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On the map, the battleground area was marked within a dotted line. Outside of the marked territory were two smaller circles that were reserved as camping sites for the Silent Walkers Pack and the Night Prowler Pack.

The camping sites were purposefully marked on the map to prevent one pack from attacking the other ahead of the designated time and later feigning ignorance.

Written across the area was a string of cursive letters that formed the words Shadow Mist Creek.

Once the three elders caught sight of the three words, they snapped for air dramatically.

Standing next to Lucien, Ronan let out a mocking “Hah” instead.

Lucien turned to look at the aghast elders. Their big eyes were directed at Ronan, so Lucien’s gaze drifted to the Alpha next to him as well.

“Do you know this place?”

“Oh, yes,” Ronan scoffed. He stabbed at the three words using his point finger. “This no-man’s-land is an object of dispute between my and Kinnon’s pack.”

.....

Ah.

It made a click in Lucien’s head right away.

That explained why the three elders were so surprised about getting Shadow Mist Creek as the war site. Officially, it was a war between the Silent Walkers Pack and the Night Prowler Pack. Unofficially, thanks to Ronan’s interference, it had turned into a war between the Infinite Eclipse Pack and the Night Prowler Pack.

Coincidentally, the two Alphas fought over Lucien. A fight that Ronan won only because Landon returned to Lucien’s body and was so adamant about being with Ronan.

Choosing Shadow Creek Mist as the war site was practically a slap across Kinnon Youngshaper’s face. It was a reminder that he lost Lucien Clearwater, and that he would eventually lose the Shadow Creek Mist too. As if Kinnon Youngshaper was not bitter enough.

While every single war participant was running around to pack up, a second strategic meeting was held among the leaders that night. Other than the elders, no one in the Silent Walkers Pack would have guessed that the war site was a disputed piece of land.

Jake, on the other side, gasped as loudly as the three elders. Shadow Mist Creek was mentioned a lot in the history books of the Infinite Eclipse Pack. Their ancestors never got over this piece of land.

He and Ronan exchanged quick glances, after which they excused themselves to discuss in private.

Ronan came back alone fifteen minutes later to brief them about the terrain of the war site. The last time it was used as a battleground was around two hundred years ago, when Ronan’s forefather fought against Kinnon’s forefather there.

According to the legend, the intense war lasted for several months. It destroyed the beautiful piece of land and turned it into a wasteland. Despite suffering from a lot of casualties on both sides, neither pack was willing to give in. In the end, the other packs staged an intervention and forced both packs to stop.

That was how the Werewolf Council was established. Its first decree was to force both packs to sign a peace treaty to end the war.

The tremendous loss on both sides caused both packs to shy from another direct confrontation in years to come.

Both packs also agreed to cease their claim for Shadow Mist Creek for the time being.

Ronan could not speak about Kinnon’s pack, but Infinite Eclipse Pack still dreamed about conquering the land.

When Ronan was five years old and had not yet learned about Dane Silverback’s debauched affairs, Dane took him to visit Shadow Mist Creek. By then it was already covered with wild vegetation and turned into a natural jungle.

He passionately told Ronan that the land was rightfully theirs. It was his dream to defeat the Night Prowler Pack once and for all, and for the Infinite Eclipse Pack to be acknowledged as the strongest pack on the continent.

“There can only be one strongest pack, Ronan,” Dane told his little son. “And it can only be our pack. Never forget that.”

The words “natural jungle” did not make anyone feel less insecure.

“Are we sure that it is still a jungle?” Desmond asked, his tone full of hope.

“Pretty sure. No one would go there willingly to cut down all the trees and flatten the land. Besides, it is a huge area. It would take months to clear the land,” Ronan replied while encircling the area on the map with his finger.

“Oh.”

Desmond’s hope plummeted to the ground.

“What about these two circles that are supposed to be the camping sites for both packs?” Annalynne asked.

“Also a jungle. Bring axes and chainsaws with us so that we don’t have to gnaw at the trunks.”

Annalynne’s jaw dropped open.

“Are we supposed to help clear the land or something???”

“Well, we need to cut maybe around thirty trees. It will be fine. We just need enough area to pack all the tents together.”

That was going to be a challenge anyway because their group had around two hundred werewolves.

“The strategy remains the same. A group must survey the battleground before the battle commences. If we need to change something, we will fix it on the last night prior to the war,” Lucien decided.

Everyone was thus dismissed.

Annalynne was mumbling about packing everyone into the tents like sardines in tomato sauce.

Acatha went to check the packing preparation.

Desmond said something about taking all the axes and chainsaws in the pack. Kendra told him that they should get electric chainsaws from Blue Hill City instead.

The only ones who were left in the room were Ronan and Lucien. As the latter rolled the map together, he noticed the deep trench between Ronan’s brows. Ronan had both arms folded before his chest. He was staring at nothing particular on the table where the map lay just a few minutes ago.

When Lucien touched his biceps, Ronan gave him a reassuring smile. He took Lucien’s hand and gave him a peck on the lips.

“Let’s get packing then.”

Lucien pulled at Ronan’s hand and asked, “Ronan, is there something I need to worry about?”