The summons came at dawn.
A council mark was pressed into the door of my chambers, the wax still warm when the guard stepped back. No words were spoken. None were needed. The seal alone carried weight, old and heavy, the kind that bent the spine even before the mind caught up.
By the time I reached the council hall, the room was already full.
Elders lined the curved stone seats, their faces unreadable, their scents controlled. Alpha representatives stood behind them, silent but watchful. This was not a meeting. This was a judgment dressed in ceremony.
Derek stood at the center, his back straight, his expression locked. King first. Mate second. If at all.
Jax leaned against one of the pillars near the back, arms crossed, his presence sharp and restless. He did not look at the elders. H
