While the camp burned and Kieran confronted Alaric Thornvale at the center of the chaos, another scene was unfolding elsewhere.
Sasha stood outside the prisoner cages, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
The glow of the flames illuminated the clearing, painting everything in shades of orange and red.
Inside one of the cages sat Cassian Valemont.
Or as Leo preferred to call him—
Goldy.
The former commander leaned against the wooden bars, his face pale from blood loss. Without his arms, he looked far less intimidating than he once had.
Yet Sasha couldn't shake her frustration.
Her ears twitched anxiously.
"Think..." she muttered to herself.
"Think, damn it..."
The sounds of battle echoed from the camp.
The wolves needed leverage.
And fast.
Unfortunately, the only leverage they had was currently sitting inside a cage looking miserable.
A shadow approached from behind.
Sasha turned.
Leo.
He was surprisingly calm considering the situation.
"You look stressed."
Sasha shot him a glare.
"And you look useless."
"Fair."
Leo walked over to the cage and glanced inside.
Goldy glared back immediately.
The hatred in his eyes hadn't faded one bit.
"Good evening, Goldy."
The commander said nothing.
Leo nodded.
"Wonderful conversation as always."
Sasha groaned.
"Focus."
"Your brilliant hostage idea isn't working."
Leo looked toward the burning camp.
Then back at her.
"What happened?"
"Their commander doesn't care."
Sasha growled.
"He said Goldy is worthless."
Leo paused.
Then he burst out laughing.
Loudly.
Even Goldy looked offended.
"What's so funny?" Sasha snapped.
Leo wiped a tear from his eye.
"Nothing."
"It's just..."
He pointed at Cassian.
"Imagine dedicating your entire life to the Empire only for your boss to call you worthless."
Goldy's face darkened.
Leo immediately backed away from the cage.
"See? That's the look of a man having a terrible day."
Sasha wasn't amused.
"Do you have a better idea?"
Leo's smile slowly faded.
For the first time since arriving, he actually looked serious.
His gaze shifted toward the distant fires.
Toward the center of camp.
Toward Alaric.
Then an idea formed.
A dangerous one.
A stupid one.
Which usually meant it was his kind of idea.
A grin spread across his face.
Sasha instantly frowned.
She hated that grin.
Every time Leo made that face, something terrible happened.
"No."
"Whatever you're thinking, no."
Leo ignored her.
"Think about it."
"Alaric doesn't care about Goldy."
"He doesn't care about the old man either."
"What he does care about..."
His grin widened.
Leo pointed at himself.
"Is me."
Sasha stared.
"...What?"
Leo pointed at himself again.
"Use me as the hostage."
For a moment, Sasha genuinely wondered if he'd finally lost his mind.
She looked at him.
Then at Goldy.
Then back at him.
"Have you gone insane?"
Leo shrugged.
"Probably."
Another explosion echoed through the camp.
The grin faded from his face.
"Listen."
"I'm the son of the Radiance family."
The confidence in his voice caught Sasha off guard.
"Ever since I disappeared, they're probably searching for me."
He paused.
"Well..."
"Maybe not because they like me."
"But they're definitely searching."
A bitter smile crossed his face before quickly disappearing.
"And any human would kill for a chance to earn the favor of House Radiance."
His golden eyes shifted toward the distant flames.
"Saving me would get Alaric recognized."
"Promoted."
"Rewarded."
Then he pointed at Goldy.
"Compared to me, he's a failed Division Commander."
"I'm the perfect hostage."
Sasha hesitated.
The logic made sense.
She hated how much sense it made.
"I don't know..."
"What if it doesn't work?"
Leo smiled.
A calm, confident smile.
The kind that somehow made people believe him.
"Just follow my lead."
He started walking past her.
"Everything will be fine."
Sasha watched him go.
Then glanced toward the burning camp.
For some reason...
That sentence worried her more than anything else he'd said all night.
Moments later, Leo found himself kneeling atop a massive boulder overlooking the camp.
His hands were tied behind his back.
Mostly because Sasha insisted.
According to her, it would make the scene more believable.
According to Leo, she was enjoying this way too much.
The wolf woman stood behind him.
One claw resting lightly against his neck.
Leo glanced sideways.
"You're not actually going to stab me, right?"
Sasha smiled.
It wasn't reassuring.
"Depends."
"On?"
"Whether you keep talking."
Leo immediately shut up.
Below them, Alaric Thornvale's sword began descending toward the old wolf.
Sasha took a deep breath.
Then—
"STOP!"
The shout echoed across the camp.
For a moment, everything seemed to stop.
Alaric's sword froze inches from the elder's throat.
The wolves stopped breathing.
The knights lowered their weapons slightly.
