Chapter123: The Traitor

KELLY THOMPSON'S POV  Jason's shadow slipped away into the night, drawn to the ominous glow of the sigil etched upon ancient bark-a harbinger of the Black Faes' looming threat. His absence cast a palpable void in the grand hall, where I now stood encircled by the Council Of Packs, their gazes heavy with unspoken fears and expectant for my next decree. The air was taut, thick with tension that clung to my skin like the damp chill of an unseen mist. "Tonight, we must fortify," I declared, my voice echoing off the stone walls, steady as the heartbeat of our lands. The pack leaders, stalwart and numerous, shifted uneasily on their feet, their eyes mirrors reflecting the storm brewing within our ranks. Among them, Alpha Marrok loomed like a silent monolith, his tall frame exuding a quiet authority that demanded respect. His eyes, dark and fathomless, scanned the room with an intensity that belied his stoic calm. The subtle tightening of his jaw suggested a mind racing with strategies and se