Liz’s POV
My stomach twisted.
He was right.
And it hit me like a strike to the chest. That law, the one no one ever questioned, was older than any throne, written into wolf code before kings even ruled. It was sacred. Final. Whoever held rightful claim over the deceased had authority over their remains. It didn’t matter if Arthur was the Alpha King. That law trumped titles.
Carlos. My parents. If they demanded I be brought back to Blackthorn, Arthur wouldn’t be able to stop them.
My chance… it would all be gone.
I picked up my pace, walking faster until I was nearly in front of him.
“Arthur,” I said, voice tight, pushing past the knot in my throat.
He didn’t look at me.
“Lumian is right,” I said again, firmer now. “Whoever has claim over the deceased’s body is the one who makes the decisions. Not even the Alpha King can override that.”
That made him stop.
He turned to me, jaw set, expression unreadable. For a second, I couldn’t breathe.
“I know,” he said quietly. “But we’ll stop the
