POV: Queen Amethyst Walker Reynolds
A month had passed since we emerged from the frost-bitten depths of the southern tunnels, escorted by the shifting shadows of the Fae. In that time, the Royal Palace had transformed from a besieged fortress back into a seat of power, yet the air remained thick with a tension that no amount of scrubbing or incense could clear. It was the kind of quiet that didn't signify peace, but rather the heavy, breathless pause before a predator strikes.
The departure of our families a week ago had left the halls feeling cavernous and cold. My parents, Alpha Jessie and Luna Gemma, had returned to the Wildfire Pack; their borders were being harassed by rogue elements emboldened by Gretchen’s rising influence. Similarly, my Aunt Serena and Uncle Ethan had ridden back
