COUNCIL COLOURS

Elaris’s POV

The horses come to a halt before the outer house.

Averric stays at the head of the procession.

He makes no move to fall back to the doorway or take up any position behind Neryss. Standing bare in the open ground did not diminish the presence he carried before. Not with Alpha guards missing and no council insignia or ceremony clothing present.

The sight of him should make men feel small but it does not.

We wait while the riders get down from their horses.

I wait alongside the procession as they inspect the house, the guards, and the powerless man Averic is.

I press a hand lightly against the mark at my throat

The connection is solid now.

There is no need to search for Averics' wolf, though I know it is there.

Neryss takes up position beside the doorway.

Her blade hangs freely but does not come up against anyone.

She knows the difference between protecting the man and challenging an official envoy. Averic looks back once.

He does not make a move for me to enter the doors.

I know what that means.

No matter what comes next, wherever Averic stands, everyone will see.

Lord Sennik gets off his horse first. His council colours are visible against the grey of his cloak as the reason for his visit becomes clear.

Caedmon follows more slowly.

A single glance at the man standing beside Sennik is enough to tell me exactly who these people are and why they chose to come.

The remaining riders part to either side, forming an open field with Caedmon at its heart.

No one draws weapons. No one has to.

Sennik takes long enough to inspect Averric before speaking.

Alpha

His voice carries the sharp authority of Lord Commander rank. He catches himself after a heartbeat

Averic Thorne.

A small thing, but one loaded with meaning. Sennik makes the point clear. The council has reached a decision and they do not propose to waste time with politeness upon the matter.

The council has finished its succession review.

Averic makes no response.

Sennik does not pause. He shifts his weight slightly towards Caedmon.

Caedmon Rhyvek has been chosen to fill the vacancy during the transition period.

Caedmon does not move forward to accept the designation.

Not that it is necessary. The simple fact of his presence is enough to confirm the decision already made.

I study the man closely.

There is no triumph in his expression.

Only the quiet self-assurance of a man who knew the result from the outset.

For several breaths, not a soul moves.

I am tempted to turn and look at Averic, but I hold the impulse back.

Caedmons' gaze moves slowly to meet mine.

He stops for a fraction at the mark on my throat then looks away.

Any expectation of a reaction from finding me here has failed to occur.

Sennik waits for Averic to make a protest.

Once again, he is mistaken.

Averic replies with a simple question. Has the council made this decision before arriving at my door?

Yes

Averic moves on.

And Caedmon has already been named

Sennik hesitates.

Pending the official assumption of office.

The distinction is significant.

Though the choice is made, no one will find it easy to reverse.

Averic turns his gaze on Sennik.

On what grounds do you claim the pack has no shifting alpha anymore

The question is so simple it forces Sennik to reply in facts rather than opinion.

The grounds are all in evidence Sennik replies evenly.

The completed essence donation, the declaration from the healer that Averics' wolf had been permanently removed, the emergency council session, your removal, and finally, the lack of a shifting alpha since that point. Nothing in this statement has been embellished. Every claim was factual at the time the council issued it, and that is what will prove more dangerous than anything else Averic is about to say.

The council acted upon the evidence before them

Averic nods. I do not disagree Sennik.

Caedmon finally finds his voice. Nothing more can be said.

His tone is even, almost reasonable, as he reminds Sennik that the pack requires stability and that waiting any longer for a new choice after the council has already decided will only breed dissension.

A strange sensation tightens at my ribs.

Not fear, but something like recognition.

Caedmon already speaks as if the power belongs to him.

Averic turns his attention back to Sennik.

I agree that the pack will benefit from stability. Averic takes a pace forward

But your information is out of date

The escort shifts its stance. Averic moves into the open space between the house and the council party.

He halts.

There is no proclamation, no announcement given, only the moment when Averic lifts the restraints from his body one final time since the return of his wolf

I feel the change take hold within him well before my eyes can track the movement. Something tightens at the bond the mark, something heavy in the air that seems to settle across his shoulders.

Neryss shifts her free hand away from her blade.

Senniks' expression goes blank.

Caedmon stops speaking.

Averics' body begins to change.

This time, there is no healer present to explain away what is taking place.

There are no walls for privacy, only the wide eyes of every soldier present who will have to come to terms with this on their own.

When it is complete, the great dark wolf stands where Averic once stood. He is not diminished in any way, nor does he show the least hesitation at remaining on his feet.

He lifts his head and he breathes deep and slow, drawing the night air into his lungs after far too long without it. The escort staggers back, one man nearly drawing his weapon before another man catches his wrist. Sennik remains rooted to the spot.

His gaze remains on the wolf.

Caedmons' face has lost all expression.

He is no longer the composed representative lord who rode into the valley with an assumption of right and duty.

He stares at something that should not exist.

Averic turns his head slowly to ensure all witnesses have seen what they will need to understand.

There can be no argument that the change was partial. There is no healer to stand forward and deny interpretation. The wolf stands before them, and the realisation hits the council party like a wave of conflicting reactions.

One warrior mutters something under his breath. Another man turns to Sennik as if expecting him to give some kind of order. Sennik does not speak. His focus remains on the returned alpha. Caedmion takes half a step back before pulling himself upright.

I see it happen, just as Neryss does.

The change in the position of one of mens' expectations.

Caedmon arrived expecting what should not have been, and now the man he thought abandoned stands in front of him.

Sennik finally finds his voice. Averic.

The wolf turns his head towards the lord commander. Senniks' voice wavers slightly as he utters only one word.

Shift back.

The wolf holds his ground a moment longer, then he complies.

Averic straightens from where he kneels and raises his head. His breathing is even and controlled. There is no dramatic collapse or rush to his aid. He looks down at his hands for only a second before he raises his head to regard the council.

He makes no demands upon them, nor does he expect them. The evidence stands before them, undeniable and irrefutable. Sennik turns his gaze to the other members of the delegation. No one objects. No one protests this insult to their authority, and suddenly, the entire record of events that led to this meeting is completely outdated.

I turn my gaze on Caedmon.

He says nothing, but his fingers have tightened against his side.

Averic turns his head to regard Sennik.

He waits a moment longer.

There is no need to demand an apology or for the return of his title.

Averic speaks at last, and his voice carries to every man who rides with the council.

The wolf is returned, Sennik says.

The grounds for my removal no longer have any validity

His gaze flicks briefly to Caedmon before returning to the man who has declared judgment upon him.

You will not name an interim alpha tonight

The words hang heavily in the space between them.

A tightness forms at Caedmons' side.

Sennik looks first at Averic and the colour in the mark at his neck, then past him to the warriors who have witnessed what should not be.

For the first time, the council has been given no easy response. The challenge has been made, openly and without shame.