Rafael's POV
The council chamber smelled of old wood, polished stone, and the sharp tang of dominant alphas trying to out-scent one another.
I walked in last, as always, and the room shifted the moment I crossed the threshold. This was the part of my life I kept separate from the house, the part where I wasn’t just Chloe’s father or the man who had fallen too hard for her best friend. Here, I was Alpha Blackridge.
I took my seat at the head of the long oak table. “Let’s begin.”
No one wasted time once I sat down.
“Alpha Blackridge, we’ll start with the eastern border." Elder Elision opened the meeting with a nod in my direction. "The Silverfang Pack has been pushing patrols closer to our line again. Three incidents last week.”
I leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Details.”
“Two
