Wuu
The low sound rolled out of the altar and traveled far
across the Moonlit Plains.
The Blood Wolf Clan members around them started to
murmur.
“If the White Wolf Clan really shows up, the Silver Wolf Guard is going to be in trouble…”
“Right – the White Wolf Clan is one of the strongest clans out here. Even the Silver Wolf Guard wouldn’t dare go up against all of them…”
“Just wait for the show. That captain’s too full of himself. He’ll regret it soon enough.”
Gleeful whispers filled the space.
Then a small figure pushed through the crowd.
Lucy walked up to Erik and looked him up and down with great care.
Her eyes held no awe. Only judgment.
“Your armor is so old,” she said, wrinkling her nose her voice clear, her words carrying a meanness that didn’t belong to someone her age. “It’s all dull and grey. Not nearly as nice as the armor Mama Luna’s
helpers wear theirs has gold trim!”
She paused, then added: “Are you really a great warrior? You don’t look like one.”
Silence fell over the altar.
Every person there watched something change in
Erik’s face.
Not anger. The cold fury of someone insulted at the deepest level.
That armor of his – plain as it looked – was the battle
armor reserved for champions of the White Wolf Clan’s
arena. Every scratch, every dent, had been bought with
blood. In the entire White Wolf Clan, the number of
people allowed to wear it could be counted on one hand.
And a child had just called it “dull and grey. Not as nice as a helper’s.”
Erik’s fists closed slowly. His knuckles cracked.
Lucas, holding me, laughed.
There wasn’t a drop of warmth in it.
“It seems,” he said – clearly enough for everyone in the room to hear – “the White Wolf Clan has produced
a whole pack of bad apples.”