Chapter 67: The Unexpected Consequences

The moment the decision left my lips, a heavy silence fell over the room. The Elders, gathered around the ancient stone table, exchanged uncertain glances. My chest tightened as the weight of my words settled in.

I had just made a choice that would alter the course of Silverwood’s future, and the anxiety of whether it was the right one gnawed at me like a persistent itch I couldn’t scratch.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Elder Bastian finally spoke, his voice gruff and weathered. “But it’s the only way forward. We must act quickly.”

I nodded, trying to suppress the dread that had been building in my gut since I walked into this room. “We need to unify the pack, solidify our defenses, and—”

“What about the divisions within our ranks?” Elder Miriam interrupted, her sharp gaze cutting through the tension like a knife. “The recent betrayal has sown mistrust. How do you plan to heal the rift?”

It was a fair question, one I’d been wrestling with since Maura and Julian’s true intentions had