No one followed them out of the council chamber.
Not immediately.
That was the first sign something had changed.
Denise noticed it the moment she stepped back into the open air.
The pack didn’t scatter.
They didn’t challenge.
They didn’t block.
They watched.
And parted.
Not out of fear.
Not out of command.
Out of recognition.
Like something had quietly shifted its place in the hierarchy without anyone fully announcing it.
Liam walked beside her through the corridor of stone and wood leading out of the hall.
Silent.
Controlled.
But not relaxed.
Denise could feel it through the bond.
He was alert in a different way now.
Not guarding against enemies.
Guarding against what came next.
When they finally reached the outer steps of the hall, Denise stopped.
Liam stopped with
