The sun climbed high, but it brought no warmth. Word spread like wildfire through the pack — Selene’s treachery, the attempt on Mara’s life, the unnatural power she had revealed, and Kaelen’s public confession. By midday, the entire pack stood divided: those who clung to Selene’s promises of greatness, and those who turned in revulsion from her lies.
I stood beside Kaelen on the balcony of the great hall, looking down at the restless crowd below. Corin and the Council flanked us. Mara stood safely inside, guarded by trusted warriors, her sworn testimony now written and sealed.
"She will not surrender easily," Kaelen said quietly, his gaze scanning the rooftops and shadows. "Once, I thought I knew every corner of this stronghold. Now… I do not know what traps she has laid."
"She relies o
