DEREK
The city of Solmire was built from stone and steel, but the Alpha Council’s central compound stood like a fortress of polished ivory, untouched by age or nature. Every time I approached it, I felt that subtle twist in my gut—the reminder that no matter how high an Alpha rose, the Council always loomed higher.
I sat alone at a linen-draped table in the council district’s attached restaurant, ignoring the overpriced meal cooling in front of me. The room was full of quiet murmurs and flickering candlelight, the low hum of political power disguising itself as civility.
A vibration against the table snapped my attention downward.
A message from Joe lit up my screen.
Council panel list just released. Sending now.
An attachment followed. I opened it.
The names were a blur at first—Al
