Chapter 5

Amara had never seen anything like it. The place was full. Every spare seat in the hall was occupied by a member of the pack. The walls were adorned every ten feet or so by the logs from the structural foundation of the building, and the ceiling was a maze of exposed beams. It was beautiful.

In the center of the floor was a large stone fire pit. The flames were already rising at least two feet above the surrounding stone. Even from where she was standing by the door, Amara could feel the heat. It was no wonder those closest to the fire were dressed as if for summer weather. It was blistering hot in there.

“We cannot just stand by and let them terrorize us or our territory,” a man Amara knew by sight alone was saying. His hands were clenched in tight fists resting on the table in front of him, and his dark hair was swept back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Though she wasn’t sure of his name—Isaac? Isiah? She couldn’t remember—she had seen him multiple times in the past two weeks, always in the company of none other than Neveah.

Sure enough, about two people to his left, there she stood. Neveah was stunning. She was tall and willowy with a regal grace that both captivated and intimidated whoever was foolish enough to look upon her. Her high cheekbones were accentuated by her rich, brown eyes in the shape of almonds, and her elegant face was framed by her sheet of long, billowing dark gray hair. The streaks of shiny silver only managed to add to her allure rather than detract from it. Even if Amara hadn’t known Neveah to be the widow of the last Alpha, and in all effectiveness, the Queen Mother, she still would have struck her as royalty, just from the way she carried herself. Neveah had a regal air that no one could deny—no matter how much they may have wanted to.

“It wasn’t just a human the Valley Clan attacked last night,” the man continued. He was glaring at someone at the head of the meeting house. Amara followed his gaze to find Nemoy seated in a chair she would call a large, wooden throne with Ivanah by his side. Her belly was swollen with child beneath her jacket. Amara couldn’t help but envy her happiness. Although, right then, neither Nemoy nor Ivanah appeared to be too thrilled. “That human was part of our territory, and ours to protect.”

Nemoy gazed at the man. “And what would you have me do, Isiah?” he asked. His tone was dangerously calm. Amara’s arms trembled a bit as goosebumps popped out on her flesh beneath the fabric of her coat. She wasn’t sure why what Isiah was saying had that effect on Nemoy, but she knew she never wanted to be on the receiving end of that tone. Even with Nova’s protection, she doubted she’d last long if she ever was.

Isiah pounded his fists on the surface of the table he stood behind. “We need to go to war! You must see that, Nemoy. War is the only way to keep us safe.”

“War would decimate us,” a middle-aged woman with long black hair said across the circle. If Amara recalled correctly, her name was Naida. “After the last invasion, here in the compound, there aren’t enough of us left to go to war with the Valley Clan head-on. You would be sentencing us to death.”

Isiah shook his head. “It is the only option.”

Cheers and calls of agreement rose into the air, followed by the erratic pulse of stomping feet. The sound hurt Amara’s ears.

Nemoy, on the other hand, merely sat in his chair, soundlessly staring at the crowd. His face and his entire body were rigid as stone. Nemoy raised a hand and his people gradually quieted, though not without protest. He gazed steadily at his mother and Isiah. His expression was unreadable. “War in the current situation is out of the question. Our numbers are too few, and the Valley Clan risks exposure where our pack dares not.”

Protests and shouted arguments rose again, bringing the noise volume to a deafening roar. Amara resisted covering her ears. She was already pressing her luck just by being there. There was no need to look weak on top of everything else.

Furious, Nova stepped forward. Men and women alike moved aside to let him through. “Silence!” His voice boomed throughout the room, and everyone stopped talking immediately. “Your Alpha has spoken,” he reminded them. He began to pace the perimeter of the room, his own way of repelling negative energy, Amara knew. And it must have worked. His every step exuded power.

Amara reminded herself to jump his bones later. That whole authoritarian demeanor was seriously hot. Not to mention oh, so sexy. She couldn’t wait to get him alone later.

Nova stopped right in front of Neveah. Next to her, Isiah straightened his stance. “How dare you,” Nova growled. His mother’s eyes narrowed. “How dare you question your Alpha? Whether you agree with him or not, his word is Law, and it will be followed. Is that understood?”

