But that didn’t mean they couldn’t stray a bit beyond the pack’s territorial limits, that’s how challenges with the pups were made. Though it was only a few meters, at the moment, it represented a risk
“Any other ondersTM Marilyn mocked, crossing her arms and swinging her leg over her knee.
She was irritated and pralous of the posubilay that the whole pack would care for Savannah’s safety. I fixed my gaze on her, feeling my patience slowly dissipating. I had an appreciation for the omega, but she was starting to irritate me by being too invasive. As someone who had known me for centuries, she should know I didn’t take orders from anyone, least of all her.
“We’ll increase the number of members in each group tasked with going into the city to get supplies. As well as those transporting the wood loads. No one should walk alone or unarmed.”
My men were well trained and prepared, my biggest concern wasn’t with them, but with the females and pups. If they were caught off guard, they’d end up dead like Ruda
put my hands in the front pockets of my pants and let my gaze wander over them. Alexandra was sitting farther back, beside Mihaela,
“Any information you have regarding what’s happening, you should report directly and immediately to me.” I paced back and forth in front of them, standing
“At the moment, these are the only orders to follow. Stay alert, in case we need another assembly,” I warned.
“Dinesti prevails where reets and blood meet someone shouted from the crowd, starting the loyalty chant.
“For Danesti, for Fenrir, our loyalty shall never perish!” they all concluded, shouting in unison, their voices echoing in the air, blending with the whistle of the wind
I nodded, thanking them for their sworn loyalty. With that, I knew they’d follow my orders, I could count on them, I could trust each one.
They were my tribe, my family. They were my pack
I kept my posture and walked away, heading toward my house. Savannah hadn’t shown up, I hadn’t called her to the assembly. Deep down, I felt they would bring up the possibility of handing her over to Hunter to end the war she started.
was already hurt enough by everyone, not that I cared about her feelings. But stupid, thoughtless decisions were usually made by people hurt or scared by a situation. And I didn’t need to add that to my list of headaches
“Fenrir?” Anton called, quickening his pace to catch up with me.
I turned
my head to him and sighed. He came closer, his posture rigid.
“What now?”
“This arrived for you.” He held out his hand and handed me an invitation
The paper was thick, dyed a shade of ivory. It had a rough texture when touched. The envelope was sealed with crimson wax, marked by the symbol of an Intricate castle.
I broke it open, unfolding the invitation. The black ink calligraphy was refined.
Your presence is requested to join us at the table, in the heart of the castle that guards our traditions and our strength. May the moon guide your steps to
பட
With reverence, The Elders.
I crumpled the paper, closing my fingers amund it. I pulled my hair with my free hand, grinding my teeth in a low grunt.
“Very bad?” he asked, apprehensive.
“They felt Ruda’s death, thats why the
they’re summoning me,† I muttered, quietly.
It was obvious they would feel it. The elders were the oldest and most absolute force in our lands. One of our wolves had a tragic death, emitting energy.
I didn’t want to involve them in this, let alone the other. My mating with Sevannah was something recent, unexpected, I could already hear the stupid jokes from that bastard Lucian about the attacks. I tried to make it seem trivial, something I did while drunk.
37
Adsl bom, he would bare ta lovedie all
(what had haas happening. Alan to keep him aware and increase his protections. Jax wat
bastaid en fiancé alert after her. As my mate, they’ll senderstand why I cant hand fær over to him.”
wid to hand over pooit mate because you can eat because you choose not to??
I felt a heat intensifying in my thest, ally consuming nur, as if it were using through sey veins,
interrupting his plans. He narrowed
anking. You could make a deal with thunter, fanid Navannah over as long as he keeps her alive.”
ted to what he tall. My eyey theme, and my faner extended, as did my claws. Just the mere thought of leaving my little wall with the other
deal, perbol. Handing her over is uit of the question, Anton,” I growled.
He threw his hands up and stepped back.
Tine, I’m not the one who said it.”
Ar their heads still in place?”
des, they ate –
Tvery time any of them attack un, rip off their heads and distribute moge stakes. If necessary, we’ll make a gate of heads, maybe then they I understand how had of an idea it is to invade my territory,“
As you wish he muttered, lowering his thin.
I famed to the side and continued my path with heavy steps toward my home. I needed to eat something, take a long bath, and sleep. It had been two nights since I last got any rest, replaying Kuda’s death every time I closed my eyes.
Hunter would pay for every second of my disturbed prace.
The fuel and me was cloaked in complete darkness and absorbed in utter silence. It was as if nature itself were in mourning, lamenting the premature death of the little woll
d my badly every time I passed bet
shadow sneaking between the trunks, as the
or silver moonlight Haminated my body every
I passed between trees.
cluded atra because I wanted privacy. I enjoyed the silence that, to matry, could be disturbing. Watching the branches sway
of my favorite hobbies, which is why I placed large windows in the rooms.
The lights etude the lesse illuminated the store paths leading to the front door. The contrast with the in, made everything evên mese beautiful.
mounding darkness of the forest, which swallowed
the first steps of the peach, the susell of sour cabbage and ground mirat wafted to my nose.
Ketuale, themed my lastite dishes.
Smiling, I entered the house, eager for the appetizing meal. This was exactly what I needed to sleep well. A good, delicious, and proper meal.
Imide, I found Savannah sitting on the couch, staring at the landscape through the indow. Her knees were bent, and the held the plate between them and her chest, rating sarmale with plenty of tomato sauce. The smell was now spread throughout the house and made my stomach growl
“Good evening,” I greeted, walking toward her,
The wolf raised her eyebrows and swallowed the bite of
I didn’t know you’d come back home,” she said, cutting a piece of sour cabbage stuffed with ground meat, then dipping it in the sauce and tossing it in her
“And why wouldn’t I come home?”
She shrugged.
“I guess you have more… interesting houses to visit.”
Our coexistence was wonderful. When I was home, she stayed locked in her mom. And when I wain’t well, the must have been doing whatever she was
doing at that monent.
At first, I spent my nights at Marilyn’s house, but since the wolf started irritating me, becoming too invasive, I began avoiding her, and it had been werki siner I’d barely seen her.
Next to her, on the couch, was a battered book. It was something she carried back and forth. I wondered if she was learning to read or why she kept reading and rereading the same book a million times
Do you have food for me? I glanced over the counter, looking for the pots.
She let out a high–pitched laugh.
“Of course not: I didn’t know you’d be back tonight.”
I gritted
ΠΥ teeth, irritated
“How could you not know, when I come back every single day!”
“Oh, I’m sorry for not being interested enough to keep track of your routine.”
I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes.
“Did you make dinner just for yourself?”
She slowly rubbed another piece of sarmale in the sauce. She looked up at me, then tossed it in her mouth, chewing and sighing.
“Yes.” She shrugged. “I don’t know why you seem so surprised and offended.”
“Who knows, maybe because you excluded me?!” I snapped.
“And don’t you do that, by any chance? Any event in the village, anything involving the pack, either you don’t inform me how it works, or
or you just leave me
out!”
1 widened my eyes, understanding. It was revenge. She was upset with me, initated because she’d been excluded from the meeting
“It’s different.” I murmured.
“It’s not different at all. She speared a roll with her fork and brought her mouth, biting a big piece. The crunching of the cabbage made my !
stomach
twist with hunger. With each bite, a sigh of satisfaction. “If you want to eat, make your own food. I’m not your servant, and I don’t have any feelings for you other than disdain.”
She was punishing me.
