Avery intercepted Preston Hale as he moved to secure the medical perimeter. Her amber eyes were sharp, demanding the truth about Hudson's collapse. Through swift, fluid gestures, she asked why the Beta was masking the Alpha’s true condition.

Preston offered a hollow, weary smile. "Peace, Luna. The Alpha is simply drained. Between the border skirmishes and the Pack Council, his wolf is exhausted. It’s a flare-up of the gut-rot he caught in the Southern Marshes. He just needs a few sun-cycles of rest."

Avery shook her head, her skepticism radiating like a scent. She had watched Hudson hunt for three days straight without water; he didn't drop from "exhaustion." Her...