Duncan
Cost. The word sat heavy between us. When the cost was lives, how could it not?
“There will be families there,” Elder Nicholas said. “Children. Young wolves who have never seen open conflict. You are proposing to turn a celebration, an event meant to select leadership, into a battlefield.”
“He’s proposing that we choose where the battlefield lands,” I said quietly.
Alexis leaned forward. “If we cancel, we scatter our forces. Alphas return to their territories. He continues to pick them off one by one, just like he did with Iron Fang. If we proceed this way, at least we consolidate strength.”
“And if he doesn’t show?” Mom asked.
“Then we’ve lost nothing but preparation. It’ll be the safest tournament in the history of tournaments,” Gideon said, a small smile as he tried to rel
