Chapter 176 - Netra and the Wolves Meet Again

"... She dares leave us like we're--" 

"Master Ajuur, have you not learned your lesson?" Haldon spoke up, making himself clear. "The moment we enter this territory after our envoy's visit was the moment we began being watched."

"What?! That's--" 

"It's to be expected. We knew what we were getting into," Haldon mentioned. "The Vanishing-night Foxes are the part of the Iron Territory's brain, gathering as much intel as possible from all available sources. If it's public knowledge in neighboring territories, then it's something they've likely learned. Such as your former reputation…"

Ajuur's pupils narrowed the moment he heard that. "But… If we were being listened to, why didn't you stop them?"

"You wanted me to attack the people with which we're trying to arrange a betrothal? Even you should see the error in that logic," stated Haldon, silencing the ignorant young master. "And we tried to warn you but you've been too ignorant to listen. Should the discussion turn awry, part of that blame would definitely fall onto your shoulders, Master Ajuur." 

Before Ajuur was able to compose himself again, light footsteps were heard from the room's entrance.

"Please forgive my momentary leave but I was simply retrieving my daughter before she left to cultivate," Puula apologized with a nod.

Haldon stood up to bow along with the other escorts. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Netra." 

"That's not what I recall," remarked Netra, staring directly at the youngest wolf frozen in confusion. "It's a displeasure to see you again, whoever you are. If you're the young master that came seeking me, then please leave now. I'd sooner abandon my clan than be paired with someone like you." 

"Netra!" Puula shouted. "That's--"

"Mother, shall I explain my first meeting with that foolish wolf or would you prefer to have one of my hidden handlers share their report? Or would you prefer to ask him for his side of the story?" 

"Chief Puula, I'm deeply sorry for this inconvenience…" Haldon spoke loudly, dropping to one knee in a humble bow. "Young Master Netra shouldn't be at fault for her comment, as Young Master Ajuur had a run-in with her before arriving at your home."

"Oh? Oh…"

Thinking back to that particular young wolf's history, Puula quickly imagined what Haldon and Netra meant with their words. It wasn't a hard thing to imagine, not when she could feel the young wolf's gaze on her own body before she shattered his confidence in their discussion. And knowing Netra's personality, the wolf couldn't have chosen a worse person to throw his l.u.s.t onto.

"Will you explain the situation or will I?" Netra questioned fearlessly, staring directly at the flinching younger wolf.

"Netra, that's enough--"

"He dared attempt to share his scent with me moments after he first saw me."

"WHAT?!" Puula shouted, but not at Netra. Her eyes landed squarely on the wolf young master. She wouldn't dare physically harm the younger wolf, but she was more than allowed to speak out given the situation.

"Chief Puula, please forgive us. We had no idea--"

"Does knowing her identity beforehand matter? Clearly, it didn't matter to him," claimed Puula, not looking away from the cowering wolf. "I had heard that his l.u.s.t and spoiled upbringing had tainted his personality, but to dare share scents without even sharing a name… How audacious must you be?"

"Please…"

"Haldon, I respect the conversation we've had and the honesty you've shown but this is not something we can simply forget. Your young master dared to claim my daughter without so much as asking her name, and while venturing toward our home to speak of him being betrothed nonetheless? Should the same circ.u.mstances have happened to the lone daughter of your chief, what would he have done in response?"

Haldon paused, not showing his nerves but also not replying.

"Go ahead. Your answer isn't for my ears, but for his…" Puula stated, still glaring at Ajuur with contempt.

Shaking his head lightly, Haldon admitted, "Had it happened to our young mistress, Chief Marjuun would likely have the culprit killed…" 

Every muscle across Ajuur's body tensed up, from his face to his sphincter. Such a thought had never occurred to him, that such a repercussion could befall him, a son of a territory ruler.

"I'm not so cold-blooded, at least not when it involves an entire clan." Puula's comment caused some of Ajuur's tension to ease but she wasn't done yet. "That being said, there are no terms or benefits that you could offer me, my daughter, or my clan that would convince me to hand her to this pig. You're welcome to stay a single night if you would like, but--"

"We'll be leaving immediately," responded Haldon, still bowing to Puula. "Thank you for your mercy, Chief Puula. Our Dark Wolf Clan will return to amend our wrongs, and we'll give up the thought of betrothing your daughter to Young Master Ajuur."

"You're welcome." Puula nodded to Haldon, allowing him to stand and lead his group out the door. "We'll be waiting for your apology."

Sighing in disbelief, Puula tried to wrap her head around how off course that discussion had gone. But before she could say another word to Netra, Puula had to stop her from leaving. "Where are you going?"

"To cultivate, like always."

"Netra… can we talk about this?"

"Why? We've already covered what was necessary. What more do you want to talk about?"

"Can we talk in your room?" asked Puula, getting a slight nod from her daughter. "Thank you…" 

The mother and daughter duo walked out of the room in silence, as awkward as usual. It normally bugged Puula but this time it gave her some time to gather her thoughts for a proper conversation. Soon, they reached Netra's room which had been equipped with a silencing formation, something Puula both liked and disliked being in her daughter's room.

"Netra…" Puula sat herself down on Netra's massive cushion used as a bed. "Can you please explain what happened in detail? So that I'm aware of how to handle the wolf clan's apology?"

"I can do that."