Asher
The tension in the council chamber was palpable, thick with the scent of unease and barely restrained aggression. I sat at the head of the long oak table, my fingers drumming against the polished surface as voices clashed around me. The Elders' Court was in disarray, torn apart by fear and uncertainty. The rumors of the Shadow Alpha had reached every corner of our world, and with the attacks escalating, panic was setting in.
I clenched my jaw, my patience wearing thin as yet another noble wolf stood to address the room. "We cannot ignore the fact that these attacks began after Hailey arrived!" His voice was sharp, laced with suspicion. "It cannot be a coincidence."
My wolf growled beneath my skin, demanding I put an end to this nonsense. "Enough!" My voice thundered through the chamber, silencing the murmurs. "Hailey has nothing to do with these attacks. She is under my protection, and I will not allow baseless accusations against her."
