Chapter 90

FERRIS' POV

I rubbed my temple, trying to ignore the mounting frustration as Alpha Pretel Rodriguez—better known as Alpha Rod—stared back at me. His arms were crossed and his jaw was set in a stubborn expression.

The old Alpha’s graying hair, thick beard, and stubborm face made him look as immovable as the mountains that held his iron ore. I’d come into this meeting hopeful, ready to strike a mutually beneficial deal, but Rod had been more difficult than I expected.

Rod’s pack was known for its rich iron ore deposits, something I’d hoped to exchange for the gold my pack was blessed with. It should have been a straightforward trade, one that could solidify relations between our packs and give us both the resources we needed. But Rod had thrown everything off when he’d discovered a small vein of gold on his land.

"Why would I trade iron for something I’m already finding on my land?" Alpha Rod spoke. "I don’t need your gold, Ferris. We’ll mine what we have and expand our own coffers."