When Michael and Kathy returned to his office, the air between them was heavy with unspoken tension. The room was quiet except for the faint ticking of the old clock on the wall — a sound that suddenly felt too loud, too sharp against the silence.
Michael walked straight to his desk, his movements deliberate, trying to keep his composure. He picked up the phone and took a steadying breath before dialing.
“Council Lucius, this is Alpha Michael of Silverblade,” he said firmly when the line connected. “I would like to request a meeting with you to discuss a situation that has occurred within my pack. I apologize for the sudden request, but it’s something that needs to be addressed right away.”
Lucius’s calm, deep voice came through the receiver. “Of course, Alpha. Can you tell me what this
