ALEX POV
I watched the council members rise from their seats, the room silent except for the rustling of papers and the low murmurs of deliberation. The Werewolf King, Vaden, stood last, his gaze lingering on Alice and me for a moment longer than necessary. I hated how he looked at her, like he was trying to figure out some puzzle. But now wasn’t the time to react. Not yet.
“We’ll be retiring to deliberate,” Vaden announced. “Please await our decision.”
They all filed out of the room—Vaden leading, followed by the rest of the council members. As the heavy wooden doors closed behind them, I exhaled slowly, my hand tightening instinctively around Alice’s. I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight, not with Harmony and the Blood Moon pack emissaries still hanging around like vultures. Leo
