Val woke before the sun rose. The familiar call of the hunt already hummed in his blood. The first day of the feast had gone well, and he had made his statement. Thorne and Boreas, the stubborn old traditionalist, had been put in their place. And Issa, the human Collar, had stood beside him—a silent, living challenge to every Alpha in the room. He felt a pure satisfaction from his act.

As he moved, he met Rain in the courtyard. The air was cool and warm at the same time. He could smell other ...