The courtyard was a flurry of motion, yet beneath the surface, silence coiled like a waiting beast.
Tristan stood at the center, a pillar of shadow and authority. His presence alone commanded stillness—warriors straightened, guards braced, even the wind itself seemed to hold its breath. His eyes accessed the warriors before him, and his voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
“Double the patrols on the north and west perimeter. I want scouts cycling every five minutes. No one comes in or out without my command.”
“Yes, Alpha!” came the echoing response.
Tristan’s jaw clenched as he pivoted to the next set of warriors. “You—fortify the eastern barricade. Rhovan won’t come with an army, but he never arrives unarmed. If he’s stepping foot in my land, I want every inch of it ready to swal
