# Chapter 86 – The War Council (Vanessa's POV)
The great hall has never seen so many wolves in one place.
I stand at the head of the ancient stone table, watching as pack leaders file in through the massive oak doors. Some come willingly, drawn by rumors and prophecy. Others arrive under guard, summoned by force when diplomacy failed.
All of them feel it the moment they enter the room.
The artifacts pulse with power behind me. The Crown of Stars hovers above my head, casting silver light across the assembled faces. The Heart of the Moon glows steady and warm against my chest. The Blade of Truth rests in its sheath at my side, humming with ancient energy.
But it's more than the artifacts themselves. It's what they represent. What they're calling forth in every werewolf who enters this sacred space.
Change. Revolution. The end of the old ways and the birth of something new.
