Chapter 103 – The Price Of Blood

• Damon
• It has been long since night fell when I stand in the center of the circle. The glow of the full moon illuminates the clearing with a harsh, cold light. The pack has gathered around me, forming a perfect circle. The silence is oppressive, every breath echoing in the heavy, tense air.
• I feel my father’s gaze weighing on me. He stands on an improvised platform, arms crossed, face stern. Beside him, the pack elders watch every move. The blood ritual is an archaic act, a test of honor and strength that few Alphas have endured in recent decades.