Chapter 53. Lost, but Found

Xander’s POV

The tension in the council chamber was palpable, a suffocating mix of suspicion and unease that clung to the air like smoke. My mind replayed the events of the hearing again and again, searching for any angle, any detail that could have predicted the interruption.

And yet, there he was.. Alpha Gaius.

He stood beside me now, a towering figure draped in the kind of authority that demanded attention without effort. He was a living legend, feared and respected in equal measure, yet an enigma. His return to the council was as unexpected as it was unsettling. Gaius had disappeared from these gatherings years ago, refusing to acknowledge the peace treaty. Rumors swirled, speculating that his discontent stemmed from personal loss, but no one had dared to question him directly.

Until now.

“I found her,” Gaius said, his voice low but steady.

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

I turned to face him fully, frowning. “F