The large council tent was dimly lit, heavy with thick incense smoke and the scent of damp earth. What was meant to be a sacred place for prayer and union now pulsed with unease. Around the firepit sat the island elders, robed and weathered, their faces set with quiet knowing.Curtis stood tall at the head of the gathering, flanked by Macon and Stone. Vera, Gary, and the rest of the leadership from all packs had taken their places. On the opposite side of the circle sat the remaining four mates—Amarok and Geri, quiet but visibly agitated, and Taylor and Tara, both subdued, their eyes shadowed with sadness.Salem and Orson were gone.Their absence ached louder than any word spoken.One of the elders finally broke the silence. Her voice was hoarse but calm. “Two of the guardians have left.”“They didn’t just leave,” Geri muttered, resting his forearm on his knee. “They bolted.”“Then let them bolt,” Amarok added, his voice sharp, jaw tight. “We don’t need them. We’ll make do.”The eld
Last Updated : 2026-04-02 Read more