The fortress did not sleep after the council’s decree; torches burnt along every corridor, and patrol rotations doubled across the inner walls. The air felt strained, like the territory itself held its breath. Mira stood inside the Alpha quarters, staring at the door Ryker had just walked through; the bond pulsed unevenly. His anger felt controlled, but his frustration did not.
Outside, voices carried through the stone hallways, and pack members argued in hushed tones, but the tension travelled clearly. Ryker’s authority was no longer unquestioned. Mira closed her eyes; she could feel the shift, not physical, but political and dangerous. Ryker stood in the war chamber with Beta Kellan, Rowan, and three senior captains. A large map of Silverfang territory covered the central table, marked
