ASHER
Julia's father, Lucius, I immediately recognized. He had lost a lot of weight, but his eyes and face were now as hard as flint. Sitting around in a half circle were some of the pack's councilmen and quite a few strangers I didn't recognize.
"Take a seat, Asher," my father said, seating himself on the throne-like chair at the head of the semicircle.
He nodded to the chair on his right. I slowly lowered myself into it, nervously looking around at the pale, set faces.
"This is the secret council," my father began, addressing me. "This council ensures smooth transitions and management of power in the pack." He turned slightly to the others. "I felt it was time for him to sit in on one of our meetings."
I tried not to show my surprise as I wondered how long the secret council had bee
