Chapter 528: The Pack in the Hills

One Month Before

Victoria spoke without turning around.

"As I told you, I have many enemies. And some of them blame me for the plague."

Tobias frowned slightly.

"They believe you caused it?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Victoria gave a quiet laugh.

"Yes."

The sound was sharp and bitter.

"They think I somehow brought the disease into the western lands."

She shook her head slightly.

"People are very eager to find someone to blame when they are afraid."

They reached the final staircase leading back toward the upper levels.

"And when they cannot strike the disease itself," Victoria continued, "they direct their anger toward me."

Tobias nodded slowly.

"I see."

"So," Victoria finished, "you will collect this pack."

Her voice was once again calm.

Tobias did not ask anything else.

Instead, he bowed his head slightly.

"I will do exactly as you request, my lady."

Victoria stopped walking again.

This time, they were near the top of the staircase where faint light filtered down from the corridor above.

She turned toward him.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"Good."

Then, unexpectedly, she stepped closer. Tobias stiffened slightly as she reached up and patted his cheek.

"I really do hope you last."

He swallowed quietly.

Her fingers moved slowly down from his cheek to the center of his chest, resting lightly over his clothing.

Tobias felt his heartbeat quicken slightly.

Victoria’s voice dropped to a softer tone.

"If you do last..." she said as she moved her hands over his chest, "I may have a little surprise for you."

Tobias swallowed again.

Inside his mind, Ryker stirred irritably.

But Tobias forced himself to remain perfectly still.

"My lady," he said carefully, "I am not deserving of any surprise from you."

Victoria blinked once.

Then she burst into laughter. The sound echoed through the stairwell.

She removed her hand from his chest.

"Well," she said with amusement, "that only makes me more interested."

Tobias immediately bowed deeply.

"I do not deserve your interest, my lady."

Victoria laughed again.

Then she tilted her head slightly as she looked down at him.

"You’re cute. I haven’t had a good laugh like this in a while. Anyways, off to your task now. I must retire to my chambers."

Tobias bowed deeply at her words.

-----------------

A direwolf had been prepared for Tobias and also some guards who would be working with him during the mission.

They were not the same guards Tobias had seen during the past few days.

These were different men.

They were broad-shouldered, the kind of warriors who carried the quiet confidence of men accustomed to violence.

Tobias noticed it immediately.

Victoria had not sent him with guards. She had sent him with warriors, and that again made him wonder if this mission they were embarking on was one that would end silently or perhaps with bloodshed.

One of them stepped forward.

A tall man with thick brown hair and a crooked grin.

"Name’s Barry," he said as he adjusted the sword at his hip. "I’ll be showing you the way."

Tobias inclined his head slightly.

"William."

Barry gave a quick nod, and then the group set out quickly, leaving the stone gates of the Blood Moon Pack behind.

---

The land changed the farther they rode.

Low hills rolled across the horizon, their slopes covered in dense forests and scattered patches of jagged rock.

The road itself became narrower as well.

Sometimes disappearing entirely beneath thick grass or winding through old animal trails.

Barry was at the front of the group, guiding them with easy familiarity.

Tobias followed quietly behind.

He had spoken very little since they left.

Most of his attention was focused on the land around them.

And on the men beside him.

These warriors were not particularly interested in conversation either. They moved with relaxed postures, but their eyes were always moving.

After several hours of moving, Barry finally spoke again.

"The pack we’re heading to is a small one," he said casually over his shoulder.

Tobias glanced at him.

Barry continued.

"Smaller than most of the others out here."

The hills around them grew steeper as they continued forward.

"They’re tucked deep in the hills," Barry explained. "Normally it takes about two days to reach them."

One of the warriors behind Tobias snorted softly.

Barry grinned.

"But we’re making good time."

He glanced back briefly.

"We’ll reach them by tomorrow afternoon."

Tobias nodded slightly.

---

By the middle of the second day, the hills had grown steeper and more rugged.

Tall pine trees covered the slopes, their dark green branches blocking much of the sunlight above.

The air here was colder and cleaner.

Barry slowed slightly as they approached a narrow valley.

"We’re close now."

The group moved down into the valley carefully as a small settlement eventually came into view.

Several wooden houses sat clustered near the base of the hills. A few barns stood nearby, their roofs weathered by years of wind and rain.

Smoke drifted lazily from a couple of chimneys.

Tobias’s eyes narrowed slightly.

There was something strange about the place. The people moving around the buildings looked... healthy and strong.

None of them carried the sluggish movements Tobias had noticed in the other packs. There were no coughing fits either. No black blood, no pale skin. No signs of rot... it would seem the plague had not reached these lands.

And that made him wonder why, then, Victoria had sent him here. He had been of the opinion that this pack would be suffering from the plague, but there was nothing of the sort.

Several wolves immediately appeared along the tree line surrounding the village. They were watching them and guarding the pack.

Tobias and his group had not even fully stepped into the pack when a figure stepped out, blocking their way.

A sword rested across her back. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail, her pale green eyes sharp as she stared at them.

"What are you doing here?" she asked them calmly.