KELLY THOMPSON'S POV

The royal chamber, with its towering stone walls and flickering torchlight, felt colder than usual as we prepared to bid farewell to two pillars of our pack. I, Luna Queen Kelly, stood shoulder to shoulder with Alpha King Jason, our son Eden tucked close by our side. The weight of the moment settled over us, a tangible presence that seemed to draw the shadows in tighter around our small assembly.

"Elara, Thorne," Jason's voice resonated through the chamber, a deep timbre ...