Days passed quickly in Black Howler Pack.
Too quickly.
So quickly that for everyone else, it felt like a blur of preparation, excitement, and anticipation for the upcoming marking ceremony.
But for Willow—
Every single day felt long.
Heavy.
Endless.
Talon and Diana were consumed by responsibilities. Meetings with allied packs. Finalizing ceremony details. Security arrangements. Formal announcements. Endless discussions with elders and advisors.
Which meant—
It became Willow’s responsibility to host their guests.
To entertain them.
To guide them.
To ensure the Rogue King and his Beta felt welcomed inside their territory.
And every single moment of it…
Was torture.
Every morning, Willow would walk to the guest wing.
Every morning, she would stand in front of that door.
Every
