#Chapter 42: Parental Intervention

Alpha Marcus and Luna Elena arrived with the ceremony befitting their status—ceremonial guards in formal attire, bearing elaborate gifts that spoke of respect for Swift River's traditions. Despite the grandeur, I couldn't help noticing the pallor in Alpha Marcus's complexion, the slight tremor in his hand as he extended formal greetings. "You look unwell, old friend," Alpha Dominic observed quietly as they clasped forearms in the traditional greeting. "Nonsense," Marcus replied with a dismissive wave. "Just the fatigue of travel. Nothing more." I studied him closely, recognizing the signs of someone concealing significant illness. His movements lacked their usual fluid strength, and faint lines of pain bracketed his mouth despite his attempt at normalcy. Something was seriously wrong with our former Alpha. The Swift River Pack honored their arrival with an ancient welcoming ritual—burning sacred herbs, reciting ancestral prayers, and presenting ceremonial water from their sacre