The dawn was a dull wash of gray over the compound. Mist clung to the stone walls like a veil, and the mountain air was heavy with a kind of silence that would make anyone uneasy.
Jethro stood at the window of his office, arms behind his back, watching the courtyard below. Guards moved with quiet urgency, eyes sharper than usual; no more blind trust. No more assuming loyalty came with a title.
He’d been wrong before, about Veronica, about his men. And now the weight of leadership sat heavier on his shoulders than it ever had.
Behind him, the door opened with a soft hiss.
“She’s ready. The Scepter unit is assembled.” It was Silas, his Beta. He stood without an expression on his face, waiting for his Alpha’s next order.
Jethro nodded once.
“Bring them to the Strategy Hall. And make sur
