Alpha Ashmere Park:

The private court doors opened sharply.

"The French ambassador, Alpha Ashmere," the guard announced loudly. "Ambassador Stephen Gates."

Alpha Ashmere rose from his chair immediately.

The courtroom itself remained dim beneath the glow of candle chandeliers suspended above the long polished table. Thick velvet curtains covered most of the windows despite the late hour. The room smelled faintly of parchment, cedarwood, and burning wax.

Clementine remained seated beside her husband, graceful and elegant as always.

Her gloved fingers rested lightly atop her lap while diamonds shimmered faintly around her throat beneath the candlelight. Her expression revealed nothing as the ambassador entered.

Stephen Gates walked into the chamber with measured steps. He was shorter than Alpha Ashmere expected. Considerably shorter.

Yet the man carried himself with enough confidence to fill the room regardless of his height.

He wore expensive French garments that looked almost theatrical beneath wolf customs. A deep navy frock coat rested over layers of embroidered cream fabric, and gold buttons glinting beneath the candlelight. His lace cuffs spilled from beneath his sleeves while polished shoes clicked lightly against the stone floors.

And atop his head sat an enormous powdered wig that was perfectly curled, and perfectly ridiculous.

Yet somehow intentional enough to command seriousness.

Stephen smiled immediately upon entering. "Alpha Ashmere."

Ashmere inclined his head politely. "Ambassador Gates."

Their hands met briefly.

Stephen’s grip was firmer than expected.

Clementine finally spoke from her seat. "Ambassador."

Stephen turned toward her with immediate charm. "Lady Clementine."

Unlike Ashmere, Clementine did not rise to greet him. She merely nodded once elegantly before returning to stillness.

Stephen glanced around the courtroom slowly afterward. Curiosity flashed openly across his face.

"This kingdom continues to fascinate me," he admitted lightly.

Ashmere gestured toward the chairs. "Please. Sit."

Stephen obeyed easily.

The guards silently closed the doors behind him. The sound echoed through the chamber. For several moments, silence settled while wine was poured carefully into crystal cups.

Stephen lifted his glass first. "To cooperation."

Ashmere mirrored the gesture calmly. "To progress."

Clementine did not drink.

Stephen noticed that immediately.

The ambassador set his glass down afterward. "I must admit," he began conversationally, "I still struggle understanding how an entire realm remained hidden for centuries."

Ashmere leaned back slightly in his chair. "The veil protected us."

Stephen smiled faintly. "Protected you from humans?"

"Among other things."

Stephen tapped one finger lightly against the table. "Yet your cities exist beyond any human map. Your architecture differs entirely from ours. Your roads, your forests, even your laws." He shook his head slightly. "It feels less like discovering a hidden nation and more like discovering an entirely different world."

Ashmere said nothing.

Stephen continued anyway. "And wolves..." His eyes gleamed now with intellectual fascination. "Actual wolves that exists as himans are real?"

Clementine’s gaze lifted faintly toward him.

Stephen smiled. "Forgive me. I realize you find this normal. But to humans, this is extraordinary."

Ashmere remained composed. "You’ve seen enough now to understand why secrecy mattered."

Stephen chuckled softly. "Understand? Certainly." He leaned slightly forward. "But fear?" His eyes darkened faintly. "No. Also, I was discreat enough. No one saw me."

Silence settled briefly between them.

Clementine watched both men quietly.

Stephen rested both elbows against the table now. "Tell me honestly, Alpha Ashmere. Did you truly intend for the veil to fall eventually?"

Ashmere’s expression did not shift.

"That depends," he answered calmly, "on whether my daughter became queen."

Stephen’s smile widened faintly.

Clementine remained perfectly still beside him, though her fingers tightened faintly against her dress.

Stephen leaned back again. "So it was always a contingency plan."

Ashmere nodded once. "The witches were prepared years ago. I made a deal with a few of them after the war. You see, they just want their share of the realm back. I promised them that if my daughter becomes queen."

Stephen looked genuinely impressed now.

"You planned remarkably far ahead."

"I had to."

Stephen exhaled softly through his nose. "You were willing to expose your entire race because your daughter lost a throne?"

Ashmere’s gaze sharpened slightly. "No." His voice remained calm. "I was willing to expose my race because the current rulers are weak."

Clementine finally moved slightly.

Her eyes flickered briefly toward her mate before returning forward.

Ashmere continued calmly. "The Alphas hide behind old traditions. They cling to fear while pretending it is wisdom." His jaw tightened faintly. "They allowed wolves to remain trapped behind a veil for generations."

Stephen listened carefully now.

Ashmere leaned forward slightly. "We are stronger than humans physically. Faster, and harder to kill. Yet we hide like frightened animals."

"And you dislike that."

Ashmere’s gaze darkened. "I despise it."

The room fell silent briefly afterward.

Stephen reached for his wine again. "So you tore the veil down yourself."

"Yes."

"And brought humans through the northern borders personally?"

"Yes."

Stephen smiled faintly into his glass. "Bold."

Ashmere did not smile back.

Clementine finally spoke softly. "It was dangerous."

Stephen glanced toward her curiously.

Clementine’s expression remained unreadable. She held his gaze. "Once humans learn something exists, they rarely stop until they own it."

Stephen laughed softly at that. "You understand us well, Lady Clementine."

"I understand your fickle minded ambitions."

Stephen’s smile lingered faintly before fading again. He reached into his coat slowly and removed several folded papers.

Ashmere’s eyes flickered downward briefly. They were hidden maps.

Stephen unfolded them carefully atop the table.

The markings across them revealed forests, routes, borders, hidden paths, waterways, and wolf territories. The map revealed everything.

Ashmere’s gaze remained steady.

Stephen tapped lightly against one route near the northern region. "Your information proved accurate. Our men crossed these paths without resistance, thanks to your smelly herbs and portions."

"Good."

"The wolf patrols remain predictable."

Ashmere nodded once. "They rely too heavily on routine."

Stephen studied the map thoughtfully. "And the heartless wolves discovered near the borders..."

Clementine’s gaze flickered faintly now.

Ashmere remained calm. "They were necessary losses."

Stephen hummed softly. "I was told yoh delivered them intentionally for examination and the human scientists have learned quite a lot from them already."

Ashmere’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What are the results?"

Stephen’s smile returned immediately.

"We are close to making sure we win the war."

The room quieted instantly.

Stephen folded his hands together atop the table. "The dosage is progressing faster than expected."

Clementine finally looked directly at him now.

Stephen noticed immediately.

"Our laboratories have successfully weakened several wolves temporarily already." His tone carried obvious satisfaction. "Their abilities are slowed, their healing are delayed, and we have managed to dull their enhanced senses."

Ashmere’s expression remained unreadable. "Are the results temporarily?"

"For now."

Ashmere’s jaw tightened faintly.

Stephen continued calmly. "Permanent suppression requires more refinement." He tilted his head slightly. "But we are getting closer."

Clementine finally spoke again. "And if the wolves retaliate before your dosage is completed?"