Page 31 of When Two Worlds Collide

The elders exchange meaningful glances. Finally, Kota speaks. “The Moon Goddess creates sacred bonds, Alpha. Not even the pack may challenge them.”

“We haven’t acknowledged the bond. We’ve agreed to prioritize negotiations.”

Riva laughs dryly. “The Moon Goddess disregards your agreements. She has selected your mate.”

“This discussion concerns the prisoners. Not my personal matters.”

“All things interconnect,” Mira murmurs. “The attack, the bond, the negotiations.”

I restrain a frustrated sound. “I need practical counsel. Should she participate in questioning prisoners?”

“Yes,” Kota responds immediately. “Let her witness our traditions directly. Let her help shape justice.”

“If we disagree on punishment?”

“Then you’ll discover whether she truly bridges worlds,” Riva says. “Or remains bound to just one.”

I depart with more questions than answers. Sunlight now fills the sky. Warriors return from patrol, reporting no additional settler movements. The wounded rest. Cubs play far from the prisoner pit.

I return to the healer’s tent. Inside, the injured wolves sleep. I move past them to the screened area where Ember rests.

She sleeps on the pallet, auburn hair spread across furs, her features more relaxed than I’ve ever witnessed. Silver burn scent mingles with medicinal herbs, and beneath everything, her distinctive fire-spice fragrance my wolf identifies as his mate’s.

I should leave her undisturbed. Instead, I move closer, drawn by something beyond rational thought. In sleep, the barriers separating us—diplomat and alpha, civilized and wild, duty and desire—seem to dissolve.

My hand reaches to brush hair from her face. The moment I touch her skin, she opens her eyes, instantly alert.

“Zane.”

“How’s your injury?”

She sits up, flinching slightly. “Improved. Vira’s medicine helped.”

“Good. The prisoners remain secured. The diplomatic guards at the border demand their release.”

“Let me speak with them. Explain the situation.”

“After we question the prisoners. Together, as agreed.”

She examines my expression. “You truly mean it. You’ll actually include me.”

“You defended my pack. You’ve earned this right.”

“What if I advocate leniency?”

“I’ll consider your perspective. But these settlers targeted cubs, Ember. They crossed an unforgivable boundary.”

“I understand. But executions won’t resolve anything.”

“Neither will releasing them without consequences.”

“Then we find a compromise.”

“Compromise. A very council concept.”

“Perhaps the council could learn from wild clans, and wild clans from the council. Maybe that explains this.”

“This?”

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