Can we talk?

Amelia’s POV

The hall buzzed with low voices, each Alpha and Luna seated around the grand table. I tried to stay calm, even as my thoughts kept drifting back to last night. The almost-kiss with Lucas haunted me, making it nearly impossible to focus. I hadn’t slept much; the memory kept replaying in my mind, clouding my thoughts even now. I caught myself glancing across the room, but Lucas wouldn’t meet my eyes. His focus was everywhere but on me, his face a stoic mask that only deepened my confusion.

I shook off the distraction, reminding myself of the importance of today. This wasn’t just any gathering—it was the annual meeting where regional matters were debated by the most powerful Alphas and Lunas. My mind raced through the names and packs I’d memorized with Cassidy and Lena. I was here to represent Lucas’s pack, and I needed to keep my composure. Yet, my heart wouldn’t stop its restless beating.

I was pulled from my thoughts as the council doors swung open. In walked Ethan, the o