#Chapter 319: Picture Perfect

Karl “Karl, the security angle is strong,” Sarah insists, pushing a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. “It resonates with the pack’s current concerns. Why did you remove it from your final draft?” I pause, my fingers tapping on the desk. “I know, Sarah, but…” My voice trails off as I consider her words, my mind racing back to those moments of volunteering, of genuinely connecting with the pack. Those moments meant more to me than any display of power ever could. That’s why I decided last night to change my speech at the last minute. It was all ready to go, but I pulled back and told Sarah about my changes. That’s why she’s here now; to scold me. Sarah leans forward, her eyes meeting mine from across my desk. “But what, Karl? You need to be decisive here. You shouldn’t be making major changes last minute.” I take a deep breath, my decision crystallizing in my mind. It’s the morning of the press conference, and Sarah and I are having one last meeting. One last mee