The night air bit against my skin as soon as I stepped out of the car beside Kristen. The Darkclaw Pack house loomed in the distance, a sprawling fortress lit by a thousand golden lights. From the road alone, I could hear the faint hum of music spilling out from within, a low pulse that matched the rhythm of my restless heart.

The Alpha’s ball.

I had tried convincing myself it was just another event, a gathering of Alphas to flaunt power, forge alliances, and sharpen their claws with ...