Evaline:
The silence became almost suffocating as all eyes stayed fixed on River.
Even the fire had quieted, its flames swaying softly as if the air itself had grown heavier.
I could feel the tension pressing down on all of us.
Morwen sat perfectly still across the fire, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The desperation she had shown earlier hadn't disappeared, but now it had been replaced by something quieter - anticipation, fear, hope.
The other witches looked between River and Morwen anxiously, clearly understanding that whatever came next would determine their fate.
Beside River, Kieran leaned forward slightly, his attention sharpened.
Jasper hadn't moved at all, but the tension in his shoulders was unmistakable.
And River…
River remained completely calm.
But I knew that calm.
It was the same one he carried whenever he stood before the council.
The same composed authority he wore when delivering decisions that could change the course of entire packs.
