The morning after the full moon always carried a heavy, sacred silence. The echoes of the pack’s united howl still seemed to vibrate within the ancient stone of the stronghold, but as the silver light faded into a crisp, mist-laden dawn, the realities of governing a sprawling nation returned.I sat at the long timber table in the tactical room, staring at a map that looked vastly different than it had two decades ago. The borders were no longer sharp, bleeding lines of conflict; they were soft, integrated zones of trade and shared hunting grounds. Yet, peace on this scale brought its own weight.The heavy door creaked open, and Kael stepped inside. At twenty-nine, he carried the unmistakable posture of a future High Alpha broad-shadowed, deliberate, and fiercely observant. Behind him walked Soren, her eighteen-year-old eyes tracking the shifting shadows of the room with the sharp intensity of a natural scout."Father," Kael said, his voice deep and grounded. "The delegates from the ou
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