Page 45 of Noah

Damn it. How many more fires did I have to put out today? And why the hell wasn’t Adrian reeling in his wolves better?

Hudson spotted us, a smirk curling his lips. “Good, you two are here to even the odds.”

“We’re not here to fight,” I said firmly, stepping between the groups.

I shot Hudson a warning look, hoping he’d take the hint. But Hudson just glowered at me, his pride too bruised to back down.

“You’re the one who keeps telling me to take responsibility,” he snapped.

"Ah, the Silver Crest heirs are at each other's throats again," Karl said, his tone mocking.

His words were like gasoline on an already raging fire, and Hudson’s snarl was instantaneous.

The aggressive energy from both sides surged, crackling like a storm about to break. This wasn’t going to end well, and we all knew it.

“What are we going to do?” Beck asked me, his voice low and tense.

Karl must have overheard him because he sneered, “Planning to run away?”

“Like hell we will,” Hudson growled, his fists clenching.

“What's going on here?” a new voice cut through the tension.

I turned to see Carter, Adrian’s new second, approaching with a calm but authoritative presence.

I didn’t know much about Carter, but Mason and Beck had mentioned he was level-headed and practical, the kind of wolf who could actually keep things from boiling over.

“The future alpha of the Silver Crest pack started it,” Karl said sullenly, sounding like a petulant child.

At the very least, it seemed Karl and the other Thornebane wolves respected Carter’s authority. Carter shot Karl a look that made him shut up instantly.

“Problem?” another voice asked, deeper and more commanding.

I turned to see Cooper Hayes, the alpha of the Pecan Pines pack, approaching with a calm, measured stride.

Despite his calm demeanor, the dominance radiating from him was unmistakable. This was his territory, and he could summon his entire pack with a single call if he needed to.

“It’s all a misunderstanding, alpha,” Carter said, bowing his head in deference. His tone was respectful, but firm. “We’ll handle it.”

Karl began to protest, but another glare from Carter silenced him again.

“Very well,” Cooper said in a measured voice. “Then break this up.”

“Of course,” I said quickly, stepping in as the voice for our pack because Hudson wasn’t saying a damn thing.

I shot Hudson a warning look, silently urging him to stand down.

For a moment, I thought he might push back, but something in Cooper’s gaze must have gotten through to him because he finally took a step back, albeit reluctantly.

The tension in the air began to dissipate, the storm passing without a single blow being exchanged.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, grateful we’d avoided a full-on brawl.

Carter nodded, turning to his wolves. “Let’s go. Now.”

Karl shot one last glare at Hudson but followed Carter without further protest. As the Thornebane wolves retreated, I felt a knot in my chest loosen slightly.

We weren’t out of the woods yet, but at least the immediate danger had passed.

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