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The room filled with quiet murmurs of unease as everyone waited for Alpha Damien to speak. The rumors had spread like wildfire over the past few days—talk of his removal, of a possible uprising. The pack was on edge, and now all eyes were on him, waiting for an explanation.

Chris stood beside him, his arms crossed, concern etched on his face. He had been the one to push Damien to call this meeting, to address the growing rumors before they spiraled out of control. “You have to tell them, Damien,” Chris had said earlier that day. “If you don’t, the pack will start to doubt you, and then the council will have even more power. They need to hear the truth from you.”

Now, standing before his pack, Damien could feel their stares. His gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each man present. He knew some of them had their doubts, but he also knew that most of them were loyal. They just needed reassurance.

Damien cleared his throat, commanding silence with just a glance. The murmurs f