The clearing went dead silent after John’s voice cut across it.
“Let’s not wait for ceremony.”
For one long second nobody moved and nobody breathed the way they were supposed to. The entire pack seemed to lock in place around us while that sentence settled over the field like a blade. John was still looking at me. Not Ezra and not the crowd. Me. That was the point.
He wanted this to be personal and public at the same time and he wanted every wolf standing there to watch what I did with pressure when it came straight at my throat.
I could feel Ezra beside me before he moved and the bond going hard and sharp under my skin and then he stepped forward enough that his shoulder almost lined up with mine.
“This is not how challenge law works.” He said and his voice was low and controlled but
