The maids moved gracefully around the dining table, serving the meal with silent precision. The air was thick with unspoken tension. Once the last dish was served, the maids withdrew quietly.

The only sounds that remained were the soft clinking of utensils and the crackling of the hearth until Ethan cut into his steak, took a slow bite, and then sipped his wine before finally breaking the silence.

“Sephy, this is Arielle Mooncrest, a new member of the Shadow Fang Pack.”

“Oh, how ...