MIRA
I stood alone in the council room long after Eric slammed the door behind him.
The silence was too loud. The walls felt too close. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel in control.
I pressed my palm to the edge of the table, breathing slowly through my nose as the weight of everything crashed down on me. My wolf stirred anxiously inside me, whining low in my chest. She could sense it too, this wasn’t just a loss. This was the beginning of something darker. Something I hadn’t planned for.
Eric had been my strongest piece on the board. Loyal. Obedient. Smart. I thought I had him in my palm. I thought he needed me more than I needed him. I never imagined he would ask for Shadowcrest. I never thought he would walk away.
But he did.
And the worst part?
He looked stron
