Darius's POV
The afternoon descended upon the castle courtyard, heavy with tension. The pack members moved, whispering the same words: Luna… marking… bond.
Cassian stood beside me, his face showing his effort not to kill anyone.
“They’re still talking,” he said. “But now they’re not asking questions. They’re demanding.”
“Then I must have taught them wrong,” I growled. “A wolf who demands isn’t pack—he’s a rebel.”
“Or just human. Afraid,” Cassian replied. “Afraid that you’ll grow weak. That because of Sera, you’ll lose who you once were.”
“Maybe that’s the best thing that could happen,” I said bitterly, and started up the stairs.
The King’s Decree
The council was waiting: twelve chairs, twelve wolves. As I sat, the murmuring ceased.
“My king,” began the gray High Counselor, “the pe
