The council chamber reeked of old wine and older grudges. Lilith stood at the center of the marble floor, her bandaged shoulder throbbing, as forty pairs of eyes sliced into her. The silver-haired man—Lord Silas, head of the royal council—paced before her, his velvet robes swishing like a venomous snake.
"Explain this… wolfsbane incident," he snapped, tapping a gnarled finger on the table. "Ella may be a liar, but wolfsbane doesn't smoke on human skin. What are you hiding, girl?"
Lilith met his gaze, her voice steady. "Ask your brother. He's the one who ordered Elena to meddle with royal bloodlines." She nodded at a portly man in the back, who paled and spilled his wine. "Valtorian blood reacts to wolfsbane. It's biology, not sorcery."
System prompt: Lies detected. Silas knew about the bloodline experiment. Issue side quest: Reveal his involvement. Reward: Access to the Royal Vault.
The words flickered across her vision. Lilith smiled inwardly. Perfect.
Lord Silas's jaw tightened. "Insolence! You expect us to believe a trafficker, a wolf's wh*r*—"
"Watch your tongue." Kane's voice rumbled through the chamber. He stepped beside Lilith, his amber eyes blazing. "She's the king's daughter. Show some respect."
Silas scoffed. "A wolf defending a half-breed? How fitting. Tell me, Princess—did you spread your legs for him before or after he helped kill your child?"
Lilith's hand shot out, slapping him across the face. The chamber fell silent.
"Talk about my son again," she said, low enough for only him to hear, "and I'll rip your tongue out with my teeth. Valtorian style."
Silas clutched his cheek, sputtering. "Guards! Seize her—"
"Enough." The king slammed his fist on the throne. "She's my daughter. And until you prove otherwise, she has my protection." He nodded at Lilith. "But Silas is right—you need to earn the council's trust. There's a matter in the northern provinces. Wolf attacks. Settlers are fleeing. Fix it."
Lilith's eyebrows shot up. "You want me to play wolf tamer?"
"Prove your blood serves this kingdom, not just your vendettas." The king's voice softened. "And take Kane. His clan controls the north."
System notification: Main mission updated. Resolve northern wolf conflict. Reward: Fetal soul manifestation (5 minutes). Contribution points +5000.
Her breath caught. Five minutes. Enough to hold him, to hear his voice. "Deal."
Kane's hand brushed hers as they turned to leave. "You shouldn't have slapped Silas. He'll retaliate."
"Good." Lilith smirked. "I want him angry. Angry men make mistakes."
The northern road wound through snow-capped mountains, the carriage bouncing over rutted paths. Lilith stared out the window, watching pine trees blur past, while Kane cleaned his silver dagger across from her.
"Wolf attacks aren't random," he said, not looking up. "My clan's been patroling these woods for decades. Someone's provoking them."
"Elena's leftover goons?"
"Or Silas's." Kane met her gaze. "He's been trying to start a war between humans and wolves for years. Weakens the crown, strengthens his faction."
Lilith nodded. "Perfect. We'll catch him red-handed, earn my points, and get my son back. Everyone wins." Except Silas. And maybe Kane, if he kept getting in her way.
The carriage jolted to a stop. A guard's shout echoed outside: "Wolf pack! Ten o'clock!"
Kane was on his feet in a flash, shoving open the door. "Stay inside."
Lilith grabbed her cloak, ignoring him. "Like hell. This is my mission."
Outside, a dozen wolves surrounded the carriage, their fur white as snow, their eyes glowing yellow. But they weren't attacking—they were circling, hackles raised, growling at something in the woods.
"Not our clan," Kane muttered, drawing his dagger. "These are mountain wolves. Rare. Territorial."
A low, mournful howl cut through the air. The pack froze. Lilith's wrist tingled—the system's wolf language translation skill activating.
"Traitor's blood. Tainted meat. They poisoned the den."
She blinked. "They're saying someone poisoned their den. The settlers' livestock?"
Kane's eyes widened. "You can understand them?"
"New skill." Lilith stepped forward, holding up her hands. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help."
The alpha wolf—a massive male with a scar across his muzzle—snarled, baring his fangs. "Human lies. Same as the ones who left the poisoned sheep."
"Who did this?" Lilith asked, keeping her voice calm. "Describe them."
The alpha's ears flattened. "Silver hair. Smells like citrus and death."
