Ronan Crowe did not respond to Lyra’s refusal.
That silence was deliberate.
It meant the decision had already been absorbed, categorized, and repurposed. Ronan didn’t argue when someone showed him their hand. He adjusted the board and let reality do the punishing.
Lyra felt it by noon.
The council chamber filled more quickly than usual. Too quickly. Wolves took their seats with careful spacing, eyes sliding toward Lyra and then away again. The reassignment notice had traveled faster than she’d expected. Faster than it should have.
Tyler stood at her side, posture steady, unreadable.
They were no longer pretending.
Ronan entered last.
He didn’t look at Lyra immediately. He acknowledged the council instead, nodding once as if this were a routine administrative gathering.
“Let’s begi
