Ethan's POV
The courtyard was still locked in silence, everyone staring at Leonidas like he had just thrown a lit torch into dry hay.
"What do you mean, Leonidas?" my father asked, his voice steady but laced with that dangerous edge that made the hairs rise on the back of my neck.
Leonidas squared his shoulders, almost proud of himself. "I mean a Blackwood attacked the palace with rogues in an attempt to free her. I stopped them — and in the process, I killed him."
A sharp murmur rippled through the pack.
Some gasped, others exchanged wary glances. The word Blackwood always carried weight — it was a name that always ignited whispers. I caught the way the elders shifted on their feet, torn between fear of Blackwood and doubt toward Leonidas's sudden bold claim. The air itself felt charged, heavy with disbelief.
It sounded like a lie, but my throat tightened and I stayed quiet. Nothing made sense yet.
