Two weeks evaporated like snow over a boiling caldera.
The Crescent Moon Pack territory was a beacon of wealth and power, heavily guarded and buzzing with the arrogant energy of the continent's most powerful wolves. The grand ballroom of their monumental packhouse was a sea of shimmering gowns, tailored suits, and the suffocating, heavy scents of Alphas trying to subconsciously assert dominance over one another.
Alpha Kaelen stood near a towering crystal pillar, his jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached. He wore a sharp, custom-made black suit, projecting the image of an untouchable leader. But inside, he was crumbling. The phantom pain in his chest had evolved into a constant, hollow burning. His wolf was restless, clawing at his mind, pacing relentlessly like a beast trapped in a s
