ELRETH

As Tarkyn stood, Aaryn held his gaze and pointed at Elreth, who was fuming, but knew she needed to let the males work this out between themselves.

She would have plenty to say when they were done.

"She is dominant. I submit! I do not ignore the hierarchy! And I do not teach others to do so!"

Tarkyn shook his head, but didn't speak. When both of them were quiet, Elreth spoke. To Tarkyn.

"Explain yourself. Your concerns. What are you raising, Tarkyn?"

Tarkyn glanced at her, breaking the eye-contact with Aaryn, but his shoulders didn't roll. "I'll let Tobe explain," he said. "We have learned… new dynamics through this day."

Elreth turned to Tobe, who swallowed, then looked an apology at the two disformed females before he spoke.

"We had a lot of time to discuss strategy and so forth," Tobe said. "Especially once we knew the humans were gone and we were determining the best way forward. I heard a great deal about how wonderful the disformed Alpha is—his assistance to "his people" and not all of it… Sire, forgive me," he said firmly, turning to Aaryn, "but they are not your people. They belong to their tribes. Yet they see themselves as a unit, separate—and you as their leader, not as a family group, which is what we had assumed. They see you as a power in Anima. And they believe your input, your word holds greater weight than the Alphas within their tribes—even the Elders. They dismissed orders from us and argued with ideals you had taught. They are… loose canons."

Aaryn's head snapped to look at the females, his brow lined.

Elreth's heart sank. She knew him, knew his intention—knew what he would have intended. But she could see what Tobe was saying, as well.

As Aaryn opened her mouth she made the sign for caution, and then listen.

He blinked and looked at her, as if surprised, then he turned back to Tobe. "Explain to me the difference," he said through his teeth, "in what you believe I have led them to, as opposed to what the other Alphas have done?"

"The other Alphas do not undermine the hierarchy," Tobe said with a glance at Elreth. "The disformed derision for the leadership of the Anima is on open display when they feel comfortable to speak their minds. Their loyalty is to you, and perhaps to Elreth. But neither of you will lead successfully without other Alphas like us. And if your people will dismiss everything we say when they are under stress or disagree…"

"Dangerous," Tarkyn said darkly. If he'd been in beast form his hackles would have stood up.

Elreth felt ill. She knew Aaryn would argue that he'd always led his people to the throne, but this was exactly what she'd been afraid of—what her father would have been concerned about. It's why the idea of a rebel force was so close to what he was doing.

She'd wanted to believe that he'd avoided it, that by bringing the disformed together they could embrace them as a tribe and that would avoid this.

But now she feared they were too late. That the lines of loyalty were established too deeply, and that the disformed had become a rebel tribe, whether they realized it or not.

She turned to Raichyl and Despyna who were looking at each other uneasily, but their jaws were set as well.

"Tell me," she said to them. Both snapped their heads to look at her. "If I told you to do something that you disagreed with, felt was wrong, and Aaryn had given you a counter order… who would you listen to. Be honest please, we have those here who will smell a deception on you."

Raichyl opened her mouth first, glancing at her friend. "I would… I think I would ask Aaryn what we should do," she said carefully. "He's always told us to follow you. If he said so, I would do it."

Despyna nodded along.

Elreth's heart sank.

Tarkyn snorted his disgust and Tobe folded his arms, watching Elreth closely.

But she was staring at Aaryn, who gaped at them, his mouth wide. She signed, 'I know you didn't mean to do this,' but she wasn't sure he saw her, because his eyes never moved and he didn't respond.

"Raichyl, Despyna…" he said hoarsely. "I've always told you to follow the crown. I've always—"

They nodded. Despyna was the one to try to soothe him. "And we follow you to that, we do!"

"No, you don't. Not when he isn't there. Not when you think—or suspect—there's a different way to see a problem," Tobe growled.

"We did as you said!" Raichyl protested.

"After we argued about it. You were listening to Hholdyn, and clearly uncomfortable. Clearly wanted to stay and follow him—you embraced him when he came!"

"He's our friend! And he's good at this!"

Elreth dropped her face into her hands, then sucked in a breath and made herself stand straight and face them, head on.

Aaryn was staring at her, pleading in his eyes. 'I didn't see this. Didn't ask for this.'

She gave a very small nod as she turned back to the females. "Do not fear. This isn't a failing of yours, it's a failing of ours, as your leaders," she said quietly, without looking at Aaryn. Ignoring Tobe's snort. "We… we need to discuss this further. But there are many things we need to handle right now. You two should go get some rest. We'll send a messenger if we need to speak with you again. You're not under discipline—at least, not yet. But please… I want to see you succeed. To use your skills to their fullest you will have to submit to the leadership of Tarkyn, of Tobe—of any guard placed over you, whether you like them, or agree with them, or not. Please… please give some time thinking about that today. It is not negotiable."

They both glanced at Aaryn, looking for his confirmation, and every male leader in the room groaned.

Elreth was about to explain to the confused females why they'd had that response, but Tarkyn stepped forward, speaking briskly.

"We'll meet tomorrow," Tarkyn muttered. "You and any of the other disformed that wish to be trained. We'll explain the hierarchy within the guard in detail, how it works and what will be required of you. If you agree, I will train you. You are very skilled and you will be a welcome addition to our ranks."

The two females were clearly pleased and relieved to hear that. They both nodded and got to their feet.

Everyone in the room watched them leave, the tension rising in their wake.

And no one held themselves more rigid than Aaryn when Elreth turned to look at him. "Clearly we need to discuss this. But I already have too many decisions to make. So we will get to that tomorrow. Right now… right now, tell me what we learned today, Tobe. What do we do about these fucking humans and the lone wolf we now have running through the WildWood, trying to find them?" Elreth growled.

The males all found their seats again and began to talk.

Elreth tried to listen, but she felt like she was walking on quicksand and every step could be the one that plunged her down into its depths, until she was smothered to death.

*****

IMPORTANT NOTE about the future of this book in the author note below. Please read!