Even the hyena beastmen turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing atop a massive boulder overlooking the camp was Sasha.
Moonlight bathed her silver hair in pale light.
One claw rested against someone's neck.
A familiar someone.
Leo knelt on the stone with his hands tied behind his back.
He looked down at the crowd gathered below.
Then at the claw pressed against his throat.
Then back at everyone.
"Help."
Nobody did.
Sasha ignored him completely.
Her eyes never left Alaric.
"Goldy might not be worth much..."
The claw pressed slightly deeper.
A thin line of blood rolled down Leo's neck.
"...but this one is."
A strange silence followed.
Confused glances spread among the knights.
Even the hyena beastmen seemed unsure what they were looking at.
Alaric slowly lowered his sword.
Curiosity flickered across his face.
"And who exactly might that be?"
The question hit Sasha harder than expected.
She opened her mouth.
"It's..."
Then stopped.
Her ears twitched.
A problem suddenly presented itself.
A very big problem.
She knew his first name.
That was it.
The wolf woman slowly turned her head.
Leo was already staring at her.
Sasha stared back.
Leo stared harder.
The silence became awkward.
Then Sasha lowered her voice.
"...What's your last name?"
Leo almost choked.
"You're asking now?"
"Just tell me!"
Without moving his lips, Leo muttered:
"Radiance."
Recognition flashed across Sasha's face.
"Right."
She immediately turned back toward Alaric.
"Leo Radiance."
For a brief moment, Alaric simply stared.
Then a laugh escaped him.
A genuine one.
The knights behind him quickly joined in.
Even the hyena beastmen began chuckling.
"Leo Radiance?"
Alaric shook his head in disbelief.
"The cursed child from House Radiance?"
The laughter only grew louder.
Several knights exchanged amused looks.
One of the hyena beastmen nearly doubled over laughing.
Kieran frowned.
He didn't understand what was so funny.
But judging by Leo's expression, neither did he.
"Why would he be here?"
Alaric asked.
"And more importantly..."
His eyes narrowed.
"How would I even know that's really him?"
The laughter slowly died down.
A few of the knights nodded.
It was a reasonable question.
Sasha's confidence immediately began slipping.
That hadn't been part of the plan.
She glanced toward Leo.
The human met her gaze.
For a second, he looked completely calm.
Then suddenly—
"You bastard!"
The shout exploded across the camp.
Everyone jumped.
Even Sasha flinched.
Leo surged forward as far as his restraints allowed.
His face twisted with anger.
"Don't stand there pretending you don't know who I am!"
The laughter vanished.
Leo pointed directly at Alaric.
"If my father finds out about this, you're finished!"
"Do you hear me?"
"Finished!"
His voice echoed through the clearing.
Several wolves looked genuinely impressed.
Several knights looked genuinely annoyed.
Leo wasn't finished.
"So instead of standing there looking stupid, save me from these damn beasts!"
A chorus of growls immediately rose from the wolves below.
One warrior actually took a step forward.
Kieran grabbed his shoulder before he could do anything.
Leo wisely chose not to look in their direction.
Alaric remained silent.
His blue eyes studied Leo carefully.
Watching.
Thinking.
Measuring.
Behind Leo, Sasha leaned closer.
"I don't think it's working..."
she whispered.
Without taking his eyes off Alaric, Leo whispered back.
"It will."
"Just follow my lead."
The confidence in his voice surprised her.
Then Alaric finally spoke.
"Honestly?"
He shrugged.
"You're probably better off dead."
The words landed like a hammer.
Several wolves looked pleased.
Leo looked offended.
Alaric continued.
"It would certainly make life easier for the kingdom."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And judging by your reputation..."
"Perhaps your family too."
Sasha immediately leaned toward Leo.
"See?"
"I told you."
Leo ignored her.
Instead, he looked straight ahead and quietly said:
"Go for it."
Sasha blinked.
"What?"
"Go for it."
"Leo, are you insane?"
"Trust me."
"This is your plan!"
"Exactly."
That was somehow the least reassuring answer possible.
Sasha stared at him.
Then at Alaric.
Then back at Leo.
Finally, she groaned.
"Fine."
"But if you die, I'm blaming you."
Leo smiled.
"Fair."
Sasha took a step back.
Then raised her voice.
"Fine!"
"Have it your way!"
The claw left Leo's neck.
For the briefest moment, relief flashed across his face.
Then Sasha lunged.
The wolves gasped.
Several knights reached for their weapons.
Kieran's eyes widened.
Even the hyena beastmen stopped laughing.
Time seemed to slow.
Leo watched the claw race toward his throat.
And for the first time since suggesting this plan...
He began wondering whether it had been a terrible idea.
Then—
"STOP!"
Alaric's voice thundered across the camp.
