It’s perfectly delivered. Humble. Accountable. Constructive. And underneath it, I hear the machinery turning. Bern positioning himself as benefactor, as the man who came to help, who can be credited with whatever recovery follows.
Greta appears in the doorway behind Brenna. She looks at Bern the way a farmer looks at a fox circling the henhouse… without surprise and with complete understanding of what she’s seeing.
“You’ll have coffee,” Greta says. “Kitchen’s through here.”
She turns and walks inside. Bern follows, because nobody refuses Greta. His aide trails behind with the tablet, already taking notes.
I catch Brenna’s arm as she turns to follow. The touch sends a shock through me.
“Not now,” she says. Low. For my ears only.
“I know. But, Brenna—” I keep my voice down. Rook has positioned himself between us and Bern’s fighters in the yard. “Be careful with him. He can’t be trusted.”
Her eyes meet mine. For a second, the armor thins and I see the woman from the bunkhouse: raw, unguarded, terrified of what’s happening between us. Then it’s gone.
“I know,” she says. “I’ve known men like Bern my whole life. They come with smiles and leave with everything you have.”
She goes inside. I follow.
In the kitchen, Bern sits at the table like he belongs there, accepting Greta’s coffee with studied graciousness. His aide stands behind him, still taking fucking notes. Willow sits across from Bern with a grim set to her mouth that could curdle milk.
Cameron comes downstairs. Stops in the kitchen doorway. Takes in the scene: the strange wolves in suits, the polished man at the table, the tension in every adult in the room. His eyes go sharp.
“Cameron,” Brenna says. Calm. “This is Elder Bern, from the Wolf Council. They oversee wolf affairs.”
“I know who the council is.” Cameron’s voice is cold. He doesn’t enter the room.
Bern turns in his chair and looks at Cameron. And something crosses his face. A quick, assessing interest that’s more focused than a casual introduction warrants.
“Young man.” Bern stands. Extends his hand. “I’ve heard about your ordeal. The council is deeply concerned about Syndicate activity in this region.”
Cameron looks at the hand. Doesn’t take it. Looks at Brenna. Looks at me.
“Ma?” he says. Just the one word. Asking permission, asking for a read, asking whether this man is safe.
“It’s fine,” Brenna says. Her tone says it’s not fine, but courtesy requires it.
Cameron shakes Bern’s hand briefly, then retreats to the bottom of the stairs. He stays. Watching. The survival instincts from six months as a lab rat are telling him to keep his eyes on the new predator in the room.
Bern sits back down, sips his coffee, and then begins laying out the council’s position.
“We’ve received reports about an attack here. Purists, I’m told. Quite serious.”
Brenna’s voice cuts in. “That’s an exaggeration. We managed just fine.”
“That’s good news.” Bern inclines his head toward her. “Has Ravenclaw filed a formal complaint with the council? There are protocols for addressing inter-pack violence. Mechanisms that exist precisely for situations like this.”
“We handled it ourselves,” Brenna says.
“So I’ve heard. A parley with Ashfall. Unconventional, but effective in the short term.” He folds his hands on the table. “The question is sustainability. These regional tensions don’t resolve themselves. They fester. A council delegation could mediate. Establish formal agreements, ensure all parties are heard. Prevent future violence before it erupts.”
“I said we handled it.” Brenna’s voice is pure ice. “And we’ll handle it again, if need be.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that. Which brings me to my next matter.” He faces me. “The elders have been discussing your situation with some concern, Merric.” He sets his cup down with deliberate care. “Frostbourne is one of our strongest southern packs. Your absence has been… noted.”
“My beta has things well in hand.”
“I’m sure he does. But there’s a difference between a pack managed and a pack led, wouldn’t you agree?” He doesn’t wait for an answer. “Your people need you back. You can’t be expected to deal with things here as well as oversee your own responsibilities.”
