Chapter 61 Pack Tension

• Bertha's POV
• The air in the ancestral hall crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on. Friedrich's words echo in my mind: "I need you standing beside me." It's not a request, it's a command, and one I'm more than willing to obey. But the weight of his father's gaze, the subtle shifts in the other wolves' eyes, reminds me of the precariousness of my position.
• As we leave the hall, the energy shifts. The war council is over, but the war within the pack feels like it's just beginning. Friedrich's hand brushes mine, a fleeting touch that sends a jolt through me. I look up, meeting his intense gaze.