"All this," Nicholas said slowly, gesturing slightly with the phone still in his hand, "this is the main reason I think something—or someone—is trying to mess with us. There's a bigger picture here. I'm sure of it. And that's why I need your permission to go on this mission."
The seriousness in his voice lingered in the night air between them.
For a moment, Kasteil didn't answer.
He stood there quietly, his hands resting inside his pockets, his gaze thoughtful as he looked past Nicholas toward the dim lights of the city beyond the building. The pack was calm tonight, peaceful in a way that most people took for granted. People were sleeping, working late, or simply living their lives without realizing how fragile safety could be.
Nicholas waited.
He knew that look on Kasteil's face. It meant the Alpha King was thinking through every possible outcome before making a decision.
Finally, Kasteil spoke.
"No."
Nicholas blinked.
"What?" he asked, genuinely surprised.
