“I didn’t know,” he said softly. “I wasn’t alpha when your father died, though I was second-in-command. I attended the last ritual your father performed. I saw the duskburst placement and heard the binding words. I thought if I did it the same way, one strong alpha would be enough.” His gaze fell to the table, and his sigh rang out. “A few of the other alphas reached out to me, asking if they should continue coming for the ritual each season and I…” His spine stiffened. “I told them I could handle it alone.”
The admission cost him. I could see it in the way his jaw worked and in the tension in his shoulders.
“The wolf who tends the fire all alone,” Victoria said, repeating Acorn’s words, “thinks the heat he makes is all that’s known.”
Grief curled Bastian’s posture forward. “I’ve made a horrible mistake. Many of them, actually, and I apologize. I didn’t know, but that’s not an excuse.”
If he hadn’t been so hardheaded, the others might have told him about their role in the ritual. He could’ve then reached out to me, and none of this would’ve happened.
But we’d fix it, and I suspected communication would be more open between us moving forward.
My father’s death must’ve cost him something too. My father had been someone who shared the same burdens. Possibly a friend.
Thirteen years of contempt suddenly looked more complicated.
“My father never told me either,” I said.
Bastian’s eyes met mine, and something passed between us that didn’t need words. He’d been carrying the same weight as me, just from a different direction. I’d spent thirteen years trying to prove I was strong enough to hold this territory without help. Bastian had spent thirteen years trying to hold what my father left behind because he thought I couldn’t.
We’d both been wrong.
“I should’ve reached out to you for guidance,” I said. The admission felt like pulling splinters, but it needed to be said. “Instead, I tried to handle everything alone.”
Bastian almost smiled before smoothing his mouth.
“Acorn says the wolf who bends before the breaking saves himself the longer aching,” Victoria said. Her smile rose. “He said he’s been waiting to say that for weeks.”
I didn’t dignify that with a response.
“We need to repair the seals together,” she said. “Notify the other alphas and tell them how urgent this is.” She looked at Bastian. “Can you notify the other packs? We’ll need everyone present for this to work.”
Bastian nodded. “I can reach them. Most of them respect the old ways enough to show up if I explain what’s at stake. I’ll tell them how important this is, tell them to be here within a day.”
“Good.” Victoria tucked her notebook into her bag hanging off the back of the chair. “I have documentation of the seal sites in Feral’s territory. If you have similar records for yours, we can cross-reference and see if we can establish a pattern.”
“You’re smart,” Bastian said with a touch of awe. “Sharper than I gave you credit for.”
I slid my hand from her back to her hip.
Victoria’s mouth twitched, but she didn’t comment.
“You’ve done well, Feral,” he said. “Better than I thought you would when you took over at nineteen.” He kept his attentionon the table. “I didn’t want to admit it. Pride, mostly. But you’ve held this region together despite everything working against you.”
The admission hit differently than anything else he’d said so far.
“If you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it,” he added. His laugh rang out, and mine joined in.
It had taken thirteen years and one afternoon with my wife’s notebook to get to this point. I wasn’t sure whether I should be grateful for the speed of it or unsettled. I decided it didn’t matter. We were here now.
“We should celebrate,” Bastian said. “You two will be our guests. If you wish, you can remain here until the ritual can be completed. But I think we need to treat you to a proper dinner. My pack will want to meet the witch who solved what I’ve been failing at for over a decade.”
He called for his second, issuing orders for a feast to be prepared.
“Thank you for the offer.” I met Victoria’s gaze, and she gave me a slight nod. “We’d love to stay.”
Acorn chittered, and Victoria tilted her head, listening. “He’s asking if there will be pastries.”
Bastian’s laughter echoed through the hall again. “Tell the rodent there will be. The good ones, with honey.”
