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packs and there’s a constant battle for the alpha role. As much as you like to pretend that’s not the case.”

Cam looked at Miuri who just shrugged. “She has a point,” Miuri said. “You did have to fight to end up where you are.”

“So if all the world’s a pack, we just need to become top wolf,” Cam said.

“I think the gods have that spot,” Felin said. “But we’re fighting for second.”

“Is there any way for you to return a message to your father?” Cam asked Miuri.

She shook her head. “I don’t think I’d make it in time,” she said. “We just need to hope they’re coming.”

“I’ll send scouts,” Cam said. “Just to be on the safe side. If they make contact, I’ll leave them with orders to pass along to Haesar.”

“That works,” Miuri said.

“Now I just need to figure out what to do with Lagon.”

“I heard about that,” Miuri said. “The traitor General, right?”

“Right. Things aren’t exactly stable in the army right now. I just need to buy some time, but…” Cam trailed off.

“Kill him,” Miuri said.

Cam frowned and stared at her for a long moment. She didn’t smile, didn’t blink. She wasn’t joking. Miuri wouldn’t joke about something like that.

“You really think that’s the right thing?” he asked.

“You need control right now,” Miuri said. “We’re so close, but if more men began to push against you, things might spiral away. You can’t risk it. This is bigger than one man’s life.”

“And that man is a traitor,” Felin said.

“Still. You’re talking about killing someone.” Cam searched Miuri’s expression for some hint of what she was feeling, but found nothing.

“I know this is hard for you,” Miuri said. “You didn’t intend to get involved in politics. But now’s the time to show a firm hand. Step forward and be a leader. Show the men you won’t tolerate a traitor, show them the right way.”

Cam took a deep breath and looked down at the rug covering the dusty ground. He didn’t want Lagon’s blood on his hands, didn’t want any Human blood on his hands. Killing Lord Remorn had been hard enough, but that was in the heat of the moment.

This was cold and calculated.

It made him want to retch. He held himself together. He knew that Miuri was right, he knew that Felin was right. The army was a pack and Cam was its alpha. He had to show strength if he wanted to retain his position.

Lagon defied him. Lagon got men killed.

And so Lagon had to be held accountable for his actions.

“Let me think,” Cam said.

Miuri nodded. “Think all you like. I need to bathe myself and get some rest.” She stretched her legs then stood.

“Want a hand?” Felin asked. “I’d be happy to get your back.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” Miuri said. “But you’ll have to catch me up on everything that’s gone on. I only heard the rough story from the guards outside.”

Felin hopped to her feet. Miuri got up, and the two girls walked to Cam’s tent flap. Felin ducked out into the morning, but Miuri hesitated and looked back at Cam.

“No matter what you do, I know you’ll do what you think is right,” she said. “And I’ll support it.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“I love you, Camrus.”

She ducked her head and left the tent.

Cam looked at the table. He ran his fingernails down the wood and wanted to scream in rage.

This was never his intention. The idea of holding on to power through force made him despise everything. The world shouldn’t work that way.

But he knew it did.

Force determined everything. And if Cam could bring enough force to bear, he could break just about any obstacle in his path.

The wolves, his own men. He could break them all.

But first, he had to be ready to accept some hard truths.

He hoped he could.

29

The light was dim in the command tent as Cam stood at the head of the table. His Generals stared back at him. Brice looked concerned, her head tilted, her hair loose and around her shoulders. Theus picked at his nails. Key drank beer from a large wooden mug. Felin lingered in the back with her arms crossed over her chest.

Infantry captains, general staff, Generals left over from the old guard. They watched him and he watched them back, trying to find the words he so desperately needed.

“Thank you all for coming,” Cam said. “I know the marches have been difficult these last few days.”

“Wolves won’t get off our ass,” Key said.

“But you’ve done a good job killing them at least,” Stine said. He was Lagon’s replacement, a willow-thin man with a drooping mustache and a head of gray hair.

“We’ve all done a good job killing them,” Colly said. He was a young Captain with a bright red tunic and the copper-colored hair to match it.

“The wolves have been a minor problem,” Cam said. “Compared to the difficulties of marching and the insurrection within our own camp.”

Cam noticed the discomfort around him. Even Key shrank down a bit.

“Sir, we’ve been speaking with the men,” Captain Frant said. He was one of the more reliable Captains, and had been working closely with Key. “There are some grumblings about the way things were handled.”

“What things, in particular?” Cam asked.

“They don’t believe they should be persecuted for their beliefs,” Frant said. “According to them, at least, sir.”

“They’re not,” Cam said. “Every man is free to believe as he wishes. But it’s when those beliefs get in the way of the smooth operation of this army that those beliefs become a problem.”

Captain Frant nodded. “I understand, sir,” he said. “But I’m not sure the men do.”

“I’m glad you brought their concerns to my attention,” Cam said. His eyes swept over the assembled general staff. He worked to keep his face tight and under control, but inside he was a mess of conflicted emotions. “I called this meeting today to discuss the future of the former General Lagon.”

More exchanged glances. Cam couldn’t tell if they were pregnant with