Elsa’s POV
The day began with silence.
Not the peaceful kind…the uneasy one that makes the air feel heavier than it should. Even the maids moved slower, whispering to one another as if afraid to speak too loudly.
I knew something was wrong the moment I woke up. Lila and Neris were standing by my window, speaking in hushed tones until they saw me stir. They froze like children caught misbehaving.
“What is it?” I asked, sitting up slowly.
Neris bit her lip, glancing at Lila before answering. “There’s been… an incident.”
My stomach tightened. “What kind of incident?”
Lila hesitated, wringing her hands. “The pack doctor, Elsa. They found him near the southern woods this morning. He’s…”
She didn’t have to finish. The way her voice cracked said enough.
My breath caught. “Dead?”
Neris n
