Chapter 87: Shattered Alliances

Lyra's POV

The great hall of the Shadowmoon Pack house, once a symbol of unity and strength, now stands as a testament to our fractured reality. Wolves gather in tense clusters, their loyalties visibly divided. The air crackles with barely contained hostility, and I can feel the pack bonds – once unbreakable – stretching to their breaking point.

Xander stands at the head of the room, his face a mask of carefully controlled emotion. But through our mate bond, I feel the turmoil raging beneath the surface. The weight of leadership has never been heavier on his shoulders.

"We cannot allow fear to dictate our actions," he says, his voice carrying across the hushed assembly. "The Weaver may have manipulated events, but our choices – our bonds – are our own."

A low growl rumbles through one faction of the pack. Greyclaw, one of our senior warriors, steps forward. "And how can we be sure of that?" he challenges. "How do we know our very t