Ethan POV

Alice runs ahead of me toward the council hall, and every step feels like walking toward an execution. She'd found me with news that made my blood run cold—

Grace is arguing with Elder Laf about the pack merger.

The thing I'd been dreading is happening, and the weight of it crushes my chest. I can still hear Laf's voice from three days ago, those words that trapped me: "I'm calling in your promise, Ethan. The one you made when you begged for my ...