The Alphas' Meeting
Third Person POV
The clearing lay half a mile past Nightcrest’s eastern border. Tall oaks stood in a rough circle around flat grass. No trees inside the ring. No rocks for cover. Guards from every pack waited at the tree line. Spears pointed down. Bows unstrung. The rules were simple and old: no weapons in the circle. No shifting. No fighting.
Seven alphas waited in a loose half-circle. Kael stood at the center facing them. Alaric stood at his right side. Nova stayed back at the settlement cabin. Kael had been clear. She would not be there. Not today. Not with Kieran in the circle.
Kieran stood at the far end of the line. Tall. Broad. Hair cut short. Face calm. He looked toward the Nightcrest group like he already knew the answer.
Kael spoke first. His voice carrie
