Chapter 82

When dawn broke, Xandar ran with Lucianne’s wolf back to the clearing behind the hotel before retuming

home to shower and change for breakfast. After getting ready, he sped to the dining-hall and instantly

spotted his mate’s small back as soon as he entered. It was the first time she was standing so close to

the entrance that he might be able to surprise her before everyone bowed to give away his presence.

He took quick but quiet steps towards her, taking advantage of the fact that his mate was concentrating

on what seemed to be a very serious conversation with the alliance members. When he stood close

enough, his hand went around her waist and rested on her abdomen as she gasped at his sudden touch.

He made it to her just in time before everyone started bowing his way.

After pecking a kiss on her cheek from her side, he looked into her eyes and he grew concerned about

the dark circles underneath his mate’s beautiful black orbs. After exchanging bows with his subjects, he

lifted up Lucianne’s chin gently before his thumb traced under her eyes as he said,” You really need the

day off, Lucy.”

“It just looks bad, Xandar. I’m fine. At least I slept.” Her sights then turned to Toby who looked absolutely

exhausted with his bloodshot eyes as he uttered, (This novel will be daily updtaed at

www.noveljar.com)”Goddess, don’t start, Lucy. I really tried to sleep. And we need to do a rain check on

that no-mercy training session. I can’t fight you today.”

It was then Xandar realised the alliance members around him weren’t their usual alert selves. Christian

came from his side and patted him on his shoulder before he acknowledged the Queen and exchanged

bows with the alliance. The Duke grew conspicuously worried when he witnessed the sight before him.

Xandar then said, “It really is okay to take the day off. You all look like you could use some rest. Scratch

that. You all look like you need a lot of rest.”

Lucianne then assured him, “We’ll be fine, Xandar. We‘ve gotten through with less sleep. Besides, we’re

needed on the training ground. We’ll be okay. We’ll just have to be careful…” she locked eyes with Juan

before she continued, “…to not overexert ourselves.”

Juan rolled his eyes, and Hale slapped him on the arm as she said sternly, “You heard her. And me.

Don’t overdo it this morning.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Juan answered dotingly before pecking a kiss on his mate’s temple.

Lucianne then started, “So, uh, Xandar, Christian. Let’s bring you guys up to speed. We were talking

about the rogue Lycan saying that he’s almost never involved in a rogue attack, that he did mostly

transportation of illegal substances. Raden thinks that perhaps the corporation used the Lycans mostly to

get supplies, and the rogue wolves to attack.”

Christian agreed, “That’s definitely a possibility. It would also explain why rogue Lycans have never been

seen in rogue attacks until recently. But how did the rumours start circulating about their existence, if I

may ask?”

Lucianne started explaining, “Well, it started about five years ago. Blue Crescent and White Blood were

alerted about an attack in an ally pack, Night Forest. The problem was that Night Forest was very far

from where we were. So, we sent a request to Zeke and Zelena, and they got their warriors from Blood

Eclipse to get there first while we made our way there ourselves. But…” Lucianne’s fist clenched by her

side, and the alliance’s eyes were pinned to the ground.

Xandar took her little fist and started stroking it soothingly as she continued with glistening eyes, “But we

were too late. We all were. Raden found one warrior taking his last breaths. The only word that the

warrior whispered was ‘Lycans’. There was so little strength in his voice that Raden didn’t even know if

he heard him right.”

Xandar kissed her clenched fist, and she loosened it to entwine her fingers with his. Lucianne cleared

her throat, “Then, we started investigating. We found familiar paw prints of wolves everywhere, of course.

But,” she took a deep breath before her eyebrows furrowed, “We also found larger prints. Not many, but

they were there. So we started suspecting that rogue Lycans existed.”

Toby continued after Lucianne, “A few months after that attack, we lost another pack. Everyone was

slaughtered there too. And when we looked into the prints. We found the same thing. Most of the ground

was filled with smaller paw prints, and a few larger prints here and there.”

Lucianne locked eyes with her best friend as she recalled the events with him, “And the pattern just kept

repeating itself. Every few weeks, we’d lose an ally.”

Lovelace then said ominously in the King’s and Duke’s way, “These attacks have been carefully planned.

(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com) They made sure that stronger, more-equipped

packs like ours would not have enough time to get to the packs that they were attacking.”

Juan then said, “Which is why the smaller packs around Whiteblood, Blood Eclipse, Midnight and even

Blue Crescent have not been attacked in the past three years. Not once. We have an ally that has only

ten warriors and a population of a hundred and twenty, and they were never touched, probably because

they are only a ten-minute run from Blue Crescent.”

Raden then added, “But we should mention that the pattern started changing.” He nodded to his Alpha,

and all eyes were on Zeke, who said, “That’s true. After a few months of pack massacres, the rogues…

only went for the Alpha and Luna. They killed anyone who got in their way, mostly warriors. But the pack

leaders were always the ones they were after.”

“Why is that?” Xandar asked.

Lucianne explained, “We didn’t know why at that time. But after the fifty-page report last night, we have a

theory that,”

Toby butted in, “Lucy has a theory.”

Lucianne rolled her eyes at her best friend before she continued, “It may be a way to siphon money from

the government.”

Xandar’s and Christian’s eyes widened, fixing to her black orbs as they waited for her to continue

speaking. Lucianne then said, “The government’s financial aid for rogue attacks are for packs that’

survive’ a rogue attack, which makes sense because you can’t offer money to the dead. So, if you

slaughtered a whole pack, there’s no reason to disburse government funds. But, if a pack has surviving

members.”

Xandar caught on, “Our system would allow fund disbursement according to the number of surviving

pack members.(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)” Lucianne nodded. “But why kill

the pack leaders? The aid doesn’t differ with who gets hurt.” Xandar asked.