Moonlit vow

16.Kahar's conspiracy

All of this began with Kahar's desire for power. Growing up in the shadow of the wolf king, Kahar, as Leiand’s younger brother, was often compared to him. Leiand’s composure and strength always won the tribe’s admiration, while Kahar could only stand as a supporting figure among them. He longed to change this situation, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never earn his father’s approval.

During a routine patrol in the forest, Kahar encountered a group of starving stray werewolves. They were lurking in a patch of woodland, their eyes filled with both desperation and ferocity. The leader of the strays, Simon, was a tall, gaunt gray wolf with unkempt fur, but a cunning glint still shone in his eyes. Fixing his gaze on Kahar, Simon asked coldly, “Are you a werewolf from the Tianhe Tribe? What are you doing in my territory?”

Without hesitation, Kahar replied, “I’ve come to propose a partnership.”

Simon narrowed his eyes, a trace of wariness flashing across his face. “A partnership? What could outcasts like us possibly offer to wolves like you, who are sheltered by a tribe?”

Kahar stepped closer, his tone taking on a provocative edge. “You hide in the depths of the forest every day, struggling for every bite of food. Meanwhile, our tribe enjoys an abundance of provisions and warm caves. But all of this is because we’re ruled by an antiquated wolf king who clings to old traditions. He refuses to accept stray wolves like you. If I were in charge, your lives would be completely different!”

Simon’s eyes flickered with doubt at these words. “So, you want to seize power?”

Kahar’s expression turned cold and resolute. “The wolf king is old. His era is coming to an end. If you help me overthrow him, I promise that once I become the new wolf king, the gates of the tribe will always be open to you. You’ll not only have food and shelter but also become one of us. You could even hold positions as elders.”

This statement ignited a spark of hope in Simon. The stray wolves had wandered for years, enduring hunger and the bitter cold. Their despair over such a life had long taken root. Now, a new opportunity was presented before them. Though it might be a dangerous gamble, they had no other choice.

“What do you want us to do?” Simon’s tone softened slightly.

A cold smile played on Kahar’s lips. “It’s simple. When the tribe’s defenses are at their weakest, you will launch an attack on our outpost. I’ll arrange for someone to quietly let you in. After that, your job is to create chaos and undermine the wolf king’s authority. Leave the rest to me.”

Simon furrowed his brow. “Are you sure you’ll keep your promise? What if we help you and end up being wiped out instead?”

Kahar’s gaze was icy. “I’m a werewolf. My word is more reliable than anyone else’s. Besides, you have no choice but to trust me.”

After a moment of contemplation, Simon finally agreed to the partnership.

In the days that followed, Kahar frequently used patrolling the tribe as an excuse to secretly meet with Simon. He knew that for his plan to succeed, he had to find a weak point within the tribe. Before long, his attention turned to Ellie, a woman who also craved power.

Ellie had long harbored resentment toward Iris. She believed Leiand should have belonged to her, but Iris’s arrival had changed everything. Every new discovery or improvement in the tribe seemed tied to that woman, leaving Ellie in constant torment. Kahar exploited her jealousy and struck a dirty deal with her. He promised Ellie that if she helped him let the stray werewolves into the outpost, he would make her the queen of the tribe after he claimed the throne. Ellie agreed without hesitation.

When night fell, Ellie colluded with some tribe members to secretly open a defensive passage at the outpost. Simon’s followers quietly infiltrated the tribe’s outskirts, preparing for their attack. However, they did not anticipate that the tribe’s defenses were far stronger than expected. The wolf king and Leiand quickly discovered their presence and led the tribe to confront them.

As Kahar stood on the edge of the chaotic battlefield, he watched as the stray werewolves were rapidly overwhelmed. His plan was steadily falling apart. He realized he had underestimated the wolf king’s strength and the tribe’s loyalty to him. Yet, Kahar was unwilling to give up. Unable to reveal his scheme in front of the tribe, he pretended to fight while looking for an opportunity to turn the tide. To his shock, Simon, in his desperation, assassinated Kahar’s father.

