Connor felt on edge as he approached the council circle the next day. The Fleischers had done nothing further since declaring their hunt on Erica. He felt conflicted about that. Part of him said it was simply a matter of going home and then not leaving Leidulf territory until this all blew over. No big deal, right? Another part said this wasn't likely to blow over and they might have to spend the rest of their lives with one eye watching over their shoulder for the Fleischers as well as the Sons of Garm.

A few of the other tribes had stopped by to express their opinions, good and bad. The Negelman's had walked by towards evening, quite drunk, and joked about Erica getting what she deserved. The Skollsen, Holt and Takala had all expressed their amazement at her courage. Abram of the Grimweir had stopped by to see Arthur about their arranged marriage between their kids. He had seen Erica limping around their camp with Myrna in tow and snorted something about "fierce women indeed." There was a grudging respect in his voice.

The Jaegers had stopped by briefly but they weren't there to talk about Erica. They asked to interview Grace. They were suspecting the Fleischers of being in their territory and wanted to ask her about her experience in being trafficked. She kept looking fearfully out across the camp and bit back her answers, but when they asked her directly if she had been to Vegas at any point, she gave the tiniest of nods. They were satisfied and went away stony faced.

But of Fenrir and the Sons of Garm, they had heard nothing. That, more than anything else, set Connor's nerves on end. Fenrir had lost as much, or more, face from the challenge than the Fleischers. His ambition to be dominant wolf of the midwest tribes was in shambles. Anyone could see that now. How he would react, what lengths he would go to exact revenge, was uncertain.

It wasn't until council was called the next day that they saw him. When he arrived, he seemed calm, his usual unflappable self. He took his seat while Lukas did his usual preamble. But when Lukas was done, he didn't introduce the days topic but rather knelt beside his alpha, looking up at Fenrir expectantly.

Haltir had come as well, it was the first council he'd been to in a long while. He looked across at their camp, at Amanda specifically. His eyes held a sadness.

"I called the tribes of the Midwest here for one purpose, to bring us all together under one banner. This move will benefit all werewolves, regardless of tribe." He paused. How exactly this would benefit all of them, as still open for debate and it seemed odd that he would repeat this now. "It seems that some don't see it that way. We could spend the next year debating the fine points of cooperation, but I see now that some simply don't want it. So be it. I've asked for your fealty. If you are willing to give it, you may do so tomorrow morning. The rest of you may quit this place. I declare this council over." He rose and walked off without looking back.

The council erupted into chaos. "What about the peace?" one of the Takala group yelled at his back and then at Lukas.

"My alpha has other business to attend to," Lukas replied. "We will won't waste our time with those that want nothing to do with our council." He, too, turned and walked away.

"What does that mean?" Tanner said at Connor's side.

"Damn him," Jonathan muttered at his other side. "Who the fuck knows what that means. He's not going to move against us, but he's not saying about the Fleischers or the Negelman."

"Erica," Connor breathed, his breath hitching. "He wants to strand her in neutral territory, with no clear peace and a hunt. Fuck him. I'll kill him. I swear it. I'll declare a hunt myself. Come after him."

His dad pushed through the crowd and pulled him back. "Careful now," he said, low and sharp. "Others are listening and will use any angry words to their advantage." Connor bit his lip, biting back another tirade.

"Come on," Arthur said, "Let's get back to the pavilion, where we can discuss this in privacy."

They couldn't make it back without first running a gauntlet of other ambassadors, all wanting to discuss the same thing. "Did he just end the peace as well as the council?" one asked. "Can he do that?"

"He can't," another snarled. "If something happens to us, if they don't let us leave in peace, our tribe will never form an alliance with him again."

"Don't be too sure," the Ritter alpha said as he came over. "They know they won't get cooperation. But if they move fast and hard, they scare the tribes into submission. Our deaths would be a good start."

"Come with us," Aaron said, pulling the man along. "We will discuss this in private." He gave a nod to the Skollsen representative as well. They pushed through the crowd and back towards the camp.