The co-Alpha ceremony was held on a Saturday.
Not an elaborate occasion — I had been specific about that. No theatrical production, no imported officiants, no the-entire-northern-territory-is-watching quality that some pack ceremonies achieved when Alphas wanted to make political statements through ritual. Just Ironveil's pack, assembled in the great hall, with Elder Coran conducting the ceremony in the traditional form and the witnesses required by pack law present and accounted for.
Thessaly had come from Greywood. Dorian Valdris had sent his senior pack elder as formal eastern alliance witness. Aldric was there — the old mediator, quieter than usual, watching from his position near the hall's eastern wall with the particular expression of someone watching a thing they helped set in mo