On the battlefield, Leiand’s fury reached its peak. His body trembled as he snarled, “You’re courting death!” With a low growl, he transformed into a massive white wolf and charged at the stray werewolf leader. His speed was like lightning. Before Simon could react, Leiand’s jaws closed around his neck, and with a powerful shake, he tore Simon’s head clean off.

Blood sprayed everywhere, and the sight of their leader’s demise drained the will from the stray werewolves. One by one, they dropped to their knees and surrendered. The battle was over.

Standing in a pool of blood, Leiand panted heavily, his icy blue eyes still filled with killing intent. His claws dripped with blood, a warning to anyone who might dare to challenge him.

After the fight, the tribe temporarily imprisoned the captured stray werewolves. Then, an unexpected name slipped from one of their trembling mouths.

“It was… Ellie… that woman!” one of the stray werewolves stammered. “It was her people who gave us the opportunity… She said she could open the tribe’s defenses.”

Hearing this name, Leiand’s brow instantly furrowed. He turned to the tribe members and commanded, “Bring Ellie here!”

Soon, Ellie was dragged out. Her face was flustered, yet there was a trace of defiance in her eyes. Leiand stared her down and asked in a low voice, “Why?”

“Why?” Ellie sneered. “Because of you! I’ve done so much for you, yet you’ve never even looked at me. So, I turned to Kahar. He promised me that once we took the tribe, I’d be the one and only queen. I wanted to make you and that precious woman of yours pay dearly!”

Leiand’s gaze grew even colder as the truth became clear. Suppressing his fury, he ordered the tribe members, “Lock Kahar and this treacherous woman up. They’ll await their punishment.”

That night, the cold wind howled, and an oppressive atmosphere hung over the tribe. Leiand sat alone by the fire, staring blankly at the flames. Images of his father’s collapse replayed in his mind. His father, the man he revered most, the pillar of their tribe, was now gone forever. And the cause of it all was his own brother, Kahar.

Leiand clenched his fists unconsciously, his nails digging into his palms. The pain made him more alert. He couldn’t comprehend or accept that Kahar had betrayed the tribe for his selfish desires, even conspiring with stray werewolves.

Memories of running through the forest with Kahar as children flashed before him. Back then, they had been carefree, with their father’s towering presence always shielding them. But now, that mountain had fallen, pushed down by one of their own.

“Why?” Leiand muttered to himself, his voice heavy with suppressed anguish. He closed his eyes, and tears finally rolled down his face. Leiand rarely cried, but now, anger, sorrow, and confusion overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to breathe.

Standing at the entrance of the cave, Iris silently watched the scene. She had never seen Leiand so vulnerable. The man who was usually calm and decisive, as strong as stone, was now consumed by grief. Iris stepped forward, crouched beside him, and gently embraced him.

Leiand flinched, trying to push her away, but Iris held him tighter, her voice soft yet firm. “Don’t bottle it up. If you’re sad, let it out. But remember, the tribe still needs you. They’ve lost their king, and now you’re their pillar.”

Leiand’s body trembled slightly. After a long pause, he slowly reached out and held Iris tightly. He didn’t speak, only buried his face in her shoulder, silently shedding tears. Iris patted his back gently, murmuring words of comfort. “You’ve done enough. The wolf king would be proud of you.”

As the night deepened, the fire gradually died down. Leiand finally stopped crying. He released Iris and whispered a heartfelt “Thank you, Iris. I’ll pull myself together. From now on, I’ll take my father’s place and continue to protect this tribe. I won’t let anyone threaten it again.”

Leiand looked toward the distant sky, his heart still heavy with sorrow, but now filled with a greater sense of responsibility. He knew that from this moment on, he must carry on the wolf king’s legacy and become the tribe’s new pillar.