The Challenge
The neutral ground was a wide, flat clearing between the two territories, marked by old boundary stones that had stood for generations. A thin mist still clung to the grass when the Silver Ridge party arrived just after dawn. Ronan walked at the front with two senior betas and Elena as formal witnesses. Lila stayed close to his right side. Talia brought up the rear with two additional patrol wolves whose only job was to watch for interference. No one spoke much on the final approach. The air itself felt tight.
Blackwood’s party was already there.
Alpha Marcus Blackwood stood near the center of the clearing with a small group of his own witnesses. His expression was carefully neutral, the face of a man who had agreed to the meeting out of protocol rather than enthusiasm. Be
