Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate-Chapter 315: The Regent’s Burden

The elders of the Nightshade Coven carefully folded Lisbeth’s testimony into their evolving strategy. Naturally, it was Ulysses and Madam Silvia—both known for their sharp tactical minds—who assumed leadership in the tense deliberations.

Griswold, ever the firebrand, repeatedly pushed for bold, aggressive offensives. While his ideas often leaned toward the reckless, several of his proposals had undeniable merit if executed with precision.

Lennix, with his unconventional thinking, chimed in as well—his unorthodox suggestions often complemented Griswold’s more forceful approach.

Yet Ulysses remained keenly aware of the stakes. Victory had to come swiftly and decisively; they couldn’t afford unnecessary losses, nor could they risk failure. One strike had to be enough—to break both the demon and the emperor.

In these heated discussions, it was Sandor who served as the moral compass. He deflected any suggestion that endangered lives without careful consideration.

"We can’t just sacrifice them without thought!" he argued, and Ulysses couldn’t help but agree. Sandor’s objections became a necessary counterweight to Griswold’s more extreme proposals.

Meanwhile, Elwin made sure every voice was heard, meticulously ensuring no suggestion was dismissed outright. Elijah worked alongside him, constructing detailed scenarios to forecast the consequences of each plan, allowing them to weigh every move with greater precision.

While most of the elders concentrated on shaping their strategy, the youngest among them, Isaac, joined Perseus and Orien in tending to the wounded Eiran king.

Orien, a man of few words, possessed a quiet familiarity with the art of healing—though he had never formally studied it. Under the guidance of Perseus, whose mind was a trove of encyclopedic knowledge, Orien worked to accelerate King Valentin’s recovery, blending instinct with insight to hasten the king’s return to strength.

Everyone had given their all, each carrying out their duties with unwavering focus.

Once the strategy meeting had ended, Lisbeth gathered her friends. Her voice softened as she thanked them—first for finding her, essentially saving her life, and then for staying by her side during the long days she had been unconscious.

"We need to prepare for the war ahead," she announced, her tone steely despite the faint weariness in her eyes.

Lumi and Cielo exchanged a glance. Doubt flickered silently between them. Neither was certain Lisbeth was ready to face another battlefield so soon.

Yet they understood: with the king bedridden and his aide still unconscious, Lisbeth bore the weight of the kingdom. Whether she wished it or not, she was the de facto princess regent of Eira now.

"I’ll inform my father," Cielo said quietly, then turned and strode from the palace, already steeling herself to rally her family’s army.

Lumi, however, lingered. She clenched her fists, her thoughts looping back to the war against Elder Alfred—the bitter memory of how powerless she’d felt still burned in her chest. She had vowed that she would never face such humiliation again.

Drawing a breath, Lumi stepped forward. "If you’re willing... spar with me."

There was a tremor beneath her words, but her gaze stayed firm. Fear still lurked within her—but she knew now that strength was the only way to banish it. Each drop of sweat, each bruise earned in training, would sharpen her resolve.

"Don’t hold back," Lumi added, voice hardening. "I need your full strength. If I’m to stand against demons and the imperial army, I have to be able to stand against you first."

A slow smirk tugged at Lisbeth’s lips. She had always seen Lumi as the timid one—the weak, hesitant friend.

But now, watching her stand unwavering, Lisbeth recognized something new: Lumi wasn’t a coward. Not anymore. There was a warrior standing before her now.

Lisbeth took her stance, arms raised and steady, a faint smirk playing at her lips. "Brace yourself," she warned, her eyes gleaming. "I won’t go easy on you just because you saved my life once."

Lumi answered with a wide grin, lifting her arms, her energy already crackling beneath her skin. "Good," she shot back. "I’d rather not have to save you twice."

Without hesitation, they unleashed their full strength, the air in the training hall thrumming with raw power. Their movements were swift and relentless. Each strike and each dodge was executed with precision and intent.

True to their words, neither of them held anything back. Blow for blow, they pushed each other to the limit, not out of rivalry, but necessity.

They weren’t training for school accolades. They weren’t training to impress family. They weren’t training to prove themselves to one another.

No. They were training for survival. They were training for war.

***

The Wintertooth pack bustled around, preparing dinner with a familiar, noisy energy. Laughter echoed through the clearing, and for a brief time, they seemed to forget that their Alpha—and the Howl—had left on a mission to save the world.

That grand, heroic act had long since been pushed aside, overshadowed by a more personal, more trivial scandal: Thorin had only agreed to go because the vampire woman mentioned Riona’s name.

No one thought much about Thorin now, not until the stranger arrived.

When he stepped into Wintertooth territory, the pack welcomed him like a lost wolf returning home. No hesitation, no suspicion—just open arms and eager smiles. They took it upon themselves to explain the unspoken rules of their community, assuming he’d need guidance.

Morgan was the most talkative of the bunch. It had been ages since she’d seen a new face—one that actually made her happy. Technically, the last new arrival had been Lady Maris, but Morgan didn’t count vampires. frёeωebɳovel.com

Her thin eyebrows danced as she chattered non-stop, practically vibrating with the excitement of something new breaking up the monotony of pack life. But even the stranger seemed to wilt under the weight of her enthusiasm. He sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Who’s in charge here?" he asked, cutting through her stream of words.

That stopped Morgan cold. She blinked, considering. "Doesn’t really matter," she said after a beat, breezy but deliberate. "Any pack member can vouch for a newcomer, as long as they pass the tests." She smiled slyly, already picturing herself running the trial—anything to shake up the day-to-day grind.

But the stranger wasn’t done.

"I know your Alpha’s away. Off with the vampires."

Morgan froze. The words hit her like a slap. Alphas left sometimes—pack duties, enemy threats—but their absence was always cloaked in secrecy. Leaving the pack unguarded was a vulnerability they didn’t advertise. How did he know?

She stepped back instinctively, her gaze sharpening. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice taut, suspicion flaring.

Just then, Trudy and Charna wandered by with a few others. Morgan flagged them down quickly. Without her call, they might’ve kept going, leaving her to handle the stranger alone.

Her eyes narrowed. "Don’t even think about lying," she warned.

The stranger met each werewolf’s gaze calmly, one by one, before finally speaking.

"I’m Warren Zacharia."