Chapter 30

Mara's POV

Ironwood voted the next afternoon.

No Alpha ordered the turnout. No council threatened punishment. No mate bond decided who had the right to speak. People came anyway.

They filled the Winter Oath Hall, the square outside it, and every surrounding street. Farmers stood beside guards. Omegas stood beside former council families. Wolves who had spent their entire lives believing hierarchy was natural waited in lines to decide whether they wanted to keep it.

Since becoming Steward, I had usually been angrier than nervous. Today the balance had reversed.

Ronan noticed without an echo bond.

"You are tapping your thumb against your finger."

I stopped. "I do not do that."

"You have done