#Chapter 39: A Seat at the Table

Emily I wasn’t expecting to see my name on the agenda for the meeting today. It wasn’t printed in the margins or scribbled in as an afterthought. It was there—centered, bold, official—just beneath Logan’s. The sight made my chest go tight for a moment, though I kept my expression neutral as I slid into my seat at the far edge of the long, dark wood table. The others were already assembling. Cabinet members. Division leads. A few grizzled betas who looked at me like I was some kind of misplaced accessory. Carla, naturally, took the seat nearest to Logan’s. She handed him a report with a too-bright smile and settled back, arms crossed like she’d delivered him world peace. Logan didn’t return the smile. “Let’s begin,” he said. His voice cut through the low hum of pre-meeting chatter, and the room snapped into silence. I opened my notebook, heart already racing ahead of me. The first half of the meeting was status updates—Pack finances, territory disputes, and diplomatic ove