Page 82

“Rylan wants to investigate Elders who have served this pack longer than he’s been alive,” someone says behind me.

“He’s questioning ranked families too.”

“Exactly. You don’t tear apart everything that kept a pack strong and expect nothing to happen.”

I open Darlene’s snack and hand it to her. “Here, baby.”

“Thank you, Mommy.”

“You’re welcome.”

I keep moving. A male wolf stops speaking when another adult passes him. He waits until she’s gone before continuing, and his gaze lands on me, then Damian, then Darlene and her teddy bear. His shoulders relax.

“Ronan understood rank.”

I adjust my bag. “Really?”

His attention shifts fully to me. “You’re new. You wouldn’t know how Silver Moon operated before.”

“No. I wouldn’t.”

“Wolves knew their place.”

My wolf growls, but I keep my expression neutral. “You think that was better?”

“Silver Moon was stronger.”

I nod slightly, giving him enough room to keep talking. He does.

Of course he does.

I move away once he turns toward another wolf. Across the room, Jasmin is writing again.

Luna.

Luna Selena’s head turns slightly.

I’m recording.

Her gaze lands on the glasses, then on me. A flash of silver brightens her eyes before disappearing.

Jasmin.

Jasmin looks up, and a private mindlink opens between the three of us.

Listen. Watch. Document everything, Luna Selena says.

Then she goes silent. Jasmin returns to her notebook while I adjust the glasses and continue walking with my pups.

By the time I circle the room again, I’ve heard Ronan’s name six times. Not from wolves sitting with their families wondering whether they’re safe. Not from pups asking when their fathers are coming back. Not from frightened mates trying to find out where the fighting is happening.

The same few wolves keep approaching different groups, and the same phrases keep appearing. Silver Moon was stronger before. Rylan is changing too much. The old ways worked. Ronan understood rank.

The timing makes my stomach twist. Our wolves are outside fighting while these wolves are already telling everyone who to blame.

“Perhaps we should ask ourselves why this is happening now.”

I turn toward the new voice. An Elder stands near the center of another group. Jasmin stops writing for a moment and looks at him.