The ballroom was a swirl of laughter and chatter, but as my eyes roamed over the crowd, they landed on a familiar figure. He stood alone, his presence almost magnetic, though he gave off an air of solitude. Kieran Black, the retired Alpha of the 7th pack, now Elder, was always a quiet force, his stoic nature only adding to the weight of his presence.
I could see him clearly, even though he was turned away from the crowd, his sharp features outlined by the soft glow of the chandeliers overhead. The grey suit he wore seemed to drape him with an understated elegance, nothing flashy, but everything tailored to perfection. It was a far cry from the rugged warrior he had been, but then, time had changed us both. His hair, once dark and thick, now carried a few strands of silver, but it suited him, made him look all the more distinguished. Still, there was the same edge to him—an aura that made it impossible to miss him in any room.
