I was just about to urge them to unsend their messages when Aurora activated the voice-rune for the entire channel.
Her fury crackled through the connection. "Den-Leader? It seems none of you understand who truly leads this pack!"
"Lyra Nightshade, you're nothing but a minor captain of the Tracker Den. Is this how you teach your subordinates to behave? Do you have any respect left for me as your Alpha?"
"This territory bears the Frostveil name. It was built entirely with Frostveil resources! I see now that you've all forgotten your place in the hierarchy. Effective immediately, the Tracker Den is disbanded. Lyra, you wanted to abandon your post? Fine—then never return!"
I didn't even have a chance to speak.
Aurora expelled me and everyone under my command from the pack's communication channel.
A private message from Marcus Frostveil arrived moments later.
"Lyra Nightshade, even though you completed twenty working days this moon-cycle, your abandonment of post today means your entire monthly ration is forfeit. Don't bother coming to the Central Den for formal release procedures—you've been banished."
Reading those words, I allowed myself a quiet smile.