Chapter 12 Dante
DANTE
Dante got to the Council Glad at dawn watching frost glitter on ancient stones while his breath misted in the air. The summons had come before sunrise, delivered by the same nervous wolf courier who'd brought him his first letter. Varric wanted him present for an emergency hearing.
Emergency meant Hector had made his move.
Dante's lion prowled, ready for confrontation. Ready to defend what was Maeve's even if she'd never admit she needed defending.
Footsteps crunched through snow. Emmett appeared from the tree line, his expression grim. "You got the summons too?"
"Yeah." Dante scanned the clearing. "What's this about?"
"Hector Cross filed a formal complaint." Emmett's jaw tightened. "Demanding a Council hearing to discuss Maeve's management of the Silver Fang. Claims she's endangering Cross legacy through negligence and poor judgment."
"He's escalating."
"He's testing us." Emmett moved to the stone table, where papers already lay weighted down. "Seeing how much authority we'll let him claim over Hollow Oak business."
"Does Maeve know?"
"Not yet." Emmett's voice carried warning. "And she can't know until after we hear what Hector has to say. If she finds out before we've got our defense ready, she'll tear his throat out."
"Would that be so bad?"
"Yes." Emmett met his eyes. "Because that's exactly what he wants. He's baiting her. Pushing buttons until she loses control and proves his point that she's unfit to run Cross holdings."
Dante's hands curled into hard fists. Smart. Hector had always been smart in the worst ways. Manipulative. Strategic. The kind of calculating lion who moved pieces on a board while everyone else thought they were playing checkers.
More footsteps. Varric emerged from the trees, his silver braids catching weak sunlight.
Behind him came Miriam Caldwell, the human widow who'd somehow earned a Council seat through sheer force of will and sharp intelligence.
Her silver hair was pinned up, half-moon spectacles perched on her nose, and her expression said she'd already had too much nonsense for one morning.
"Deleuve." Varric nodded to him. "Good. You'll serve as witness."
"Witness to what?"
"To whatever nonsense Hector's about to spew." Miriam settled onto a stone bench, wrapping her coat tighter. "Man's got more hot air than sense."
"He's got evidence." A new voice cut through the clearing. Cold. Cultured. Dripping with superiority.
Hector Cross stepped into the glade like he owned it.
Dante's lion arose with a snarl.
He hadn't seen his old pride member in five years.
Hadn't wanted to. But time hadn't softened Hector.
If anything, it had made him harder. The lion stood tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair streaked with distinguished silver at the temples.
His eyes were pale gold, calculating, set in a face that would've been handsome if it wasn't twisted with perpetual disdain.
He wore expensive clothes, tailored to intimidate, and moved with the kind of arrogance that came from never being challenged.
Alpha now. The authority showed in every line of his body.
"Hector." Varric's voice remained neutral. "You called this hearing. State your complaint."
"My complaint is simple." Hector moved to the stone table, setting down a leather portfolio.
"Maeve Cross has been mismanaging Cross family holdings within Hollow Oak territory.
The Silver Fang Tavern bears our family name, operates under our legacy, and she runs it without proper pride backing or oversight. "
"The Silver Fang is Maeve's establishment," Emmett said. "Built with her own funds, on land she purchased independently. The Cross name is hers by birth, not because you granted permission."
"Blood ties come with responsibilities." Hector's mouth curved. "Responsibilities she's ignored. I have documentation of multiple shipment failures, inventory losses, and safety violations over the past three months. All pointing to incompetent management."
He pulled papers from the portfolio, spreading them across the stone table. The same damaged shipment reports Varric had shown Dante. Only these had annotations. Highlighted sections. Carefully curated to make Maeve look guilty.
"This is a setup," Dante said quietly.
Hector's gaze swung to him. "Dante Deleuve. I heard you'd slunk back to Hollow Oak. Still playing lapdog to failed pride members, I see."
"Careful." Dante's voice dropped to a growl. "You're in Hollow Oak now. Not your territory."
"Isn't it?" Hector's smile turned cruel. "The Cross name has power here whether you are liking it or not. And as the alpha of the Cross Pride, I have every right to ensure family holdings are properly managed."
