"Why," I said. "What does he actually want."
A long pause.
"Ren's acknowledged paternity creates a connection between the Vrel pack and the Mallen compound that he didn't vote for and doesn't want," Caius said. "He's never supported the Stabilizer documentation. He thinks it's—" He stopped. Found the right word. "Elevation. He thinks it elevates the compound's standing in ways that he believes are disproportionate to—" Another stop. "To what he considers your background, Neva."
The back room was very quiet.
I heard what that meant.
My wolf: *He thinks you're not enough.*
I know.
*He thinks a former caregiver from the Aris pack who got on a motorcycle is not enough to justify what the Stabilizer registration says Ren is.*
I know, I said.
*He's wrong.*
I know that too.
"Caius," I
