ons came
a kn
a wa
the estate-low, re
opped what th
before I understood it
s a dec
sion tight but steady. "You're to co
hall was a
instruction. Elders stood near the front. Guards fla
ood at th
thr
latf
his feet and author
ide him, the murmu
. His voice was calm, even. "You've tes
the room. No
know if mercy
e thic
e continued. "I
oved throu
mien said, "Lila Hart
eath
under Al
aces-some angry, some
meant for me. Any challenge issued in her name is answered
held it
d, careful. "Alpha... t
is gaze. "Th
pounding. "What does
ied quietly, "you s
olf bowed hi
reluctantly, some w
t
en
is does not end debate," he
rang on
mis
emptied, I realiz
crushed
punished
d the pack
doing
e impossibl
e east wing, I finally spok
he said
ou," I
ned, just slig
stirred-not restless
es had
e dark, the pack wa
ied, but the
ead, to the wolves who lingered just a heartbeat too long before tur
it on m
d as she walked beside me. "Thi
this feels sett
le. "That's how cha
faster tha
enough to acknowledge something new. Others avoided me entirely,
came with
s rotated in pairs-silent, efficient, alert. They didn't
s abs
lcony. From there, the forest stretched endlessl
is," I said, bre
ered. "But dif
ow
aid calmly. "They won't touch you.
fened.
aid at once. "Anyone under
realized I'd been holding. "
se leadership isn't about f
ck feared, but the wolf who had chosen
enemies," I
hed his mouth. "I
glow warmer than before, steadier. The forest answer
ar
realized something that unsett
't asking who
king what I
lpha Law woul
bin
ly that Alpha L
s opened faster. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Wolves who had
sur
ook the seat opposite
almly, "that Alpha Law does
ught it did,
d. "It makes y
s gaze. "
" he answered. "Authority is a cu
ed me long after
ds, strategists, elders who still held the pack's tr
ten
" one guard said. "Disrupt trade rout
n replied. "They
der said. "They'
s turne
" I a
ntly. "They'll want to see if yo
ttled over
rotective this time, but ass
answer im
this," I said honestly
ing sh
appr
gnit
through the torchlit corridor. "They'll push
er question
member-every answer
g the forest sway under the moonlight. For the first time
n wasn't
a spo
aw, I wasn't bein
being
ther I wou
r
/1/106863/coverbig.jpg?v=45534e54ad36109b6f207435dbe4052f&imageMogr2/format/webp)