LUCIAN'S P.O.V.
The silence was heavy, pressing against my skin as I stood in the center of the meeting hall. I could feel the tension humming in the air like a taut string ready to snap. The rustling of fabric, the shifting of feet—these small sounds were amplified in my world of darkness, painting a vivid picture of the unease surrounding me.
Then, a voice I knew all too well broke through the stillness.
"Lucian," Maverick drawled, his tone dripping with a smugness that made Ares stir restlessly in my mind. "It's about time you showed up. The pack deserves answers."
I clenched my jaw, recognizing him instantly. Maverick, the eldest son of my father's younger brother, had always been a thorn in my side. Though he carried the Alpha gene, he lacked the strength, the charisma, and, frankly, the loyalty that made a true leader. Still, his hunger for power was insatiable, and my prolonged absence had undoubtedly emboldened him.
