Maps littered the oak table in front of them, edges curling from wear, covered in pins and notes.
"Cael's report from the south border came in yesterday," Jax said, arms crossed. "He says the mountain pass is impassable. Snowdrifts too deep for even patrols to push through."
Finric nodded slowly, eyes skimming the parchment.
"And the rogue activity?"
"Quiet. Which worries him more than usual."
Finric's jaw clenched slightly. "They're waiting. Hiding."
The two stood in silence, considering the possibilities.
Then— A knock.
Sharp. Three raps against the heavy door.
Finric looked up. "Enter."
Brutus Sterling, Colonel of the Northern Legion, stepped inside without waiting. Tall, broad, with snow-dusted hair and a scar that cut through his brow like a blade. His armor was scratched and well-worn. He didn't speak right away.
Instead, he held something out. A tightly rolled scroll, tied with royal crimson ribbon.
Finric arched a brow. "From whom?"
"East. Intercepted by falcon. No scent on it but the raven's." Brutus said. "Ashbane seal. Heading east."
Jax straightened.
Finric took the scroll, untied it, and read in silence.
His brow furrowed slowly. Eyes narrowing. Lips pressing into a hard line.
He handed the letter to Jax without a word.
Finric took it, broke the seal, and scanned the letter.
His brow furrowed.
His jaw set.
He said nothing, just handed it to Jax.
Jax's eyes flicked quickly over the words.
His chest tightened.
Then he cursed under his breath. "Lying little snake."
Finric turned to him. "What happened?"
Jax didn't speak right away.
The tension stretched.
Fin didn't blink. Didn't flinch. But the temperature in the room dropped like someone had opened a door to winter.
Behind them, Brutus Sterling — who had said nothing until now — let out a slow, disgusted breath.
"That," he muttered, "is not the behavior of a princess. It's the behavior of a coward."
Fin didn't look at him, but Brutus's words landed with the weight of a verdict.
Brutus continued, voice steady and carved from the old ways. "A leader who lays hands on the defenseless invites the gods to take notice. And they always do. Eventually."
Jax's nostrils flared once.
Fin's fingers curled at his sides.
Brutus finished quietly, "If that girl is under our roof, she is under our protection. And anyone who forgets that will answer for it."
Fin's voice, when it came, was glacial.
"They will."
"I got confirmation later," Jax continued, voice rough with contained fury, "that Nova didn't say a damn thing back to Meredith until she brought up her dead mother. And Nova told her—something like be careful, your crown is slipping."
He exhaled sharply. "Meredith slapped her hard enough to split her lip. And there's a bruise on Nova's throat."
Finric stepped back from the table, rubbing his jaw with one hand, eyes fixed on the fire.
Quiet.
Calculating.
Dangerous.
"She wrote this letter to cover herself," he muttered. "Or to lay the groundwork."
"Probably both," Jax said. "She's scared of the girl. It's obvious."
"She's trying to manipulate Riven," Finric said, voice cooling further. "If this explodes, she wants to look like the wounded party."
Brutus folded his arms, posture solid as oak. "We can bury this. No one else has seen the letter."
Finric turned from the fire, gaze sharp as fresh steel.
"This doesn't happen again," he said. "I don't care how small the incident. If anyone touches that girl, I want to know immediately."
Jax nodded once, guilt flickering under his anger. "I've got it, Alpha. She won't be out of my sight."
Fin didn't respond.
He walked back to the table, picked up the letter, and read it again — slowly, expression carved from stone. But his eyes…
His eyes burned.
He turned toward the hearth, the letter hanging loosely at his side, his voice dropping low.
"Think this is retaliation for being dismissed?" he asked.
Jax's jaw tightened. "She knows we can't silence her completely as long as she's royalty. But this?"
His teeth clicked together. "This is war bait."
Finric nodded once, a single lethal decision solidifying.
"We won't send it back," he said. "No reply. I want it filed. And I want a watch on Meredith's wing."
He paused. "Quiet. Discreet."
Brutus grunted approval. "It'll be done."
Jax turned the letter over in his hand, unreadable now except for the hate simmering behind his eyes.
Finric didn't look at him — didn't need to.
The order had already become law.
And Meredith Ashbane had no idea how close she'd come to making a corpse of herself that day.
____________________________________________________________________
📜 The Letter from Princess Meredith Ashbane
To My Dearest Brother, Alpha Riven Ashbane,
I write to you bruised, bloodied, and humiliated.
The bastard omega, our half sister struck me this morning. Laid hands on me. Assaulted me like the common, ill-raised little beast she is.
She has no discipline. No control. And now, no respect for our bloodline or title.
I warned you about her. I warned you.
This pack may be too foolish or too enchanted by her lies to see it, but you and I both know the truth. She's dangerous. Reckless. Tainted.
She threatened me in my own quarters. Grabbed me. Choked me.
I implore you to take action. Retrieve her. Remind them who she is and where she belongs. She is going to try to wind up in the Alpha's bed chambers and try to break our bond.
Please give me aid to discreetly deal with her or summon her back to the Ashbane pack.
Your loving sister,
Meredith Ashbane