Chapter 49:Forced Submission

(Scarlett's POV) Claire burst through the door of my office, her steps hurried, her shoulders tense as if she carried the weight of a mountain. Her face was pinched with worry, and the clipboard in her hands shook slightly. I looked up from the order forms I had been reviewing and leaned back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest. "What is it, Claire?" My voice was calm, steady, but I could see the urgency in her wide blue eyes. She took a deep breath, clutching the clipboard as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. "Scarlett, the Winter Pack has officially declared all their resources off-limits to you," she said, each word tumbling out in a rush. "Sacred healing grounds. Rare herbs. Everything. They've sanctioned you completely." At first, I said nothing. I let the words settle in the air, weighing their significance. Slowly, a smirk crept across my lips. "Is that so?" I finally said, a hint of amusement curling in my voice. Claire blinked, clearly thrown off b