Chapter Hundred thirty-two

Darius’s POV

I kept my face impassive as I followed Alpha Etan and the council members, even as resentment simmered beneath my calm exterior. They led me down a narrow path, deeper into the forest until we approached an old, hidden building I’d never noticed before. The sight of it sent a shiver through me. How could I not have known this place existed? I kept silent, unwilling to let them see my discomfort, as they ushered me inside.

The room we entered was dimly lit, shadows clinging to the corners. A crowd had already gathered, their faces concealed behind masks. The anonymity gave the gathering an eerie, almost ritualistic feeling, and I felt out of place, like a stranger trespassing in a dark secret. A man handed me a mask as I took a seat beside Alpha Etan, who wore no disguise. He seemed to revel in his defiance, sitting openly among his followers as if daring anyone to call him out.

I put on the mask, feeling a strange disquiet settle over me. Did Etan somehow see something in