But I was usually so consumed by pack duties that my paws barely touched the den floor. The household omega handled all the meal preparations—when would I ever have time to organize a Moon-Turn feast for sixty wolves?

I let out a low breath through my nose.

But it was the Winter Solstice. Let it go.

The Feast Steward approached, head bowed respectfully. "All the courses have been laid out, Alpha."

I surveyed the long table. "Please, everyone, begin."

My bond-mother didn't move. No one dared reach for the serving dishes.

I glanced at Howl, my eyes asking silently: Are we eating or not?

He rose with that familiar appeasing smile. "Mother, why don't you try the braised elk heart first..."

She prodded at it with her claws.

"What kind of portion is this? Sliced so thin it wouldn't satisfy a newborn pup."

"Roasted stag? Wasteful. I heard the hunters took down a prime breeding male for this..."

"Pretty arrangement of herbs, I suppose. Can you eat decoration?"

Every single dish failed to meet her standards.

She critiqued for a full thirty minutes before finally deigning to speak.

"Well. I suppose everyone may eat now."

Wolves began to reach for food, but the atmosphere had grown suffocating. The scent of tension hung thick in the air.

I kept my head lowered, spooning bone broth into my mouth without tasting it.

Then her gaze landed on me.

"Selene, your pack must have accumulated quite the territory resources this year?"

I gave a measured reply. "The hunts have been decent."

"What's the point of gathering resources?"

She sighed with theatrical heaviness.

"For a female, bloodline is what matters most. Look at your bond-sister—she holds no rank, but she keeps that den running like a well-oiled machine. And those two pups? Raised beautifully."

Joryn smiled with practiced sweetness. "Mother, please, don't say that. It's simply my duty to the pack..."

"I'm stating facts!"

My bond-mother's voice rose sharply, carrying the edge of a warning growl.

"A female who can't bear pups—what good is all the territory in the world?"

The entire table went silent. I could hear heartbeats quickening around me.

My grip tightened around my spoon until my knuckles went white.

"Mother!"

Howl shot to his feet, his laugh strained. "Let's just eat, shall we? What are you even saying?"

She let out a cold, barking laugh.

"Three years of mating bond and not a whisper of pups. I can't even mention it?"

"I told you from the start—don't bond with some pack-leading female. But did you listen? The neighboring den's daughter, Tessara Valehowl, mated into the eastern territory. She whelped her second litter last winter. Both male pups!"

"We've... been focused on our duties. We're not ready for pups yet."

Howl's voice wavered, his scent souring with anxiety.

"Not ready?"

My bond-mother laughed, the sound sharp and mocking.

"You think I'm a doddering old wolf? She's barren!"

Whispers rippled around the table like wind through dry leaves. Every pair of eyes fixed on my belly, nostrils flaring to catch any hint of fertility in my scent.

I closed my eyes. Drew a slow breath through my nose.

Two winters ago, Howl and I had visited the Healer's Den for testing.

His seed-count was dangerously low—barely twenty percent viability.

The healer had been blunt: natural conception was nearly impossible.

Howl had begged me to keep it quiet.

"I'm a male wolf. I can't lose face like this. The pack would see me as weak."

"If Mother pushes about grandpups, I'll handle it."

I had agreed.

So we told everyone we simply weren't ready for pups yet.

But my bond-mother had decided the fault was mine. And now she was publicly shaming me before the entire gathering.

I looked at Howl.

He kept his head down, refusing to meet my eyes.

"Selene, just... bear with it. Mother's only venting her frustrations."

My brow furrowed.

This was him "handling it"?

My bond-mother picked up a fertility nut from the ceremonial bowl with her claws and held it toward me.

"Selene, eat this seed-blessing."

"Even the flowers in the meadow can reproduce. But apparently, some wolves cannot."

"Tell me—was your scent a little too available when you were young? Ran with too many males and ruined your womb?"

The room went deathly still. I could feel the weight of sixty gazes pressing down on me.

That single accusation ground my dignity and reputation into the dirt beneath the feast table.

And finally, I understood.

From the moment she'd demanded I arrange this Moon-Turn feast, through every passive-aggressive jab since—

It wasn't the ceremonial spread she found fault with—it was me.

