“Yes,”

The courtyard held its breath as Lucien’s reply spread across the castle.

That single word hung in the air with so much power that it shredded apart whatever presence Elder Lance was trying to build. For a heartbeat, as the world grew still, the elder blinked, shock flickering through his expression as he tilted his head.

The slip was quickly covered up, but it was there, and most wolves had seen it. The elder slipped back his civilized mask and once again began to try and ...