Page 64 of The Ashpaw: Part One

The alphas then looked at each other, silently deciding the verdict before confirming with Alastair, who nodded in agreement.

“Kyntha’s attendant is lying. The Ashpaw speaks the truth.”

Kyntha gasped. “Mauricia, you lied to me?”

Her expression turned to terror. “I—”

“Did you take the earring?” Eidan asked.

Mauricia locked eyes with Kyntha, who turned away in disgust, and then responded with a quiet, “Aye.”

“And did you put the earring in the Ashpaw’s pocket to accuse her of the crime?”

“… Aye”

Alastair grunted. “Then she is the guilty party, and forfeits her hand for thievery.”

Mauricia cried out in terror, the guard keeping her in his grasp.

Darion, meanwhile, sat still at the table, arms crossed, staring in the middle ground.

Alastair turned to him. “Son, an alpha needs to lead with reason and logic. When you react on emotion, you make mistakes that threaten the clan’s trust in us as their leaders. I’m very disappointed in you.”

The muscle in Darion’s jaw ticked. “Aye, Father. You are correct. I… acted recklessly.”

Alastair stood. “From now on, any punishment for the Ashpaw must be brought before the full Council. Even for petty infractions. Am I clear?”

Darion did not look at Mauricia as she wailed.

His eyes, hard and unreadable, settled on Fern instead, as though her innocence somehow deepened the offense.

“You are clear.”

“Good. Eidan? See the Ashpaw back to the servants’ quarters. And Darion? Deal with the thief.”

The rest of the alphas stood and filed out of the room. Karn squeezed her shoulder on his way past, while Norden gave her a sympathetic nod, and Alastair a wan smile.

Then Kyntha let out a small gasp, running to Fern and sweeping her into a hug.

Fern wanted to recoil, but her smell and touch were so clean and inviting, making her want to return the gesture. She compromised between her opposing desires by standing still.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I had not realized Mauricia’s distaste for you was so great. Such a poison for the clan.”

And then she whispered, too softly for the others to hear.

“You’re becoming an even greater inconvenience than I feared, and I have little patience for complications.”

Then backed up slowly, planted a kiss on her cheek, and walked out.

Fern blinked, unable to move.

Eidan stood in front of her. “Ready?”

That she-wolf means to kill us, her wolf whispered.

Fern nodded. “Aye.”

She followed him out the door.