Anya stood frozen, the crack in the door offering a narrow view of the hallway. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the distant sounds of roaring and fighting—the unmistakable sounds of Shifters shifting and battling.
Through her silent network scan, she heard Zara's voice, sharp with panic: "Alpha, the Hybrids are targeting the West Wing. They're trying to breach the nursery!"
A wave of icy revulsion hit Anya. Targeting children was a line she wouldn't cross. The Pack's desperate defense became terrifyingly real.
Suddenly, a new, cold voice cut through the comms chatter, laced with cruel satisfaction: "Kaelan should have never claimed the human. Now, his weakness is exposed to all of us."
Anya recognized the voice: it belonged to Silas Vex, Kaelan's cousin and most volatile rival for the Alpha title. Silas was rumored to be half-Hybrid himself, his jealousy legendary.
Anya realized the attack wasn't just a political coup; it was personal, orchestrated to expose Kaelan's greatest vulnerability—the human Mate he claimed to protect.
She slammed the door shut, rushing back to her desk. Running was now a secondary goal. If Silas Vex got control, he would expose the Lycans and kill her slowly. Her only hope of survival was ensuring Kaelan Vex won.