DAMIEN'S POV
I stood on the rocky outcrop, the wind whipping through my hair as I looked over my land. My piercing blue eyes scanned every tree, every stream. This land was mine to protect. Beside me stood Elara, my gamma. She was a woman of quiet confidence and unyielding loyalty, or so I believed.
Elara had always been by my side. Her presence was a constant in my life. She was dedicated to the pack, her reports on our safety always thorough and precise.
"Elara," I called out.
"Yes, Alpha?" she replied.
I looked her in the eye. "Elara, I've noticed a change in you. Your reports are not as thorough, and there's a tension in you that I can't ignore. What's going on?"
She took a deep breath, and her composure cracked just a bit. "Alpha, it's... complicated."
"Try me," I urged gently.
