The southern border was a desolate stretch of land. It was mostly frost, gray trees, and wind. I had been stationed here for some months. It was a tedious assignment, a boring job meant to act as a barrier between the Lycan Kingdom and the lawless mountain regions. My responsibility was simple: keep the border secure, monitor the movement of any rogue packs, and send weekly reports to the capital.I sat on my horse, trying to stay warm. The campfire was dying down, and the biting cold was seeping through my uniform, settling into my bones. Beside me, Sergeant Kaelin, a man who had served the Vane family since long before I was born, checked his leather armor and gear. He was the only one here who knew my true temperament, the only one who didn't look at me like a statue of the royal lineage."Highness," Kaelin said, his voice flat. "The scouts didn't return. It has been four hours since the last report."I looked toward the dark tree line. The moon was hidden behind a thick, suffocati
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