Chapter 36 · Until the Moon Falls

Treaty signing included a clause Zaia insisted on: maternal trustee authority over heir education regardless of Alpha schedule. Sebastian signed without reading the footnote. Zaia had learned to read footnotes for a living.

Summit morning, Zaia dressed Leo and Milo in jackets Priya had designed—silver thread hidden in seams, wolf-neutral to human eyes.

"Why do we look fancy?" Milo asked.

"Because Mama's speaking to twelve packs and you are her heirs," Zaia said.

"Are we behaving?"

"Leo is," Zaia said. "Milo is trying."

Sebastian knelt to Milo's height. "Teams behave together."

Milo saluted. Leo sighed like a future Alpha.

The pack alliance summit arrived on spring moon—twelve territories, human observers, three days of treaties and uncomfortable seating charts.

Zaia wore silver—not submission, signal. Sebastian wore black without armor. Leo and Milo attended the family luncheon in matching jackets Priya had designed as a joke that became tradition.

Elder Vance opened with formal welcomes. Harrington nodded from the cheap seats—strained smile, donated gift long forgotten. Elena Torres represented Silverfang with a contract folder instead of claws.

"Councils want spectacle," Sebastian murmured to Zaia before the session. "We give them substance."

"Substance is my specialty.