chapter 26

~ Alister's POV ~

As Alister stepped into the expansive room, filled with Alphas from more than fifty packs across the country, all eyes turned in his direction. The sudden attention made him feel uncomfortable.

He immediately spotted his gamma, Matt sitting on the other side of the long table and made his way over to join him, hoping to find some solace in familiar company.

"Hey, what's going on?" Alister asked, settling into the seat next to Matt.

"The head elder is running late," Matt informed him, his tone indicating surprise.

Alister was taken aback by the news. The head elder was known for his impeccable punctuality, never failing to be on time for any gathering. The fact that he was absent today meant that something significant must have happened. Alister scanned the room, searching for another familiar face, Wilson, and he was equally surprised to find him missing as well.

"This is strange… the Head Elder is never late," Alister murmured, a sense of unease settling over him.