ASHER
The air felt tense.
I stood with my back against the stone wall, heart beating like a drum in my chest.
The ceremonial grounds buzzed with noise…laughter, music, drums, and the eerie calm before chaos. The ceremony had begun.
Every seat in the Night Shadow Pack's courtyard was filled. Richly dressed wolves, council members from faraway packs, curious guests from the Dagger Moon, and spies in silk.
Among them were my men, wearing false smiles and borrowed robes, scattered perfectly through the crowd. My fingers twitched beneath my cloak.
"I'm a powerful wolf, how dare you be rude to me!" one of my men growled, shoving a guard so hard he crashed into another.
That was the cue.
Another warrior stepped in, arguing loudly, drawing eyes. Guards rushed in, shouting, hands going to their weapons. Packs began murmuring. The crowd grew restless.
I moved.
