Page 61 of The Cursed Wolf King

“Here, you’re more than individuals gathered into a pack. I feel it amongst you.”

The tension eased, replaced by a wave of curiosity rippling through the bond. I caught hints of their emotions—surprise, pride, even skepticism—but no longer any simmering anger. My words were landing well and they could hear the truth in them. That gave me the courage to go on.

“You don’t just live together, you build each other up. The way you support one another, the way you’ve welcomed me despite your reluctance… It’s?—”

I stopped, suddenly self-conscious. I wasn’t used to saying these kinds of things, wasn’t sure if it was enough or too much.

“It’s something else.”

A blush rose to my cheeks.

I glanced at Logan, whose gaze was intense. I felt his approval, a quiet strength filtering through the bond.

“I don’t know what my place is here yet, or if there even is one,” I admitted. “I can see why you fight so fiercely for this pack. Why it’s worth protecting. In Heraclid lands…” I hesitated, searching for words that suited the moment. “Everything was about power, about who could rise above the others.”

The reaction at the name Heraclid was immediate. A ripple of unease spread through the crowd, bristling along the edges of the bond. I felt it in the air, sharp and prickling. My heart raced as I realized I’d hit a nerve.

They waited for me to go on.

“It’s not like this,” I stammered, my palms growing clammy. “It’s a massive pack. Thousands across the pack lands and more who are based in human cities. It’s an entire operation, ruling with fear. There isn’t connection like what you have here. That’s the beauty of being in a smaller pack. It’s easier to…” I faltered, searching for the right words. “It’s simpler this way, staying a small and close pack. And that is worth cherishing.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I’d made a mistake.

A wave of anger crashed through the bond, slamming into me with the force of a physical blow. Wolves shifted in their positions, their postures stiffening. The warmth I’d felt earlier evaporated, replaced by a cold, simmering hostility.

I staggered back, and Logan was at my side in an instant, his hand gripping my arm. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” he hissed.

“I didn’t mean to—” I started, my words tumbling out in a rush.

“Not only did you imply we’re lesser, but you suggested we should stay this way. Weakened. Reduced. Separated from our birthright.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I protested, though my confidence wavered. “I just meant?—”

“Stop,” he said, his grip tightening slightly.

Behind him, a few male shifters stepped closer. I recognized the move as one the enforcers did to support their alpha.

“She shouldn’t be here,” one muttered, loud enough for me to hear. “We can escort her to the borders on your command, Alpha.”

“Hold up,” another shifter said. “Logan brought her for a reason, and he hasn’t had a chance to tell us what it is. You should all trust my brother, and listen to him.” He crossed his arms.

This man was Logan’s brother? He hadn’t introduced himself to me during the pack greetings, but I’d overheard someone call him Rhys around the bonfire.

Cracks were forming in the pack’s unity in how they felt about me. I’d been here for all of five minutes, and I was already breaking what Logan had built.

Logan turned, his voice rising above the murmurs.

“Sit down, everyone,” he instructed, the alpha authority in his tone brooking no argument. The enforcers hesitated but obeyed. They didn’t take their eyes off me.

Logan turned back to me, his expression unreadable as he addressed me in a way that was clearly meant to send a message to his pack.

“There is much you don’t know about Orion yet, Eve. This pack…”

He paused, taking a deep breath before his declaration filled the sky.

“This pack,” he said, turning to face the crowd of gathered wolves fully, “is more than what you see here. We are more than hunters and caretakers, more than stories whispered about the Orion of old.”

The pack leaned forward, the simmering hostility redirected into rapt attention. The air grew charged, electric with the anticipation of his words.

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