CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 148: ALPHA OF THE WHITE MOON

"She’s become an Alpha Dire Wolf," Lumberling said, stepping forward. His gaze rested on Lunira, not with surprise, but with calm acknowledgment. "She’s reached Knight Apprentice level."

While most of their soldiers had been stationed at the second base, her pack had taken on the responsibility of night patrols, hunting down any monsters that strayed too close to their territory. And Lunira had led every hunt.

As if sensing his presence, Lunira lifted her head and turned toward him.

The other wolves instinctively gave way.

With slow, measured steps, Lunira approached. She stopped just short of him and bowed her head low, an offering of respect. A sign of submission.

Lumberling raised his hand and rested it gently on her head. Her fur was thick, warm, and carried the faint hum of aura beneath the surface.

"Well done," he murmured, rubbing the space behind her ear.

She leaned into his touch.

Aurelya stepped up beside Lumberling, arms crossed loosely over her chest as she eyed the Alpha Dire Wolf.

"This one’s the most beautiful of them," she said with a flicker of wonder in her golden eyes. "And she’s large too."

"Want to ride her?" Lumberling offered, half-turned toward her, voice casual.

Aurelya raised a brow. "Are you sure I can ride her? She looks far too regal to be saddled like some common steed."

"Lunira," Lumberling called.

The white wolf turned and padded over gracefully, lowering her massive body in obedience. Her deep blue eyes met his with a quiet understanding.

Before Aurelya could utter another protest, Lumberling stepped behind her and, without warning, wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Wha—?!"

She gave a sharp yelp of surprise as he lifted her effortlessly onto Lunira’s back.

"Still too majestic for a saddle, I’d say," he said with a grin, then vaulted up after her, taking the front seat on the wolf’s back.

"Let’s see how fast you’ve grown," he murmured, patting Lunira’s neck. "Go."

And Lunira ran.

Wind whipped through their hair, trees blurred past, and the earth roared beneath Lunira’s thundering paws.

"Ahhh!" Aurelya shouted, arms flailing briefly before instinct took over. "Who told you... you could just grab me like that?! And this wolf, she’s flying!"

"Lunira," Lumberling said calmly, and the beast instantly slowed, falling into a smooth, gliding canter.

He twisted back to look at her, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You said you wanted to ride her."

"I did not," Aurelya snapped, eyes narrowed, cheeks beginning to color.

"Come on. Just hold on to me."

Before she could retort, he turned back. "Lunira, again."

The wolf lunged forward once more with exhilarating speed.

"Hey!" Aurelya started, but quickly clung to his waist, her slender arms circling him tight as they rode. "You’re going to pay for this."

Behind her irritation was a blush she couldn’t hide, color blooming across her cheeks, rising up to the tips of her pointed ears. Her body pressed against his back as they rode through the forest, wind and laughter trailing behind them.

Lumberling laughed freely, his voice echoing between the trees.

Majestic Lunira, white as moonlight, carried them as though born of a dream, one powerful leap at a time. A handsome Knight in black armor, a golden-eyed elf clinging behind him, and a wolf fit for legends.

They looked, in that fleeting moment, like they’d stepped straight out of a forgotten fairy tale.

From the side of the training field, Jen puffed her cheeks and planted her hands on her hips.

"Brother, you’re flirting with Sister Aurelya again!" she huffed. "I want to ride Lunira too!"

Aurelya, still clinging to Lumberling’s waist as the massive white wolf trotted back into the clearing, glanced over her shoulder and laughed. "You can have your turn once your brother stops using me as a saddle weight."

"I heard that," Lumberling said, smirking. He leaned back just enough to glance at Jen. "Lunira’s strong enough to carry all three of us, you know."

Jen’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?!"

But before she could bound forward, a light cough came from the side.

Vaenyra stood beneath the shade of a tree, arms folded, her blue hair catching the sun. "They sure are enjoying themselves," she murmured. Her voice soft and calm, as always, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible edge to it. A wisp of something, was it longing or..... jealousy?

Beside her, Thessalia remained silent. The cold beauty said nothing, but her green eyes followed Lumberling and Aurelya with an unreadable intensity. She made no comment, but the grip she had on the book in her hand slightly tightened.

Elsewhere, the goblin captains were far less composed. Gobo1 opened his mouth to speak, but was promptly gagged by Skarn, who had seen enough of their idiocy to know trouble when it brewed.

"Not a word," Skarn muttered.

Aren did the same to Gobo2, clamping a gauntlet over the goblin’s mouth.

The two goblins gave muffled complaints, arms flailing.

Krivex, standing among the elves, glanced between his Lord and the various female gazes tracking him. He let out a quiet sigh.

’Your battlefield may be love, my Lord... and it’s far more perilous than war’ Krivex thought dryly. ’I can only wish you luck. You’ll need it with this many eyes watching you.’

Lumberling, oblivious to the ripple he was causing, leaned slightly to the side and whispered to Aurelya, "You’re smiling."

"I am not," she muttered, hiding her face behind his back. But her ears, flushed red, betrayed her.

Lunira gave a proud snort and trotted on, bearing her riders like a beast from legend.

To the onlookers, they looked like a scene from a fairytale: a majestic wolf, a valiant knight in black, and a golden-haired elf clinging to him, cheeks faintly pink, half embarrassment, half something warmer.

And still, in the quiet beyond the laughter and teasing, a tension lingered in the air, subtle but undeniable.

...

Later that night at the Elven Camp.

The game had dragged on longer than usual.

The campfire cracked quietly beside them, casting orange flickers on the hand-carved chessboard between Lumberling and Vaenyra.

Lumberling narrowed his eyes, brow furrowed in concentration. His finger hovered over a black rook. He was close. One good move and the momentum could shift, his chance to reclaim dominance in the game he’d once ruled her in.

But Vaenyra beat him to it.

With a soft click, she slid her white queen forward. A pause. Then...

"Checkmate," she said gently.

Lumberling froze.

He stared at the board, as if his refusal to blink might change the outcome. But the pieces didn’t lie. His king was cornered, suffocated by inevitability.

She leaned back, golden eyes dancing. "You used to be unbeatable," she said, chin resting on her palm. "What happened?"

He exhaled through his nose, rubbed the bridge of it with two fingers. "You happened," he muttered.

Vaenyra chuckled. "Don’t sulk, dark knight. I’ve lost to you thirty-seven times in a row. Let me have this."

Lumberling sighed, then shook his head. "I don’t remember ever gloating that much."

"You didn’t," she said, smirking. "You just looked smug for hours after."

He reached for his king, studied it a moment, then gently tipped it over. "Well played," he said, voice low with reluctant admiration.

But when he looked up and saw her smile, smug, yes, but also radiant and full of quiet pride, his frustration dissolved. He chuckled softly and shrugged.

"You’ve gotten better," he said.

"I’ve been learning," she replied, eyes softening. "From the best."

They sat like that for a while, the fire crackling between them, the pieces still frozen in that final position. Around them, the watchers dispersed, losing interest now that the battle had ended.

Vaenyra began resetting the board.

"Another round?" she asked.

He hesitated, then leaned forward with a small grin. "Only if you promise not to go easy on me this time."