I rose from my seat, but Howl stood at the same moment and caught my arm.

He pressed close, his breath warm against my ear, voice low and pleading. "Mother's always been this way... Let's just finish the feast, and then we'll return to our den, alright?"

My claws pressed against my palms as I held his gaze.

His submission made my wolf snarl with frustration.

For his sake, I'd bitten back my pride time and again.

But even an Alpha has her breaking point.

For his mother's name-day, I'd gifted her a bracelet of pure moonsilver. When fever took her, I'd summoned the finest healer in the territory. She craved the admiration of the pack, so I'd commissioned this extravagant eighteen-course ceremonial spread.

And what had I received? Humiliation heaped upon me at every gathering—all because I hadn't yet carried a pup.

What wolf could endure such treatment?

Sensing my genuine fury, Howl hurried to soothe me in hushed tones. "I know you've suffered unfairly. Next moon-turn, we won't come here—we'll celebrate with your birth-pack instead, I swear it."

I felt my hackles lower slightly.

Three years of mating, and I hadn't spent a single Moon-Turn feast with my own kin. Even on the second day of the celebration, I wasn't permitted to visit them.

His mother's words still echoed in my mind: "If you leave, who will distribute the winter gifts to all these pups and pack-kin?"

"You've taken the mating bond—you must uphold this den. Running back to your birth-pack is out of the question."

For the sake of Howl's promise, I told myself: One more time. Just endure it one more time.

At that moment, Jarek Frostclaw lifted his goblet and swayed to his feet.

"Little brother," he slurred, the stench of fermented honey-wine rolling off him, "not to lecture you, but you need to keep your mate under control!"

"Can't carry a pup, but certainly knows how to drain the storehouse dry. Tsk, tsk." He shook his head with exaggerated disapproval. "If she were my bondmate, I'd have put her in her place long ago!"

Beneath the feast table, Joryn kicked him. Her face, however, remained a mask of gentle concern. "You've drunk too much. What nonsense are you howling?"

"I'm not howling nonsense!" Jarek waved her off. "She bonded into the Frostclaw line, so she follows Frostclaw ways. A female running a pack? Out there mingling with who knows which wolves?" He let out a derisive snort. "Probably being mounted by another and doesn't even catch the scent!"

Muffled snickers rippled around the feast table.

Howl kept his head bowed. Silent.

I fixed Jarek with an unwavering stare. "Elder brother, who secured your position in the howl-network? Without me 'out there mingling,' where would you be right now?"

Jarek's face flushed dark as old blood. He jabbed a claw in my direction. "You—!"

"Me what? Did I speak anything but truth?"

I held his gaze without flinching.

Howl immediately seized my arm. "Selene, that's enough—he's my blood-brother!"

My eyes burned with sudden heat.

When others attacked me, he went mute.

When I defended myself, he held me back.

I'd never feared the fangs and claws of the outside world. But betrayal from the one closest to me? That I couldn't bear.

Dahlia Crowmire suddenly turned to her daughter. "You work within Selene's pack—how much of the resource share does she grant you?"

Alyra Crowmire blinked, caught off guard, then answered honestly. "Three hundred silver-weight base, plus a hundred in performance shares."

"What?" Dahlia slammed down her eating knife. "You completed your youngling training, and she's granting you three or four hundred? She's cheating her own bond-kin!"

Alyra rushed to explain. "Mother, I only finished my training this season. That's actually quite generous—"

Dahlia struck the table with her palm. "Selene, you spent eighteen hundred silver-weight on a single feast, but you're this miserly with your own relatives? I won't accept it—you will increase her share. Six hundred minimum!"

That opened the floodgates. Several relatives who held positions within my pack couldn't stay quiet any longer.

"Yes, Selene, what about me? I've served the pack for two seasons now—isn't it time for a larger portion?"

"Exactly! My sire handles your supply runs—that's the dirtiest, hardest labor there is. You can't show favoritism!"

I turned to Howl, my gaze burning.

Every single one of these relatives had found their way into my pack through him.

I had never wanted to bring them into the pack's work-circles in the first place.

"They share your blood now," I had reminded myself. "Some of them are elders of their own lines. If they fail at their duties, how am I supposed to correct them—bare my fangs at wolves twice my age?"

