The council chamber smelled like old stone and smoke. Evelyn sat at the far end of the long wooden table, her hands folded neatly in front of her. The leather of the chair beneath her was worn smooth from years of use. Across from her sat Kendall, eyes narrowed with focus, and beside him, Beta Caleb, his second-in-command.
Damien paced silently behind her like a restless shadow, his Alpha aura subdued, yet present. The room was full—pack elders, warriors, and a few trusted witches from allied packs. All summoned for what was now a clear threat looming on their borders.
A map of their territory stretched across the center of the table, black marks circling the spots where children had gone missing.
“The disappearances form a crescent shape,” Caleb noted grimly, tapping the map with two f
