47. Accountability

~ CASIMIR ~

I sat on the throne, fuming, as two of the ancient alphas from the regions beyond the city argued in front of me about a territorial dispute.

Both males were aggressive, bristling at each other, stifling growls, but unwilling to do more than bare teeth in front of me.

They were still fit though they were both old enough for their hair to be mostly gray.

Bringing the issue to me for judgment was better than tearing each other’s packs apart. But today of all days? Neither had been in the Palace last night. They were clueless as to what had happened, though they’d heard that I’d claimed my mate. And they approved.

So generous of them…

“…Sire, the river is an appropriate border—it makes things very clear so no wolves can claim they were unaware—”

“And grows your reach without battle for it,” Aleric, the second alpha snarled. “Sire, you must see that we cannot simply allow a wolf to take what he has not earned. In my day—”

“In your day I could take your throat for speaking out