Chapter 140

Aisha's POV The morning of the fundraising event arrived draped in a quiet tension. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the Neutral Hospital's reception hall, illuminating the polished floors and rows of white chairs we had arranged the night before. I had barely slept. Everything we worked for had led to this moment. Packs, covens, clans, each group that once spilled blood on these very grounds, were being invited to sit under one roof, side by side. If this failed, we would lose more than funding. We would lose trust. Emma bustled past me, clipboard in hand, muttering about lighting fixtures and wine glasses. Her voice was clearer than ever, she had been pushing herself beyond doctor duties, throwing herself into event logistics like her life depended on it. Maybe it did. Maybe we all needed this event to succeed just to believe in a future we could control. "You look like you have fought another war," she teased as she passed, nudging me with her elbow. "I would rather fac