Chapter 132

The air in Derek’s pack was heavy with tension, thick enough to choke on. I stood on the steps of the main hall, looking out over the courtyard as the wolves went about their duties. Their movements were stiff and their conversations were hushed. Even the young ones seemed subdued and their usual energy was dampened by the fear and uncertainty that hung over the pack. I was no stranger to pressure or doubt, but this felt different. The weight of Gloria’s warnings, Gilly’s erratic behaviour, Zone’s condition, and now Dominic’s cryptic words before his death—it all pressed down on me and it crushed me. For the first time after Ardan’s disappearance, I didn’t know what to do. “Serena,” Ardan’s voice called softly from behind me. I turned to see him standing in the doorway with a concerned expression. Beside him, Rachel and Tobias waited with their faces mirroring his unease. “We need to call a council meeting,” I said finally and calmly despite the turmoil I felt in my chest. Tobias nodde