I walked into the chamber, seeing it fuller than it should have been. Every conversation in the hall died.
Eight elders sat in a crescent on the raised dais, robes neat, expressions carved from stone. In front of them, lesser alphas and their betas filled the seating. They’d all turned when I entered.
All eyes on us.
On me.
On Rowen.
A ripple of whispers moved through the room—low, sharp, disbelieving. I felt Rowen tense, just once, under the scrutiny. My hand brushed hers. Barely. Just enough of the bond to steady us both.
“Alpha Wolfe of Stonefang,” a voice called from the dais. Alpha Deryn. I remembered him well. Self-important bastard. “You answered our summons. Good.”
Good. The word grated. I didn’t bow. Didn’t incline my head. Didn’t show a single gesture of deference. I simply stood there. Tall. Grounded. Unmoved. Let them choke on it.
Beside me, Rowen matched me posture for posture, chin up, eyes steady, the mate bond woven between us like a steel cable. Several elders shifted, uncomfortable at the sight of her. They hadn’t expected her to come, and I was suddenly grateful she’d fought me to stand here; her presence hereunsettled them.
Deryn’s eyes flicked to her and narrowed. “You brought yourmate.”
I didn’t blink. “You summoned her as well as me. Were we supposed to ignore your summons?”
A murmur broke out—some surprised, some disapproving, all too loud for a hall that pretended to value decorum.
Deryn’s gaze sharpened, but he didn’t rise to my jab. “Rowen, my condolences on the passing of your father.”
Rowen merely inclined her head.
“You have nothing to say?” Deryn asked. “Cat got your tongue, or has your alpha?”
Murmurs through the tent again. The implication that I would force her with my Will made my temper rise.
“You gave me your condolences. What is there to say?” Rowen asked him coolly. “Thanks?” Her gaze swept the table. “Is this why you summoned me here? Or to tell me why my pack is to bedissolved?”
That earned a few gasps. Killian winced beside us. Rowen didn’t move. Her gaze held a challenge to the top table like she was ready to fight here and now.
Deryn looked like he wanted to leap over the table and tear her throat out. “Respect,” he hissed, “is still required in this chamber.”
“Respect,” I said, “is earned.” The air felt tighter as I spoke—power, authority, attention. Every alpha in the gallery leaned in just slightly.
Deryn composed himself with visible effort and cleared his throat. “Very well. It seems you want to rush into this, so this Council will begin with a simple question.”
And so it would begin.
“Why have you claimed two territories?”
I almost laughed. “Because I am alpha of what was two packs, now one.”
“So you admit that you stand here and claim to be alpha of Stonefang and Blueridge Hollow,” another elder pressed, one I hadn’t seen before. “That is quite the claim.”
“I don’tclaimto be anything, Iamthe alpha of my pack,” I said. “My pack is spread, but they are content.”
“And Blueridge Hollow?” Deryn asked. “That land was not meant to have another alpha.” His gaze settled on Rowen. “A packleaderwas to be chosen on your father’s death.”
Rowen’s anger snapped through the bond at that—sharp, hot, protective—but I answered.
“Alpha Malric named me his heir. As witnessed by his druid, his mosttrustedbeta, and his daughter.” I tried not to sneer when I mentioned Lewis, but I knew I’d failed. “Alpha Malric knew I was alpha of Stonefang, but before Stonefang, the Hollow was my home, and it welcomed me back.”
Another wave of murmurs swept the hall.
