Chapter 26

“Tomorrow it will have been a week since we sent Silverbane onto his last hunt.” Bryce stood and raised a glass of hard cider. “May his hunt never end and his prey be plentiful. Hunt on.”

“Hunt on.” The table echoed, each member raising their own glass.

Josh followed suit and watched Bryce, who remained standing after everyone else had toasted and taken their seats. Elaine shifted in her chair and stared at Bryce with her steely gaze. The moment they had both been waiting for was soon to be at hand.

“Silverbane was the only alpha many of us have ever served.” Bryce glanced at the empty seat at the head of the table. To his credit, he did not walk toward it, but his gaze lingered there long enough that Josh wondered if he might be imagining himself in that chair. “He was a strong and wise alpha. We will never find his equal, but we cannot remain leaderless.”