Chapter 62: Shadows in the Present

Xander's POV

The weight of expectation bears down on me like a physical force as I stand before the assembled pack leaders. Their eyes, a kaleidoscope of amber, green, and gold, bore into me with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. I can smell their anxiety, their impatience – it permeates the air like a noxious gas.

"Alpha Xander," Elder Thorne's gravelly voice cuts through the tense silence. "It's been weeks since Lyra's disappearance. The pack grows restless. We need stability... we need a Luna."

I clench my jaw, fighting back the growl that threatens to escape. "I understand your concerns," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. "But Lyra is my mate. I won't abandon her."

Murmurs ripple through the crowd. I catch snippets of their whispered doubts – "unfit leader," "compromised by emotion," "putting one girl above the pack."

Before I can address their concerns, a commotion erupts at the back of the hall. Asher bursts through the doors, his form flickering