Howl had convinced me otherwise.

"They have all struggled through hard winters. Extend your protection if you can. We are all bound by the same pack-ties now."

So I had relented.

Alyra had only completed her first hunt this turning. She could not even organize a simple territory report. To sharpen her skills, I had personally funded her enrollment in an advanced craft-training with the guild masters—twenty thousand in resource shares from my own storehouse.

My second-aunt's son worked as a scout-runner for the pack. His tracking numbers sat at the very bottom of every ledger. I had been preparing to reassign him to lesser duties, and now he wanted a larger winter share?

And then there was Elder Stellan Thornforge—a retired laborer from the old iron-works whom I had brought into supply runs out of obligation. He could barely lift the equipment crates. Half the time, he had to beg wolves from other dens to carry his load.

I was not running a pack. I was running a refuge for wolves who believed they honored me by accepting my protection.

I had assumed they would show gratitude.

Instead, they had gathered their voices together to make demands.

I set down my eating knife. My voice emerged cold as frost-wind.

"If you find the pack's resource distribution unsatisfactory, you are welcome to seek better arrangements elsewhere. I lead a modest territory. I cannot afford to keep moon-blessed deities on my provision rolls."

The feast hall went silent. Expressions shifted like shadows under clouds.

Dahlia was the first to bare her teeth.

"My daughter serving under your banner is a privilege for you. And you have the arrogance to posture like this?"

She turned her muzzle toward my bond-mother.

"Can you believe this, Deirdra? Your son's bondmate grows bolder with each moon. She will not even grant her own blood-kin a scrap of honor."

My bond-mother straightened her spine, assuming her matriarch stance with practiced ease.

"Selene. Offer your apologies to everyone gathered here. Now."

A cold laugh escaped my throat, and I held her gaze without flinching.

"Apologize for what? I am the Alpha. They are pack members under my authority."

"My territory does not chain anyone to their duties. If they are unhappy, they may leave whenever they choose."

I turned to face them directly.

"Alyra—have I ever treated you unfairly?"

"Evren Ironpelt—you know exactly what your tracking records show."

"Elder Stellan—if you would truly prefer to return to rest, I will not prevent it."

All three of them went pale as winter-starved deer.

Alyra spoke up immediately, her voice small.

"Selene, I am truly grateful. Thank you for everything."

Evren dropped his head low.

"The larger share is not that important, actually..."

Stellan cleared his throat with obvious discomfort.

"Everything is fine. All is well..."

The hall fell into heavy silence.

But my bond-mother was not satisfied. She planted her hands on her hips and raised her voice until it echoed off the stone walls.

"What is wrong with all of you?"

"I still hold authority in this bloodline."

"Selene, you will grant them larger shares. Because I have declared it!"

Dahlia immediately began clapping her hands together.

"Thank you so much, Deirdra!"

A scattering of reluctant applause followed from the gathered wolves.

Most simply watched, ears pricked forward, waiting to see what would unfold.

I rose to my feet. Howl reached for my arm. I shook him off—hard enough that he stumbled.

"All you ever do is tell me to endure. Is that the only use you have?"

"You will not stand beside me? Fine. I will stand for myself."

His eyes pleaded with me, soft and desperate.

"Selene, please. Do not cause a scene..."

My bond-mother slammed her palm against the feast table, refusing to yield her ground.

"Howl! Show some backbone! This bloodline carries the name Frostclaw, not Wolfsbane!"

"She cannot even give us pups. The least she can do is work herself to the bone for the Frostclaw line."

"Selene—by next winter, you will surrender the Alpha position to one of our chosen wolves!"

"And you had better produce an heir. Healer's intervention, old remedies, I do not care how you manage it. But you will give me grandpups. Otherwise, you can gather your things and leave this territory!"

The hall went dead silent.

Every pair of eyes turned toward me.

I smiled.

Absolutely absurd.

I looked at her, my gaze cold as frozen iron.

"No need to wait until next winter. I am leaving right now."

"Steward!"

The feast steward, who had been hovering near the kitchen passage, stepped forward instantly.

"Pack up all the food. Every last dish."

He froze.