The journey back to the valley felt like an arduous and unending hell. Arzhen was by no means weak, but even she felt that she wanted to give up. Every step was as if thousands of thorns were stabbed unceasingly into her body. Cold sweat ran down her face, thankfully she managed to maintain her indifferent expression.

After what seemed like an eternity, she saw the entrance to the valley. Arzhen had never felt such pure relief, she even wanted to cry out in happiness. However, she was afraid if she started crying, she wouldn't be able to stop. Arzhen didn't want the three little wolves to worry anymore.

When Arzhen returned Lida was standing at the entrance of the den with a worried expression. Arzhen couldn't help but feel her heart soften, she dropped the prey she had caught, by the door, and went over to Lida, rubbing up against her.

Lida couldn't help but feel shy, she hadn't felt Arzhen's affection for many days, and she would be lying if she said she hadn't missed it, but she knew that the black wolf was seriously injured at the moment and quickly regained her thoughts.

"Come on darling, you need to eat something and rest", Lida said with a loving but stern tone.

Arzhen enjoyed hearing Lida's caring tone. She separated out a quarter of all the food for herself and left the rest for the three little wolves. Luckily she had hunted more today, after all she had spent so many days hungry, if it wasn't for the injuries she would've grabbed even more. 

Sedraa and Rin heard Lida's voice and came to the entrance. They both came over and rubbed against the black wolf.

Arzhen looked at the three little wolves that were all standing outside the den, and the pain that had been slowly eating away at her patience, seemed to have temporarily disappeared. She wasn't one to beat around the bush, so she said.

"Go ahead and eat, the rest is all for you".

Sedraa was already three months pregnant, she needed a stable amount of food, so that she had enough energy to raise the little wolves that were growing slowly inside her everyday. She quickly began devouring the meat in front of her. The other two quickly followed along, and Arzhen who had already finished just lay out in the sun watching them in contentment.

Over in the caves, the chieftain received the report from the scouts. They said there was nothing unusual with the monster, the only difference was that the amount of prey was larger than usual, but they knew that she had just come back from a long attack. It would be strange if she wasn't hungry.

The chieftain wasn't happy to hear this report. Even though he talked about an alliance, but he couldn't forget the humiliation the black wolf gave him. The losses he suffered to his warriors, and the shame he put his daughter through. Now his daughter is forced to be by that monster's side, and he doesn't know how she is now. At some point the sister of that monster stopped coming back to report the information. He didn't know what was happening in the valley, and even though he had doubts about the monster's health, he couldn't take the risk to attack right now.

Not only were many of the tribes strongest warriors felled in the last battle, but the ones that did survive still show no sign of waking up. Yet the monster can continue to go out to hunt as if nothing ever phases her. The chieftain can't help but feel a chill run down his back. This wolf defies everything that he knew.

His father was the previous chieftain and he told him that during his great grandfathers reign, there were many of these monstrous wolves to protect the tribe, which is one of the key reasons why the wolves could maintain the monopoly over the rest of the tribes. Now he has to tiptoe around this monster. If he knew this situation would arise, how would he have allowed it to get to this point. However, no matter how much he regrets, the past cannot be changed.

He knew he couldn't tear faces with the monster now, there were still the bear tribe across the river. When winter comes and that river freezes, he doesn't know if the bears will give up their usual plan for hibernation to launch an attack. If they do, then it is essential to have the monster on their side. They've lost too much to the lions. Although the victory will make the weaker tribes fear them, the threats never came from them. Those strong tribes, will only be deterred for a short time, but if they ever find out that the wolves are only barely hanging on, it will be over. Deceit has never been his forte, so now he feels like he's stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Can that monster really be uninjured. If they had three or four more of those kinds of wolves, where would he need to be so worried? The chieftain could only let out another sigh. He is afraid. Afraid of the power of those tribes, and afraid of the strength of that monster. He could only continue to worry. If possible he'd happily give up the position of chieftain. He is tired, but the problems won't just go away even if he chooses to abdicate. He can only persevere, at least until the foreign tribes are dealt with, then maybe the wolves and that Mo ster can put aside their differences and try to find a way to peacefully coexist.

Arzhen didn't know that her plan had almost shattered the fighting spirit of the chieftain. She only hoped to let him doubt how strong she really was. At this moment, she was enjoying the grooming of the three little wolves. After a full meal and finally getting to lay down, she can also enjoy the comfort of Lida, Sedraa and Rin, which makes the tired and painful body finally have a chance to relax.