Mason's POV
The hallways of the pack hospital are sterile and quiet as I make my way to my father's room. The weight of responsibility sits heavy on my shoulders, knowing I'll soon be taking his place as Alpha. It's what I've been trained for my entire life, but now that the moment is approaching, I feel a mix of anticipation and dread.
I pause outside his door, taking a deep breath to compose myself before entering. Once an influential and imposing figure, my father looks frail against the white hospital sheets. But his eyes are as sharp as ever when they lock onto mine.
"Mason," he says, his voice weaker than I remember but still carrying that undeniable air of authority. "Come, sit with me."
I take the chair beside his bed, trying to mask my concern. "How are you feeling, Dad?"
He
