Caelan POV:
“Luna Elara...”
The words settle into the courtyard like a stone dropped into still water, the quiet rhythm of the morning shifting almost imperceptibly as their meaning ripples through the pack. Only moments ago the air had been light with the calm movement of daily life, patrol guards crossing the yard, the murmur of wolves sharing quiet conversation near the well, Elara’s laughter still lingering softly in the space between us.
Now the atmosphere tightens to something colder. More focused.
My arm is still loosely wrapped around Elara’s waist when the messenger finishes speaking, the warmth of her body against mine grounding in a way that makes the interruption feel even more intrusive. The Alpha instinct inside me bristles sharply at the timing. The Council, it seems, ha
