The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212: I Am Shadowclaw

Two Shadowclaw wolves dragged the prisoner forward.

The herald unrolled his scroll and began to read.

"Unlawful entry into Shadowclaw territory. Unauthorized use of wolf form inside the northern ridge. Participation in a coordinated strike team targeting a sovereign Alpha King and a woman under his protection."

"Coordinated is generous," the prisoner offered helpfully. "We fell apart the second your wolves showed up. I would say we participated in the way a hamster participates in a dog fight."

The herald continued without looking up. "Attempted abduction of said female."

"Allegedly."

"Conspiracy with a foreign entity to commit an act of war against the kingdom of Shadowclaw."

"The penalty for any one of these charges is death," the herald finished. "The penalty for all of them is a significantly more creative death."

"See, now we’re talking." The prisoner shifted his weight, wincing as the silver bit deeper. "I’ve always wanted to be memorable."

Fin finally spoke, his voice filling the chamber.

"Who sent you?"

"I’d tell you, but I’m under contract. And my contract has a very strict non-disclosure clause. Written in blood. Mine, specifically. It’s a whole thing."

"Who funded the strike team."

"Gods, you’re relentless. Has anyone ever told you that you could benefit from a hobby? Whittling. Ceramics. Anything."

Fin leaned back in his throne. Studied him. The prisoner was smart enough to be dangerous and drunk enough on adrenaline to be useless. Whatever oath he had sworn was holding.

"Hang on." The prisoner grinned, splitting a cut on his lip. "Hang on, hang on."

No one answered.

"The white wolf. In the forest. That’s a Drakenfell princess. She’s a white wolf. It’s so obvious. How she kept that a secret from the Knotty Omega is beyond me."

The council stirred. Subtle. A shift of weight here, a glance exchanged there.

"Why is a Drakenfell princess staying in Shadowclaw?" the prisoner continued, tilting his head with the performative confusion of a man who had just found a new toy. "Last I checked, she’s still mated to the Dragon Prince."

Fin did not answer.

"Oh, this is good. This is so good." The prisoner laughed. It turned into a wet cough. "As a professional courtesy, I am not the only contract out there looking for her. But a white wolf is a different story altogether. It’s only a matter of time before that gets out. If she was in your forest unshifted, unguarded, and glowing like a lighthouse, every kingdom with a map and a grudge is going to—"

"Enough."

Fin stood.

The prisoner’s mouth kept moving for half a second before his brain caught up.

"Execution order." Fin’s voice was flat. Final. "He will not cooperate. Remove him."

Kael nodded once.

"Understood, Alpha."

"Wait, wait." The prisoner’s tone shifted, grin faltering. "Hold on. I didn’t say I wouldn’t cooperate. I said I was under contract. Those are different. Those are entirely—"

"Remove him."

The guards hauled him up by his arms.

"I have information. I can trade. Shadowclaw, let’s be reasonable. You do not want to kill someone with information."

Fin turned his back on him.

"You have a leak!" the prisoner shouted as he was dragged toward the side corridor. "You have a leak in your council and I can tell you who! Shadowclaw! SHADOWCLAW!"

The door closed behind him.

The throne room went quiet.

Fin stood with his back to the council for three full breaths. Every member of the room understood, without being told, that they were watching an Alpha King decide whether the last thing he had heard was worth a second thought or worth a second war.

His face betrayed nothing.

"Council meeting. One hour. Every seat filled."

✦✦✦

"I called this meeting to inform you of a change in the line of succession."

Not a single elder moved.

"Serena Frostborne is my fated mate."

A few of the elders attempted a surprised reaction. Terrible acting. Fin almost snorted. Almost. They all obviously knew that.

"I am claiming her publicly. She will stand beside me as the rightful queen of Shadowclaw and be afforded that protection and rights."

Elder Vantrell, the oldest of them, spoke first. "Alpha King, with respect, the woman you are describing is the Crown Princess of Drakenfell. She is publicly mated. Publicly crowned. She wears another kingdom’s title."

"I am aware."

"You understand that you are describing a diplomatic crisis."

Elder Marenne, the only woman on the council, leaned forward. Her rings caught the torchlight. "She is a second-chance fated mate. That is extraordinary, Alpha King. None of us would deny that. But extraordinary and actionable are different conversations."

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