Lucas's POV
Lucas had spent five years learning how to recognize a lie.
It was a necessary skill for an Alpha.
A pack could survive a weak warrior.
It could survive a bad harvest.
It could even survive an enemy at its borders.
But a leader who could not recognize deception would eventually lose everything.
Tonight, every instinct he possessed told him the council was lying.
He stood alone inside his office, staring at the documents spread across his desk.
The annulment papers.
The old accusation against Aariana.
Wren's succession record.
And the copy of the council summons.
Four pieces of paper.
Four separate lies that had somehow been connected.
Lucas picked up the annulment document again.
Five years ago, he had signed it because he had believed he had no choice.
Aariana
