Chapter 104:Sacred Claims and Shadow Threats

(Nathan's POV) "Alpha Blake, this is unacceptable!" Richard Stone’s voice exploded through the phone, cold and seething with authority. It was the kind of tone that demanded submission. I slapped a hand over my eyes and let out a slow, controlled breath. The last thing I needed was Richard pushing me deeper into a corner. "I told you, I’m handling it," I bit out, pacing the length of my office to keep my mind from snapping under the pressure. "Handling it?!" Richard snapped with incredulity. "The moonstone amulet must be returned for the sacred moon ceremony—next week! Do you realize how vital this artifact is to our pack? You cannot afford mistakes!" My teeth clenched as his words stabbed deeper and deeper. A mistake? Calling it a mistake barely scratched the surface of what I’d done. Handing Roman’s mate the most sacred item of our pack wasn’t just a misstep—it was catastrophic. "Richard, calm down," I said, though my patience was razor-thin. "I’ll retrieve it in time. You don’t