Anger surged in Natalya more fierce than any she had felt in some time, a combination result of Cataleya's selective hearing and her quiet rage against her mate. Had she not been so presently wounded from her own battle, she may have lashed out against the woman she thought to be her ally and begun another conflict right here and now. Instead, she stepped forward, her nose nearly touching Cat's, her voice shaking as an aggressive whisper left her lips.
"My husband's weakness does not define the entirety of my pack," she spat angrily, blindly glaring at the woman who stood eye level with her. "This is not about the pack, or the lands, this is about the children. I would have handed that insane woman the lands on a silver platter, if only to protect my nieces and nephews, especially those I raised in my own den." She took a deep breath, stepping back and settling on her haunches. Her voice evened out and she became stoic again.
"While I speak of war so rashly now, I do not know for sure what our plan will be. Virgil returned and she is planning something against the usurper for certain, though I do not know what. I will be having the festival and I will be calling my allies together then to decide a course of action if one is still needed. You pledged an allegiance to my family. If you wish to honor that, answer the call for the festival when it comes. If not, we can part as if no allegiance was ever created." She sat a moment more before rising. "Also, as you seem to have forgotten, your daughter was not to be sent to live with us. Her suitor was to be sent to you. The option will certainly still be open, regardless of the outcome of our mission."
At that she turned, interested no longer in standing to interact with this woman. It would do her no good to stand here any longer when she was in such an unfortunate state. She was needed at her temporary home. "Speech"
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