Riley's POV
The morning after we arrived at HornSide was a complete swirl of exhaustion, lingering pain. My throat still ached, a reminder of Alpha Nate’s murderous grip. He had tried to kill me, the supposed ‘runt,’ and only Damon’s swift action, prompted by his silent authority, had saved me. And then, there Damon’s words, “To get you.” They had echoed in my mind all night, a soft, unsettling whisper that defied everything I knew about my place in the world. I had to conclude it was nothing serious, maybe he was joking.
But there was no time to dwell. Right now, I had to attend the meeting. Karl had communicated the details to me in a text message.
The meeting hall was a large, utilitarian room, dominated by a long, rough-hewn table. Maps and diagrams of the outlander territories, ro
