Embers In The North
8

“Your duty as a Fang is to the Alpha!” Morris exploded, pounding his fist on the stone table. “You answer his call and—”

“I was speaking to the Alpha, not you!” Reyna cut him off. “Do not disrespect me in front of my Fleet!” She glared at him. “No matter whether you are Omega and first hand of the Alpha. Remember that you are in Frostcall, in Egranox, where I am first hand to my Warmaster.”

Morris’ eyes glowed with rage, yet he remained silent. He looked over at Roth, and the Alpha nodded a signal to let the matter rest. Reyna found that gesture insulting; it was as if Roth cautioned Morris not to react through the Alpha link. Morris clenched his jaw, but reluctantly complied with Roth’s directive. Meanwhile, Reyna boiled over with rage. Roth and his damn Omegas would let her get way with anything because they were aware of her true identity as Luna. They needed her to win this bloody altercation with Warmaster Decker.

Bandos spoke up. “Our foremost duty is to the Alpha. I believe the moment has come for you to defend the House of Maynord, just as you vowed in your oath when you became a Fang.”

“Duty or not, I will not send my Fleet to their deaths for a selfish cause,” Reyna shot a sharp look at Bandos before redirecting her gaze to Roth. “We swore fealty to Odin and the ruling House of Alphas, Alpha Roth. It is the duty of your first Fleet of Omegas to protect your throne from rival Warmasters. Why must we, the Icehelm’s first Fleet, take on their role? Odin didn’t bless us for you to use as a means to an end. To fight for your cause, it must be just, something we can rally behind.”

The room fell silent, everyone waiting for Roth’s reply. His mismatched eyes grew darker, a subtle shift that Reyna caught with keen attention. It was like an unspoken message passed between them.

You test me, Reyna.

Roth’s voice echoed in her mind; a growl of frustration directed at her, but she maintained a stoic façade. She knew well that the Alpha possessed the ability to establish a mental connection with her—an entitlement granted by Odin.

Breaking the silence, Roth’s gaze moved away from Reyna. “Your concerns are valid, Fangs of the North. I know the gravity of my request, and I do not make it lightly. But understand that this conflict doesn’t only imperil my rule; it poses a threat to the stability of the entire Wild Lands. Decker’s ambitions extend beyond the House of Maynord.”

He paused, allowing his words to settle. “Should Decker succeed, the balance of power will shift, igniting a series of disputes that might push our realms into disarray. I do not ask this of you for personal gain, but for the preservation of our territories and way of life.”

Roth’s gaze swept slowly over each Fang in the room again. “I understand the risks and sacrifices I ask of you. But the future of the Wild Lands depends on our unity at this critical juncture. Will you stand with me?”

A hush enveloped the room, and Roth’s eyes shifted, settling on Reyna. At that instant, she could tell Roth now understood she spoke on behalf of the entire Northern Fleet.

He likely didn’t expect her to have such authority over the situation. It must have been a blow to his pride, making him feel powerless and frustrated, knowing that his plans were now in her hands. The smug grin on his handsome face faded, replaced by something else.

As if on cue, Reyna noticed a subtle smile playing on Roth’s lips, as if he had deciphered something beyond what met the eye.

“Will you stand with me, Prime?” he asked, a subtle challenge underlying his question.

He clearly wanted her to remember their prior understanding in order to sway her to his side. There was something about the way he smiled that made her think that he could hear her thoughts. Could he read her mind or was it possible that they could establish a mental link with each other?

“The North stands behind you, as is our duty,” she stated. “But this is different, Alpha Roth. The real question is, did you present the first Fleet with a convincing motive to support you?” She turned to her Fleet. “Do we have such a motive?”

“Yes,” the Fleet responded in unison.

“About damn time,” one of the Omegas grumbled, echoing the impatience shared by the other Omegas present.

“Steady yourself, Marcel.” Roth’s voice cut through the room, a reminder to maintain decorum.

“Let’s move on to planning.” Marcel’s impatience as he leaned forward. “We’ve wasted enough time on this.”

Reyna answered. “There are still matters we must clarify before we move forward.”

