Kai's POV
The war council arrived at dawn, and they didn't come alone.
Kai stood at the cave entrance watching twelve black cars roll into Sterling country. The Alpha Council—five of the most powerful werewolf leaders in the country—had come to judge him and Maya. Behind them came fighters from the Shadow Pack, the Iron Pack, and the Blood Moon Pack.
"This doesn't look good," Ethan said beside him, now wearing the Beta armband that marked his new post.
"No," Kai agreed, his jaw tight. "It doesn't."
Inside the cave, Maya was feeding baby Hope while Emma played with small rocks, making little towers and knocking them down. Maya looked up when Kai entered, and he could see the fear in her eyes.
"They're here?"
"All of them." Kai knelt beside her. "Maya, the Council wants to see you and Hope. They want to judge whether our bond is real or if you're just—"
"Just what?" Maya's voice got sharp. "Just some omega who tricked an Alpha?"
"I didn't say that."
