~ CASIMIR ~‘She calls a lowborn wolf?’‘A prophetess?’‘She has not even finished her apprenticeship!’‘Is this a joke?’‘Does the human think to weaken the bloodlines since she hasn’t been able to bear her own young?’‘Has the King indulged his human—?’‘QUIET, ALL OF YOU,’ I snarled in the link. ‘Your Queen speaks. Listen.’

~ JESSE ~There was a strange clenching in my chest at those words from Cazz. He hadn’t shut down in the bond, so I could feel him—angry and apprehensive, and his simmering pride as well. There was a lot of conflict in him, but when I looked at him, all I could see was an utterly self-assured King, eyeing those approaching him as if they were annoyances. I prayed that’s all they could sense, too, though with the wolf scent and bonds… who knew?“Cazz—”“Quiet.” He bit the word off, his eyes never leaving the males moving towards him. “Do not waver. Do not question me. And do. Not. Speak. Not unless you are asked to do so specifically. So help me, Jesse, you have got to let me handle this.”

~ JESSE ~“Can I have everyone’s attention please?” Rake called from up on the dais.I felt the rush of relief rock through Cazz, immediately followed by a new zing of tension. We were standing elbow to elbow in front of a cluster of older females that Cazz had introduced me to as matriarchs of three different packs. The females were all eyeing me with a combination of disapproval and sharp attention, but all of us turned to face the stage then because Rake was calling the rite to a close.“The King and Queen thank you for your attention and attendance tonight. And they wish all the Select blessings and clarity. Now that our traditions have been fulfilled, you will be given seven days to consider—to grow to know each other better. Then all of us will return here a week from tonight for any f

~ CASIMIR ~As we gathered in council, I was grinding my teeth, pacing back and forth across the center of the room, staring Cayn down at any moment I had the option. Because the fucker had every right to call me to account like this—but I was beyond angry that he’d chosen to do so publicly. He knew that my mate had stumbled into this minefield. He knew that if we worked together we could smooth ruffled fur and turn bared fangs into submissive stances.But instead, he’d publicly called me to answer for her.Her.My heart squeezed as Jesse’s face swam in my memories—her bright eyed eagerness to stand in front of the wolves and call a female. She’d been like a child with a surprise. And there was a part of me that wanted to tell

~ CASIMIR ~Cayn’s eyes widened. He was rigid, his body bowed away from me, but held upright by my grip on his lapels.I snarled in his face, the power swirling around me and through me and lashing him like a whip. I didn’t hear the other wolves, didn’t see them, didn’t know anything except that my mate was under threat and my authority was being challenged, and suddenly everything in me wanted to fight.Everything.My wolf snapped and threw itself against the cage of my ribs.My power swelled and crashed, driving me to unleash—I held it back by my fingernails.