#Chapter 86 – United Front

Ethan's POV The folder in Marlus’s hand was thick, its edges worn as though he’d been poring over its contents for hours. His expression was grim, jaw set in a way I’d come to recognize as a sign of bad news. My wolf stirred, already anticipating the worst before Marlus had even spoken a word. “Chloe’s desperate,” Marlus began, his voice low and steady as he placed the folder on my desk. “She’s been trying to bribe some of your allies, hoping to sway them before the vote.” I opened the folder, scanning the neatly organized pages of emails and financial records. The evidence was damning: payments funneled through shell accounts, thinly veiled promises of power in exchange for loyalty. My wolf growled low in my chest, the sound rumbling through the room. “Who?” I asked, though I already had an idea. Chloe’s targets were always the most vulnerable, the undecided, the wavering. Marlus hesitated for a moment before answering. “Alpha Rylan. He’s been on the fence since the