CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN - FRACTURED TRUST

"We need this," he said firmly when Anna tried to protest. "One night to remember what we're fighting for." And so, on a clear, moonlit evening, Erik led Anna to a secluded balcony overlooking the mansion's expansive gardens. A small table had been set up, complete with flickering candles and a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket. As they sat down, Anna couldn't help but gasp at the beauty of the scene. "Erik, this is... incredible." He smiled, reaching across the table to take her hand. "You deserve it. After everything you've done, everything you've risked for me and for the pack... I wanted to show you how much I appreciate you." A waiter - one of the few staff members Erik trusted completely - appeared with their first course, a delicate soup that smelled divine. As they began to eat, Erik steered the conversation away from pack politics and conspiracy theories. "Tell me about your dreams," he said, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight. "Before all of this, what did you