Chapter 103 Unresolved Tension

• ~ Elara~
• Dinner in the Silvercrest packhouse was an elaborate affair. The long wooden table was laden with steaming dishes, the aroma of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filling the air. High ranked werewolves from the pack chattered and laughed, but I could feel the tension simmering beneath the surface, especially from across the table where Astrid sat. Her golden hair shimmered under the soft glow of the candles, and her smile was bright as she laughed at something Lucian said, but there was something off in her demeanor that I couldn’t quite place.
• Lucian sat beside me, his hand occasionally brushing mine under the table. It was a comforting gesture, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, scrutinized by the pack members who were still uncertain about my place here. Astrid, in particular, made her presence known, her eyes always seeming to land on me for a second too long.