Chapter 23

• The sound of the grand bell echoed throughout the palace, its deep tones reverberating in the stone walls. It was a sound that should have been full of joy and celebration, a signal of the union of two hearts, two leaders. But today, it felt more like a warning, a call to arms.
• Inside the lavishly decorated chambers, the wedding preparations were in full swing. The air was thick with anticipation, but there was a palpable tension that neither Chloe nor Kael could shake. The wedding, which was supposed to be a beautiful day, was on the brink of being overshadowed by turmoil.
• The Court, which had always played a crucial role in Kael’s leadership, had not given their approval for this union. Whispers had spread, rumors of discontent and disapproval, particularly from the elders who viewed Chloe with suspicion and distrust. But none were as vocal as Baryn, the eldest of the elders, a man whose power in the pack was unquestioned. He had never liked Chloe, and he had made his feelings about her perfectly clear. Today, he would do whatever he could to prevent the wedding from taking place.