|| Lilac’s POV ||

The night had passed in a blur, my mind racing with plans and possibilities. Sleep had been elusive, my thoughts consumed by the council meeting that loomed over us like a storm cloud. By morning, the weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on my shoulders, but I couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not today.

The council chamber was a grand, imposing hall, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of wolves and moons. The air was thick with tension, the ...