"He's escalating."
"He's testing us." Emmett moved to the stone table, where papers already lay weighted down. "Seeing how much authority we'll let him claim over Hollow Oak business."
"Does Maeve know?"
"Not yet." Emmett's voice carried warning. "And she can't know until after we hear what Hector has to say. If she finds out before we've got our defense ready, she'll tear his throat out."
"Would that be so bad?"
"Yes." Emmett met his eyes. "Because that's exactly what he wants. He's baiting her. Pushing buttons until she loses control and proves his point that she's unfit to run Cross holdings."
Dante's hands curled into hard fists. Smart. Hector had always been smart in the worst ways. Manipulative. Strategic. The kind of calculating lion who moved pieces on a board while everyone else thought they were playing checkers.
More footsteps. Varric emerged from the trees, his silver braids catching weak sunlight. Behind him came Miriam Caldwell, the human widow who'd somehow earned a Council seat through sheer force of will and sharp intelligence. Her silver hair was pinned up, half-moon spectacles perched on her nose, and her expression said she'd already had too much nonsense for one morning.
"Deleuve." Varric nodded to him. "Good. You'll serve as witness."
"Witness to what?"
"To whatever nonsense Hector's about to spew." Miriam settled onto a stone bench, wrapping her coat tighter. "Man's got more hot air than sense."
"He's got evidence." A new voice cut through the clearing. Cold. Cultured. Dripping with superiority.
Hector Cross stepped into the glade like he owned it.
Dante's lion arose with a snarl.
He hadn't seen his old pride member in five years. Hadn't wanted to. But time hadn't softened Hector. If anything, it had made him harder. The lion stood tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair streaked with distinguished silver at the temples. Hiseyes were pale gold, calculating, set in a face that would've been handsome if it wasn't twisted with perpetual disdain. He wore expensive clothes, tailored to intimidate, and moved with the kind of arrogance that came from never being challenged.
Alpha now. The authority showed in every line of his body.
"Hector." Varric's voice remained neutral. "You called this hearing. State your complaint."
"My complaint is simple." Hector moved to the stone table, setting down a leather portfolio. "Maeve Cross has been mismanaging Cross family holdings within Hollow Oak territory. The Silver Fang Tavern bears our family name, operates under our legacy, and she runs it without proper pride backing or oversight."
"The Silver Fang is Maeve's establishment," Emmett said. "Built with her own funds, on land she purchased independently. The Cross name is hers by birth, not because you granted permission."
"Blood ties come with responsibilities." Hector's mouth curved. "Responsibilities she's ignored. I have documentation of multiple shipment failures, inventory losses, and safety violations over the past three months. All pointing to incompetent management."
He pulled papers from the portfolio, spreading them across the stone table. The same damaged shipment reports Varric had shown Dante. Only these had annotations. Highlighted sections. Carefully curated to make Maeve look guilty.
"This is a setup," Dante said quietly.
Hector's gaze swung to him. "Dante Deleuve. I heard you'd slunk back to Hollow Oak. Still playing lapdog to failed pride members, I see."
"Careful." Dante's voice dropped to a growl. "You're in Hollow Oak now. Not your territory."
"Isn't it?" Hector's smile turned cruel. "The Cross name has power here whether you are liking it or not. And as the alpha of the Cross Pride, I have every right to ensure family holdings are properly managed."
"You have no rights here," Varric said. "Hollow Oak operates under Council governance, not pride law."
"Then explain why you allow a Cross establishment to operate under family name without proper oversight." Hector tapped the papers. "This evidence shows clear negligence. Damaged goods. Poisoned inventory. Safety violations that could harm your precious community. As her family alpha, I'm within my rights to petition for control until she proves competent management."
"She's proven it for years," Miriam said sharply. "The Silver Fang is one of the most successful businesses in Hollow Oak. Your timing is suspiciously convenient, Hector."
"Convenient how?"
"Convenient that these problems only started appearing after you became alpha." Emmett crossed his arms. "After you consolidated power in your splinter pride. After you started making noise about traditional values and proper pride structure."
