ra’s POV

“Let’s take this outside. I’ll show you exactly what I’m capable of.”

The room went silent.

I didn’t yell. I didn’t even raise my voice. But the challenge in my words had enough weight to silence every whisper around the conference table.

Garron scoffed from across the room. “You think I’m afraid of you?”

“No, replied calmly, arms folded across my chest. “I think you’re afraid of being proven wrong.”

The day had started with tension so thick you could slice it with a dagger. Word ofst night’s… jewel storm had traveled faster than a rogue on a fresh trail. By the time the first meeting began, everyone in the hotel knew what had happened.

And Mi? She was practically torn apart by jewel–hungry guests. No shoes, ripped dress, messy hair–she looked like a woman who’d lost ba /bwar.

But today wasn’t about Mi.

Today was about proving that I belonged here.

The meeting hall was full of chatter when Thorne walked in with his pack. Conversations dipped, subtle nces were exchanged. F

about Mi’s humiliation.

had heard

But no one dared say anything to his face. Thorne was still the Alpha of the thirdrgest pack in the world. Few were brave enough–or foolish enough- to poke that bear.

He looked tired. More than tired. Drained. As if the night before had stretched into a headache that still hadn’t ended. He rubbed his temple and sank into his seat at therge U–shaped table at the front of the room.

I stayed hidden until thest second.

The doors burst open, and Cael entered with the confidence of a man who had nothing to prove–and me, walking quietly behind him.

Eyes snapped toward us. Conversations stopped mid–breath.

I could practically hear the confusion: What is she doing here?

I walked beside Cael and sat directly next to him. Calm. Collected. As though I’d been at Alpha council meetings my whole life.

The moment of confusion was interrupted by the bark of a voice I recognized all tog well.

Garron.

Thorne’s Gamma.

He stood, pointing directly at me like I was a threat in his territory. “This is ba /bprivate meeting. Why is she here?”

The air tensed.

“Because she belongs here,” Cael said smoothly.

Garron scoffed. “With all due respect, Alpha, ‘sleeping with someone bdoesn’t /bbmake /bthem qualified.”

bA /bbfew /bgasps rippled. Even for Garron, that was bold.

b1/3 /b

Cael raised a browi. /i“My bimbo, is it?”

Garron doubled down. “We all know how this works. She’s not a warrior. She’s a distraction.”

Eden–Cael’s Beta–mmed a fist against the table. “Watch your mouth.”

“She’s your Alpha. Not mine,” Garron growled.

“Enough,” Thorne said coldly. “We won’t resolve anything like this. But Garron does have a point. Only officers are allowed in this room. She doesn’t qualify.”

A strange feeling curled in my chest. Thorne wasn’t even hiding it anymore. He wanted me gone.

Cael leaned back in his chair and smiled at me like he already knew how this would y out.

“Actually,” he saidzily, “you’re wrong.”

He nodded toward Eden.

7

Eden stood. “This is ra Manning, Gamma of Blood Moon Pack.”

You could’ve heard a pin drop.

The idea of a female Gamma was almost unheard of. But a woman–someone they thought was weak? One who’d once served tea withoutint?

Their jaws hit the floor.

Garronughed bitterly. “Her? Gamma? Are you all insane?i” /i

“She earned it,” Cael said.

“She used to be Thorne’s Luna,” Garron hissed. “I watched her get smacked around by her own brother. Now she’s suddenly warrior material?”

I stood slowly, letting the murmurs build around me.

eating

Garron kept going. “You think just because she looks pretty and knows ihow /ito keep a man warm at night, she can lead soldiers into battle? You think she can fight rogues?”

“You’ve said enough,” I said.

He sneered. “Afraid of the truth?”

“No,” I replied. “Just tired of ignorance parading as courage.”

I looked around the room, locking eyes with each Alpha who was too stunned to speak. “You question my title. My strength. My ce in this room.”

Then iI /ipointed toward therge window facing the Blood Moon training grounds.

“Let’s settle bit /bthe way real warriors do. On the field/Right now.”

Garron’s smirk faded. He hadn’t expected that.

I stepped around the table and walked right past him. “Unless you’re worried bI’ll /bbeat you in front bof /byour Alpha.”

He turned, growling, but I didn’t flinch.

Cael didn’t stop me. He just smiled and rose from his seat.

“Looks like we’re having a demonstration today,” he said to the room. “Gentlemen, grab your coats.”