Heart of Iron

Chapter 13: Field Report

CASIMIR

This room was suffocating. It had never changed in the times over the years I'd been in it.

I stood at the center, staring up at the dais that sat several feet off the ground. Six of the chairs were filled today. The seventh, which sat at the very center of them, was vacant.

I noted that with a silent gratefulness. That particular person wasn't someone I wanted to interact with.

"Alpha Thorn, I've read through your report on the attack that took place in Silverfang territory. It has left me with some serious concerns," a calm feminine voice said.

I turned my gaze toward the fourth chair, Charlene Ashburn. The only woman to have claimed a seat amongst the elders and a respected warrior in her youth. She was someone who I could respect, sensible and humble, despite her position and the company that surrounded her.

"Here, here," two other Elders relayed their agreement with her.

"I'll need you to be more specific about your concerns, Madam Ashburn."

A heavy scoff echoed through the room and my shoulders stiffened at the sound. Even if the head Elder was absent, it didn't mean I was free from scorn and ridicule. Elder Jessup never missed the chance to sling his vitriol at me and mine.

It seemed today he was frothing at the mouth to get at me.

"Let's not play this game, Thorn. You know you made some serious accusations in that report. The attack was strategic... Findings support the idea that they were going after food stores in an attempt to weaken the other packs. You would have us believe this? From the rogues? Bullshit!"

Papers were thrown down from the dais, fluttering and collecting near the bottom. I glanced down, recognizing it as the report that Soren had written up for me. My wolf rose toward the surface as I felt my anger grow.

It was enough that I was forced to miss Rowan's first lesson for this ridiculous meeting. What more needed to be said that wasn't said in the report? A simple email could have answered any questions.

No, it was clear they wanted to remind me of my position and that they had all the say in what happened to myself and my pack.

I ran my tongue over my teeth, trying to settle my anger and searching for the right words to respond with.

"Are you saying that I made it up?"

There was a hushed whisper from several of the Elders at my question.

"I don't think that's what Elder Jessup is trying to say. It's just hard to believe that rogues would change their behaviors after all this time." The smooth, familiar twang caught my ears.

This must be the great uncle of the Silverfang Alpha. He wouldn't shut up about him when they were there.

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared up at the Elder seated next to Madam Ashburn. It was hard to make out their faces, but the slight accent of their words told me that they likely came from Silverfang territory. Most of them had the same twang.

"While I found the evolution in their tactics just as shocking, the evidence of our investigation only supported it. Whether you or anyone else wants to believe that or me, I've fulfilled my duty."

There were more hushed whispers and I ground my teeth together as my agitation grew. This bureaucratic bullshit was a waste of my time. They weren't going to learn anything new by trying to interrogate and humiliate me.

I wanted to get back to my territory and my mate. The bond was writhing around in my chest like an angry snake, and my wolf wasn't behaving much better.