Raymond stood tall in the center of the pack house courtyard, his shirt torn and his face bruised from the brutal fight with Kenneth. The gathered crowd of pack members stared at him, their expressions a mix of respect and apprehension. Kenneth’s lifeless body was being carried away on a stretcher, and the sight of it left a heavy silence in the air.

Raymond’s piercing gaze swept over the crowd. “No one,” he began, his voice steady but edged with power, “no one will ever harm my family again.”

His words echoed through the courtyard, resonating with the weight of his victory and his promise. The gathered wolves straightened, their...