REJECTED BY ONE ALPHA, CLAIMED BY HIS DEADLIEST RIVAL

AN ANSWER SENT

Word spread through Blackthorn territory faster than Grier could carry the message himself.

By the time Ariana made it back to her room to wash the sweat and dirt from training, whispers had already found their way into every corner of the stronghold. She caught fragments of it in passing, wolves murmuring behind hands, falling silent whenever she came near.

She didn't need to hear the words to know what they were saying.

A knock came at her door just as she finished changing.

"It's open," she said.

Mira stepped in, expression unreadable. "You've caused quite a stir for someone who's been here less than a day."

"I didn't do anything. Kael did."

"Doesn't matter whose fault it is. You're the reason there's a message sitting in Silverfang territory right now that's either going to start a war or end one." Mira crossed her arms. "Lucien wants you in the main hall."

"Why?"

"Because half the pack council is currently losing their minds over the fact that their Alpha just told a rival Alpha to come try and take something from him." Mira's mouth twitched, almost amused despite herself. "You should probably hear what they're saying about you directly instead of secondhand."

Ariana followed her through the stone corridors, the weight of stares following her the entire way. By the time they reached the main hall, voices were already raised loud enough to carry through the heavy doors.

"—reckless, is what it is," an older voice was saying as Mira pushed the doors open. "You've handed Kael Draven a reason to march on us, Alpha, over a girl you've known less than a day."

"Watch your tone, Halvard." Lucien's voice, low and controlled, cut through easily. "That girl has a name."

"Forgive me. Over Ariana Ashford, then." The older wolf, silver haired and heavily scarred, didn't back down. "Kael's pack outnumbers ours two to one if it comes to open conflict. Was that worth considering before you sent your answer?"

"It was considered." Lucien's gaze flicked toward the door as Ariana and Mira entered, and something in his posture shifted almost imperceptibly. "Kael Draven rejected his fated mate in front of his entire pack. He has no legal claim to punish her for leaving territory that no longer recognizes her as one of its own."

"He'll argue otherwise."

"Let him."

Halvard's eyes moved to Ariana, sharp and assessing. "And what does she say? Does she even want to be the reason two packs go to war?"

Every eye in the hall turned toward her.

Ariana straightened, refusing to let her voice shake. "I never asked for a war."

"No," Halvard said. "But you might get one anyway."

"That's enough." Lucien's voice dropped into something final. "Ariana didn't ask Kael to reject her in front of his pack. She didn't ask him to demand her return like she's property to be reclaimed. Every choice that led to this moment was his, not hers."

"And your choice to bring her here?"

"Was mine." Lucien held Halvard's gaze without flinching. "And I'll answer for it if it comes to that. Not her."

The hall fell into an uneasy silence. Ariana felt the weight of dozens of eyes on her, judgment and suspicion and something almost like curiosity all mixed together.

"For what it's worth," she said, surprising herself, "I didn't come here expecting protection. I came here because it was better than the alternative."

"And what alternative was that?" Halvard asked.

"Dying in the woods, or crawling back to beg for scraps from a pack that already made it clear I wasn't wanted." She lifted her chin. "If Kael wants a war over a girl he threw away, that says more about him than it does about me."

A murmur moved through the hall, and this time it didn't sound entirely hostile.

Halvard studied her a long moment before finally inclining his head, grudging respect flickering somewhere behind his scarred face. "She has spirit, at least."

"She has more than that," Lucien said. "Give it time."

The council meeting dissolved shortly after, wolves filing out in twos and threes, still murmuring among themselves but with less venom than before. Ariana lingered near the doors, waiting until the hall had mostly emptied before approaching Lucien.

"You didn't have to defend me like that," she said.

"I wasn't defending you. I was stating facts." He rolled the parchment from earlier absently between his fingers. "Kael has no claim over you anymore. Halvard needed reminding of that."

"It felt like defending me."

"Then maybe it was both." He finally looked at her directly, something unreadable in his expression. "Are you regretting your choice yet?"

"Ask me again after Kael's response arrives."

A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "Fair enough."

Before either of them could say more, the doors burst open again, a young guard skidding to a stop, breathless.

"Alpha." He struggled to catch his breath. "Riders. At the northern border. Silverfang colors."

Lucien's expression went instantly cold, all trace of warmth gone.

"How many?"

"A dozen, maybe more. And Alpha, they're not flying a war banner."

"Then what are they flying?"

The guard swallowed hard. "A parley flag, Alpha. Kael Draven is requesting to speak with you directly. Tonight."