The air in the council chamber was thick with tension. Juliana sat at the head of the long, polished table, her presence commanding despite the weight of the crown she now bore. Around her, the council members—elder statesmen, pack leaders, and strategists—watched her with varying degrees of wariness, contempt, and begrudging respect.
Hak stood at her side, his imposing figure a silent reminder of her authority. Though his outward demeanor remained calm, Juliana could sense the storm of vigilance within him. The tension between them and the council had only grown since her coronation, and it was clear that certain members had not abandoned their schemes.
"We must address the recent border incursions," one councilman, Lord Tiberius, said, his sharp tone cutting through the room. He was an
