Bodies were being removed from inside the chamber, and the council elders reconvened, their expressions grave. Jared stood at the center, his voice carrying authority as he addressed the group.
“Arif’s actions today are a blatant disregard for the council’s authority,” Jared said, his tone sharp. “He brought violence to sacred ground. This cannot go unanswered.”
Arif, standing off to the side, smirked. “The attack was not sanctioned. If some of my wolves acted out of turn, I will discipline them accordingly.”
“You expect us to believe that?” Jazz interjected, his voice dripping with disbelief.
Dale felt the weight of their gazes turn toward him. He straightened, forcing his voice to steady. “I don’t know why Arif wants me—he was trying to kill me. He bit me and left me for dead. My turning was incidental, not deliberate. Juke saved me. Claimed me. I don’t belong to Arif.”
One of the elders, a woman, leaned forward. “Something happened out there. The wolves hesitated. They responded to
