Fang

Luna Growl

"And what of CruelMane and AutumnForest?" Alpha Eversole asked, peering down at the map Forrest had placed on the table.

Herek was leaned back, deep in his own thoughts. His brows were furrowed, eyes focused on the map. Where MistFang was. GrassTail was what stood between MistFang and NightBlood.

"They have two weeks to give me an answer. CruelMane will join us, he's just being difficult. His ego needs time." Forrest was looming over my shoulder, hips almost touching me. I swallowed and diverted my attention. Forrest tapped AutumnForest on the map. "AutumnForest is who I am worried about."

"If they decide not to join?" Eversole pressed.

"They have two options, AshGrowl. They either join with us or they join MistFang. If they choose neither, they will be driven out of the North. There's no room here for bystanders."

Eversole, seemingly pleased with the answer, hummed and leaned back in his seat. His luna's smile had disappeared, replaced with concern. She held her tongue, however.

"And you're confident that CruelMane will join us?" Herek raised his voice and lifted his eyes from the map, looking to Forrest.

"Very confident. Give it the two weeks. Alpha Anora will answer at the end of the second week."

I dragged my eyes away from the map, finding most eyes were on me. Eren always watched me, but now Herek's eyes were back on me, joined by the luna.

"Where does LycanMoon come into this?" Eversole broke the growing tension.

"Depends on AutumnForest. If they decide to be a bystander, LycanMoon's help may be needed to drive them South. Or if they join MistFang, LycanMoon will immediately move to the North."

"LycanMoon takes the South, AshGrowl the North, GrassTail the East, and what of the West?" Herek finally spoke.

"CruelMane takes the West," Forrest responded.

"Forgive me," Luna Growl interrupted, giving an apologetic smile as all eyes turned to her. "Can someone explain this to me? I'm confused."

"Forgiven," Forrest smiled back at her. The kind of smile that wasn't trust worthy. "Which part is confusing you?"

"All of it," she replied, almost sheepish.

Forrest gave a quick glance at the AshGrowl alpha before sitting back down in his seat. He should have informed her beforehand.

"Where would you like me to begin, Luna Growl?"

"Why have you chosen these packs as your allies in this?" The luna asked, narrowing her eyes on him.

"Besides the size of them?" Forrest's smile turned to a grin. "You're not allies with MistFang. You don't cower under the foot of Alpha Crossfield."

"We don't cower under MistFang, so you choose us to cower under NightBlood?" Her words were sharp. Eversole straightened in his seat, preparing to stop his mate if need be. Forrest raised his hand to stop him; he would hear the luna's questions. "And what of LycanMoon, the Southerners? They helped MistFang did they not?"

"Your bravery pleases me, Luna Growl." She bristled and tensed up at his response. It was a warning to her. "But you're wrong on that assumption. You will be ruled by me, yes, but you won't cower. If I believed my allies to be cowards you wouldn't be in this room with me and I wouldn't waste my breath explaining anything to you.

What I'm giving you is quite the opposite, in fact. I'm giving you power, giving you triple the lands you currently own, and saving your bloodline. Let me ask you this, Luna. Do you think that if MistFang took the throne and made their own empire, that you and everyone who didn't kiss their feet would be spared?"