Diesel stepped forward. “We didn’t know,” he confirmed. “But after the attacks this pack has endured recently, we should’ve expected it. Two packs unified under one alpha? They can’t stomach it.”
“And they don’t want anyone else thinking it’s possible,” Killian added. “They strike now before other alphas get ideas.”
Brand leaned his elbows on the table, looking just asstoic and fierce as always despite the blonde-haired child in his lap. “They’ll enforce the decree if they can. With force.”
Rowen slipped in then, taking her place beside me without a word. Calm. Collected. She pressed close against me, her words as sharp as her claws.
“They’ve been testing the borders,” she said loud enough to be heard. “Next, they’ll strike harder than they have. See if we stand down or call their bluff.”
“They won’t like our answer,” Diesel muttered, and a few wolves huffed their agreement.
My betas moved through those gathered, and I looked at Rowen. “You felt it?”
She nodded once. “I did. The land is angry.”
My jaw tightened. “Good.” So was I.
Killian circled back and cleared his throat. “We’re going to need more information. Fast. Before they decide to ride in here with a dozen alphas at their back.” There was a murmur of discontent through the room.
“They can’t get in with the alpha and me here,” Diesel reminded everyone. “Our Goddess is on our side in this, remember that. She created the seal.”
I saw the worry ease from many, and I hoped to Luna that he was right and we weren’t standing here like sitting ducks waiting to be wiped out.
Brand frowned. “I’d like to handle internal security?”
I nodded. “You and Killian,” I told them. I gave them a look that told them, right now, I trusted only my betas.
Diesel’s grin was lethal. “I’ll take Cody and sweep the territory? If there’s a spy left, they’ll give themselves away scrambling from the decree.”
Rowen exhaled slowly. “We can’t let panic spread. Theyoung wolves…they’re frightened. They’re not the only ones.”
“Then we reassure them with certainty,” I said, my voice rising, not hiding my intent from my pack. “We stand. We prepare. And when the Pack Council tries to force this decree onto our soil, we show them what happens when they challenge the wrong pack.”
No one argued. Not even the older wolves.
Rowen reached for a chair but didn’t sit. Instead, she braced her hands on the back of it, expression hardening into something that made my wolf bare its teeth in approval. “Wolfe and I will attend the hearing,” she said. “Together. As one. And the pack needs to know that. Today.”
I nodded. “Diesel—start the sweep near the western ridge. Anyone with divided allegiance will show their hand now.” He nodded and left immediately. “Killian,” I continued, “you’re with me. We reinforce the border and go through who’s at Stonefang. If we’re going to stand, then we all need to be ready.”
Killian went to the kitchen counter and grabbed two bread rolls filled with meat, eating quickly.
Rowen didn’t move from her spot. Turning to me, she said quietly, “They’ll come for you first.”
“And they’ll fail.”
I reached for her hand, pulling her closer until her forehead rested against mine. The bond hummed between us—warm, fierce, alive. “You’re trembling,” I murmured. “Nervous?”
“I’m furious,” she corrected. “There’s a difference.”
I breathed her in. The Hollow whispered outside, windthreading through the trees like a warning. “They picked this fight,” I said. “We finish it.”
She lifted her head. “We will. I’ll go to the druid. I don’t know why I’m feeling the land like this now. I need to know what it means.”
I took her hand, and we walked out of the hall together. We stepped out into the light, into the wind coming down from the mountain ridge.
“I’m scared,” she admitted softly. “Angry but scared.”
“Don’t be,” I assured her, pulling her close. “We didn’t start this. They did when they spilled this pack’s blood on Blueridge Hollow. But hear me, mate. Blood is how it will end. Forthem.”
