Nova Peak If you must fight, fight with yourself and your thoughts in the night

Mahler lingered. She wished he wouldn't. She felt so belittled and betrayed by his utter silence and the way he'd stood over her like she was some child whose temper he could intimidate away that she thought if he opened his idiot mouth, she would tear his muzzle clean off his face.

Well, open his idiot mouth he did.

Apparently humiliating her in front of the entire pack by allowing her authority to be challenged by a newcomer wasn't good enough, because now he sought to embarass her further by mansplaining what had just happened. As if she didn't know it was asking a lot. As if he hadn't witnessed Umbra's tenacity and violence for himself. Coast wolves had ruined her entire young life, and they all seemed cut from the same cloth. Caiaphas had been no different than Drageda. Possibly worse. These wolves were no different.

Ah, if only she knew Rusalka's ties to the sea witch. Then that paranoia would truly come full circle.

She looked Mahler full in the face, glaring, and felt something vital snap inside of her. One final straw. She spat, I'm leaving. Her children did not respect her, evidenced by Thade's display at what was a serious occasion. Her subordinates did not respect her, evidenced by Taikon's eye contact and questioning. Her co-leader did not respect her, evidenced by his inability to stand by her and support her. Apparently, he also thought she was a moron who needed things explained to her like a whelp. She foresaw nothing but pain and frustration in her future with Sagtannet, likely with the entire pack ridiculing her behind her back for daring to be afraid.

Mahler was right. Loyalty was earned, and she had at last found the frayed end of hers.