Connor was still angry when the council started around mid-morning. He'd been rehearsing what he'd say all morning. He waited until Fenrir asked if there was any new business to discuss and then raised his hand.

"I regret to report a violation of the peace," Connor said. "And attack on one of my wolves."

"And attack? Of what nature?" Lukas asked, fielding the business for his alpha, as he always did.

"At the party someone attempted to drug and rape one of my wolves," Connor said, his voice grim.

The reaction was as anti-climatic as possible. Lukas raised an eyebrow and shrugged, clearly not surprised by the accusation. "Drugged?"

"Drugs don't affect shifters," one of the Negelman's said. "Everyone knows that."

"The Fleischer's have drugs that affect shifters," Mitch said.

"Are you accusing the Fleischer's of this attack," Fenrir asked. He emphasised the word attack to show he clearly didn't see it as an attack at all.

"Their scent was everywhere," Amanda said. "And I heard two talking when we discovered Brianna."

"How do we know she just didn't get drunk, pass out and then wants to blame it on something else," one of Fleischer's asked.

"She didn't," Amanda insisted. "They tied her up. Tried to take advantage of her. She barely escaped."

"But she did escape," Lukas said. "So no harm done, then?"

Amanda glared at him. Connor feared for a minute he would have to hold her back, while still being so angry he was sorely to storm across the open space and attack Lukas himself.

"You say one of my wolves did this deed, if indeed it happened, using some drug that doesn't exist," one of the Fleischer's began. It was the one named Koby and Connor had been told he was their top fighter. "And yet the only evidence you've offered so far is that you 'smelled Fleischer scent' here, in a camp full of my tribe. Is that correct?"

"Brianna clawed one of them," Amanda said. "I heard one say, 'she got you good.' Even shifters don't heal so fast. One still bears marks of what they did."

"I most certainly will not submit my wolves to inspection by an enemy tribe to satisfy such a flimsy accusation," another Fleischer said. His name was Tobias. He was a massive and hairy man with dark bushy eyes.

"Wait, wait," Lukas said. "She clawed one of them?"

There was a pause and Amanda nodded.

"And yet you bring accusations of her being assaulted. For what, a sexual advance she didn't enjoy? And she clawed one of theirs?"

"What?" Connor spluttered. "A sexual advance she didn't enjoy? That is how you would describe attempted rape?"

"There is no evidence of rape," Lukas replied. "But perhaps there is evidence of another kind of assault. You might want to consider that before continuing with these allegations."

Connor stared at him, madder than he'd ever been, unable to speak.

Arthur moved himself in front of Connor and Amanda. "Of course, we most certainly will." And then, as if to prove he was ever the strategist, he turned to the crowd and added, "This wolf would be king, rule us all. But he seems to have trouble ruling even one small camp."

"What did you just say?" Fenrir roared, leaning forward in his chair and glaring at him.

Arthur met the stare evenly. "Forgive me," he said in a voice that showed no contrition. "I over step myself."

Connor sat stewed for the rest of the morning session. Arthur's barb about Fenrir not being able to keep peace in his own camp was likely to be the only satisfaction they would get for what happened to Brianna. And he was supposed to make peace with such people?