Kael’s POV
The council had dispersed like carrion birds startled from a corpse, each elder slithering back to their corners with whispers sharp enough to cut through stone. I lingered.
Malrik did not rise from his chair. His gaze followed the last of his sycophants until the heavy doors slammed shut. Then, the old wolf smiled.
It wasn’t the kind of smile that reached his eyes. It was the one that meant blood.
“You’ve grown bold, boy,” he said at last, swirling the wine in his cup. “Defending my Luna as though she were yours.”
I kept my hands clasped behind my back. “I defended the pack’s reputation. Public suspicion weakens us.”
He chuckled, low and hoarse. “You always did speak prettily when hiding your own motives.”
I said nothing. Silence was my armor with him—one I had learned t
