#Chapter 25 – T-minus Ten Days

Ethan's POV The weight of the Alpha Council’s stalemate loomed over me as I stared out the window at the darkening sky. Tension crackled around me, my power leaking out with my frustration. There were ten days until the next round of voting, and every second felt like a countdown to a confrontation. I could practically taste the bitterness of Derek’s abstention on my tongue, and it fueled my hatred for my father even more. Marlus dropped a stack of papers on my desk, the remnants of our last strategy session still evident in the way his brow furrowed with concentration. “We need to flip someone,” he said, his voice steady. “Yeah,” I replied, forcing calm into my tone. “We need a plan to flip Aiden’s votes. The last thing I can afford is another tie.” Marlus nodded, taking a seat across from me. “Agreed. I’ve been thinking about who we can sway. The Northface Pack has always had a soft spot for you; maybe we can leverage that.” “Right, but Alpha Kraven also has a vested int