Shadowpeak gathered in the great hall as dusk settled over the valley, the torches burning low and steady. The air felt thick, charged with tension. Lyra stood beside Mira near the back, her wolf pacing beneath her skin, restless and alert.
Kayden stepped forward, his presence commanding the room instantly. His Beta and several patrol leaders flanked him, all wearing grim expressions.
“We need to talk about Crescent Ridge,” Kayden said, voice steady but edged with steel. “They’ve crossed a line.”
A murmur rippled through the pack.
Kayden continued, “They carved threats into our land. They ambushed us. They killed one of their own to send a message.”
Lyra swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around Mira’s.
Kayden’s gaze swept the room. “This isn’t about territory anymore. This is ab
