Chapter 27

“Do you want to tell the families at the western border that their lives were worth gambling with?”

“Enough,” I said, my voice cutting through the noise. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to me. My grip on the edges of the table tightened, grounding me as I met their gazes one by one. I forced myself to project a confidence I didn’t fully feel, the weight of their expectations pressing down like a lead blanket.

“We will not act without a plan,” I continued, my tone steady.

“Strengthening our borders is our first priority. Patrols will be doubled, and every wolf will be on high alert. If Silas wants us to make a mistake, we won’t give him the satisfaction.”

Miriam opened her mouth to argue, but I raised a hand to stop her.

“We won’t strike until we’re ready. That’s final.” The tension in the room didn’t ease, but no one dared to challenge me further. Miriam leaned back in her chair, muttering under her breath, while Osric gave me a curt nod. For the moment, I had their compliance, if not their agreement. But as I looked at the faces around the table, I couldn’t help but wonder how thin that compliance would stretch.

The sound of footsteps outside the room drew my attention. A moment later, the door opened, and Dante stepped inside. His presence shifted the air, his quiet authority commanding attention even from those who distrusted him. His dark eyes swept the room, lingering briefly on Miriam before settling on me.