43

The air was thick with tension as the Blackwood pack gathered, their eyes trained on Damien and Ana, the leaders who now stood before them. The weight of the recent events hung heavy, a palpable unease that permeated the very fabric of the pack.

Damien's gaze swept over the crowd, his expression stern but resolute. He knew that the path forward would not be an easy one, that there would be those who would test their authority, challenge their right to lead. But he was undaunted, his determination fueled by the fierce love he held for his family, his pack.

"My pack," he began, his voice carrying a quiet authority that demanded attention. "We have weathered a great storm, one that has threatened to tear us apart. But we stand here, united, because of the sacrifices of those who have come before us."

His eyes drifted to Phillip, the loyal friend who had given his life to protect them from Octavia's twisted ambitions. A hush fell over the crowd, the weight of that loss palpable in the air