The Council hearing was tense. Some members were supportive, having witnessed our vindication in the corruption investigation. Others remained skeptical, questioning whether we could maintain stability while continuing to accept refugees.
"You're asking for a forty percent territorial expansion," one Council member said. "That's unprecedented for a pack your size."
"We have an unprecedented need," I argued. "Wolves across the region are fleeing abuse, seeking sanctuary, desperate for a pack that treats them with dignity. We can either help them or watch them become rogues. Which serves the Council's interests better?"
"You're assuming every refugee has legitimate needs," another Council member challenged. "What's to stop criminals or rogues from claiming refugee status to gain access to your territory?"
