“Great, you made it just on time,” Camilla reacted the second I opened the door. She gestured the thing on the balcony which I faced with my brow creasing.
So, this is why the Lawin had come. Placed on top of the wooden railings was a satchel, a simple normal-like one with a silver Sinandaya’s emblem pinned on the lock.
“Looks like the sender made sure it was opened only by you.”
Only a nod was what I answered before brushing past her and to the balcony. The satchel has two buttons, one with the emblem and the other with emerald stones. All the buckles were out of silver hence Edith and the others couldn’t touch it even if it was only a meter away.
“It was from Felipe, quite possibly they have come up with something we could use for the plan.” I stretched my hand further and closer to the silver crest when Edith fleetly seized my arm to stop what I’m doing. I turned to face her but she only shook her head in disagreement.
“It can burn,” Edith warned in her plain voice.
My forehead furrowed at her, not getting what she means until I heard gasps and distinct retorts from where the couch was situated. Amalia stood up as her eyes widened in disbelief, even her mouth dropped open and clutched onto my hand.
“You’re bearing the Abberant’s heir?” she screamed in surprise making the gap between my brows disappear.
I darted Edith a faulting stare but she only struck her head with her palm and sighed.
“I didn’t,” Edith denied. “You can’t blame them. With you being with the Alpha for several days, it wouldn’t be an impossible thing to infer.”
“Oh gosh! I have to tell this to Diego, for sure he’ll change—”
“Don’t!” I furiously interrupted as my hands quickly upturned hers and clutched on. “Keep this a closed secret, Amalia.”
“What? Why?” she asked confusedly.
“Just don’t do it, Amalia,” Edith intruded, pushing me aside and quickly unfastened the lock. But before she could touch the silver, someone’s finger had already clicked it.
Camilla whined in pain when the silver medallion sparked and scorched her fingers. I immediately dragged her away from the satchel and pinned the crest back in place.
“It uses silver to keep it closed, it’s only an additional that wolves cannot open this.”
“Then what are you trying to say? That only you could open that in secret without us knowing what’s inside of it? You’re arousing doubts, Adira.”
I let go of her hand and avoided her gaze, fronting towards the fallen bag. “When did I say that?” my mouth answered candidly as I picked it up and slit my finger to bleed. “What I am trying to say is that opening this bag is just intended for me to do so unless you want this place to explode just because you are forcing it to unveil.”
Satchels with the silver emblems were uniquely crafted as only the high officials of Sinandaya are given the methods of opening it, and one of them was dripping blood straight to the crest. And if it was forced to open in a way too cunning, something unnecessary like a vicious beast Oregon would appear.
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Camilla complained annoyedly, peering at her red marking burn on three of her fingers.
“I didn’t assume you to be so obtrusive touching it,” I replied back still without looking at her.
The bag opened, revealing clusters of weapons and flares. I searched for some things more useful but there’s nothing other than these blades. Then the letter clipped under the porcelain vase captured my attention, the letter from Sinandaya is with this.

I didn’t waste any minute and quickly snatched the hazel envelope. The blue seal flew off and the fragile paper almost tear apart as I rushed to get it out. My eyes scanned each word and the feeling that makes me want to slit that Miranda’s throat, erupted.
“Gaia,
Your name was now attached to the Contejo of Pinansey-angan kingdom. Thus, you are known by the entire Claveria as the Prince’s wife captured by Abberant’s officials. News broke out of control and there is no doubt that the Senate takes control of these things.”
The latter, I found myself rushing along the halls with the phrases written on that letter echoing inside my head.
“Resulting for the place you’re in to be assailed by the remaining vampire territories including Daghum. They all think you are abducted by the wolves and Sinandaya couldn’t do anything but coordinate with them. I’m afraid if we’ll release the truth, the tension will be greater for what other kingdom would think of this.”
Felipe had already known I am Diego’s mate. Whether Mayari was the one who disclosed it or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. Now that he already knows, all I can do was to wish he already was up to something. A plan should be.
“We had to give out a counter-attack and move behind shadows. I know you would scold me for this thing but I do not regret disclosing the truth to the people of Sinandaya. Believe it or not, they are willing to set aside their vengeance and even bury it in oblivion for ceasefire over the century-old war between our kind and to the wolves.”
My fists clenched even more as the distance between where am I and the door leading to where that so-called substitute settles.
“Sinandaya has agreed to stay in between, a neutral territory. We got the Shadowstone and the werewolf council’s proposition and that is to drag you out of Abberant. Miranda from the neighboring Nightwinder pack would be the one taking the position you’re going to leave. This is an agreement already signed by us and I believe you would find the way back.”
And this is clearly an explanation I needed. This is why Miranda is here and Diego is giving me the reason to step down. The council was now involved and even the Shadowstone pack.
“What else do you know?” I forced the door to open, resulting for its knob to blast off and expose Miranda’s frowning face turn towards me.
She kept quiet for a pack of seconds before opening her mouth with a mocking grin on her face. “On what part? I thought all was explained on the letter?” Miranda touched and kneaded her chin without taking off her eyes on me. “Oh well, knowing Sinandaya as a passive-aggressive type, I don’t have to wonder why there’s still a thing you won’t understand.”
“The council sent you here to take my position. What you all want was for me to leave Abberant, is that it? Or are there any other things I should know other than this?”
My expectation faded away when she clapped and smiled, “You just hit the main and only reason. What else do you want to know?” Her brow raised and stood up from the chair, walking on to the door where I nailed my feet into. “Or maybe you want me to clarify things. A simple thing, Adira.”
I narrowed my eyes, reading her mind and her scornful manner.
“The entire werewolf territory wants you to step away from Diego. And the entire vampire kingdom wants you to go back to Vander Contejo. In other words, the two of you were not meant to be together. You’re bound to face each other on a battlefield and never as mates.”
In that phase, I heard myself. Enough reason for me to shut up and turn away. I once had said that to someone. To Him… and now I know how it feels. That simple phrase hits differently to me now that the feeling’s mutual between us.
“You have to tell us your plan. If you are planning to escape from here, we are not letting you go out of this territory.”
I lifted my head and simply nodded at Edith with the letter in her hand. A smile crept up my face and take the direction to the opened satchel. “I am not running away from the mess I made. The Senate is just a name composed of traitors and deserters.”
Grabbing the flare from the bag, I marched towards the open-air balcony and pulled a pin out of the cylinder. I revolved a part and shot the barrel up the sky, flashing the flaring color of crimson blood.
“Your urgent answer is not needed at this minute, Gaia. We will be waiting, Daghum and the Sanguine pack will be under your command if ever the time comes that you can now decide.”
“Whatever the matter is, the fourth platoon’s loyalty will be under the General Gaia.”
“I keep words and promises emanated by leaders that hold the strongest battalions. We are not alone in this battle.”
Those promises... tch. You're all needed.
Just as the flare was launched in the sky, my thoughts and expectations were no longer a disappointment when a series of loud thundering sounds dominated the air, the distinct roars of canons and mortars. The confirmation they are waiting and we needed. This war is formally beginning.