Joseph's POV
The moment Lincoln left my office to locate Heather, I shifted my attention to Karl. "Time to handle Deon. I want this finished before Dorothy gets back, and I want our pack ready to celebrate tonight without any shadows hanging over us."
"Always got your back, Alpha," Karl responded as we both rose from our seats.
I paused, studying his face. This man had never wavered in his loyalty to me. Not once.
"Karl, you've been more than my Beta. You've been my anchor through every storm we've faced. When this pack was bleeding and broken, when I was barely holding myself together, you never faltered. You never tried to seize power when I was vulnerable. Instead, you made yourself stronger so you could keep me strong enough to lead. Now that we're finally stepping into the light, I need you to know something. My trust in you is absolute. My loyalty to you is eternal."
