Chapter 24 – The Council’s Ultimatum
The torches lining the path to the council hall spat and hissed in the night wind. Their flames bent as if bowing toward Elena, guiding her into the very heart of the wolves’ power. She walked beside Damian, his stride long and purposeful, but she could feel the tension thrumming through him. His hand hovered near hers—not quite touching, yet tethering her to him all the same.
The old hall loomed ahead, built of stone so ancient it seemed to have grown from the ridge itself. Heavy wooden doors carved with snarling wolves swung open at their approach. Inside, the air smelled of smoke and iron, of history and judgment.
Elena’s stomach knotted. She had never felt so small.
The Gathering of Elders
The chamber was vast but dimly lit, its ceiling lost in
