Last Female Sypher and Her Brother's Friends novel Chapter 26

hapter 26

“Discretion?” I repeat. “Does that include you misleading the Alpha of the territory so you can sneak onto

their land and violate their rights?”

The wolf scowls. “This does not concern you.”

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I lean forward slightly. “You sent wolves into our town. That concerns all of us. And as Beta of the pack, I’d

like to remind you just how much that is my business.”

The room grows tense again.

Aldren lifts a hand slightly. “Let us stay focused.” He looks back at Ronan. “The Assembly simply seeks

answers.”

Ronan tilts his head. “Then start explaining. I’d like it to begin with why you thought it was okay to send

consultant to question Aria without informing me prior.”

Aldren’s jaw ticks. “We did send contact. It is not our responsibility to ensure the postal service does its

job.”

“But it is your responsibility to announce your presence with the Alpha before going about your business,” I

say helpfully.

If they think they’re going to talk circles around Ronan, they’re about to have a shit time. I knew their little

handbook better than them.

“A small oversight which we can assure you will never happen again,” Aldren conceded. “Now about the

human-”

“Aria.” Liam interrupted. “She’s not a human. Her name is Aria.”

The other male, Thane, cleared his throat, “Yes. Aria would still need to be tested. It is unprecedented that

she would be able to have the mental fortitude to resist a direct Call order.”

Liam’s jaw tightens.

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“So your solution was what? What would you have done if you had gotten her?” Ronan inquired.

“To study her,” Aldren says simply.

My wolf snarls. Lies.

Ronan taps his fingers once on the table. “And you decided not coming to me would have helped you

accomplish this?”

“The Assembly does not require permission from individual packs.”

The statement hangs in the air like a challenge.

Ronan’s eyes slowly turn colder.

And suddenly the pressure in the room doubles.

Every wolf in the room feels it.

Alpha dominance.

Raw power pressing down like gravity.

The Assembly wolves shift uncomfortably.

My smirk widens.

That’s right, my wolf growls. Remember who you’re speaking to.

Aldren fidgets in his seat.“We acknowledge your authority here.”

Smart move.

The pressure eases slightly.

“But the anomaly still requires investigation.”

Ronan studies them for a moment.“Fine. You may investigate.” The Assembly wolves relax slightly. “Here.”

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They freeze. “On pack land.”

Aldren shakes his head immediately. “That will not be acceptable.”

My wolf growls.

I lean forward again. “Actually,” I say calmly, “it will.”

Three sets of eyes glare at me.

I meet them without blinking. “Assembly law states that any investigation involving a pack–protected

individual must occur within that pack’s territory unless the Alpha grants permission otherwise.”

Aldren’s lips press into a thin line.

He knows I’m right.

Finally, he sighs.

“Very well.”

Ronan nods toward the door.

“Kade.”

The door opens.

Kade steps inside.

And beside him-

Aria.

My wolf quiets instantly.

She looks nervous but determined as she walks into the room.

Her eyes flick briefly to Liam before returning to Ronan.

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Aldren studies her carefully. “This is the hu-” Liam growls, and Aldren corrects himself, “Aria?”

The way he says her name is like he is testing something bitter.

“Yes,” Ronan says.

Aldren folds his hands again.

“Then we must begin with a formal confirmation.”

Aria blinks. “What?”

Aldren’s voice remains calm. “Do you accept Ronan as your Alpha?”

The question hangs heavily in the room.

I watch her closely.

This matters.

Without her acknowledgement, the Assembly could argue she isn’t under pack protection.

My wolf murmurs softly. Choose.

Aria looks around the room.

At Liam.

At Ronan.

At me.

At the Assembly, wolves.

The tension stretches painfully long.

Then she nods. “Yes.”

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The word releases the pressure in my chest.

Good girl.

Aldren nods once, stiffly. “Very well.”

The tests begin.

They’re subtle.

One of the Assembly wolves focuses his gaze on her.

I feel the faint ripple of mental pressure in the air.

The Call.

Aria frowns slightly.

Then shakes her head.

“Stop that.”

The Assembly wolf blinks in surprise.

He tries again.

Harder.

The pressure builds stronger.

I can feel the edge of it.

But Aria just crosses her arms.“Seriously,” she says. “Knock it off.”

The room goes very quiet.

The Assembly wolves exchange looks.

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