"Enough!"
The leader of the Elder Council rose to his feet, his silver robes trailing as he lifted his staff. A pulse of power rippled outward, silencing the crowd in an instant. The echo of the command vibrated in the bones of every wolf present, forcing heads to bow, voices to choke off.
The hush that followed was almost unbearable.
The Elder's eyes, sharp and ancient, swept across the room until they landed on Livia. He studied her with the stillness of a predator, gaze piercing as though it could unearth every secret buried in her soul.
For a moment, the chamber seemed to shrink, the thousands of eyes forgotten—there was only her and the weight of his judgment.
"You will not speak unless commanded," he said at last, his tone low but resonant, leaving no room for defiance. His gaze shifted toward Aldrake, whose smug confidence faltered beneath the scrutiny.
