The water meeting started with a jug of Greyfen tap water and two packs on opposite sides of a long table.
Della: Smile, cousin. You're representing the family.
I smiled with my split lip still healing.
Kael came in last, and the bond in my chest sat up like a dog hearing its name.
Kael: Alden.
Alden: Rourke. Sit.
My father talked water like my name wasn't item four on the page.
Alden: Four hundred thousand gallons. Same price as last quarter.
Kael: Price changed.
Kael: Before I sign, I want to talk about your heir.
Every head turned. My mother's hands went still.
Alden: Della is my heir.
Kael: Not her.
Kael: Rhea's wolf has never shifted. Not once in twenty-six years.
The room went so quiet I heard the water jug settle.
Della: That's a lie.
Kael: I had her in my bed. Her wolf didn't so much as stir.
My face went hot, then cold. He'd used the one thing I gave him.
Alden: You watch your mouth.
Kael: You sold me a dam heir who can't turn. A bitch who can't bite.
A man from Blackpine laughed. A Greyfen wolf joined him.
Della: A wolf who can't shift, and she calls herself the Alpha's daughter.
The color drained out of my father's face like water out of a cracked bucket.
Alden: This meeting is about water, not my daughter's private failings.
Kael: Her failings are the meeting now.
Rhea: My wolf is none of your business.
Kael: It is when you stand in line to guard a dam.
Rhea: I've guarded that dam since I was ten.
Della: With no wolf to back it up.
Kael: You should have crawled back like I said. Now they all know what you are.
The bond pulled hard. My wolf threw herself at my ribs, frantic to get out and stand between me and every hand in that room.
She couldn't.
Alden: Meeting's done. Blackpine, out.
Kael: Water's still water. I'll sign after I see how you handle this.
He didn't leave. That told me everything.
Alden: You did this.
His hand closed over the bruise he left yesterday and squeezed until my knees bent.
Rhea: Dad. Please.
Alden: Don't you call me that in front of them.
He hit me across the face, open hand, hard enough that my head snapped and my lip split again.
Maren: Alden.
That was all she said. One word, then nothing.
Alden: Shut up, Maren.
He shoved me into the table and the edge caught my hip. Blood ran warm down my chin.
Alden: You shamed this pack in front of Blackpine.
Rhea: You sold me first.
Alden: When they leave, I'll take you to the yard and let every wolf in Greyfen watch what a mouth costs.
I believed him. My mother looked at the floor. Della smiled.
Della: I'll make sure the yard is full.
Kael didn't move. Not one finger. His face was stone, and the bond between us felt like a wire pulled tight.
Kael: The deal stands, Alden.
Alden: Good.
My wolf curled low and held on, guarding the only thing left that was mine. Me.
Rhea: I'll remember this.
Kael: See that you do, sweetheart.
Nobody came to help me up. So I got up myself, with blood on my chin and hate in my mouth.