The doors opened before the servant finished speaking.
Not slowly.
Not ceremonially.
As if the mansion itself had decided it no longer had a choice.
Cold air rushed into the hall.
With it came them.
The council.
Five wolves stepped inside.
Not in human hesitation.
Not in unfamiliar caution.
In control.
Denise felt it immediately.
The shift in pressure.
The change in atmosphere.
Like the entire room had just been divided into ranks she didn’t understand but somehow instinctively recognized.
Liam went still beside her.
Not relaxed.
Not surprised.
Controlled.
But tighter now.
More contained.
His father exhaled quietly.
“Of course they came in person.”
Denise leaned slightly toward Liam.
“Tell me those aren’t what I think they are.”
Liam didn’t take his eyes off them.
