The room was buzzing with noise, the sound of chairs moving and people talking creating a tense atmosphere.
A few older members looked at each other; their faces were serious and hard to read, with lines around their mouths deepened by years of experience.
One of them, a grey-haired man with deep grooves etched into his face, turned toward Darius as if hoping to find an ally. "You knew about this?" he asked in disbelief, his voice rising above the murmur.
Before Darius could so much as open his mouth, Emerald's gaze snapped to the man. "I'm the Alpha," she said evenly. "I don't need anyone's permission to make decisions, least of all decisions that will bring positive change to this pack."
The man's mouth opened, then closed again. A short, nervous chuckle slipped out like he was trying to soften the edges of his words. "That's not what I meant…"
"Then choose your words more carefully," she cut in.
