Elder Yune's voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of a storm:
"Alpha King. Luna Queen. You need to see this."
Her words hit like stones in my stomach, tearing me away from Kaelos' embrace.
I turned to face her fully, swallowing down the lump in my throat.
Yune's expression was grave, her wrinkled face etched with concern deeper than the usual weariness of her years. Her hands clutched a sealed envelope letter so tightly the paper crackled.
Kaelos straightened beside me, his grip still firm on my shoulder as if to tether me.
His silver eyes sharpened with authority. "Speak, Elder Yune."
The old she-wolf's gaze flickered to me before coming back to him. It was subtle, but I felt the hesitation… the weight of knowing her words would only carve fresh wounds into my heart which was already bleeding.
"It's best you read it yourselves," she murmured finally, stepping forward to offer the envelope.
