POV: Maya

The masked wolf's hand remained extended, waiting for my decision. Salvation or vengeance. As if they were mutually exclusive. As if I could choose one without the other bleeding through.

"Who is your Alpha?" I asked. Speaking took immense effort. Each word cost me blood and breath.

"His name is Konstantin," the masked wolf said. "He leads the Eastern Coalition. Packs that rejected the Western territories' politics decades ago. We govern ourselves. Answer to no Council. ...