11. ASANI

11

ASANI

The day drags on, all of us lounging in Nepheline’s nest until the full moon demands our presence. Sometimes I wish there weren’t responsibilities attached to the seven of us, that we could just focus on our little pack and the family we’re building. And yet, every time I think that, I realize how selfish that sounds. So, I gather my thoughts, shove them down deep into my consciousness, and follow Mateo and Nepheline’s lead.

The energy in the packlands is electric, thick enough that I swear I can taste it on the back of my tongue. The nearly full moon hangs high above us, casting a silvery glow over everything. It feels like the land itself is alive with magic, pulsing with the collective anticipation of the pack.

There’s a steady hum of chatter as we reach the heart, a thrumming noise that vibrates through my chest. It’s not quite nervousness—it’s something more primal, more instinctual. A kind of readiness.

Ahead of us, Nepheline and Darius walk hand in hand, their lazy smiles and soft laughter cutting through the tension like a balm. They’ve been glued to each other all evening and I can’t help but think back to how they were in the nest.

I’d watched them then, the way they moved together so naturally, so seamlessly, their kisses slow and unhurried like they had all the time in the world. Watching them had stirred something in me—not jealousy, not envy, but admiration. An aching kind of fondness that I didn’t quite know what to do with.

Now, I trail just behind them, standing beside Mateo, River, Remi, and Maverick close by. The remaining members of the old council are already seated off to the side, their expressions stoic but unreadable. They’re far enough away that they won’t hear what I have to say to Mateo, which is exactly how I want it.

I glance at him as we walk, his sharp profile illuminated by the moonlight. “It’s impossible to feel disconnected from your wolf,” I murmur.

Mateo doesn’t respond immediately, but I see his jaw tighten. His gaze remains fixed ahead, scanning the crowd as he processes my words. Finally, he nods, his voice just as low when he speaks. “Darius mentioned it. I noticed it too.”

I take a deep breath, the weight of what I’m about to say pressing heavy against my chest. “I’ve spent my life with the Nightshades,” I begin, keeping my tone measured. “But some part of me—my wolf—has always known that we were the rightful Alpha of the pack of the Forbidden. When Silas left Darius in the woods for you to find,” I continue, “I felt the call. Not from Silas himself, but from his wolf. It’s instinctual. It’s in our blood.” I pause, letting the words sink in. “I’m nearly forty, Mateo. I haven’t been with the pack of the Forbidden since I was a kid, and still, I felt it. That pull, that connection.”

He nods again, his expression thoughtful. “And Darius doesn’t feel it?”

“No,” I say firmly. “And that’s the problem. If he doesn’t feel it, something is wrong. I know the Sapphire wolves are raised differently but he hasn’t brought up trying to find his parents since that first meeting. He’s more than happy at Nepheline’s side.”

Mateo exhales sharply, his fingers brushing over his chin as he considers my words. “I’ve been thinking the same thing,” he admits. “Whatever’s going on with the Sapphire wolves, with Victoria and Kehlani, it’s affecting more than just the packlands. It’s deeper. I have a bad feeling it has something to do with the magic.”

We fall silent as we reach the middle of the heart. The wolves are gathered now, their faces turned toward the moon, their voices hushed as they wait for us to speak. The magical energy swirls around us and for a moment, I let myself feel it fully.

Then I take my place in front of the Nightshades and Sapphire wolves, my focus drifting to the rest of my mates. Nepheline stands near the center of the group, her eyes scanning the crowd with a quiet intensity. But what draws my attention most is Darius.

His arms are wrapped tightly around her waist, his body positioned just behind hers like a shield. His head is constantly on a swivel, his gaze flicking over every face, every shadow. Darius is always protective of Nepheline— hopelessly devoted might be the better term—but this? This is something else.

I don’t miss the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers flex slightly against her hips, as if he’s bracing for something. I file it away, but it gnaws at me, a thread I can’t help but pull at even as Mateo’s voice cuts through the murmurs of the crowd.

“As of today,” he commands, “we have officially joined with the Sapphire wolves. This alliance strengthens our pack, our territory, and our future.”

