VICTOR'S POV
I stepped out of Elder Helen’s quarters with a heavy mind. Her words echoed in my head, raising more questions than answers.
How could an inner circle member who sat in on every critical decision claim she didn't know the real reason behind my return? It made no sense.
And then there was the new responsibility she had shoved onto me: acting as a standby Beta. Handling internal pack disputes because Michael’s reputation was too damaged? It felt like a sick joke.
Inside me, my wolf growled, its irritation vibrating through my chest. We are being forced to serve under another wolf, it snorted, snapping at the humiliation.
Shut up, I commanded back, suppressing the beast with a firm mental grip. I couldn't afford to listen to it right now.
It was that exact blind rage that
