ELRETH

She was on her feet and staring at the woman—elder or not, she couldn't believe anyone felt comfortable even thinking that in her presence!

"You will reconsider your words," she said through her teeth. "Or you will vacate your chair to an Anima who can view all our people as equally valuable."

The female stood firm and didn't drop Elreth's eyes, but she did nod. "It was thoughtless of me, I apologize," she said, without feeling.

Elreth huffed and started across the floor towards her, many of the elders shifting in their seats. "I challenged my father for devaluing the disformed, do you believe I would accept that in this forum?" she snarled.

"The Elders do value all of the Anima equally," Lhern said firmly. "We do not hold these views any longer, Pehrye," he said to the female. "We've spoken of this before. You will vacate your chair and a new elder will be appointed."

"What?!" Pehrye whipped herself around to face Lhern. "For a simple statement? I misspoke—"

"You have been warned in the past. And your removal will be a warning to any others on the council who would think to hold these outdated and biased philosophies. Vacate your chair, Pehrye, or you will be removed forcibly."

Elreth let her lips slide up on one side as the older female ruffled herself—she must be Avaline. She had the pinched face for it, and they always got shivery when they were angry—then picked up the small bag she'd left at the feet of her chair.

"The WildWood is going to the dogs. Literally!" she snapped, looking pointedly at Aaryn, who had crossed his arms, but was staring at her through narrowed eyes, his jaw tense.

Elreth roared at her, "GET OUT!" and took a step.

The female squawked and hurried for the door, watched by the entire council—many of them whispering among themselves. But Elreth waited until the door had closed behind her to turn to the rest of them, giving them the gaze she usually reserved for prey—and occasionally Gar.

"It will be a mark of my rule that we do not withhold from any of our people. Whatever they choose, wherever they are capable, they will be applauded. And any Anima, regardless of birth, will be given whatever is needed to face their own weakness.

"My True Mate, my True Heart's Call is disformed. He is also Alpha, strong, and loyal—to his tribe, and to his family, and to me. I will not stand to see your future King dismissed or sniffed at. If you would agree with Pehrye, if you would even consider her perspective sympathetic, leave your seat now and it will be given to another. I am Alpha of All, the Queen of the Clans, and I will not stand for it!"

She did not speak again, did not break the tense silence—was not intimidated by it. She took the time to meet eyes with every elder in every chair until they submitted, or agreed.

"You are not alone in your resolve, Sire," Lhern said finally when Elreth took a deep breath and returned to her chair. "Even under your father we worked to uproot this old philosophy. I pray now we will find the last of it."

"No more digging up the roots," Elreth said, settling herself into her chair, not meeting Aaryn's eyes because she couldn't stand to see the pain there. "If I hear of it, I will burn it out. The disformed are Anima, just like any other. They will be given the same respect, and the same regard as any other in my presence and out of it. Or those who do not will deal with me."

"And me," Aaryn said quietly from beside her. All the elders turned to him, surprised. His eyes flared and Elreth's stomach clenched that he felt defensive. "I have fought this battle since I was old enough to know the word. I know Elreth's heart for us, I have watched her live it for over ten years. And now she takes me as Mate. I will not seek conflict within the tribes, but I will stand firm against this kind of prejudice—for myself, and for others. It is no longer a part of the Anima society. And I will use every power Elreth provides me to eradicate it from our people."

Lhern and Huncer were nodding—along with several of the younger elders, most of whom will still old enough to be her parents, or close to it.

But there were a few that looked thoughtful rather than resolved, and it was those she spoke to.

"If you have questions, please ask them. I do not expect you to take my Mate without questions. I am not unreasonable. But if your question is whether or not a disformed can, or should, hold power, you should leave now. Because the answer is yes—and in fact, he should hold power more than you. Because if you must draw lines between our people, then you do not see them clearly, and should not be leading."

No one moved, and Elreth took a single, deep breath of relief.

"You say we may ask?" A female asked from the other side of the circle. Elreth nodded. "Very well. Know that my uncle is disformed. I agree with your philosophy, and I look forward to the day when there is no conflict between Anima on this issue. But surely you do not expect to announce this to the people without this kind of argument, or idea? The elders are more measured, more thoughtful, and it exists—existed—here. It is much more prominent within the people, though often hidden. Can we discuss that your choice of Mate might be a problem not for what he is, but for how his presence on the throne will create strife between the people? We do not want another War of the Wolves."

Elreth clenched her teeth and wanted to growl. But the question was valid. "That is why I have come to you rather than simply completing the bond, or announcing it directly. I need your advice. I do anticipate conflict, yes. But you can help me approach it minimize that. And your support will be needed, I believe, in the long run. Because I did not choose Aaryn. He was chosen for me. And I will. Not. Give. Him. Up. Or my rule." She snorted the air from her nose at the thought.

"Wait… you haven't completed the bond?" Huncer asked quietly.