“He runs his pack and the packs under him with an iron fist,” Gavi continued, his voice dropping slightly as if speaking too loudly might summon the very king he was describing. “And he shows no compassion. For him, it’s simple: survival of the fittest. The strong thrive, and the weak? They’re nothing.”
Kaius clenched his fists. This kind of rule, this kind of philosophy, it was everything he despised. A ruler wasn’t just about strength; they were supposed to protect, to guide, to lead their people forward. But from what Gavi was saying, Rufus ruled through fear, through sheer brute force.
Gavi’s gaze flickered, watching Kaius’s reaction before he went on. “His mate died years ago, but her death is surrounded by secrecy. No one actually knows why it happened.”
Kaius’s eyes narrowed. “Mu
