103: NOT A GOOD TIME

I woke up to a dull ache pulsing through my body, though I felt a little better than before, the pain was only there to remind me of the battles I had fought and the wounds I had were yet to fully heal. The room was quiet, the soft light of dawn filtering through the cracks in the wooden walls. I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my mind, and slowly became aware of the figures seated near my bed.

Alpha Jo, Alpha Pax of Darklands, and Alpha Agger of Riverlands were all there, their powerful presence filling the room with heavy tension. Their expressions were serious, eyes watching me with a mixture of concern and expectation. It wasn’t often that such formidable leaders would gather like this, and I could sense that something important was brewing.

Before I could even speak, Zaza appeared at my side, her face filled with worry and concern. "Ava, you need to rest," she urged, her tone gentle but insistent. "You're not fully recovered. There's no need to push yourself."

But the sight