Page 185 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

I wondered if Yelahiah had hoped that the silver wolves would come back for her brother.

Griffin led me to Ulva with a frown now marring his face as his mother and the woman next to her looked up at us.

“Is this the girl that you were telling me about?” The lady’s hair was twisted into a bun, and her icy blue eyes scanned me. Her skin was a light olive that highlighted her beauty.

“Oh, yes.” Ulva gestured to me. “This is…Dove. Dove, this is Dick Harding’s wife, Saga.”

I stilled. From the way people spoke about Dick’s wife, I’d expected her to have a weak persona, but there was strength and determination in those eyes. And I could read nothing from her. “Hello.”

“Luna’s told me all about you.” Her mauve lips pressed together in displeasure. “We all thought that Luna and Griffin would wind up chosen mates since we got pregnant near the same time and they grew up together. It’s a shame what all you’ve put her through.”

Her words were meant to rattle me, but I couldn’t get past the fact that I couldn’t get a read on her essence. It was like it was neither good nor bad…or it was hidden.

“She didn’t do a damn thing to your daughter,” Griffin growled, getting riled up enough for the both of us.

Dick heard his voice and spun around. “Griffin, you’re here—” he started.

Azbogah cut him off. “Right on time. Almost late, in fact.”

My body tensed, and I readied myself to defend Griffin, when he kissed my cheek and linked,Calm down.He held my gaze an extra beat and then made his way calmly to one of the last two spots at the table.

Shit. If he had to remind me, then I was closer to losing it than I realized. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself and sat next to Ulva. Rosemary entered the room and took the vacant seat beside me, while her mom went to the last spot next to Griffin.

I wondered if Azbogah had done that on purpose, but it didn’t matter. Yelahiah wasn’t on trial. Griffin was.

“So we’re here to agree that Griffin is guilty of circumventing an all-council approval and ordering our guards to take additional weapons training.” Azbogah jumped right to the point. “All those in favor of removing him as the top wolf representative of Shadow City, say aye.”

“Aye,” Erin said, jumping to her feet with Dick following right after. Matthew agreed without batting an eye.

They weren’t even going to give him a chance to defend himself. Dick’s grin morphed into a smirk when Alex confirmed.

Five of the eleven voting members had now agreed to remove Griffin, making it clear that there was only one thing that could prevent Dick from taking control.

I jumped to my feet. “He can’t be stripped of that title. I’m the rightful wolf representative of Shadow City, and I’m here to take back my position as upheld by the divine.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Azbogah glaredat me as he stood next to Dick and said, “We’re in the middle of a vote. Sitdown.”

No. If I budged, they’d finish the vote, and then I’d have to try to reclaim the title from Dick. Staying firm and asserting myself before Griffin lost the role was my best strategy. “But he isn’t the rightful representative,” I repeated loudly. The more confident I acted, the more inclined at least a few of the other representatives would be in hearing from me.

“Sitdown,” Dick said through clenched teeth. “This doesn’t involve you.”

“But it does.” I took a step forward.

Rosemary turned in my direction and shook her head marginally.

I didn’t need a pack link with her to understand what she was telling me—sit down and shut up.

What are you doing?Griffin’s fingers trembled on his pant legs under the table.You can’t tell them what you are.

Luckily, no one but Saga, Rosemary, Ulva, and I could see him shaking. His face remained confident as he pretended to not be fazed—like any real leader would do.

Maybe.I had to admit that I hadn’t thought this through, but something had to be done.

“I said”—Dick spat the words as his face twisted in disgust—“sit. Down. You aren’t part of this.”

“Actually, she’s the current Shadow City alpha’s fated mate. Weren’t you planning on presenting her to seal your relationship in front of the council, and thus, the Divine?” Yelahiah lifted a hand in my direction.

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