Page 58 of The Alpha's Reclaimed Mate

“When?”

“What happened?”

“How could we not have known?”

The Council members picked up a storm of questions before Magnolia raised her hand, then looked to Lucas for an explanation.

He cleared his throat. “We found him this morning a few miles outside of Hale Stone. He had been there at least two days and smelled of Rogues. They murdered him. And that’s not all—the Crescent Moon Pack came under attack yesterday, and we were attacked by the Grey Creek Pack last night on our way here.”

Confusion swelled among the Council members. I looked between them all, trying to put names on faces I’d never met.

Sensing my uncertainty, Lucas put his hand on my shoulder. “You may recognize Miss Aria Gunn as the former Alpha Female in training from Grey Creek Pack. She belongs to the Silent Shadows Pack now.” Then he gestured at each Council member in turn.

“Edmund Garou, Elder of the Grey Creek Pack,” to a man with thin white hair and a long white beard.

“Wendell Tilasky, Elder of the Crescent Moon Pack,” to a bald olive-skinned man with a scar over his eye.

“Magnolia Piranot, Elder of the Moonstone Pack,” to the old silver-haired woman.

“Helga Yeomir, Elder of the Starlight Witch Coven,” to a gaunt and pale woman with long black hair.

“Nikolas Renfrew, Elder of the Bloodstone Vampire Coven,” to a surprisingly youthful man with slick brown hair and fangs poking out of his lip.

“And Janeira Malek, Elder of the Icewind Circle,” to a woman with otherworldly beauty in blonde hair and black sclera around yellow eyes. A Dark Elf. I’d never seen one before, let alone met one.

“The final member of the Council of Seven was, of course, my father, Richard Black.”

I nodded, smiling politely at the group of Elders. They regarded me critically, but I expected nothing less. All of them wore familiar bronze medallions around their necks, which made me potently aware that Richard’s was missing. Had Lucas noticed?

Distress blanched Wendell’s face. “Have you heard from the Crescent Moon Pack since the attack?”

“No,” said Lucas. “I fear they may be in terrible danger.”

Wendell rose abruptly. “I must go to them at once.”

“I’ll have Dylan send reinforcements,” said Magnolia.

Wendell nodded and left the room.

Edmund, meanwhile, looked increasingly concerned. “Why would Oswald attack the Silent Shadows Pack?”

“I don’t know, but we believe he has ties to the Rogues,” said Lucas.

“Since Mara came, he’s been acting unlike himself,” I contributed.

The Council each frowned or narrowed their eyes, all except for Helga. “Who is Mara?” asked Janeira.

“Mara Torres,” I clarified. “Oswald’s new mate.”

“Who is she? Where did she come from?” asked Magnolia.

“I don’t know. She was a Rogue, injured from some fight. Oswald brought her to the Grey Creek Pack a few months ago.”

“Strange,” murmured Magnolia.

It didn’t escape me that Helga was the only Elder not visibly confused by the news. Their collective bewilderment prompted me to continue. “I thought you’d have met her already. She said she spoke of me to the Council.”

“No,” said Magnolia. “Spoke to us about what?”

---