Kael’s POV“We hand her over, or we bury our dead.” The words hit the war room like a slap. I look up slowly.Elder Roran stands at the far end of the table, both hands braced on the wood like he thinks that gives his voice more weight. His face is pale, but his eyes don’t waver. Good. If he’s going to say something that stupid, at least he has the nerve to look me in the eye. “No,” I say. One word: Flat, final.Roran doesn’t sit down. “Alpha, this is not about pride. Elena has already made her demand. Viktor is dead. Shadow Ridge needs a victory. If giving up one girl prevents another war—” My chair scrapes back hard against the stone floor.The room goes silent. “She is not ‘one girl.’” My voice stays quiet. That makes it worse. “And no one in this room will speak about her like she’s livestock again.”Roran swallows, but he doesn’t back down. “With respect, the pack comes first.” “The pack,” I say, “is still standing because I don’t hand my people to our enemies.”That lands. Aroun
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