Chapter 85

Mia’s Pov

The meeting room was heavy with the weight of silence as we gathered around the table—Christian, Alpha Dominic, Gamma Arnold, and I. The losses from the war were staggering, the cost far more than any of us could have imagined. Each face held the burden of those who had been lost, the sacrifices that had been made. Alpha Dominic leaned forward, his fingers drumming quietly on the wood surface.

“The loss of our warriors...” he began, his voice tight. “It’s something we’ll feel for years to come. Our pack’s numbers have dwindled, but their loyalty, their bravery, cannot be forgotten.”

Gamma Arnold nodded solemnly, his eyes cast downward. “The cost was high, and we must honor those who gave everything to protect us.”

I stayed quiet, my eyes casted down in sorrow. So much had changed, and though we had won, the victory felt hollow, shadowed by Sylvia’s absence. Every corner of the room seemed to echo her voice, her presence, and it was hard to focus on anything else.

Christian’s