Chapter 211 Old Enemies

Chapter 211 Old Enemies
The argument refused to die.
Even after the organisers forced themselves between the two wolves, neither side backed away.
Within seconds, the crowd had grown thicker, wolves abandoning food stalls and festival games in favour of the unfolding confrontation.
Piper watched as Archie stepped forward without hesitation.
“Enough.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the authority expected of Crescent Moon’s future Alpha.
Rollins moved beside him.
“This isn’t helping anyone.”
The two young heirs stood shoulder to shoulder despite belonging to rival packs, an image that caused more than a few surprised looks from the crowd.
One of the Frostfang wolves pointed toward Rollins.
“Easy for you to say.”
Rollins met his stare calmly. “If someone wanted to ruin today,” Rollins continued evenly, “arguing exactly like this is giving them what they want.”
A murmur passed through the gathering.
Before anyone could respond, one of the elderly organisers raised both hands.
“The ceremony has only just begun. We will not disgrace our ancestors by turning the first day of the tradition into a battlefield.”
Reluctantly, the wolves lowered their voices.
The Frostfang representative shot one last glare toward the Crescent Moon group.
“We’re watching you.”
The Crescent Moon wolf folded his arms.
“Do whatever helps you sleep.”
Neither apologised.
The crowd slowly began to disperse, conversations immediately breaking into whispers.
Piper leaned a little closer to the banner The cuts weren't ripped, they were cut too clean.
Her eyes shifted to the inside of the crate. The banners underneath remained folded neatly.
Almost untouched, That didn’t make sense.
If the crate had simply been knocked over during an argument The banners should have spilt everywhere.
Instead…
Only the damaged ones were visible.
By the time they left the square, the music had returned.
It wasn’t as loud as before, but it was enough for most people to pretend the argument had never happened.
Festival stalls lined the streets leading deeper into the territory. Bright ribbons fluttered overhead, the smell of grilled meat, roasted corn, and sweet pastries drifted through the warm afternoon air.
Ember inhaled dramatically.
“If I don’t eat something in the next five minutes, I’m blaming you.”
Piper looked at her.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“How is your hunger my fault?”
“Because you’ve infected me with stress.”
Archie chuckled. “I didn’t know stress was contagious.”
“It is when you’re friends with Piper.”
Rollins, walking a few steps behind them, shook his head with the faintest smile. “I think that’s scientifically impossible.”
“Says the guy who turns everything into a lecture.”
The conversation drifted toward the games set up along the street. Ember insisted she could beat Rollins at the ring toss.
He confidently accepted the challenge.
Archie admitted he’d never actually played any festival games before.
Ember stopped walking.
“My father usually expected me to stay beside him,” Archie added.
Ember’s expression softened for just a second. “That’s depressing.”
“It wasn’t…”
“It was.”
She grabbed his wrist before he could protest.
“Congratulations.”
Archie blinked.
“For what?”
“Today you’re having a childhood.”
Before he could object, she dragged him toward one of the game stalls.
They watched as the vendor handed Archie three wooden rings.
“You throw them,” Ember instructed.
“I know how ring toss works,” he said as he threw all three accurately. 
Ember gasped dramatically.
The feeling lasted less than a minute an intimidating voice carried over the growing crowd.
“Archie.”
Every conversation around them seemed to quiet just a little.
Standing near the entrance to the council pavilion was Vlad. Several elders stood with him,
“We’re beginning.”
Archie’s smile faded. He already knew what “beginning” meant.
The meeting.
He looked at Piper and kissed her forehead. “I won’t be long.”
She nodded.
Rollins turned toward another person approaching from the opposite direction.
Alpha Victor Lancaster.
Rollins exhaled quietly. “I should go too.”
Within moments, both young Alpha heirs were walking toward their respective leaders.
Ember watched them disappear into the pavilion. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
The pavilion stood slightly apart from the rest of the festival grounds.
Unlike the laughter and music echoing through the square, the atmosphere around it was subdued. Guards stood at each entrance, allowing only Alpha leaders, their heirs, and a handful of elders inside.
Piper and Ember stopped a short distance away.
“We’re really just going to stand here?” Ember asked.
Piper shrugged.
“We weren’t invited.”
“Has that ever stopped you?”
Piper shot her a look.
“I’m trying this new thing.”
“Oh?”
“Respecting boundaries.”
Ember blinked.
“I give it five minutes.”
Despite herself, Piper smiled.
Archie took his place beside Vlad.
Across from him, Rollins stood near Alpha Victor.
Other Alphas from neighbouring packs settled into their seats, their earlier smiles long gone.
The damaged banners had changed the mood more than anyone wanted to admit.
One elder cleared his throat.
“We’re here to ensure today’s incident goes no further.”
A Frostfang elder leaned forward. “It already has.”
“What exactly are you implying?” another Alpha asked.
“I’m implying that our ceremonial property was deliberately destroyed.”
A Crescent Moon elder folded his arms.
“And you’ve decided we’re responsible without a shred of evidence.”
“We don’t need evidence when the pattern speaks for itself.”
“The pattern?”
“Our packs have never trusted each other.”
The room stirred.
Every argument circled back to the same old wounds.
Another Alpha shook his head.
“This is exactly why these gatherings become difficult.”
Before anyone else could answer, Vlad finally spoke.
His voice was calm.
“So much anger over a few damaged banners.” The room quieted. He looked around the table, his expression unreadable.
“Misunderstandings have started wars before.” Several leaders nodded thoughtfully as  Vlad continued.
“Perhaps old wounds never truly healed.”
He hadn’t blamed anyone nor defended his pack.
One of the Frostfang elders sighed heavily. “My wolves are angry.”
“And mine are offended by the accusations,” another replied.
Every sentence seemed to push the room a little farther apart.
Piper took a slow breath before speaking louder than she’d intended. “I don’t think either pack did it.”
“I knew it.” Ember w
The voices inside the pavilion stopped.
Several heads turned toward her.
An elder frowned. “What did you say?”
Piper straightened.
“I said I don’t think Frostfang sabotaged Crescent Moon.”
She looked toward the damaged banners resting against one side of the pavilion.
“And I don’t think Crescent Moon sabotaged Frostfang either.”
A brief silence settled over the gathering.
One Alpha gave a short, dismissive laugh. “And what makes you think that?”
Piper met his gaze. “Because someone benefits from both of you blaming each other.”
Another elder shook his head. “You’re too young to understand pack politics.”
Maybe.
But that wasn’t what this was about. Piper looked around the room, meeting one face after another. “Maybe I am.”
She paused. “But whoever damaged those banners understood exactly how we’d react.”
For one fleeting moment, it looked as though her words had reached them.
Then one elder scoffed.
“Or perhaps you’re looking for mysteries where there aren’t any.”
Another nodded.
“This is pack business.”
“You should leave it to those with experience.”
Piper’s shoulders sank almost imperceptibly.
Not because they had proved her wrong.
Because they hadn’t even considered the possibility she was right.