Page 11 of In Her Own Rite

“Can we just eat?” I ask. Seb and Gabe may be interested in island politics, but I couldn’t care less. But as I feel my inner wolf pace in annoyance, Em gives me a look.

“My dad lives on the southern isles,” she says, turning to Maren. “He was sent there after what happened with my mom.”

“What?!” Maren’s eyes go wide. “I thought your dad was dead.”

“He should be,” Isolde mutters.

“Ama!” Seb snaps.Mom!

“He’s not dead,” Em continues. “He was sent there as punishment.”

“He’s not allowed back here,piu,” Saga says gently. “Even if we were to let in the asylum-seekers from the south—”

“We’re notletting them in,” Isolde says.

“Nekka, we’re not,” Saga agrees. “But even if we did, he still wouldn’t be allowed back.”

“I’m not worried about that,” Em says, but I can hear the tension in her voice. My inner wolf growls at me, wanting me to put an end to this.

“Hang on,” Seb says. “I thought we voted on this ages ago. Why are we talking about it now?”

“You’re right, it’s the same group from the earlier vote,” Saga says. “They reached out again, after they heard that…”

“Heard what?”

“After they heard we let someone into the islands.”

Seb sets his glass down with force, and Gabe and I give each other a look.

“Maren?” he snaps. “We got a new asylum request because of Maren? Why am I only just hearing about this? I’m on council, too. And this is about my mate.”

“This isn’t about Maren, it’s about opening up the islands,” Isolde says firmly. “It’s not a new decision. We’re just upholding the last decision we already made.”

“Why do they want asylum?” Em asks quietly. Everyone ignores her.

“It sounds like a new decision to me,” Seb says to his mother. “Otherwise, why are Viggo and Dagmar late? What kind of work is there to do to uphold a decision we already made?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Em’s posture shift, her shoulders tensing.

“Dude, cool it,” I say to Seb, my tone firm. “We’re having dinner. Get your wolf in check.”

Seb gives me a look and I recognize the beast in his eyes. It’s a losing battle—I can see that already.

“I’m a pack elder,” he says to his mom, ignoring me. “I’m on council, same as you. I have thesamerights to information and decision-making. Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“Our laws on letting people in are clear,” Isolde says with a sigh, waving her hand. “This isn’t worth voting on. It’s a non-issue.”

“Our lawswereclear untilwe had to decide on Maren, and then suddenly they weren’t. Now we’re seeing the ripple effects. If there’s a decision to be made, it should be made by pack council. Thewholecouncil.”

“He’s not wrong,” says Saga. Isolde gives her a look.

“I completed my ritefour yearsago,” Seb continues. “Kieran will be doing his indays. We’re ready to take on the mantle of pack leadership. I’m tired of being treated like my role on council is advisory. I deserve to have a vote.”

“There is no vote,” Isolde says.

“I have the same question as Emerson,” Maren interjects. “Why do they want asylum?”

The table goes quiet, and I can still feel Seb seething. After a moment, Saga says,

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