The Summit research hall buzzed with tension the moment Talon and I walked in. The air smelled like burned metal and cold stone, a mix of autopsy fumes and the strange residue clinging to the shard. Wolves clustered around the central table, voices overlapping in sharp arguments that bounced off the vaulted ceiling.
The shard sat in a containment case. Even behind reinforced glass, its light shimmered through the metal bands like a pulse. I felt it the moment I stepped inside. A tug beneath my skin, as if my mark recognized it. A prickle crawled up my spine and settled behind my ribs, warning and calling at the same time.
Talon placed a steadying hand on my back as we moved forward. He was tense, muscles coiled, eyes scanning. Every Alpha was on edge after the attack, and this room felt
