"I gave her my word."
The final sentence hung in the air and settled over the three men. The large study, now felt suffocatingly small. Zephyr, stood before his Beta and Gamma, his posture casual, yet his expression unreadable.
Ralph, was the first to break the silence. His shock was obvious, a contrast to Zephyr's calm. He'd heard the words, but his mind refused to accept them.
"You gave her your word?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. "Zephyr, the pack members are going to hate you! You can't initiate her! She's the daughter of our greatest enemy."
Zephyr's gaze was steady, unwavering. "I can, if the goddess permits. As for the pack members, I am the Alpha. They don't have a choice but to accept what I decide."
Ralph watched him with a growing sense of unease. Zephyr's tone was too casual, his demeanor too relaxed for the gravity of the situation. It was as if he were discussing a minor task.
