A thin, blood-red crescent moon hung low in the sky, painting the night with a surreal, eerie hue.
Guard Vett—who often passed himself off as a hunter—was now coated from head to toe in a thick, even layer of honey. The golden liquid glistened temptingly under the blood-moon’s glow. He was bound mercilessly to an iron plate scored with four narrow slits, his limbs shackled tight with chains that left him utterly immobile. Beneath the plate, a pile of charcoal waited.
Werewolves surrounded him in a dense circle. At the front sat the White Wolf Clan’s elite “White Wolf Cavalry,” their wolf blades raised as they howled loudly. A larger ring of ordinary white wolves encircled them, joining in the chorus to whip the crowd into a frenzy.
Wolf King Wil and White Wolf King Watt sat atop a stone platform outside the circle. Behind Wil stood his three wolf guards: Wolf, Ali, and Aken. Behind Watt stood “Little White Wolf” Snow, the Wraith Rider Heywood, and White Wolf Cavalry commander Shentu.
Wil noticed that while the pack eagerly anticipated the feast of roasted flesh, the White Wolf King wore a stern, unsmiling expression. He understood Old Watt: after all, his son’s killer was right before their eyes.
Wil knew the pain of losing a son all too well. That was why he’d brought Vett to the Winter Snow Valley—to offer him to the White Wolf King. In the Battle of Jingji Village years ago, Vett had tricked a white wolf into self-destructing, killing Watt’s first son, “Great White Wolf” Bing.
The Wolf God had smiled upon him, delivering Vett right into his hands. Old Watt and he had long been at odds; by helping him avenge his son, he hoped to ease the resentment in Watt’s heart and forge an alliance between their two clans.
Wil recalled their meeting earlier that evening. Little White Wolf had insisted he kneel before the White Wolf King—a demand Wil could never accept. Several White Wolf Cavalry warriors had drawn their blades immediately, while Wil had only Wolf at his side.
The two sides had stood on the brink of battle. Wil had faced two choices: kneel, and forever abandon his claim to the wolf throne; or fight, and die as a fallen king. He had no other option—he would never bow his head.
Thankfully, the White Wolf King had offered a third way. Old Watt had ordered his men to stand down, addressing Wil as “nephew.” The crisis had been averted, and Wil’s honor as king preserved. In that moment, Wil had thanked himself. I gambled correctly. Old Watt doesn’t want the black and white wolf clans to split either. As long as he puts the wolf clan’s future first, this trip won’t be in vain, and this gift won’t be wasted.
As for being called “nephew,” Wil could accept it. By wolf clan lineage, Old Watt was indeed his uncle—it was no humiliation to the Wolf King.
Wil lifted his head, gazing at the “gift” strapped to the grill. Vett stared helplessly at the terrifying, brutal scene around him. When his panicked eyes met Wil’s on the platform, he latched onto him like a lifeline.
“You promised! You said you wouldn’t kill me! A wolf king can’t break his word! You can’t kill me!” Vett screamed, his desperate cry cutting through the wolf howls and reaching Wil’s ears clearly.
“I kept my promise. I didn’t kill you. It’s the White Wolf King who will take your life.” Wil spoke calmly. He didn’t care if Vett heard him—this explanation was for himself.
The White Wolf King glanced at Wil, then stood up.
“Bing, today your father avenges you!”
Watt waved a paw, and a white wolf holding a torch stepped forward from below the platform, approaching Vett.
“No! Don’t!” Vett’s eyes widened as he struggled violently, clearly knowing what was coming.
“Enjoy the long night!” The white wolf grinned maliciously and lit the charcoal.
“Ah! No! Ah! Ah!”
Dancing flames licked at the black charcoal, casting a warm, inviting glow. Above the fire, the human guard let out shrill screams. At the sight, the surrounding werewolves grew even more excited, their howls turning frantic.
The guard’s screams faded, and his flesh began to turn golden under the flames’ embrace. Fat dripped onto the charcoal, hissing and curling into thin wisps of smoke. Soon, the meat’s surface grew crisp, releasing an aroma that made the pack salivate.
Wil watched Vett’s roasting intently, flashes of their conversations along the way flickering through his mind. All in all, he’d been an interesting man. Wil felt a twinge of regret. If he hadn’t needed the White Wolf Clan’s support, he would never have handed the man over to Old Watt.
“Feast time!”
A wolf howled from the crowd, and the pack surged forward, reaching their claws toward the roasted flesh on the iron plate. Cheers and snarls of competition mingled, filling the air with chaos.
Shentu stepped down from the platform, squeezing into the crowd. When he emerged moments later, he held an iron plate with a roasted leg of meat. He presented it to the White Wolf King: “My lord, please eat.”
The White Wolf King smiled, gesturing to Wil: “Nephew, come.”
The Wolf King looked at Vett’s leg on the plate and said flatly: “I won’t eat this.” Though he’d sent Vett to his death, Wil believed he had his limits. I kept my promise. He clung to that thought.
“Did you grow fond of him?”
Wil shook his head: “We just talked a lot along the way.”
“Hmph. You’ve changed a bit since we last met.” Old Watt pushed the plate back: “I have no appetite. Take this and share it.” Shentu retreated to the side, holding the plate.
“Since we don’t want to eat, let’s walk outside.” The White Wolf King proposed again.
Is it time to talk business? Wil didn’t refuse this time.
“Father!” Little White Wolf stepped forward quickly: “I’ll come too!”
“Your uncle and I have clan business to discuss. You don’t need to come. Go eat with Wolf and the others.” Watt waved at Little White Wolf, but his gaze was fixed on Wil.
Wil understood his uncle’s meaning. He ordered his men: “You all stay here.”
After receiving their acknowledgment, Wil stood tall and stepped down from the platform. He looked at Old Watt’s slightly hunched back, then up at the blood-red crescent hanging in the night sky. A once-in-a-century opportunity lay before him. For the glory of the wolf clan, he would forge this alliance no matter what.