***
The council chamber was unusually tense. The room was filled with the quiet murmurs of the allied pack leaders, their faces reflecting a mixture of concern and frustration. Hunter stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed as he waited for everyone to settle. Wren was beside him, her pendant tucked securely beneath her cloak.
Anneliese, Hugo, and Acacia entered moments later, their expressions serious. Anneliese carried Nicholas’s journal, its leather cover worn from years of use. She placed it on the table, the gesture commanding attention.
“This is what we found,” Hunter began, his tone even but firm. “Nicholas was more than just Gertrude’s pawn. He left behind evidence of her plans; fragments of the dark magic she’s been using to prepare for the celestial event.”
Hunter pl
