Page 119 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

I collapsed into Ran’s neck, my body too weak to hold me upright. She wrapped me in her wings, touched me to her chest, and let me hear the gentle shush of her massive heart.

“I thought he was under Command,” I cried. Why could he not have been under Command? I knew he’d killed my grandpa, but I’d so foolishly believed that he hadn’t done it of his own free will.

I felt him. Hisneedfor his mate. He was still there, watching over me from the woods.

“Go away. I don’t want to see you—ever.” My voice choked off on a broken sob.

Hisneeddisappeared beneath his walls. But not before it swelled and jabbed into my chest.

Tears wouldn’t come. How I wished for that release. The only one who had been able to release me to cry thus far had killed my grandpa of his own will.

My chest tightened and my vision dimmed. I allowed the darkness to pull me into its soothing, peaceful embrace.

CHAPTER 42

A Matter of Council

ALIA

“Do we not need more wisdom, Matriarch? Could we not see what your grandmother has to say?” Elder Pulma said, his voice imploring. “We have planned this over the previous decade. They are monsters, as you well know.”

I barely contained my flinch at the implication. “We will not speak of my grandfather, Elder. What you wish for will not come. Enough blood has been spilt to last many decades. Do you not recall what my brother found?”

“Of course, of course. But all those plans are going to waste when we could have used them most. Should we not use this last night of the Blood Moon to destabilize the magical community so?—”

“So what? So they can be overwhelmed by humans and eradicated? If this were a werewolf council speaking of eradicating humans, we would be appalled. But because it is us humans speaking of them, it is all fine, correct?” I played with my dart gun, twirling it between my fingers.

He sputtered, his face becoming red, resembling a little red panda. “Why… Why you… You have discarded all the teachings of our generations. Turned them to ash. And for what? Toprotect the very monsters who killed your grandfather?” He slammed his hands down on the table.

I casually put the dart gun to my lips and blew. The dart landed between his index and pinkie finger. He shot upright, his chair falling with a clatter behind him. “Youdarethreaten me?”

“I do not threaten, Elder Pulma. I kill. Do not think for a moment because I have mercy on all creatures that I will have mercy on you.”

Ran cackled in my mind.Get ’em. Want me to come help?

I nearly grinned. Ran would put him in his place.Better leave it to me. He'd give you indigestion. Thanks, though.

She huffed, as if disappointed.

“Sit down, you old hag. The world is changing, and if we are to survive, we need to change with it,” Elder Timone said.

Elder Pulma sat.

“What do you propose, Matriarch?” Elder Timone asked.

“We use the preparations to scour the city for dark mages. They are using their powers to gain a foothold with each being. We need to know why. We will not become spineless worms twiddling our thumbs. We are trained warriors, assassins of those who seek harm on innocents, and called protectors of magic. Our training will not go to waste.”

Elder Pulma’s scowl softened into a puzzled frown. “You do not wish complete peace?”

“Dragon spit, no. Do you really think I would hang up my cloak after all this time? Our mission has not changed, it has merely become what it was supposed to be in the beginning, before it was distorted.Tutela vita fons,” I said.

“Fides familia,”they finished with me.

It may take time, but we all needed change.

"What other matters do we have to attend today?" I asked.

"Rey and his father, the growing cult in the city of dissenters, your grandmother, Verand and Graham’s escape, themarketplace taxes since you have drained our coffers payingcreaturesto help with dire situations,and a situation between orphans and?—"

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