ALEXANDER I checked my watch again. The meeting had been going on for too long. Normally, I wouldn't have minded. Regional council meetings were important, and I understood why it sometimes took hours to reach an agreement when several packs were involved. Today, I simply had other things on my mind. My mother's health hadn't left my thoughts since yesterday. I had promised her that we would find a way, but I still didn't know what that way was. I needed to speak with her again today. I needed to understand exactly what was happening to her, whether there was anything that could be done...and where to begin. Instead, I was sitting in a council meeting, listening to Alphas argue over an inter-pack agreement. I checked my watch again before forcing myself to focus on the discussion.

