Stephen smiled faintly. "Then we adapt. We’re humans, after all."
Clentine eyed him lazily. "You sound confident."
"I am."
Ashre studied him carefully now.
Stephen leaned back comfortably again. "Humans evolved surviving creatures far larger than wolves." He lifted one shoulder lightly. "We simply needed ti to understand you first."
"And now you think you do?"
Stephen’s smile widened slightly. "Not fully." His gaze sharpened. "But we are beginning to understand enough."
The candles flickered softly around the room. Outside the courtroom walls, the castle remained quiet beneath the deep night.
Ashre’s fingers tapped lightly once against the armrest of his chair. "Once the dosage is complete, how quickly can humans move?"
Stephen answered without hesitation. "Fast enough. Don’t worry, we won’t back down."
Clentine watched him silently.
Stephen’s expression darkened slightly now. "The world beyond the veil already grows restless. Kingdoms fight constantly over land, trade, power, and religion." He leaned forward slightly. "Now imagine what happens once they learn wolves exist."
Ashre’s gaze remained steady.
Stephen smiled faintly. "Kings will not ignore that opportunity."
"No," Ashre agreed quietly. "They won’t."
The room fell silent again afterward.
Clentine’s eyes lowered briefly toward the maps spread across the table. The maps were well detailed with routes, parks, guard rotations, weak entrances into wolf territories, and everything necessary for invasion.
Stephen noticed her staring. "Does this disturb you, Lady Clentine?"
Clentine lifted her eyes calmly toward him. "Should it?" she asked, unbothered though she hated the idea of their realm being this known and open to humans.
Stephen smiled faintly. "Most wives dislike discussions of war."
Clentine’s expression never shifted. "Most wives are not Luna of Ashre Park."
Stephen chuckled softly. "Fair enough. There’s no woman like my mate here."
Ashre finally rose from his seat slowly.
Stephen followed imdiately afterward.
The Alpha walked toward one side of the courtroom where another smaller table rested beneath heavy cloth coverings.
Stephen’s eyes sharpened instantly. Ashre pulled the cloth away, and beneath it rested weapons.
Human weapons modified specifically for wolves. The weapons had silver restraints, silver-tipped darts, and experintal syringes.
Stephen stared openly now with clear admiration. "You truly committed to this." He admired, his eyes gleaming.
Ashre’s gaze darkened faintly. "I’ll keep my end of the deal as long as I rule."
Stephen stepped closer to inspect the weapons carefully. "Your hatred for the throne runs deeper than politics." He murmured.
Ashre’s jaw tightened once. "It stopped being political the mont my daughter was denied what belonged to her."
Clentine’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
Stephen glanced between husband and wife thoughtfully. They amused him. They were interesting, very interesting.
Stephen lifted one syringe carefully. "And your people suspect nothing?"
Ashre answered calmly. "The kingdom is distracted by prophecy, the broken veil, and internal fear."
Stephen smiled slowly. "Perfect conditions for collapse."
The room quieted again.
Ashre stared toward the distant windows now hidden behind heavy curtains. "The wolves believe the greatest danger cos from faes."
Stephen adjusted the lace cuff around his wrist carefully. "anwhile humans prepare quietly." He noted, chuckling softly.
"Yes."
Stephen’s smile sharpened. "Then perhaps the prophecy will beco useful after all."
Ashre turned slowly toward him.
Stephen t his gaze directly. "Fear blinds people." He shrugged lightly. "Let them hunt imaginary enemies while real ones organize properly."
Clentine finally stood from her chair.
The movent drew both n’s attention instantly. Her gown shifted elegantly around her as she approached the table slowly.
She stared at the maps for several long seconds before finally speaking.
"And when the war begins..." Her voice remained calm. "How many humans actually know about us?"
Stephen answered honestly. "Very few."
"And afterward?"
Stephen smiled faintly.
"Everyone will."
"Not a word of this to anyone you don’t t" Alpha Ashre said.
"Confidentiality is my livelihood." He promised, with the wink of an eye.
....
For the morning. Aire wore a dark green gown. The colour had always been able to lift her mood.
Morning arrived too quietly and too normally. That irritated Aire more than it should have.
After everything that happened last night, after prophecies, blood, claws, accusations, and fear, the sun still rose like the world had not shifted beneath her feet last night, and accused her strongly.
Aire stood before the mirror while fastening the sleeve of her dark green gown properly around her wrist.
The color usually comforted her. Green reminded her of forests after rainfall. It reminded her of quieter days before she stepped into this castle and everything beca complicated.
Today, it barely helped.
Her eyes slowly lifted toward her reflection.
The faint claw marks around her neck remained visible despite the high collar. The bruising beneath the cuts had darkened overnight into ugly shades beneath her skin.
Aire stared at them silently. Then she looked away imdiately.
A soft knock sounded against the chamber doors.
Aire’s shoulders stiffened faintly.
"Co in," she answered reluctantly.
One of the castle maids stepped inside carefully. The girl lowered her head imdiately.
"My Luna," she greeted quietly.
Aire instantly noticed the hesitation and the nervousness.
The maid avoided looking directly at her neck.
Aire’s chest tightened faintly.
"The Alphas requested breakfast in the southern dining hall," the maid continued softly. "They asked if you would join them."
Aire almost laughed.
The audacity.
After last night?
She wondered if Nate planned to accuse her of ending civilization over breakfast this ti.
Aire swallowed the bitterness down quickly. "Tell them I’m not hungry."
The maid hesitated.
"My Luna..." The girl looked visibly uncomfortable now. "Alpha Alaric specifically asked that you co."
Of course he did.
Aire exhaled slowly through her nose.
Part of her wanted to refuse entirely and another part refused to look weak because of Nate.
Why should she hide in her room when she had done absolutely nothing wrong?
Aire straightened slightly. "Fine."
The maid nodded quickly in relief before leaving the room again.
Silence returned afterward.
Aire stared toward the closed doors for several long seconds before finally moving again.
Everything felt heavier.
She could already gear the whispers that had already begun moving through corridors before sunrise.
Aire slowly reached for the necklace resting atop the vanity table.
She paused, and her eyes shifted faintly toward the window instead.
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