The pack had been restless ever since Cassandra’s betrayal was exposed, but once Lucien put her under guard and silenced every whisper, things began to settle. For a moment, the pack looked at him with renewed respect, as though his word was law again, unchallenged.
Lucien stood at the training grounds, shirt clinging to his chest with sweat, as the warriors sparred. For once, their laughter was genuine. The heavy shadow that had been strangling them for weeks had thinned.
Evelyn stood at the edges, watching him. She had been quieter lately, more thoughtful, and yet whenever their eyes met, something in his chest tightened. She wasn’t like Cassandra—calculating, sharp-tongued, always seeking power. Evelyn’s silence had weight; her presence was grounding.
He walked toward her, his hand b
