Chapter 49: Forced Submission
(Scarlett's POV)
Claire burst through the door of my office, her steps hurried, her shoulders tense as if she carried the weight of a mountain. Her face was pinched with worry, and the clipboard in her hands shook slightly. I looked up from the order forms I had been reviewing and leaned back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest.
"What is it, Claire?" My voice was calm, steady, but I could see the urgency in her wide blue eyes.
She took a deep breath, clutching the clipboard as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. "Scarlett, the Winter Pack has officially declared all their resources off-limits to you," she said, each word tumbling out in a rush. "Sacred healing grounds. Rare herbs. Everything. They've sanctioned you completely."
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