Daniel
The starkness of his office usually helped him focus.
He’d felt hollow for nearly a decade—held himself back, licked his wounds, wallowed in misery. Like he’d mentally retreated to his den.
Now everything had changed.
It was like walking into the first rays of light after a deep slumber.
Only now, it felt like the world was against them.
Not just Matthew’s parents. Not just Claudia.
But the very foundation—pack history, tradition, bonds—was under attack.
And that went against everything he had been taught to believe in.
This latest move to tear it all down?
It was the last straw.
Reading over the written interview between Claudia and Orin Blay gave Daniel the same sensation as nails scraping down a blackboard.
Blackboards—were they even a thing anymore? Or was it all whiteboards and vid-screens?
Who knew? Certainly not Daniel.
Not that he cared.
His brain was just trying to deflect from dwelling on the verbal slaying his reputation had just taken.
The only solace was the note at the bottom from the Gazette’s editor:
Editor’s Note:
As of publication, multiple members of North Star Pack have issued counter-statements defending Alpha Sanders and condemning species-based rhetoric. The council has yet to make a formal declaration.
Maybe Grady was right.
Maybe they did need to address the way Claudia was pushing her vendetta.
It didn’t seem to be about Matthew and Toby anymore.
It was about her saving face. Digging in. Using him as an excuse to push her political agenda.
Her extremist views. Her twisted, toxic comments.
Attacking pack and tradition?
That was a line Daniel couldn’t let her cross.
So, with a heavy heart, he drew up a formal notice of grievance.
He outlined his reasons—how Claudia was weaponizing sacred rituals for personal gain.
In effect, becoming a Ritebreaker.
If her pack upheld the complaint, the consequences would be severe.
Not exile, exactly.
But it would end her career.
No pack would accept her as legal counsel. Any invitation to attend Council sessions would stop.
But that wasn’t the worst part.
If her pack declared her a Ritebreaker, she would lose her seat as heir to her family’s legacy.
Effectively disinherited.
The paper rustled in his trembling hands.
Sweat beaded on his brow.
A cold knot twisted in his stomach—his pulse hammered against his ribs.
His vision narrowed, the edges of the world blurring—as if he were underwater—until they snapped back into focus.
Reaching for his pen, Daniel signed his name at the bottom of the page.
Standing, he headed to the foyer and handed Jessica the paper, ignoring her gasp of surprise.
“Please see that the elders of the Silverspire Collective get this.”
With that, he turned back to his office, quietly closing the door behind him.
Daniel leaned against the door, the wood cool against his forehead.
His breath hitched—shallow, ragged. While a small knot of dread formed in his belly.
Claudia had pushed him to his limit, so now he’d pushed back and done what needed to be done.