**POV: Ryker**

The summit hall fractures the moment the recess is called, the earlier atmosphere of polished diplomacy cracking like thin ice under sudden pressure. Alphas and their advisors cluster in tight groups—Dorian’s allies circling him like protective wolves while his opponents scent blood in the water and begin maneuvering for advantage. I position myself like a living shield between Ayla and every possible exit, my body tense and ready, scanning the room with sharp eyes while the bond hums steadily between us, grounding me in her quiet strength even amid the chaos.

The faction operative spotted at the perimeter this morning still hasn’t been found, and that knowledge sits...