The council chamber was exactly what Esmeray had expected--imposing, traditional, designed to intimidate. The room was circular, with a domed ceiling painted with scenes of wolf history—great battles, legendary alphas and the founding of the kingdom. Tall windows let in streams of morning light that illuminated the long curved table where twelve council members sat in high-backed chairs.
All eyes turned to her as she entered.
Esmeray kept her expression neutral, her stride confident. She'd walked into war rooms filled with hostile generals. She'd stood before enemy alphas and negotiated terms. This was just another battlefield, and she knew how to navigate it.
Kenzo moved to stand beside a chair at the head of the table--his seat, she realized. But he didn't sit. Instead, he turned to f
