IGNAZIO
The air in the council chamber always smelled like old decisions.
Thick wood panels lined the walls, stained a rich dark red that matched the heavy drapes. Beneath them, centuries of secrets had been spoken and buried.
I stood near the center, surrounded by a half-moon of seated werewolves—each of them powerful, each of them waiting to pounce.
They would never get the chance.
The ruling council of Alphas rarely summoned me in person.
Most matters could be handled with encrypted messages or Euron’s trusted reports. But today, they insisted.
No rescheduling. No excuse.
That alone told me everything.
I adjusted the cuff of my sleeve and swept my gaze across them, my expression giving nothing away. They were all here. Luca from the Vermont pack, Elias from South Dakota, Da