The announcement draws a mix of reactions—some nodding in approval, others stiffening slightly. I scan the crowd, catching glimpses of both curiosity and unease. It’s not surprising. Change never comes without resistance.

Mateo doesn’t flinch, his composure unshakable as he continues. “With this alliance comes new appointments to the council. These individuals will help guide us as we rebuild, as we adapt to the magic returning to our lands.”

I glance at the Sapphire wolves standing to the side of the platform. Victoria looks serene, her hands clasped in front of her, while her Alpha and Beta, Kehlani and Lawrence, stand tall and attentive. Ilara is behind them, her gaze fixed on something—or someone—that I can’t quite place.

“Bo,” Mateo announces, nodding toward the Alpha standing near the front of the crowd. Bo steps forward, his broad shoulders squared as he acknowledges the nod with a slight bow of his head. “And Alpha Elias,” Mateo continues, gesturing to another figure at the edge of the crowd. The older Alpha steps forward, his expression stoic as he joins Bo. “As honorary council members,” Mateo says, “we welcome Sapphire Luna Victoria, her Alpha, Kehlani, and her Beta, Lawrence.” His voice is steady, but there’s an undercurrent to his words, something only those closest to him would catch. “And finally,” Mateo finishes, his gaze shifting to Ilara, “their seer, Ilara.”

The air ripples with murmurs, the crowd buzzing with whispers at the announcement. Ilara steps forward as she inclines her head slightly, her piercing gaze scanning the pack with an almost unnerving calm.

Mateo’s eyes flick to River, a silent command passing between them. River nods and steps forward, his towering frame drawing every eye.

And that’s when it happens.

The temperature shifts, the air thickening around us. A strange, almost oppressive energy settles over the clearing, subtle but impossible to ignore. It’s like the land itself is holding its breath.

I glance at Nepheline, watching as she stiffens slightly in Darius’s arms. His grip tightens around her waist, his head snapping toward the shadows at the edge of the crowd. River doesn’t falter, however, addressing the wolves before him. “The veil surrounding the packlands is still intact,” he begins, his deep voice carrying easily. “It’s alive and it’s doing its job. It’s keeping out any wayward magic, ensuring that our lands remain protected.”

The crowd shifts slightly, a ripple of acknowledgment moving through the wolves. I stand just behind him, my body thrumming with an uneasy energy that I can’t quite place.

“And because of this protection,” River continues, “Mateo has agreed that any wolf who can pass through the veil will be welcomed into the pack. If they pledge their loyalty to our pack Alpha and Luna, they will be accepted as one of us.”

The murmurs grow louder, wolves exchanging glances and nodding in quiet agreement. It’s a bold move, one that signals strength and unity but also risk.

That’s when Victoria steps forward. Her presence hardens into something sharper, something colder. Her glare is icy as it cuts first to River and then to Mateo, who remains calm beside her. Before Victoria can speak, Kehlani, strides forward, his movements sharp and deliberate. The air shifts again, the tension ratcheting up as he turns his piercing gaze on River.

“I veto this decision,” Kehlani states, a growl on the edge of his voice.

A ripple of shock moves through the crowd, and my hands clench into fists at my sides. My wolf stirs, restless beneath my skin. We gave them an honorary space here to help us and now they’re standing against Mateo?

Kehlani takes another step forward, his posture radiating authority he hasn’t earned here. “There are still wolves from the pack of the Forbidden out there, roaming the lands. They are the enemy. Allowing anyone who can pass through the veil into this pack is reckless.”

River holds his ground, his jaw tightening as he fights back the growl that’s rising in his chest. His restraint is impressive, but I can see the fire in his eyes, the tension in his frame as he stares down Kehlani. “This isn’t your decision,” River says evenly, a deadly edge to his words.

Kehlani’s eyes narrow and before anyone can react, he lunges.

Everything happens too fast.

Nepheline gasps as Darius moves instinctively, pulling her out of the way just as Kehlani’s claws swipe at the air where River was standing. My wolf is already surging forward, the shift ripping through me like fire as I hit the ground on four legs, fur bristling, teeth bared.

