Kael signaled the guards with a slight nod. They scrambled into action, working quickly to remove the lifeless body and clean the bloodstains before they seeped into the wood. The metallic scent of death filled the room, and though the guards tried to be efficient and quiet, their nervous glances toward Lucian betrayed their fear.
Lucian lit another cigarette, his fingers steady despite the chaos that had just unfolded. He inhaled deeply, letting the burn in his chest drown out the lingering growl of his wolf. The cigarette's glowing tip flared as he exhaled, sending spirals of smoke drifting lazily upward.
The window before him showed the same serene forest, the one that had witnessed generations of pack leaders but today, it offered no peace.
Kael waited until the last guard carried t
