Page 90 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

My dad’s expression is unreadable. “Join me.” He spreads his arms, and Maren and I sit on either side of him.

I glance at the scroll that I assumed was the peace treaty we had already signed with Ash, but the signatures are missing. This isn’t the same treaty, and since I can’t read the scrolls in ancient werewolf writing, I don’t know what this says.

Judging by Maren’s expression, namely how the blood slowly drains from her face, it’s bad news.

Maren looks up at the Peacebroker. “What do you want with her?” my sister shouts.

“Maren,” my dad says in a warning tone.

Maren leans back. “Detaining a Stormcrest royal omega can’t be done without reason. Showing up here with Wardens means you expect resistance. Consider this resistance. Why are you detaining her?”

“Maren!” my father barks.

My sister’s cheeks color pink. “Daddy, we can’t just let them take Runa.”

“Take me? What’s the scroll say?”

“It says you trespassed into a controlled space during a dangerous purge and that you pose a threat to humanity. This is punishable by imprisonment. Doesn’t say how long.”

I swallow.

Maren’s eyes widen when I don’t immediately deny it. I did interrupt Ash’s purge, but I didn’t do it on purpose.

“For Moon’s sake,” Maren says, “what happened?”

My shoulders slump. “It was an accident. I slipped and fell into the cave occupied by Ash. He was purging at the time, and Sven was on a live call with the Peacebroker, who was watching it all happen. Ash’s control slipped, and the fire exploded. Eventually, he reined it back in, and that’s all. It was an accident.”

“Where was this?” my sister asks.

“In one of the caves.”

“In our territory?” Maren asks.

“Of course. It happened right before the storm hit.”

“What were you doing out there?” my dad asks.

“That’s not important,” Maren interrupts. “What matters is that they can’t claim trespassing if Runa is on Stormcrest territory.”

“The trespassing charge,” the Peacebroker says, speaking for the first time, “is due to the fact that you entered a controlled space around an elemental werewolf where the element was being used in the presence of a Regulator, who is one of our personnel.”

Maren snorts. “You do realize that my brother is an elemental and that we grew up inside this controlled space.” She makes air quotes.

“That is of no interest to me. Your sister could’ve caused another disaster. I hear you’re a problem child too, but I’m willing to overlook your transgression.”

“I’m an adult wolf female,” Maren says. “Not a child.”

“Perhaps you will join her in detention, then. I’m within my rights to detain both of you.”

“You can detain me. But you can’t have my sister.”

She stole my line, but also, my big sister makes me sit up straight with pride.

“Wait a minute.” My father interrupts the heated exchange. “Maren is innocent.”

Maren glares at the Peacebroker.

The Peacebroker smirks. “Not according to Sven Olsen.”