Chapter 5

The Great Hall fell silent as Declan raised his hand for the vote. His face, once so beloved to me, now looked like a stranger's—cold, calculating, and utterly convinced of his righteousness.

"All in favor of exile raise your hands," he commanded, his Alpha voice reverberating through the chamber.

I watched as hands began to rise throughout the crowd. Some hesitated, others raised theirs with enthusiasm. The pack members who had once greeted me warmly now looked at me with suspicion and judgment.

"This is what happens when you lose your wolf," I heard someone whisper. "You lose your place."