Chapter 7: A Glimmer of Light in the Shadow

The aftermath of the attack was a numb, surreal blur. Police were called, a report was filed. The official story, concocted by a smooth-talking Beta who arrived minutes after the police, was a bizarre home invasion by individuals with a trained animal. The broken window, the claw marks on the floor, the lingering scent of wolf—it was all explained away with a chilling efficiency that spoke of practice. I stood silently, wrapped in a blanket an officer had given me, and let the lies wash over...