By sunrise, six packs had sent replies.

By noon, there were eleven.

Fear traveled faster than messengers.

So did anger.

Kael stood at the head of the Black Howler council table while Rhys read the latest report.

“Silver Ridge wants confirmation the threat

The feral wolf arrived in chains.

Every Alpha in the alliance watched.

Elara hated that part.

Not the chains.

The audience.

The wolf had once been male, maybe thirty, broad-shouldered even in animal form. Black lunar lines ran from his throat down his chest

The compromised patrol route was changed twice.

Silas’s wolves found it anyway.

That removed coincidence.

Someone inside the alliance was feeding him information.

Kael reacted exactly as Elara expected.

He tightened access.

Split reports.

Changed mes