Pearl’s POV
The quiet of the temple was broken by the thunder of boots. Heavy, hurried steps echoed against the stone floor, and I stiffened, my hand clutching the folds of my gown. My mother-in-law lifted her head, calm yet alert, as the temple doors swung wide.
A group of soldiers entered, their armor darkened by dust and sweat. They knelt immediately, fists pressed to their chests in salute, but their faces bore the weight of grim news.
“My lady,” the commander began, his voice rough from the journey. “Forgive our intrusion, but urgent matters cannot wait. The Blood Fang pack has declared war.”
My breath caught. The name itself was heavy, ominous. Even I, who had been hidden from much of the world, had heard whispers of their cruelty, their savagery, their thirst for power.
The com