Silas. Lilith's jaw tightened. "I know who did this. Let me fix it, and I'll make sure they pay."
Kane stepped beside her, speaking in a low, guttural tone—the wolf tongue. The alpha's ears perked up, his growl softening.
"What did you say?" Lilith asked.
"I told him you're the one from the prophecy." Kane shrugged. "He's heard of it. Valtorian queens and wolf kings—old stories, but they stick."
The alpha bowed his head, then bounded into the woods. The pack followed, vanishing into the trees.
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Handy. Maybe you're good for something after all."
Kane grinned, a rare, boyish thing. "Told you I'd help."
The settlement of Frostpine was a sorry sight. Half-burned cottages, empty streets, and a handful of survivors huddled in the town hall, clutching axes like they might fend off a wolf pack with firewood.
The mayor, a burly woman with a missing tooth, met them at the door. "You're too late. The wolves took three children last night. We're evacuating at dawn."
"Show me the poisoned sheep," Lilith said.
The mayor led them to a field behind the church, where a dozen carcasses lay rotting under a tarp. Kane knelt, sniffing the flesh, then cursed. "Wolfsbane. Concentrated. Enough to kill a pack."
Lilith's system pinged: Evidence detected. Retrieve sample for analysis. Reward: Silas's financial records. A small vial appeared in her pocket.
She crouched, filling the vial with a piece of tainted meat, when a child's cry echoed from the church. "Mama! The wolves are back!"
Lilith sprinted toward the sound, Kane hot on her heels. Inside, three mountain wolves had broken through the stained-glass window, but they weren't attacking—they were cowering, growling at a shadowy figure in the rafters.
"Hello, princess." Lord Silas stepped into the light, a crossbow in his hand. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Drop it," Kane snarled, shifting into a half-wolf form—claws extending, fangs baring, eyes blazing amber.
Silas laughed. "Or what? You'll tear me apart? Go ahead. The council'll see it as proof wolves can't be trusted. War by sundown." He nodded at the wolves. "They're already doped up on wolfsbane. One arrow, and they'll rip this place to shreds. Including the brats hiding in the basement."
Lilith's blood ran cold. The children.
System alert: Fetal soul resonance at 60%. "Now."
The word hit her like a punch. She lunged, not at Silas, but at the nearest wolf, grabbing its snout. "Calm. I'm going to help you." Using the translation skill, she flooded its mind with images: the poisoned sheep, Silas's face, the children in the basement.
The wolf's growl softened. It nuzzled her palm—a sign of trust.
"Good boy." Lilith stood, meeting Silas's shocked gaze. "You forget, old man. I speak their language."
The other wolves gathered around her, forming a protective circle. Silas raised the crossbow, but Kane tackled him, the arrow firing harmlessly into the ceiling. They rolled across the floor, Silas screeching as Kane's claws raked his arm.
Lilith pulled out her vial, holding it up. "This is your poison. Your financial records link you to the supplier. You're done."
Silas spat blood. "The council will never believe—"
The church doors burst open. The king stood in the doorway, flanked by guards, his face red with rage. "I heard enough." He nodded at the guards. "Take him to the dungeon. And bring the council. They need to see this."
That night, Lilith sat on a hill above Frostpine, watching the wolves disappear into the woods. Kane joined her, his arm bandaged from the fight.
"Congratulations," he said. "You earned your points."
Lilith smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. System notification: Mission completed. Fetal soul manifestation in 3… 2… 1…
A soft glow appeared beside her, coalescing into a tiny figure—a baby with silver hair and Kane's amber eyes. He reached for her, gurgling, and Lilith's heart shattered.
"Hi, baby," she whispered, brushing a finger over his cheek. "I missed you."
He grabbed her finger, then pointed at Kane, babbling.
Kane's breath hitched. "He… he looks like me."
Lilith nodded, tears spilling. "He's yours. In every life."
The glow faded, the baby vanishing into starlight. Lilith hugged her knees, mourning the loss already.
Kane wrapped an arm around her, hesitantly. "We'll get him back. I promise."
For the first time, Lilith didn't pull away. "Yeah. We will."
Below, the king's carriage rumbled toward the main road. Tomorrow, the council would face justice. Tomorrow, she'd take another step toward her throne. But tonight, she let herself breathe.
System notification: New mission unlocked. Unite humans and wolves. Reward: Permanent fetal soul anchor.
Lilith smiled. One down, a kingdom to go.