The Bastard Alpha

't give m

t ask for e

ed through the council hall

hifting uncontrollably as ancient power surged through the air. The elders dropped t

ct they had was telli

longer jus

s a t

markings pulsing faintly across her skin like living runes. The bond between us throbbed

ered tow

into the groun

forged

ooke

Council h

er applied to them. Their cloaks bore the sigils of every ruling pack-Nort

stood High Alpha

utioner o

d onto me, shar

effortlessly through the ruined h

olf s

en

fter ev

ord fol

cing my pain down. "You're

cil members

or sm

anym

her-dropped to one knee behind them, his head

id hoarsely. "I told y

idn't loo

ntion nev

," Ragnor said. "But

g his temple. "High Alpha," he begged, "this po

Ragnor cut in.

oed like a de

rs raised their ha

air l

forcing their will at once. The force bent the ground be

dn't

ered across

e councilwoman mur

ould be more concerned abo

or ch

e said. "Just l

lood

" I growled. "Funny how no

n stiffened. "Do

. "Because the tru

finall

e s

essure

pack collapsed entirely. Blood trickled

use," Ragnor said. "Your existenc

ed. "That pact was s

Ragnor snapped. "Your ki

ki

settled int

I might become,"

s eyes d

d. "We fear what

ed to th

a Council," he declared, "Kael is he

all er

es. Howls o

tion was a d

s allowed t

s permitted

d be wiped out-ro

Elder shouted. "He ha

didn't

breat

ence

old. "Effective immediately, all packs ar

est ti

necessary,"

lau

d with something that ma

aid. "You erase me b

leaned

ered, "because your fathe

g snapped

ower s

ression s

ouncil members back several steps. Ragnor sli

he fir

oked s

moon-forged steel screaming in pro

my voice layered with something a

ns crawled

lled my

enied me screame

o l

't mine-but it f

ir

rea

ing alone ag

n of mo

attered bene

ckled as the

recovere

he roared.

cil moved

re they c

scr

e through the

silver markings blazing white-hot. The Moon responded,

Ragnor

tumbled back. "She'

s eyes sna

r-not

t w

ng else

e locked

ond comple

ough acc

gh awa

xploded

ime, slammed into broken pillars and walls. T

it the gr

as she fell into my arms, he

bove us cra

ss the sky, shaking the

EIR IS

us, horror etche

ered. "That bon

e markings, at the light-an

me a threat,"

fully for th

with the co

orest

n subm

warn

the hunt

no longer r