Six months had passed since he left the territory of the West Wolf Pack.
The Great Forest was technically Gareth’s playground.
The tall trees that shaded the sun, the dangerous swamps filled with hidden pits that could swallow and drown anyone who was careless, and the cliffs and ravines that could kill a person with a single wrong step.
Everything felt so familiar to him…
yet, at the same time, it also felt strangely alien.
He remembered every path, every nook and cranny, but he could not shake off the fact that he had once run through this very forest in panic after being poisoned, losing his wolf and practically turning into a regular human.
He had been chased by about three wolf soldiers, as if they had been acting under someone’s orders.
Fortunately, they eventually lost track of him because they were nowhere near as adept as he was at traversing the Great Forest.
Thus, Gareth managed to escape even without shifting into his wolf form.
He barely survived the journey, with gashes and wounds covering his body.
It was Lily who found him and nursed him back to health.
Gareth had never expected that there would be someone who wanted to assassinate him.
Everything had been smooth sailing until the night before his coronation.
Nobody had ever openly challenged his authority.
After all, Gareth’s strength was undisputed.
Even his strongest brother, Roland, who was currently his beta, could not hold his own against Gareth for more than five minutes in a fight.
Even now, in his weakest state, as long as he had his wolf, Gareth could still defeat anyone within the West Wolf Pack.
But no amount of strength would be enough to stop a hidden dagger.
Did he have to suspect everyone in his pack of poisoning him?
Or was there a certain someone who wanted him dead?r As Gareth headed toward the capital of the West Wolf Pack, his mind worked tirelessly to find a likely suspect, and the first person who came to mind was his own older brother, Roland.
After all, Roland and Gareth had grown up together alongside Klaus, Gareth’s best friend.
The three of them had once been known as the Three Wolf Warriors.
If Gareth died, Roland would have to step in and take the role of Alpha of the West Wolf Pack.
His strength might be a joke compared to that of the other beast monarchs, but he was still the second strongest wolf in the West Wolf Pack.
But why would Roland do such a thing?
Losing Gareth would mean disturbing the balance of the beast realm, because the four beast monarchs were meant to remain equal to one another in order to protect their respective territories.
On top of that, who could administer such a poison?
Gareth had never heard of or seen that poison before.
It had been so potent that he felt his wolf become repressed, as if it had been locked away inside him almost instantly.
His ears and tail had retracted barely ten minutes after he drank the poison.
After that, he could feel his power gradually waning until it was completely sealed.
That unknown poison was dangerous.
He wondered if he had been the first victim, or if it had already been circulating within the West Wolf Pack.
Perhaps it was a poison administered from another territory.
But the only ones known for being skilled at creating poisons and potions were the East Fox Clan.
Could it be that Ren was plotting to throw the balance of the beast monarchs into chaos by eliminating Gareth first?
Speaking of the East Fox Clan…
Gareth’s deep blue eyes glinted with hostility the moment he was reminded that Lily was still under Ren’s control.
Each second of not knowing her fate felt like a needle pricking under his skin, restless with the thought of that devious bastard keeping her, or worse, making a move on her.
Still, he did not doubt that Ren would protect her no matter what.
After all, they had made an agreement, and no matter how terrible the relationship between the four beast monarchs was, an agreement was still a treaty.
Breaking one might very well be enough to launch a war.
And war was the most unnecessary thing ever right now, especially since the Moon Priestess was gone and everyone was essentially in survival mode.
There were countless thoughts running through Gareth’s mind.
He had known since he was a child that strength alone was not enough to govern a pack.
He knew that he could not afford to be naive and had to keep his guard up at all times.
He just never expected to be betrayed so soon, when even his late father’s grave had not yet dried.
He still remembered what his father had told him.
To govern effectively, he needed wisdom…
and love.
He needed a Luna, a mate who would stay by his side, govern the West Wolf territory together with him, and protect one another as they raised many pups in the future.
As Gareth finally reached a small hill overlooking Vaelwynd, the capital city of the West Wolf Pack, he stopped for a moment.
The city was located in a valley where running water was abundant and game could be found almost everywhere.
Vaelwynd followed the path of a river, making it an ideal place for trade, as merchants would naturally pass through the area while traveling between territories.
Gareth closed his eyes, taking in the sensation of returning home.
The wind flowed through the valley, swaying the trees and grasses below.
The mountains seemed to sing whenever a strong gust swept through them, their deep echoes carrying across the vast landscape.
But most importantly, Gareth felt a strong sense of belonging whenever he watched over Vaelwynd.
He was born and raised here.
And soon enough, he would rule over this place for the rest of his life.
On top of that, he wanted to bring Lily here.
That thought alone made Gareth’s expression grow solemn.
He had to make sure that everything was safe.
He had to uncover whoever had betrayed him, restore his strength, and ensure that nobody would ever be able to threaten Lily while she was under his protection.
Otherwise, he would rather decapitate himself than watch Lily get hurt because of his own carelessness.
Gareth slowly opened his eyes, determination filling his deep blue gaze.
He would create a safe haven for Lily.
With that thought in mind, he leaped from the hill and headed straight toward his hometown, the place he wanted Lily to see with her own eyes.
Beast realm, four kingdoms/territories and monarchs, each with their own problems on top of the missing priestess.
You won’t get bored with this story until the very end, I guarantee!