The betas exchanged panicked looks, the air humming with the electric threat of violence, but Wilburn nodded hastily, gesturing toward the shadowed corridor with a trembling hand.

Those grizzled old betas finally bolted from the scene, their footsteps pounding like thunder as they raced to summon Rebecca for me.

All the while, I stood rooted there, my gaze locked on Elder Wilburn, seething with an anger that burned hotter than a wildfire that uncontainable, unyielding, ready to consume everything in its path.

“I never imagined my late father would choose you as one of the representatives,” I spat bitterly, the words dripping with contempt. “You’ve already put your own future...