Council Lucius lifted his hand in solemn authority, his voice ringing through the grand hall. “Proceed.”
A hush fell over the crowd, so heavy it seemed even the flames in the lanterns flickered more quietly. Every wolf leaned forward, eyes unblinking, as though afraid to miss even a breath of this sacred moment.
This was more than a ritual. It was the birth of a new era for the pack.
Elaine, hidden in the shadows at the back, felt every gaze turn into a blade slicing into her soul.
Michael’s eyes found hers across the hall. For a fraction of a second, his golden gaze softened—pleading, begging her to understand. He didn’t speak, but she read the silent words in his expression: Forgive me.
Her parents’ eyes followed, meeting hers as well. The Alpha and Luna stood beside them, faces car