Sasha froze.
Her claw stopped less than an inch from Leo's neck.
The entire camp fell silent.
Even the fires seemed quieter.
Sasha slowly turned her head.
Kieran did the same.
All eyes fell upon Alaric Thornvale.
The Division Commander stood motionless.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at Leo.
Then he let out a long sigh.
The kind of sigh a man makes when he's forced to accept something he doesn't like.
"Fine."
The single word broke the tension.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Alaric lowered his sword.
Without taking his eyes off Sasha, he slowly lifted his boot from the elder's head.
The old wolf immediately sucked in a ragged breath.
Before anyone could react, two wolf warriors rushed forward.
Carefully lifting the elder from the ground before retreating behind Kieran.
Only then did Kieran finally allow himself to breathe.
His eyes shifted toward the boulder.
Toward Leo.
Toward Sasha.
He still had absolutely no idea what either of them was doing.
The elder had barely been pulled to safety when Alaric's attention returned to the boulder.
His expression remained calm.
Almost amused.
"Now your turn."
For a brief moment, Sasha froze.
Then realization struck her.
Right.
The hostage.
She loosened her grip on Leo and began pulling her claw away from his neck.
The moment she did—
"No!"
Leo hissed from between his teeth.
Sasha nearly jumped.
Before she could react, Leo quickly tilted his head back and whispered toward her.
"What are you doing?"
"Letting you go?"
"Are you insane?"
His voice remained low, but there was genuine panic in it.
"You think he's just going to let everyone walk away after he gets me?"
Sasha blinked.
That...
Actually made sense.
Immediately, she grabbed him again.
One arm hooked around his neck while her claw returned to his throat.
Below them, Alaric slowly raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean no?"
His voice carried easily across the camp.
"You said you'd release him if I released the elder."
Several knights exchanged confused looks.
Even Kieran looked completely lost now.
Sasha glanced down at Leo.
Leo glanced up at her.
Then quietly muttered:
"Just repeat what I say."
"Word for word?"
"Word for word."
"This is a terrible idea."
"I know."
Sasha took a deep breath.
Then looked back toward Alaric.
"The deal has changed."
The camp immediately fell silent.
Alaric folded his arms.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Oh?"
Leo spoke quietly enough that only Sasha could hear.
"Tell him Leo Radiance remains our hostage."
Sasha repeated.
"Leo Radiance will remain our hostage."
Murmurs immediately spread through the knights.
Alaric's expression remained unreadable.
"And?"
Leo continued.
"The Royal Knights withdraw from the camp."
Sasha repeated every word.
"The Royal Knights will withdraw from the camp."
One of the knights immediately stepped forward.
"Commander, this is absurd—"
Alaric raised a hand.
The knight immediately fell silent.
The Division Commander's eyes never left Leo.
"Continue."
A small smile appeared on Leo's face.
Good.
That meant Alaric was listening.
"The wolves keep me unharmed."
Sasha repeated.
"The wolves will keep Leo Radiance unharmed."
Leo continued.
"Once the clan reaches safety, I will be released."
Sasha relayed the words.
The camp grew quieter with every sentence.
Even the hyena beastmen had stopped laughing.
Alaric tilted his head slightly.
"And why would I agree to that?"
The question seemed expected.
Leo didn't hesitate.
"Because if I die..."
Sasha repeated.
"Because if Leo Radiance dies..."
Leo's smile widened.
"House Radiance starts asking questions."
The moment the name was mentioned, several knights visibly stiffened.
"A lot of questions."
The air itself seemed heavier now.
"Questions about why the son of House Radiance disappeared."
"Questions about why the Royal Knights failed to recover him."
"Questions about why the Fifteenth Division Commander returned empty-handed."
The final sentence lingered in the air.
Several knights lowered their heads.
Even Kieran could tell the words had struck a nerve.
Alaric remained silent.
Watching.
Thinking.
Measuring.
The flames crackled around them.
Smoke drifted lazily into the night sky.
For a few moments, nobody spoke.
Then Alaric finally broke the silence.
"And what guarantees do I have?"
The question lingered in the air.
Sasha fell silent.
Even Leo didn't answer immediately.
The fire crackled.
Smoke drifted between the two sides.
Then—
"Me."
The voice came from below.
Everyone turned.
Kieran stepped forward.
His golden eyes met Alaric's.
"As long as Leo Radiance remains with us, I will guarantee his safety."
The wolf leader's voice was calm.
Steady.
"If my clan breaks the agreement..."
His gaze hardened.
"You can hold me responsible."
Silence fell over the camp.
Even the hyena beastmen stopped laughing.
For the first time that night, Alaric looked directly at Kieran rather than the hostage.
The two leaders stared at one another.
Neither looked away.