The third Omega, a composed figure, joined the conversation. “What specifics do you seek?”

“Why hasn’t the Alpha deployed his first Fleet to quell Decker’s ambitions? What is the true nature of this conflict?” Reyna’s questions were direct. “By involving the Northern Fleet, you’re placing our territory at the heart of this power struggle. We deserve these answers. There’s clearly more beneath the surface, and we need to understand the stakes before we commit our forces.”

“I’m inclined to agree with the Prime, Alpha,” Bandos stated, bowing to Roth, whose gaze remained fixed on Reyna.

In contrast to Suncrest’s expansive territory, which boasted fifteen packs, Frostcall held a modest five. Among these, Egranox was the most elite, albeit the smallest, comprising just sixty wolves. Entangling themselves in a rising revolt could prove problematic, as they couldn’t afford to spread their limited forces thin.

“Unfortunately, Decker’s attempts on my life continue as he gains more allies,” Roth revealed. “To protect the House of Maynord, I’ve thinned out my personal Fleet, leaving it to the remaining Omegas. I, meanwhile, have taken refuge in the territory beyond Decker’s reach.”

He glanced at Bandos, signifying that his sanctuary was indeed Frostcall, the Northern Exalted Citadel.

As Roth explained, Reyna realized something. She finally knew the reason behind his secretive arrival in Egranox. But even as she considered his strategy, her mind was fixated on a specific detail. The Highthaws could reach Frostcall. She’d seen these determined wolves navigate the treacherous Mountain of Ice before, though they couldn’t survive the cold. They could overcome that vulnerability if they had skilled Shadowbeasts. The Suncrest Shadowbeasts–Scourgers–were fire breathers, able to, with training, ward off the cold long enough to keep their champions alive.

Glancing around the War Room, Reyna noticed that everyone’s eyes, except hers, Bandos’, and the Omegas’, avoided Roth’s gaze. No one could meet the Alpha’s eyes directly, and Bandos seemed hesitant to ask the questions that were on her mind.

Reyna shifted her focus to Roth. “What does Warmaster Decker want?” she asked him directly. “What is his intention?”

“Prime,” Bandos warned with a growl.

Morris, provoked again, cut in. “That’s not relevant.”

“It is relevant because I’m asking,” Reyna countered. “Why is he targeting the ruling house? And what’s the real reason for your visit to Frostcall? Greenpeak territory alone has eighteen packs; they don’t need our help. Considering our limited numbers, before my Fleet commits to anything, I demand to know your genuine motives for being here. Spare me the talk of Highthaws avoiding the North; Warmaster Decker is mad enough to attack Frostcall.”

The delicate balance of power among their territories required them to approach this significant threat with care. Warmaster Decker’s influence, especially as the Warmaster of the West, extended far and wide. The ongoing rivalry between him and the House of Maynord was a delicate situation that the North had carefully avoided so far.

If Roth intended to involve them in this conflict, he needed a strong reason to convince them.

Marcel’s frustration sparked another outburst. “Your disrespect for the House of Maynord stems from your delusion that being Prime gives you undue influence here. Understand this, female: your authority is bound to the Alpha’s commands and we’ve indulged in your insolence long enough. You follow, not lead!”

“But it isn’t your place as Prime that emboldens you with such audacity now, Reyna, is it?” Roth’s words hung in the air, carrying the implicit suggestion that he was aware of her Luna lineage without saying it outright.

Nor is it your title of Prime that lets you get away with it.

Roth’s words echoed within her thoughts as she locked eyes with him. How she detested his teasing, the way he alluded to his unspoken knowledge without directly acknowledging it.

“Is there something you’d like to share, Alpha Roth?”

Roth smiled a little. “I shall withhold my words for another time,” he said, prompting the Omegas to exchange curious glances. “Reyna, come with me.”

Reyna’s heart raced. She couldn’t help but suspect that whatever he wanted to discuss had to do with her true identity. With a single nod, she glanced at Bandos, who returned the gesture as the room rose.

Stepping away from the table, Roth gestured for her to take the lead; she did. An uneasy feeling settled in her gut as they left the War Room. This was a conversation she was not prepared for.