~Kaida Orion POV~
The scout's report followed us like a shadow all the way to the northern ridge, and I could not forget his words...pre-paid years. There was no such thing in our traditions, a future year cannot be bought or borrowed, it is earned, and lived. Yet someone was planting the idea like poisoned seeds.
The night was deep when we arrived, dozen of torches burned outside the first house, and elders stood waiting in heavy cloaks. Their faces showed both worry and relief when they saw Lupus and me.
"Alpha," one elder said, bowing. "We received these."
He held out a rolled scroll sealed with dark green wax, the same kind I'd seen before. The second elder, an older woman with sharp eyes, added, "It came with a box of silver beads, said to be 'future blessings,' paid for our fifteenth renewal."
I felt my stomach turn cold, it was the same whispering hand that had sent the bead under my skin. It was spreading to others now.
"Who delivered them?" I asked.
