The great hall was dimly lit, the golden light of the torches dancing across the polished stone walls. I stood at the center of the room, my wrists bound by silver chains that bit into my skin. The gathered werewolves sat in a semicircle, their eyes sharp and filled with judgment. At the head of the room, Alpha Kael sat with an unreadable gaze, heavy and piercing, fixed on me.
My knees went weak, shaking under the weight of their gaze. Whispers swelled like an incoming tide around me, and even though I didn't catch every word, the venom was unmistakable in their tones.
"She attacked Emily."
"That's not just power—it's danger."
"Why did Kael even let her into our pack?"
Kael raised his hand, and the silence was instant, the authority in his gesture leaving no room for argument. His
