I was confined to a tiny chamber in the manor. Rhys had made certain that I was observed following the council vote. As the head of security and Michael's closest confidante, Rhys was aware of my allegiance to the real Alpha. Every day, I watched the chilly, deserted facsimile moving down the corridors accompanied by armed soldiers.

I detested how silent everyone was. No one dared to speak, yet everyone sensed something was off.

It was morning. Just as I was about to depart, there was a ...