Chapter 16: Allies and Enemies

The tension in the air was palpable as I made my way back to the pack house, the weight of the cursed artifact still heavy in my bag.

My mind raced with the events of the past hours—the ancient chamber, the terrifying power I now held, and the looming threat of Alaric’s forces.

But as much as I wanted to focus on the immediate danger, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was brewing. Something closer to home.

The moment I stepped through the door, I was met by Gideon Hale, the pack’s Beta. His expression was a storm of emotions—anger, concern, and something else I couldn’t quite place.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, his normally sharp eyes dull with exhaustion.

“Sera,” he said, his voice low and strained. “We need to talk.”

I nodded, following him into the empty meeting room where we could speak in private.

The room felt cold and sterile, the usual warmth of the pack house replaced by an unsettling silence.

“What is it, Gideon?” I asked, my he