The Bonding Ceremony began in earnest.
Anderson stood at the ceremonial altar, but his mind kept replaying our last phone call. Something in my tone had unsettled his wolf, an unease that grew with each passing moment.
He turned to Beta Gideon urgently, interrupting the ritual preparations.
“Find Rosalie. She won’t let me mate another without causing trouble.”
As they finished the ceremonial toasts, Anderson led Shirley through the crowd of well-wishers.
The Beta rushed back, face ashen.
“Alpha!” he gasped, struggling to catch his breath. “There’s been an attack on the northern border! Rosalie… she took a car to leave pack territory. A group of rogues ambushed the vehicle at the crossing point.”
His next words fell like stones: “The patrol found the wreckage. No survivors. The rogues…” he swallowed hard, “they left nothing to find.”
The ceremony fell silent.