Contents
8 Stark
Overview
Stark stands guard over Meryn’s chambers and clashes with his mother, Sovereign Alpha Siegrid, after she suggests replacing Meryn with Saela. Cratos attacks to defend Meryn, forcing Siegrid to back down. Siegrid reveals historical precedent of mated royal wolves and presses Stark to pursue Meryn, but he refuses and threatens her to protect the sisters.
Summary
Stark takes over night guard outside Meryn’s chambers, with Saela confined inside. Restless and resentful of inaction and authority, he broods over his charged attraction to Meryn and the restraining mate-bond pressure from Cratos.
Siegrid, the Sovereign Alpha and Stark’s mother, arrives and commandeers the late king’s suite. While Stark reports recent events, Siegrid coldly critiques Meryn’s fitness and proposes disposing of Meryn to mold Saela instead. Cratos bursts in, attacks Genicos, and pins him, directly warning Siegrid through action. She retreats, apologizes to Cratos, and promises not to harm Meryn.
Siegrid presses for information and deduces that Cratos is mated to Meryn’s wolf. She cites history that Sturmfrost queens’ wolves have mates and that riders often pair as well, urging Stark to woo Meryn to consolidate control. Stark, fearing his corrupting influence and enraged by Siegrid’s manipulation, refuses.
Stark ends the confrontation, reasserts his protective role, and warns Siegrid that Meryn shelters Saela. He threatens retaliation if Siegrid menaces either sister, then returns to guard duty, reaffirming his intent to keep Siegrid from controlling the queen.
Who Appears
- StarkPOV Daemos Alpha; guards Meryn’s chambers, confronts Siegrid, refuses to woo Meryn, warns her to protect the sisters.
- SiegridSovereign Alpha; arrives, seizes the king’s rooms, suggests removing Meryn, reveals wolf-mate precedent, urges Stark to pursue Meryn.
- CratosStark’s direwolf; reacts to threat against Meryn by attacking Genicos, confirming mate-bond to Meryn’s wolf.
- GenicosSiegrid’s direwolf; fights Cratos when Siegrid threatens Meryn, backs down after Cratos’ dominance.
- Meryn SturmfrostQueen; off-page but central to conflict as Siegrid’s target and the focus of Cratos’s protective reaction.
- SaelaMeryn’s Siphon sister; confined in Meryn’s chambers, her existence is used by Siegrid as a replacement prospect.
- GrigoreDaemos guard; relieved by Stark and later recalled to cover Meryn’s door during the confrontation.