ke''s POV


    "You really gonna go through with this?" Tyler leaned against the window in my study, eyebrows raised. "Shadow Creek''s gonna have a field day with this


    one."


    I dropped my pen on the desk and drummed my fingers against the wood. The paper I''d just signed was nothing short of a bomb-ordering Carter''s case reopened and putting the brakes on William''s execution. Once I pped my seal on it, nobody could argue.


    "Let them talk," I shot Tyler a look. "This case has more holes than a target dummy after training day."


    "The whole thing stinks," he nodded, "but William had his hands in it somehow. Guy''s no angel."


    I pushed back from the desk and wandered to the window. Down in the training yard, Lucas was working with Ava. She was behind him, guiding his arms into some defensive move, her face a mask of concentration. Something about watching them sent a weird ache through my chest.


    "Never said he was wearing a halo, I muttered. "But you don''t put a wolf down without rock-solid proof. That crime scene was messed with-like someone trying to cover their tracks."


    Tyler shifted, watching me watch them. "This wouldn''t have anything to do with a certainbat instructor, would it?"


    I turned my back on the window, dodging thatndmine. "Get this to Shadow Creek''s Elders ASAP, then make sure Rivers knows. Tell them I''m showing up tomorrow to hash this out myself."


    Tyler scooped up the paper with a smirk that said he knew exactly what I wasn''t saying. "Whatever you say, boss."


    After he ducked out, my eyes drifted back to the window. Lucas nailed the move Ava had been teaching him, and she pped him on the shoulder. The kid lit up like a firecracker-hadn''t seen him smile like that in forever.


    I''d never say it out loud, but that whole school stunt the other day... it did something to me. Since Elizabeth died, this ce has been like a clock with missing gears. Functional, but lifeless.


    Then Ava crashed into our world, and somehow the damn thing started ticking again.


    Shadow Creek''s council hall looked like it belonged in another century-all rough wooden beams and stern-faced Alpha portraits judging you from every wall. When I walked in, the room went quiet, the elders'' faces ranging from fake smiles to guys who looked ready to chew nails.


    "Alpha King Morgan, Elder Michaels practically spat my title, ''mind telling us why you''re sticking your nose in Shadow Creek business?"


    I dropped the document on the table between us, keeping my voice level. "This isn''t me butting in. This is me doing my job. Rivers'' death sentence is built on evidence that wouldn''t convince a pup, let alone justify killing a wolf."


    We caught him red-handed," another elder shot back, face flushing. "Literally-the guy was covered in Carter''s blood at the scene!"


    "Yeah, and that''s the problem," I cut in, locking eyes with him. "The blood spray doesn''t match an attacker. It matches someone who tried to help. And someone else was there-someone you all conveniently forgot to mention in your reports."


    The room erupted in angry whispers. I took my time looking at each face, lingering on Jackson Hayes in the corner, ying it cool like this was just another Tuesday.


    "Alpha King Morgan, Council Chairman Drake pushed to his feet, the only elder with enough balls to speak directly. "With all due respect, we handle our own dirtyundry. William broke packw-


    "Packw isn''t worth spit if it''s not fair," I cut him off, not raising my voice but making damn sure everyone heard me. "That''s what being Alpha King means - making sure we don''t start killing wolves because it''s convenient."


    The room went dead silent. I could practically hear them grinding their teeth. Nobody had the guts to challenge me openly, but this wasn''t exactly winning me any fans.