#Chapter 59: Shifting Power

Elsa cemented herself into the House the same way mold grew in damp corners, quietly, steadily, and impossible to scrub out without tearing something. She wasn’t formally part of the political team, but she didn’t need to be. She was everywhere. Hovering near every press briefing, offering opinions during council prep, shadowing Jenny at events like she was born to it. She never touched policy, but she sunk her claws deep into the Pack’s public-facing machinery, shaping narratives, molding perceptions, choreographing the illusion of cohesion. “Public trust is emotional,” she told the communications staff one afternoon, standing at the head of the media strategy table. “It’s not about what we do. It’s about how we look doing it. If people think we’re unified, they’ll believe we are. That’s the game.” She didn’t say it with pride. She said it like it was obvious. Like we were all behind for not understanding it sooner. No one argued with her, not even Richard. Especially not Rich