The hallways were silent as I made my way downstairs, most of the pack still deep in sleep. I'd expected to be the only one crazy enough to be up at this ungodly hour, but as I approached the main entrance, I spotted several figures waiting in the shadows.
Four men stood in a loose circle, their conversation dying as I approached. Even without introductions, I knew instantly these were members of Darius's elite squad. They carried themselves differently from the regular pack members I'd met—more alert, more disciplined, with that same underlying readiness I'd observed in Darius himself.
They assessed me with cool eyes as I joined them, their expressions giving nothing away. I recognized the look. I'd seen it countless times in my old pack whenever someone doubted my abilities. The "let's
