The moon was high that night, a spectral sentinel in the darkened sky above Silverpine. Despite the day's diplomatic reserve and formal smiles, an unusual tension clung to the pack land—tense, anticipatory. Something unstated hung between the forest and between the wolves.
She sat on the edge of the healer's garden, legs folded beneath, fingers etching paths through the dirt. Ember paced behind her as if she were a fox in a pen, boots scraping against the lawn.
"That was no warning," Ember growled. "That Blackridge wolf was testing you. To see how scared you'd be."
She received none. Mia spoke softly.
Ember ceased pacing. "Perhaps. But that does not necessarily mean she departed alone."
She glanced up. "Do you think she was scouting?"
She was sizing you up, I think. For whatever lies ahead.
She looked up at the moon, thoughts spinning.
What if this summit had absolutely nothing to do with politics? What if it were all about forcing Silverpine to make a gaffe? And she—she—had just positioned herself as the focal point of that storm?
They are trying to make me a symbol,
she said, her voice detached.
"You are already, you don't ever have to be anyone's puppet."
"No," Mia replied softly, rising from the bed. "But I must prepare myself."
Lucas and Cade stood along the training grounds, watching as the evening patrols were gathered. The air was heavy with the smell of tension, overriding the pine and the chill.
"She threatened Mia," Lucas said, folding his arms.
"You don't know that," replied Cade.
She came alone.
Outside the summit.
That is threatening.
Cade rubbed his jaw. "So we up security then."
Lucas's tone fell. "I'm not defending a representative."
You refused the bond.
"I never stopped feeling it."
Cade gave him the long, wordless stare. Lucas hadn't been the same since Mia had left. And now she was back—but braver, invulnerable as he had never expected. She was no longer his.
And that scared him more than any outlaw ever did.
"She is no longer the woman you drove away," said Cade. "She is not here to be taken."
"I know," replied Lucas. "But I won't allow her to be hunted."
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There was another session of the summit the next day.
This time discussion turned to border security and outlaw activity. A representative from Blackridge, an older wolf with dark eyes and refined demeanor, rose to speak to the group.
"We've seen unranked wolves take over command roles in other packs," he said, turning to Mia. "It breeds instability. Defies order. And tends to create conflict."
She sensed them turn toward her.
She rose.
"I would argue," she said calmly, "that the one thing that's threatening the packs is that we won't change. Unranked does not mean unworthy. And challenging the hierarchy is how evolution happens."
A murmur of approval swept through certain of the northern delegates.
Blackridge wolf provided a tight smile. "And when that evolution is accompanied by bloodshed? Shattered bonds and old grudges revived?"
Lucas stood up.
His voice rang out loudly. "Maybe it is not the evolution that is the problem. Maybe it is those who are clinging to old control."
The room stilled.
And in the silence, Mia felt it—the slight change.
A few wolves, unmoved earlier, were now attentive.
They were not gaining the summit.
They were diverting from the subject.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Later, Lucas found Mia in the council lodge, alone and seated with a map spread out before her.
They are making them uneasy, he said.
I know.
Fine
She weakly smiled.
"Thanks," she said gently, after a pause. "For defending me there."
I did it not for you.
Mia blinked.
"I did it for Silverpine," he said. "Because what you said—it's the future. Although I was not brave enough to envision it beforehand."
Silence pervaded the air.
"I don't ask you to be brave for me," Mia said softly. "However, if you're going to be fighting alongside me, you'd best keep pace."
Lucas smiled. "Was that an invitation?" She raised an eyebrow. "It was tough."