I launch myself at Kehlani, the force of my leap knocking him off balance. We hit the ground hard, and I press him down with my weight, a low, guttural growl rumbling deep in my chest as I pin him to the earth.

Kehlani struggles beneath me, but I hold firm, my teeth snapping close to his face. The sharp scent of his anger fills the air, but it’s drowned out by the collective gasp from the crowd. The heart of the pack falls into a stunned silence, the only sound my growl reverberating in the stillness. Kehlani is flat on his back, his eyes wide as he stares up at me.

Then Mateo steps forward.

His presence is commanding, powerful, overwhelming . His voice, when he speaks, is calm but edged with steel. “ Enough .”

The single word cuts through the tension like a blade and I immediately loosen my hold on Kehlani, stepping back but keeping my stance protective, my teeth still bared. Kehlani was two seconds away from ripping into River, my mate, my lover, and striking imbalance into a pack that is already rebuilding.

Mateo glares down at Kehlani, his dark eyes unreadable. “This is not how we handle disagreements in this pack,” he growls.

Kehlani flops onto his back but stays shifted, his body flat against the ground in submission. His gaze darts between Mateo and me as I stand above him, waiting for Kehlani to attack again. If he does, I’m ready.

“My mates speak on my behalf,” Mateo states, his voice filling the space. “If there’s a problem with a new rule, you come to me. You don’t attack my pack.” His words land like a blow, his tone leaving no room for argument. He doesn’t raise his voice, doesn’t need to. Every wolf here knows better than to challenge him when he’s like this.

Kehlani’s fur bristles in the evening air but he still doesn’t move.

Mateo’s gaze doesn’t waver as he continues. “Kehlani, your way of thinking is horrid. Asani came from the pack of the Forbidden and he is one of the most loyal Alphas I’ve ever known. He’s also my mate. If I can trust him, there is no reason to distrust any wolf who proves their loyalty by passing through that veil.”

My chest tightens at his words, the deep growl in my throat fading slightly. He’s been more vocal about his trust in me recently, but hearing it laid bare in front of the entire pack—especially the Sapphire wolves—hits differently.

Mateo’s attention shifts back to the crowd. “Let me remind you that many of the wolves in the Nightshades were once under Calista’s rule. And yet, I accepted them. I welcomed them into this pack because they showed they could change, that they could be more than what they were forced to be.” He pauses, letting his words sink in before continuing. “If we blindly follow what fate allows, if we let old biases and outdated thinking guide us, we won’t grow. We won’t move forward.”

Kehlani bristles, his body stiffening at the pointed rebuke. I can see the effort it takes for him to hold his tongue, to lay there and take the weight of Mateo’s words without snapping back.

Finally, I move away from Kehlani with one last low growl, stepping back to give him space. I stay in my wolf form, though, keeping my gaze locked on him. The Alpha rises slowly, shifting to his human form, brushing the dirt from his body with sharp, jerky movements before retreating to stand next to Victoria and Lawrence.

The air is still tense, the crowd quiet but buzzing with what just happened. I can feel it, the brewing rift between us and the Sapphire wolves. It’s subtle now, but it’s there, growing like a storm cloud on the horizon.

This won’t be the last time.

The thought digs into me. As much as I want to believe that this is an isolated incident, I know better. The Sapphire wolves are here to help, yes, but they’re also here to push their own agenda. Whatever that is, it doesn’t seem to align with ours. And yet, we can’t push them out. Not now. We need their help. Their knowledge, their resources. Turning them away isn’t an option.

River steps closer, his fingers threading gently through my fur. The touch is soothing, grounding, and I let myself lean into it just slightly.

“Thank you, Alpha,” River whispers, his voice low and meant only for me.

The words are simple, but they carry a weight that makes my chest ache. I let out a soft huff in response, tilting my head toward him as his hand moves to scratch behind my ears. The crowd begins to disperse, the tension lingering but dissipating as wolves return to their homes, their minds undoubtedly racing with what they’ve just witnessed.