TENSION RISING

The days after Carl’s banishment passed in a haze of normalcy, but underneath the surface, tension simmered within the pack. Damien worked tirelessly to maintain order, though his mind was constantly drawn back to Elena, who was recovering well but still bore the scars of recent events. Her pregnancy was their closely guarded secret, one they both cherished, yet it weighed heavily on his mind as he navigated the responsibilities of leadership.

Elena, in the meantime, had settled into a quieter routine, spending her days in the pack house and meeting with a few trusted pack members. Though her body was healing, she could sense the uncertainty in the air. Carl’s threat might have been temporarily quelled, but the look in his eyes before he was exiled still haunted her.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Damien returned to the pack house after a long day of dealing with the fallout from Carl’s banishment. He found Elena in their room, sitting by the window, her hand restin