*Charles POV*
Tension in Alpha Gabriel’s office boiled over, filling the air with frustration and fear. Hours of going in circles and overly cautious planning frayed my last nerve. My hand shot out, slamming the desk, a sharp echo marking the end of my patience.
“Enough,” I growled. Each word rumbled from my throat, a tiger barely leashed, ready to spring. “I’m ready to bet my life on it, but a chilling premonition whispered that the bayou, Celeste’s power source, might also be where our fates would be decided. I’m done talking about this. I’m going.”
I spun around, a coiled spring, each step towards the door heavy with the weight of unspent energy.
Then, King Vlad, my father and guide through the dark centuries, chimed in. “Son,” he interjected, his tone both a command and a plea, “I’
