***
The main hall of the sanctuary was crowded with representatives from the allied packs. Warriors, council members, and elders filled the room, their voices a cacophony of tension and mistrust. Hunter stood at the center, his presence commanding as he surveyed the group.
“Silence,” he called, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. The room quieted, though the undercurrent of unease remained.
Wren stood beside him, her violet eyes steady as she took in the faces of their allies. The pendant around her neck pulsed faintly, a reminder of the power she carried; and the danger they all faced.
Hunter’s gaze swept the room. “Gertrude’s forces grow stronger by the day. If we don’t stand united, she will tear us apart.”
Maren, the Silver Pack elder, crossed his arms. “And what hap
