Chapter 8: Cracking the Gilded Façade

The morning sun cast long, sharp shadows across the polished marble floors of the Blackthorn administrative wing. In his private office, Damien Blackthorn stood by the tall, arched windows, his eyes fixed on the courtyard below, though his mind was entirely occ

Chapter 9: The Panic of the Climber

The panic that seized Ethan Cross was absolute and suffocating. Within minutes of receiving the council summons, he was pounding on the private side-entrance of Vivienne Laurent’s estate, his usual arrogant swagger completely shattered by the specter of impending

Chapter 10: The Trap Springs Halfway

The Grand Pavilion of the Blackthorn Regional Assembly hall echoed with the ambient hum of hundreds of ranked wolves, pack elders, and council dignitaries. High above the polished obsidian floor, banner flags representing the major regional territories fluttered