Page 43 of Knot Quite Ready

Harailt stands, nodding respectfully at the pack. "I must confess when Calian invited us to visit a newly settled refugee pack, we felt a bit apprehensive.”However, The Shifter Council commends the progress you've made in a short period and while we acknowledge your pack's accomplishments, we require additional information before making a formal decision. Therefore, we invite the chosen pack Alpha, Casimir, to lead us in the more formal proceedings of this meeting.”He sits down, and I feel Casimir take a deep breath beside me, and I squeeze his hand as he stands up from his chair.I nod in encouragement, and he briefly bends down to kiss my lips, “Here’s to our future, my love.”

As his words wash over me like a warm wave, my heart skips a beat. He flashes me a playful wink, and I can feel my cheeks flush.Fair is fair, I suppose, I think to myself, remembering my earlier declaration. But, fuck, Idolove him. Fate has spoken, and I am finally listening.

“Thank you, Councilman Harailt. I agree. Our packhasmade incredible progress, and seeing as I understand the importance of transparency, I'll be completely open with you. I was born an Alpha, not just in terms of inheritance but also in the sense that I recognized being an Alpha is more than just a title; it's a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. But those two ideals clashed, leading to the formation of the Spiroid pack two years ago when a few loyal wolves and I chose to leave our old pack behind." Casimir pauses as Kathleen scoffs.Just who is this bitch?A hired mage sitting with the council didn’t make any sense. So what made her valuable?

I stew on that while a sharp look from Harailt shuts her up, and he nods at Casimir to continue. The air is heavy with Casimir’s declaration. Defecting from a pack without reaching out to the council for alternative placement was tantamount to a death sentence.

“The truth is never pleasant,” Casimir says with a humorless chuckle. "But it’s necessary. Our old pack, Pack Peilt, abused their power, and this abuse was cleverly concealed by my father. Our Omegas were treated as political bargaining chips and suffered both physically and mentally. I understand that each pack has its own leadership style, but allowing our wolves to be abused when they should feel safe within our packs didn't sit right with me. When I brought up my concerns to the Alpha, my father, he dismissed them. I realized that for the safety of those who trusted me, it was best for us to leave and try to start our own pack."

“Why didn’t you contact the council in order to be placed in another pack? Surely you realize that was an option and the correct thing to do?” Jonas, the head of the cat shifters, inquires. No judgment in his tone, just curiosity.

Casimir shakes his head sadly. "With all due respect, the council might have taken too long to re-home several dozen wolves or simply ignored our pleas." Casimir raises his hand as some council members murmur in response. "No, this is just the truth. If you check your backlog of requests, you'll find several from Casimir of the Peilt Pack. Despite the rules, I assume the council doesn’t favor allowing wolf abuse to continue when it can be prevented?"As Casimir finishes his last statement, I watch Hairalt's face twist with outrage while the others gape. I lock eyes with Storm, and I can tell we're both thinking the same thing—what the fuck were these Alphas discussing, or in this case, not-discussing during their meetings that allowed so much to be under the rug? Not every Alpha can be an evil mastermind, so what is it?

"I thought so," Casimir nods. "Despite the laws, we struck out on our own. Over several months, while we searched for a place to settle, what had started as a small group of wolves grew larger as we encountered other outcasts or abused wolves with backgrounds similar to ours.” He pauses briefly as he looks around the room.

"However, our journey didn't lead us to just wolves. We were lucky enough to cross paths with several witches seeking their own way too. As a whole, our pack has moved beyond the basic transactional relationship with witches that used to be the norm, embracing a more symbiotic one instead. Our pack lands remain impenetrable, and our movements, considering how we have grown, were concealed. The witches protected. These witches now live within our pack lands and have become an integral part of our community. Theyarepack. More importantly, we are a family. While we aren’t conventional, we all agree that we want peace. A pack where wolves no longer have to worry about not finding their true mate through a forced political alliance or be constricted by archaic rules that seem to vary from pack to pack to suit their ideals. We were fortunate to feel a call to Cabria Falls, although I like to think that particular call was fate rather than luck,” he jokes lightly.

