Page 78 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

I also can’t tell my dad that Ash and I spent the fire moon together, because my dad needs to remain calm and collected toward Ash and his males. Maren and I need to be the ones who say something to our parents in private, where they can lose their shit away from prying eyes.

“Don’t you two speak at once,” he says. Sarcasm gets passed down the family tree.

“We’re not sure,” I lie.

“We’ll find out when he comes to. I want to know when he does. Meanwhile, Sven must be guarded. The Peacebroker is coming back. He’ll be here after the storm passes.”

“Why are they coming back?” Lindsey asks.

“Isn’t it obvious?” My dad points at Sören. “The Fireborn Alpha is losing control of his element. Sven requested backup for the alchemy he’s cooking up.”

“Ash didn’t do anything,” I say. “Sören attacked Ash, not the other way around, so Ash isn’t the aggressor here.”

My dad stares at me blankly.

“No, you can’t tell the humans Ash started the fight. There were witnesses.”

“His pack mates. Nobody will believe them.”

“If you accuse Ash of something he didn’t do, what will that do to the treaty?”

“That’s the Peacebroker’s problem. They assured me Sven could treat Ash with meds, and when he couldn’t, this is what happened. Now we have two werewolves who had to be tranquilized like animals.”

“That was unnecessary,” Maren says from the alcove. “They fought each other to the end.”

“Is that what you want?” my dad shouts. “To risk your brother’s life?”

“It is our way!” Maren shouts back and stands, fists at her sides. “An alpha challenge is a challenge that has been in our blood since the Moon delivered the first werewolf. It’s fought to the death, isn’t it?”

My dad stares.

“Isn’t it?” she repeats. “Unless you think Sören is weaker than Ash, you should stand by our customs and not let outsiders judge our ways.” Maren wipes her eyes. “The Regulator shot them, Daddy, while they fought for our honor. In the human territories, we have to abide by their laws. When they’re in our pack, why don’t the Regulators abide by ours?”

My chest inflates with pride. Maren should debate more often.

My dad finally finds his voice. “Your time with the Fireborn Alpha should not be spent talking about werewolf politics.”

Maren walks up to our father and looks him dead in the eye. “The Fireborn Alpha and I never spent any time together. We’re interested in other people. You should renegotiate the treaty when the Peacebroker gets here. Call me if you want me at the negotiating table. I think you’ll find those private lessons you gave me on governance paid off. Unless, of course, you think I’m only useful when you force me to nest and get on my back for males I don’t want. Like a good little pack whore.”

He slaps Maren. “Thousands of lives depend on this treaty,”

“And yet…” I move to stand in front of my sister. “Sören gets a pass for jeopardizing it, but Maren has to save the treaty. That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Sören is the heir to our pack,” our father argues.

“Then he can sign the treaty with the Fireborns,” I say.

“Ash doesn’t have a sister,” he counters.

“Right. And whose fault is that?” I ask.

My father deflects. “Sören will reinforce our alliance.”

Wait, what’s that mean? How will he do that?

“Great,” Maren says as she walks away. “I consider myself dismissed.”

After Maren leaves, the three of us stand around Sören, whose breathing is worrisome to say the least.