Rebecca's voice drifted from behind us, light but sharp enough to carry. "Ash, I didn't expect Scarlett to know Mr. Stovall from Animus. No wonder Cameron said tonight's guests are all important people."
Animus Corporation.
The name alone made the air feel different. Not just a company, but a place where influence gathered and silent ranks were decided without words.
The banquet didn't feel like a birthday anymore. It felt like a meeting of power. A place where those with standing in the pack world didn't need to announce it. They simply entered, and the room adjusted.
Cameron Anderson stood at the center of it all.
She wore a black velvet gown with gold threadwork that shimmered softly under the light. Aquamarine heels caught every step she took. Even at nearly fifty, she didn't look worn by time. Instead, she looked refined by it, like pressure had only shaped her further into something untouchable.