“I know our choices are tantamount to a death sentence, but why? For wanting and needing change? For wanting a better future? I ask that you look at what Alpha Calian has created here in Cabria Shifter Falls. This town is a community of shifters who work, live, and grow together despite being from a different genetic makeup. Witches pepper this town, as well as several hundred humans. It is time that we look beyond trying to maintain a firm foothold in traditions and look into integrating in order to build a safer community and world for us all. Furthermore,” he takes a deep breath, steeling his spine, and takes a moment to look at every councilman in the eye before looking directly at Harailt.

"I can see that the news of abused wolves and the misuse of power has caught you off guard, Councilman Harailt. I wish I could say I sympathize. However, if the shifter council were more than just a figurehead and dispenser of judgments, our packs would be held to higher standards, and such abuse would cease to exist. I understand why we are here today, and while it's important to my pack and my growing family," Casimir glances at me before continuing.

"To become formally recognized, it must be done with the understanding that we share a collective responsibility to cleanse the wolf packs, or any other shifter packs, of the corruption that has taken root. Our pack plans to lead the charge against this corruption because shifters aren't just being threatened by external forces. We're under attack from within by our own kind — Our packs are being torn asunder by pride, greed, and the darkness festering within the hearts of those who are supposed to lead and protect us. It is our duty to create a better future for all shifters, where we can not only survive but truly thrive.

As we have grown, I have continued to ensure a safe place for my pack, witches,andwolves. I hope my pack has proven to you all today that respect, power, and progression can all go hand in hand.”

He bows respectfully before retaking his seat. Grabbing his hand, I give him a gentle squeeze before leaning over to place a kiss on his cheek.

Storms stands up and starts clapping, “Well, shit. Casimir for president.” Calian pulls her down, and I hear her whisper, “What? Dude, that speech made my mare-bits tingle with the flame of vengeance.”

I laugh through the ache in my chest, my throat burning with tears as I grab Casimir’s face to bring his eyes to my level. “I am so proud to call you my mate.” There is nothing else I can be. Casimir’s vision for progression, not only within the wolf packs but for all shifters and beings, is exactly what we need and deserve.

Before he can respond, a slow clap echoes around the room, this time not from Storm but from somewhere near the entrance to the dining room. Confused, we turn, and our eyes clash with Casimir’s stunt double, if Casimir was 40 years older, flanked by several wolves I don’t recognize. Agatha’s hackles rise.

Casimir’s body goes taunt, and a low growl escapes his lips.

"As stirring as that speech was, I have come to exercise my right as the Alpha of the Pielt Pack, reclaim the wolves that belong to me, and end the treasonous wolf who dared to lead my pack members away - my son.” The room goes deathly still, silent.

Fuck.

Storm exhales a deep breath, “Oh shit, this just gotgood.”

Double fuck.

ChapterTwenty-Two

Casimir

My blood boils as I stare at the pitiful alpha who was once my father. He may cut an imposing figure, an older reflection of me, in fact, but if you peeled back his skin and muscles, and plucked out his bones, you’ll find a soul as black as his heart.

Keeping myself in control, I force my face to remain blank while I casually lean back in my chair. My father’s eyes flash with irritation, and I mentally mark a win.After all that my pack has endured, if this piece of shit thought he was going to take it away, I’m prepared and more than willing to rip his bones out of his chest and eat his heart for dinner.

“Considering you are interrupting a formal Shifter Council meeting with a potential new pack and have come inside protected pack lands, uninvited, I suggest you tread lightly, Alpha,” Harailt’s growl pierces the silence.

“Apologies, Master Alpha Harailt, for the intrusion," he says coolly, eyes blazing with fury, not a single hint of regret in his tone.

“If you allow," he grits out, "Once I heard that my estranged, son, was petitioning to become Alpha and start his own pack, I made my way here immediately. I have not formally denounced him as my heir, and therefore, as written in our bylaws, he cannot form his own pack,” he smiles, mostly teeth.

I roll my eyes, ignoring the bullshit spewing from his mouth. Something is nagging me, several things actually, like how the fuck he knew our location or got here so quickly. But right now, I’m choosing to focus on how the fuck he crossed into our lands. The witches were careful to set up a light perimeter because of the Council's presence — a decision which will piss me off for a long time—so how did he cross the borders of our lands without setting off the alarms? And why didn't he just turn back when he sensed the Council? He was always a cocky son-of-a-bitch, but reckless? Not usually.

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