Morning came with a soft knock at his door, a measured sound that pulled Darius fully from the quiet focus he had held since waking. The faint golden glow of dawn seeped through the curtains, brushing over the floorboards in slender lines. He had been awake long before the sun’s rise, instincts sharpened to the subtle changes in the air, the movements of those outside his quarters.
“Alpha Darius,” a voice called respectfully from the hall. “I’ve been sent by Alpha Michael. He requests your presence in his office.”
Darius stood, his movements smooth and deliberate. There was no rush, no hint of unease in him, only the steady discipline of an Alpha who knew every eye was watching. He dressed in dark trousers and a crisp white shirt, plain but commanding. The ceremonial garb of the night be
