Chapter 18

The main hall of Althea’s old packhouse was louder than it had been when they arrived, the news of Kaden’s presence spreading quickly among the wolves. Dozens of pack members now lingered, their murmured conversations echoing against the high ceilings. Whispers swirled through the air like smoke, and Althea could feel the weight of every single gaze that landed on her. “Why is she here?” “Is she trying to cause trouble?” “Why would Kaden even bother with her?” The words weren’t spoken loudly enough for her to directly confront, but Altha could hear them all the same. Each one felt like a slap, a reminder of how little this pack had ever thought of her. She kept her head down, her hands twisting nervously in the fabric of her dress as she followed Kaden into the center of the hall. Kaden, on the other hand, walked with the confidence of a man who owned the room. His silver eyes were sharp, his posture commanding, and every movement he made seemed to radiate authority. The whispers falte