The soft hum of the manor was punctuated by the occasional chatter of pack members passing through the halls. Derek stood near the window of his office, sipping a cup of strong coffee as his eyes lingered on the pack grounds below. His mind was restless, caught between the looming rogue threat and Kael’s unsettling presence.

A knock on the door pulled him from his tnoughts.

“It’s open,” Derek said without turning around.

The door swung open, revealing Alpha Moore. He leaned casually against the doorframe, but there was an air of intent behind his relaxed demeanor.

“You’ve been hard to pin down lately,” Moore began, stepping inside.

Derek glanced...