The council chamber felt colder than usual, despite the roaring fire in the massive stone hearth. The pack elders sat around the long oak table, their faces etched with deep concern and quiet disapproval. Alpha Asher stood at the head, but the weight of the meeting rested squarely on Xander.
Xander sat at the opposite end, posture rigid, emerald eyes cold and distant. The man who had once been warm, protective, and full of quiet strength had become a shadow of himself — sharp, ruthless, and emotionally unreachable. Months of relentless searching for Claire, sleepless nights, and aggressive business expansion had carved him into something the pack barely recognized.
Elder Harlan, the oldest and most respected voice, finally broke the heavy silence.
“Alpha Xander, we have watched you with
