The main hall filled slowly.
Not with calm.
Not with order.
With tension.
It moved through the room like a living thing—quiet, sharp, coiled beneath every breath and glance. Warriors lined the walls, their stances rigid, eyes scanning every corner. Elders gathered near the front, murmuring in low, uneasy voices.
And in the center—
Space.
Left open.
Waiting.
Selene stood there, unmoving.
Watching.
Every person who entered.
Every hesitation.
Every shift in posture.
Because somewhere in this room—
The former Luna was hiding.
And she wasn't alone.
Silas stood to Selene's right, his presence solid, grounding, but alert in a way that mirrored her own tension. His wolf was close to the surface—restless, ready.
Kai leaned against one of the stone pillars, arms crossed, trying to look relaxed but failing completely.
"This feels like a terrible idea," he muttered.
Rowan stood slightly behind Selene, quieter than usual, his gaze sharp as it tracked the crowd.
