Chapter 36

Aria's POV

The Eastern Pack's response comes three days later. A messenger arrives at dawn with a formal declaration written on parchment sealed with blood-red wax.

Drogo reads it aloud to the council. "Alpha Victor of the Eastern Pack demands justice for the murder of his sister, Camila. We have one week to surrender those responsible or face total war."

"One week," Marcus repeats. "That's not much time."

"It's not meant to be. Victor wants us scrambling." Drogo tosses the letter on the table. "He's also demanding we pay blood money. Five thousand gold pieces."

"We don't have that kind of money," Cole says.

"He knows that. This...