Page 91 of The Fated Hunter Wolf
“The curse that weakened Orion has been broken,” Logan continued, and the lie rang with such conviction that even I almost believed it. “Our bloodline runs strong again. Our territory is secure. We have banded together with Heraclid pack, one of the most powerful packs in the north. And we return to reclaim our place in supernatural governance—not as supplicants, but as the power we’ve always been.”
The Cassiopeia alpha rose smoothly. “Bold words from a pack that couldn’t protect its own. Where’s your alpha father, Logan?”
Logan’s smile was sharp enough to draw blood. “Bolder still from a pack that needed our absence to claim territories they couldn’t take by force.” He paused, letting the insult settle. “Tell me, Emmanuel, how many of those ‘hunting accidents’ were actually accidents?”
The accusation hit the room hard. Gasps erupted from the smaller delegations. Several pack representatives were on their feet, ancient grievances suddenly given voice.
“The Lyra pack lost its luna after refusing Cassiopeia hunting rights,” called out a voice from the middle of the room.
“Centaurus was absorbed after their beta died in a ‘territorial dispute,’” added another.
Emmanuel Vex’s composure cracked slightly. “Orion seeks to destabilize this Council with baseless accusations?—”
“Orion seeks justice for systematic pack elimination,” Logan cut him off. “And we’re not alone.” His gaze swept the assembly room, finding the smaller pack representatives who were watching the exchange with predatory interest. “Every pack that’s lost territory, every delegation that’s been silenced, every neutral voice that’s been eliminated—we remember. And we’re done pretending this Council represents anything but the interests of its most ruthless members.”
The chamber erupted. Shouts of agreement came from the back rows, snarls of challenge from the major coalitions, and there was the sound of chairs scraping as delegates chose sides.
Through the bond, Rhys’s fierce satisfaction mixed with battle-ready tension. Logan hadn’t just announced Orion’s return—he’d declared war on the power structure that had thrived in our absence.
Suddenly, the Crux bond ignited in me without warning.
Silver threads of ancient power blazed to life in my consciousness, connecting me to wolves who should have been hundreds of miles away. Two familiar presences materialized directly behind me, invisible to everyone else in the room but vivid as lightning through our supernatural connection.
Eve. Astrid.
My hybrid nature sensed their arrival while my newly formed pack loyalties screamed alerts. They were supposed to be coordinating Orion defenses back home, not infiltrating a heavily warded government facility during a diplomatic crisis.
Through our bond, Rhys’s attention turned to me as my pulse spiked.
Easy, he sent, warmth flowing along our connection.Logan’s got this handled.
His wolf was interpreting my sudden tension as anxiety about the political situation surrounding us. But this was about my Crux sisters appearing in the heart of enemy territory for reasons that couldn’t be good.
Astrid’s abilities wrapped around her and Eve in layers of misdirection so sophisticated it made my vampire heritage take notice. She was creating a special kind of invisibility—she was becoming what everyone expected to see. Wallpaper. Background noise. A forgettable nature that supernatural senses would dismiss as unimportant.
I turned to find them standing right behind me.
The control required to sustain that kind of illusion was staggering. I had completely underestimated Astrid.
I quickly turned my attention back to the drama in the room. I didn’t want to risk breaking Astrid’s illusion.
You’re a sight for sore eyes, Astrid sent to me through the bond.And legs. Do you know how hard it is to find a hidden underground government structure in Dallas? I’m tired.
A cloak lifted the moment you three left Orion territory, Eve sent.It was the first time both Logan and Rhys had been off Orion territory since I arrived. I think the curse follows them. As soon as they were gone, I sensed shifters in distress. Crux among them. And they were coming here.
A cloak. A magical dampening field that had been suppressing Eve’s oracle abilities within our own borders as long as the cursed brothers were there.
Where are the Crux? I asked through the bond, watching Rhys to see if he sensed my connection with Eve and Astrid. He didn’t move. He was following the shouts and accusations between delegations.
Transport convoy, on its way here. Shifters being prepared for auction tomorrow.Each word held oracle certainty, the kind of prophetic knowledge that left no room for doubt.
An auction. Supernatural slavery wasn’t supposed to exist anymore, but I’d seen enough to know that official policies and underground realities were two very different things.
My mind immediately began making tactical calculations.
Through the mate bond, I felt Rhys’s concern grow as my tension turned predatory. My scent was changing, betraying my anger.
Sable, he sent, confusion winding through our connection.What’s happening? You feel like you’re about to tear someone’s throat out.
