The morning of the Council's verdict dawned cold and clear, the sky a perfect, empty blue that seemed to mock the tension thrumming through Crescent Moon. I stood at our cottage window, watching pack members hurry across the compound with purpose—setting up the large meeting hall, positioning security, preparing for the arrival of those I'd hoped never to see again.
Silver Fang was coming. My former pack. My former family.
"You don't have to be there," Kieran said from behind me. He'd been saying variations of this since we learned the Council had summoned both packs to hear their verdict in person.
I turned to face him. Yes, I do.
His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he crossed the room to stand beside me, close enough that I could feel his warmth.
"Roland's posit
