Later in the evening, the fortress corridors glowed with pale gray light as the first sun touched the mountain peaks beyond Silverfang territory. The air carried the cold bite of early morning, and the entire pack felt quieter than usual. Word had spread before sunrise.
Mira would face judgment. Ryker stood outside the healer’s chamber with his jaw set and his posture straight despite the tight bandage wrapped around his ribs. The wound still burned with every breath, but he refused to show weakness again.
Elder Corvin approached slowly, his staff tapping against the stone floor in a steady rhythm.
“The council has agreed to postpone formal punishment until tonight,” Corvin said.
Ryker’s eyes narrowed. “Postpone?”
“The bond instability complicates matters,” Corvin replied calmly. “If
