Chapter 216

Jaxon POV

The morning sun filtered through the towering windows of the council hall, casting long streaks of gold across the stone floors. I stood at the head of the room, surveying the faces of my pack: weary but attentive, some skeptical, others cautiously optimistic. After the chaos of betrayals, attacks, and power plays, Morrien needed direction, and it was my responsibility to provide it.

Celina stood near the back, her arms crossed, her usual sharp expression softened just slightly by the events that had passed. For months, she had watched me, questioned me, doubted me, and in her eyes I could see the wheels turning as she tried to reconcile the pack’s survival with the strength of our bonds. Including the one between Elvira and me.

“Today, we begin a new chapter,” I started, letting my voice carry over the murmurs. “In the past month we’ve