"Understood," Preston Hale replied, inclining his head.

The administrative crisis had ignited several sun-cycles ago when a high-ranking overseer of the Montgomery trade routes abruptly abandoned their post. The vacancy was critical to the pack’s logistics, forcing the elders to fill the position in haste.

However, in their desperation to maintain order, they had failed to vet the new hire's lineage.

Now, as a massive territorial project was set to launch, the new overseer—a female—revealed she was three moons into a pregnancy and demanded a leave for restoration, despite having pledged her service only a week prior.

The Montgomery Pack held a sacred vow not to discriminate against those carrying...