Ellie’s POV
The day the council arrived, it felt like the whole pack stopped breathing. The air was heavy—so heavy that even pulling it into my chest felt like lifting a stone. Every sound seemed sharper, louder, even though no one really spoke. All around me people stood frozen, watching the gates. The banners were the first to appear, fluttering high above the heads of the riders. White and silver, bright against the clear morning sky. They weren’t just flags; they were warnings. Warnings that power had come.
The horses moved in perfect rhythm, hooves striking the ground with a steady beat, like a drum echoing through the earth. The guards that marched behind them looked different from ours. They weren’t just strong—they were carved from discipline. Every movement was sharp, controlled
