Hudson let out a sharp, derisive sound from his throat. "I’ve been pondering the chaos, Sadie, and I’ve concluded that Avery’s 'dormant' wolf isn't just an omen—she’s a strategist. She could have settled the border dispute with you in the shadows of the den, but instead, she exposed it to the High Matriarch, making me look like I can’t control my own pack."

Sadie’s spirits lifted instantly, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Exactly, Alpha! She plays the silent martyr just to cast me as the monster. I was the one whose rank was stripped, while everyone offers her their bared throats in sympathy. If I had known she’d use her...