[ He chuckles. ] The European wolves operate their territories like little kingdoms. And as such, itnis rare that there is no bad blood between packs, old grievances that some of us have the luxury of holding onto because what else is there to give us purpose.

[ He does, however, add: ]

I understand that there is some resentment towards Bran among the old lobos in Europa. The systems of wary cooperation that we have in place here cause suspicion among our brothers there.

And when we decided to bring ourselves out into the open, it revealed just how difficult it would be for the rest of the world to adjust.

[ He remembers those talks. And how Bran had paced since it had come down to Charles and Anna going in his stead. ]