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Orion, with more and more strength back, pushed his father away. “Dad, I’m fine,” he mumbled.

Nathaniel finally looked to his beta for answers. “What happened?”

Everyone’s voices were muted, recognizing the ungodly hour it was. Not Jesse though. He thundered without reserve, “What happened is that your son was attacked, and now wemustretaliate.”

Nathaniel looked back at Orion, then at me. “The humans did this?”

“No,” I said softly, casting an anxious glance in Jesse’s direction before continuing. “We didn’t see any humans in our recon. In fact, the campsite looked mostly abandoned. We were attacked by a wolf.”

“One of ours?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think he belonged to any pack.”

Cara tilted her head in curiosity. “How is that possible? All wolves in the OA belong to a pack.”

“He was alone,” I assured them.

“Maybe he was a scout.”

I frowned, thinking it was unlikely. “He didn’t communicate with us. It was like he didn’t understand us.”

Cara pursed her lips in thought. “Perhaps he cannot understand us, if he’s from outside the OA territories?” She was floating theories.

“Or maybe,” Jesse snarled, still maintaining that anger. “He works with those trespassing humans. They encountered him at the human camp; that’s the likely answer.”

Nathaniel sighed slowly through his nose before he turned to Jesse. “And what do you suggest?”

“We should pay them back the same courtesy they afforded your son.”

“Diana says the campsite looked abandoned. We have zero indication that those humans are responsible for this.”

“Somethingmustbe done!” Jesse roared.

“The only certainty here is that an aggressive, unfamiliar wolf has invaded our forest. Do you recommend I send out the entire guard to track him down in the dark?” Nathaniel asked bitterly.

Jesse threw his hands in the air. “Yes!”

“We have no idea where this wolf is, or if his pack is nearby. “

“So we leave him be and let him continue attacking our people?” Jesse countered back.

Jesse’s volatility frightened me. My back was pressed against the wall, and I felt trapped, with nowhere to escape. Orion, apparently sensing my trepidation, placed a reassuring hand on my elbow, stroking my arm with his thumb. With that small contact a wave of relief and a sense of security washed over me.

Nathaniel considered Jesse’s question in stewing silence. Something about the hard planes of his face made me more nervous than Jesse’s shouting.

Eventually, the alpha decided with a note of finality that allowed no room for questioning. “We will search in the morning for this lone wolf. I will lead the efforts myself.”

With the fight in Jesse somewhat extinguished, the room began to empty until there was only Orion, his father, and me. I looked at Orion, uneasy about leaving his side.

“Diana.”

It was the alpha that addressed me. I reluctantly turned my gaze from Orion.

“I must speak with my son. Please, return in the morning to look after him while I’m gone.”

I felt a sudden intake of breath at my side, like Orion was preparing to argue the point. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was being dismissed or the thought that he needed to be watched over. Either way, I silenced the protest by touching his hand on my arm, casting a meaningful look to him before replying to Nathaniel, “Of course, My Alpha.”

* * *