An Alpha's Descent into a Poisoned Reality

I stared at the mountains blurring past my window, barely registering their majestic contours as our car sped along the winding road. Three days away from Elara felt like an eternity. Pack business had never seemed so tedious, so pointless as it did now, when all I wanted was to be back with her.

"Rhys, are you listening?" My father's sharp voice cut through my thoughts.

I straightened in my seat, meeting his stern gaze in the rearview mirror. "Yes, sir."

"Then repeat what I just said about the Crestfall Pack's proposal."

Shit. I hadn't heard a word. Ethan, sitting beside me, subtly nudged my ribs.

"They want access to our southern hunting grounds in exchange for alliance support," he whispered.

"They want access to our southern grounds," I repeated smoothly. "In exchange for alliance support against any northern threats."

My father's eyes narrowed slightly before returning to the road. "And what's your assessment?"