“Watch yourself, boy,” Isiah hissed. Neveah remained silent. Stepping forward, Nova smirked. He and Isiah were nose to nose. Nova was a few inches taller, so Isiah had to tilt his chin to meet Nova’s gaze. “It is not me who needs to watch myself, Isiah Levens. I am the Beta of this Clan, second only to our Alpha. Neither your rank nor your strength give you leave to cross me. You will obey.” Nova took a step back and arrogantly spread his arms. A sly, deadly smile crept across his lips. Amara saw Isiah’s shoulders tremble. “Of course,” Nova continued, an obvious taunt in his words, “you’re welcome to challenge me the old-fashioned way. Would you like to fight me to be the new Beta, Isiah? It is a fight to the death. And no one has beat me yet.”

“Leave him be,” Neveah commanded. Her voice was soft, but she was seething.

Across the room, Nemoy stood. “No. He brought this on himself. Isiah will answer the questions of his Beta.” Though it clearly pained her, Neveah nodded and fell quiet. Nemoy nodded curtly. “Do you challenge Nova, Isiah Levens?” Nemoy asked. “Or perhaps, have you spoken out of turn?”

No one spoke. No one even breathed. All eyes were glued to the confrontation between the men. The tension was palpable.

Isiah mumbled something under his breath. Nova cocked his head. “I’m sorry? I didn’t catch that.”

With a glare, Isiah straightened his shoulders. “No,” he repeated. “No, I do not wish to challenge my Beta for position.”

Satisfied, Nova nodded, once more giving the other man his space. He turned his back to face Nemoy. Isiah’s chest visibly contracted with relief “In that case, Alpha, I have to say that I agree with the call for war. However, before we declare, I recommend we contact the Falls Clan to discuss an alliance. It is my understanding that they are also encountering border skirmishes with the Valley Clan.”

Pursing his lips, Nemoy considered. Amara knew nothing about war, but common sense said Nova made a good point. Finally, Nemoy nodded. “Done. Any other business to discuss before we adjourn?”

Neveah stepped forward. “I am Neveah of the Mountain Clan, mother to the reigning Alpha and Beta. And I have a grievance.”

A line dug in between Nemoy’s brows, but he nodded. “State your grievance.”

“The presence of the human within our pack walls and within our Council meetings is forbidden by Pack Law. I move she be disposed of immediately.”

A murmur buzzed through the crowd and Amara felt fear and trepidation ripple down her spine. Nova’s face flushed with anger. But before he could speak, Nemoy stood once more. The look on his face was beyond anger. Amara flinched. Even Neveah cowered some. “This matter has already been decided,” he stated sternly. “The human is welcome until I say otherwise. I will not hear of it again.” Nemoy took a deep breath, as if settling his nerves. “This meeting of Mountain Clan Wolf Pack’s High Council is adjourned. Everybody out.”

Nova followed his mother out of the longhouse and grabbed her arm, whipping her around. “What right do you have to grandstand like that?” he demanded. “If you have something to say about Amara being here, you say it to me.”

Neveah glared up at her son, not a hint of remorse in her eyes. “She is human,” she replied. Her tone brooked no argument. “She does not belong here. She is not Wolf.”

“Maybe not, but she still needs our protection,” Nova countered. Amara could tell by the way his muscles were contracting that he was livid. And more than a little hurt. Maybe she should have warned him sooner about his mother’s disposition, but truly, she wasn’t sure how he hadn’t noticed already. Neveah hadn’t tried to hide her feelings towards her since the first time she stepped foot within the compound.

“Then I suggest she seek it in the town of Strathford with the other humans, where she belongs.” With that, Neveah turned on her heel and strode away, her regal head held high. Isiah was waiting for her. He eyed Nova and Amara with severe dislike before following Neveah out of sight.

Nova was shaking. At a loss, Amara reached out and put a hand on his arm in an attempt to comfort him. It wasn’t working.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he said abruptly, taking her hand. “It’s better for you to be in town. At least for today. Let’s go.”

Amara swallowed hard. He had just done a complete one-eighty and locked every single one of his emotions away. If she were being honest, that right there scared her more than Kal and his pack ever could.