ARES’ POV

I rose slowly, my every movement deliberate and heavy with meaning. The silence in the grand hall wrapped around me like a storm waiting to break. I turned to face the assembly....nobles, pack alphas and members,  warriors, allies, council members...all seated in anticipation, many of them still holding onto glasses raised for a celebration that would never come.

“Thank you all for coming,” I began, my voice steady, yet thrumming with anger.  “I know you expected a ...