"You have no rights here," Varric said. "Hollow Oak operates under Council governance, not pride law."
"Then explain why you allow a Cross establishment to operate under family name without proper oversight.
" Hector tapped the papers. "This evidence shows clear negligence.
Damaged goods. Poisoned inventory. Safety violations that could harm your precious community.
As her family alpha, I'm within my rights to petition for control until she proves competent management. "
"She's proven it for years," Miriam said sharply. "The Silver Fang is one of the most successful businesses in Hollow Oak. Your timing is suspiciously convenient, Hector."
"Convenient how?"
"Convenient that these problems only started appearing after you became alpha." Emmett crossed his arms. "After you consolidated power in your splinter pride. After you started making noise about traditional values and proper pride structure."
Hector's expression didn't change. "Are you accusing me of something, Hollowell?"
"I'm stating facts." Emmett's wolf rose behind his eyes. "Someone's sabotaging Maeve's shipments. Someone with knowledge of her routines and resources to make it appear like incompetence. That someone benefits from making her look bad so they can petition for control."
"Interesting theory." Hector gathered his papers. "Do you have proof?"
"Not yet."
"Then this hearing is pointless." Hector turned to Varric. "I've filed my formal complaint. Provided documentation of negligence. As per Council law, you have thirty days to investigate before I can petition for emergency transfer of holdings. I suggest you use that time wisely."
"We will." Varric's voice carried steel. "And I suggest you remember that Maeve Cross has earned respect here. Challenging her won't win you allies."
"I don't need allies." Hector moved toward the tree line. "I need to ensure family legacy isn't destroyed by a female too stubborn to admit she's in over her head."
He paused, glancing back at Dante. "Still mooning over her, Deleuve? After all these years? Pathetic. She walked away from you once. She'll do it again. That's what Cross females do. They run."
Dante's lion roared. He moved before thinking, closing the distance between them in three strides. "Say that again."
"Or what?" Hector didn't flinch. "You'll fight me? Here? In front of Council witnesses? That'll do wonders for Maeve's reputation. Prove she surrounds herself with rogue males who can't control their tempers."
Emmett's hand caught Dante's shoulder. "Don't. He's baiting you."
He was. Dante knew it. Could see the calculation in Hector's pale eyes. The satisfaction at getting a reaction.
But it took everything he had to step back.
"Smart boy." Hector's smile turned vicious. "Give Maeve my regards. Tell her I'm looking forward to our family reconciliation at the solstice. Assuming she bothers to attend."
He left, his footsteps fading into the woods.
Silence settled over the glade. Heavy. Dangerous.
"Well." Miriam stood, brushing snow from her coat. "That man's a piece of work."
"He's got a case." Varric gathered the papers Hector had left, his expression troubled. "Not a strong one, but enough to cause problems. If we can't prove sabotage in thirty days, he can petition for emergency control. The Council would have to hear it."
"He's not getting the Silver Fang," Emmett said.
"Not if we find proof first." Varric looked at Dante. "You've got thirty days. Find me evidence that stands up to Council scrutiny. Something that proves Hector's behind this."
"And if I can't?"
"Then Maeve loses her tavern." Varric's voice softened. "And Hollow Oak loses one of its strongest voices. So don't fail."
He left, Miriam following. Emmett lingered, studying Dante with those wolf eyes that missed nothing.
"He got to you," Emmett said quietly. "With that comment about Maeve running."
"He's good at finding pressure points."
"Yeah." Emmett clapped his shoulder. "But he's not wrong about one thing. If Maeve finds out about this hearing before we have answers, she'll go after him. Start a fight we can't finish."
"She deserves to know."
"She will know. After we've built our defense." Emmett headed toward the trees. "Give me time to coordinate with Varric. Figure out our strategy. Then we tell her together."
Dante stood alone in the clearing, staring at the stone table where Hector's papers had laid. Evidence carefully curated to destroy everything Maeve had built.
Thirty days.
He had thirty days to prove sabotage, stop Hector, and save the Silver Fang and to do what he should've done ten years ago.
Fight for her.
His lion settled, purpose replacing rage. Hector wanted a war? Fine.
Dante would give him one.