The safe room beneath the manor was the most secure place in Silver Creek, designed to withstand everything from a pack war to a military siege. Soundproofed, shielded against psychic intrusion, and stocked for a month, it was a fortress. But tonight, it felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage lined with plush carpet and soft lighting, trapping a single, unbearable truth.
The air was still and heavy. Aria sat on a low sofa, her shoulders slumped with an exhaustion that was more soul-deep than physical. Kai paced the limited space like the caged wolf he was, his movements tight and restless. The confrontation at the UN, the declaration of war, the news of Victoria's new target—it all pressed down on them, a mountain of impossible decisions.
