Chapter 87 The Northern Packs
LUCA
The meeting continued for hours, covering everything from resource allocation to diplomatic protocols. By the time it ended, I was exhausted in a way I’d never been before.
It felt worse somehow. Being mortal was obviously going to take some getting used to.
“You need to pace yourself,” Arya said as we walked back to our quarters. “You’re not immortal anymore. You can’t push yourself the way you used to.”
“I’m still eight hundred years old. I think I can handle a long meeting.”
“Eight hundred years of experience in an increasingly mortal body. That’s different.”
She was right, but I didn’t want to admit it.
We were approaching our rooms when Sage intercepted us.
“Got a minute?” She looked serious.
“Of course. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong exactly. Just… complicated.” She glanced around. “Can we talk somewhere private?”
We moved to a small sitting room. Sage paced for a moment before speaking.
“Ryker proposed.”
The statement hung in the air.
“That’s… wonderful?” Arya ventured.
“Is it?” Sage stopped pacing. “I mean, I love him. I do. But Arya, he proposed while telling me that he’s finally, truly over you. That he’s ready to move on completely. And I just—” She ran her hands through her hair. “I don’t want to be someone’s consolation prize. I don’t want to marry a man who needs to reassure himself he’s over someone else before he can commit to me.”
“Did you tell him this?”
“Not in so many words. I just asked for time to think about it.” Sage sat heavily. “Am I being stupid? He loves me. I love him. Shouldn’t that be enough?”
“Only you can answer that,” Arya said gently. “But if you have doubts—”
“I don’t have doubts about him. I have doubts about being the second choice. About whether he’d have even noticed me if you hadn’t rejected him.” She looked at Arya. “How do you live with that? Knowing you’ll always wonder?”
“You don’t live with it. You confront it.” Arya moved to sit beside Sage. “Talk to him. Communicate well and tell him your fears. If he can’t understand them, if he can’t reassure you honestly, then you have your answer.”
“And if he can?”
“Then you get married and live happily ever after. Or at least reasonably contentedly after. Happiness is overrated anyway.”
Sage laughed despite herself. “When did you become wise?”
“About five minutes ago. I’m improvising wildly.”
After Sage left, Arya turned to me. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”
“I think they love each other. Whether that’s enough—” I shrugged. “Love is complicated. People are complicated. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
“Very philosophical.”
“I’m old. I’m allowed to be philosophical.” I pulled her close. “But for what it’s worth, I think Ryker genuinely loves her. He just needs to get better at showing it in ways that don’t make her feel second-best.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“Maybe. I’m still learning how to love someone without being suffocating about it.”
“You’re doing better.”
“Barely. But I’m trying.” I kissed her forehead. “Now, can we please have one evening without drama? Just us, dinner, maybe some highly inappropriate activities?”
“That sounds perfect.”
ARYA’S POV
TWO WEEKS LATER
The Unity Council’s first official meeting was chaotic.
Twenty-seven representatives from different species, territories, and political backgrounds, all trying to speak at once. Wolves were arguing with Lycans. Bears debating with cats. The Fae representative looked like they wanted to turn everyone into toads.
“ORDER!” I shouted, my voice amplified by the speaking stone. “We’ll get nowhere if everyone talks simultaneously.”
The room quieted, though I could see several representatives still itching to interrupt.
“One at a time. Starting with—” I consulted my notes, “—Alpha Cyrus. You had concerns about territorial boundaries?”
Cyrus stood, nodding gratefully. “Several packs are claiming the same hunting grounds. We need clear guidelines about resource sharing.”
“The Lycan territories have similar issues,” Lord Drayven added. “Ancient claims versus current occupation. It’s a mess.”
“Then we create a committee to map out resources and establish fair distribution systems,” I suggested. “Representatives from each species, working together to find solutions.”
“That could take months,” someone protested.
“Then it takes months. We’re building something that will last centuries. We can afford to be thorough.” I looked around the room. “Does anyone object to forming a resources committee?”
Silence.
“Good. That’s decided. Next issue?”
The meeting continued for three more hours. By the end, we’d established five committees, drafted preliminary agreements on three major issues, and only had two near-fistfights.
Progress.
“You’re terrifyingly good at this,” Luca said afterward. “Has anyone told you that?”
“You might have mentioned it once or twice.”
“I’m mentioning it again. You just wrangled twenty-seven alphas and nobles like they were unruly children.” He pulled me close. “It was extremely attractive.”
“Everything I do is extremely attractive to you.”
“True. But this was especially so.” His hand slid down my back. “Want to skip the afternoon meetings and—”
“Luna Arya!” A runner burst into the room, breathless. “Emergency. The northern territories—there’s been an incident.”
My stomach dropped. “What kind of incident?”
“Violence. Between a wolf pack and a Lycan settlement. Three dead, dozens injured. They’re claiming the other side broke the peace accords.”
“Fuck.” I looked at Luca. “We need to go. Now.”
“Agreed. Caspian!” Luca was already moving. “Prepare transport. Full security detail. We leave in twenty minutes.”
The northern territories were a six-hour journey. We spent the time reviewing reports, trying to piece together what had happened.
“Both sides are blaming each other,” Caspian said, pulling up witness statements. “The wolves say the Lycans attacked without provocation. The Lycans say they were defending themselves from an organized assault.”
“Someone’s lying,” Sage observed. She’d insisted on coming along, citing her experience with conflict resolution. “Or both sides are telling their version of the truth.”
“What does that mean?”