Thirty minutes had passed.
The grand hall felt like it was closing in on me.
Lanterns swayed gently overhead, casting pools of golden light across rows of seated Alphas and Lunas.
The air was heavy with the scent of meat, fresh wine, and too many perfumes.
Music played softly in the background, but it did nothing to cover the growing whispers.
Every pack was here, the Moon, Star, Sun, Rain, Cloud and all eyes inevitably drifting to the empty seat beside me.
I kept my face calm. Shoulders straight and my hands twisted flat on the table. Inside, my wolf clawed at my chest, desperate and furious.
No word from the search teams.
No trace of Doris but only silence, and the unbearable certainty that someone had orchestrated this perfectly.
Drake moved closer, his voice low, almost a
