Chapter 40 The Announcement

• "Twenty-two years ago," Aurelius began, his voice carrying the weight of decades-old grief, "I lost everything in a single night." The ballroom held its collective breath as he stepped onto the small stage. "As some of you may know, my fated mate, Eden Nightshade, died during a difficult premature birth. Our daughter was pronounced dead moments after her arrival."
• Gasps rippled through the assembly. Several pack members exchanged bewildered glances, clearly struggling to understand where this revelation was leading.
• "The next morning, I discovered something impossible." Aurelius's gaze swept across the crowd with deliberate precision. "The infant's body was gone. Vanished without explanation or trace."