The council chamber was transformed.

At dawn, its wide circle had stood quiet, scarred from the last assembly’s fury. By mid-morning, it had transformed into an arena rather than a chamber of discourse. The benches creaked under their weight as wolves pressed in, councilors in their lofty seats, advisors around the periphery, emissaries from far-off packs crouched close, eyes shining like bloodthirsty monsters.

The stone dais, with the tribunal's circle on top, situated at the center of the ...