67: Falling apart

Rune’s POV

The days without Alora dragged on, each one more tortuous than the last. The emptiness she left behind gnawed at me, a constant ache that no amount of work or distraction could dull.

I would find myself staring out of my office window, my mind wandering back to the last time I saw her. The image of her smiling at Dylan haunted me, a bitter reminder that she was somewhere out there, out of my reach.

Weeks passed, and with them came a growing sense of dread that something was terribly wrong. It wasn’t just the void Alora had left in my life; it was the pack itself.

I tried to focus on my duties, to manage the pack as best as I could, but things were starting to unravel.

The first sign was subtle, a few packs reaching out, stating they were reconsidering their alliance with us. It was unusual, but I didn’t think much of it at first. After all, alliances could be fickle, and I was confident that I could smooth things over.

But then, more packs followed suit. The rejections