31

Derek walked into his father's chambers, head bowed in greeting. "Father," he said softly, "I have returned from Blood Moon Pack."

Ragnar looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowed.

"How did the journey go? Did you find anything useful?"

Derek took a deep breath before responding. "I was able to get access to a lot of their medical records, but I didn't find anything related to the blue blade disease or its antidote."

Ragnar's hand trembled with anger, and his grip on the cup of wine tightened until his knuckles turned white. Derek's response was not what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear that his son had found the cure, that he had accomplished something worthwhile. But instead, he was faced with the harsh reality that Derek had come back empty-handed.

Without warning, he flung the cup of wine across the room. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as the liquid splattered against the wall. The red wine trickled down the surface, staining the otherwise pristine walls.

Derek