"Starting today, one copper coin per moon cycle becomes one copper coin every two moon cycles."
The handmaid froze.
Edric's voice was ice. "Ashton spoiled these workers. I'll train it out of them."
It didn't take long. Within weeks, even more workers walked off the job.
Edric, furious, dragged several of them before the Pack Council magistrate.
He charged them with "willful negligence," "inciting unrest," and "disturbing the territory's order."
But even with wolves thrown in the silver cells, the rest still refused to lift a finger.
My side of things was a different story entirely.
Business grew by the day, profits climbing steadily, and I paid the highest wages in all of Moonhaven.
The wolves working for me were terrified of not doing enough.
Edric seemed to think he'd found the root of the problem.
I was directing my crew to hang the sign above our new trading post when Edric's men shoved their way forward.
One of them swung and knocked the signboard clean off its hooks.
It hit the ground and split in two.
The leader glanced at the moonstone bracelet on my temp worker's wrist and sneered:
"So it's true. You're the one corrupting wolves' hearts with money."
I stared at the shattered signboard. My voice was flat:
"What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"Take your wolves and get lost! Stop spreading this filth! It's because of coin-poisoned vermin like you that everyone's heads are full of nothing but profit!
"You call yourself a Duskborne? Our bloodline is a house of moon-singers! And you drag our name through the mud like this!"
I said nothing.
I just looked past him at the men he'd brought along.
My temp workers could afford moonstone bracelets.
His wolves still had patches sewn onto their trousers.
I clapped my hands together.
"New trading post opening! Five den-cooks, ten clerks, one pack manager needed! Three moon-coins a month, plus commission! Sign the blood-oath and get territory shares!"
The wolves standing behind Edric visibly froze.
From the moment they'd arrived, their eyes had been drifting over to my people. Every few seconds, a flash of envy crossed their faces.
"Me!"
Someone was the first to throw down his club.
"Me too! Me too!"
"You—!"
One by one, the wolves around Edric bolted toward me.
I waved them off with a laugh. "Too many, too many."
"I'm strong! Pick me!"
"I'll work part-time! I don't need the shares!"
Edric's teeth ground together.