“And vampires?” she asked, shifting the conversation forward.


    Niks’ expression darkened slightly. “Vampires don’t work in packs or ns. They form covens, but don’t mistake them for structured organizations. Vampires are political creatures at their core. They manipte, they scheme, they shift alliances when it suits them. The most powerful vampire rules, but that power is rarely stable for long. A coven is only loyal as long as it benefits them.”


    Saphira considered that carefully. Werewolves thrived on instinctual bonds. Dragons valued strength and wisdom. Vampires? They yed games with power


    itself.


    “It’s why dealing with vampires requires caution,” Niks said. “Negotiation is their strength. Werewolves may be physically dominant, dragons may be powerful beyond measure, but vampires? They rarely fight fair.”


    Saphira leaned forward, her mind spinning with everything she was learning. This was more than she had ever been taught-more than she had ever been allowed to know. She had spent her life believing she was an outsider in werewolf society, but now, she saw the truth.


    She wasn’t just an outcast. She had been kept ignorant.


    But that was changing now. She was part of this world-truly, for the first time. And she needed to be ready.


    “There’s another group you should know about,” Niks continued. “Witches. While werewolves have packs, dragons have ns, and vampires have covens, witches organize themselves into their own covens, though they work differently than vampires. Their covens are built around knowledge, magic, and tradition rather than political power. And unlike vampires, they rarely deal in maniption.”


    Saphira listened intently. “Do witches interact much with other supernatural groups?”


    “Not often,” Niks admitted. “They mainly work with the Elders or the dragons. Witches hold deep respect for wisdom and strength, which makes them more inclined to trust dragons as allies. Werewolves and vampires, however? It’s rare to see witches involved with them unless absolutely necessary. They view vampires as dangerous and unpredictable, and werewolves… well, the rtionship isplicated.”


    Saphira tilted her head. “Complicated how?”


    Niks considered for a moment. “Werewolves and witches don’t have a history of deep cooperation. While they don’t necessarily view each other as enemies, their worlds don’t ovep much. Wolves rely on instinct and physical prowess, while witches rely on intellect and magic. It creates a natural distance.”


    Saphira tapped her fingers against the table thoughtfully. “And this pack? Where do witches stand here?”


    Niks smirked slightly. “Here, all supernatural beings have a ce, including witches. They respect our leadership because we uphold fairness, but they still remain somewhat separate in their dealings. They work best when consulted on magical matters, but they rarely involve themselves in physical conflicts.”


    As the conversation continued, Saphira absorbed the intricacies of the supernatural world, each revtionyering itself upon the foundation she was quickly building. Niks was a wealth of knowledge, and she found herself hanging onto every word.


    “There’s another key piece to supernatural society that you need to understand,” he said, his tone shifting slightly. “The Elders. I briefly mentioned them.”


    Saphira straightened in her seat, curiosity sparking in her eyes.


    *All supernatural creatures-werewolves, dragons, vampires, witches-have what we call the Elders,” Niks exined. “They are the ones who oversee pack dynamics, ensurews are upheld, and preside over serious matters, especially those that might disrupt the bnce between factions. Every decision of great importance eventually reaches them.”


    Saphira considered this carefully. “So, they’re like a council?”


    Niks nodded. “Exactly. They don’t govern individual packs, ns, or covens-that responsibility falls to the respective leaders-but they hold enough power that their rulings cannot be ignored. If a dispute arises between factions, or if a rogue supernatural threatens the peace, it is the Elders who


    determine the course of action.”


    That made sense. If supernatural creatures operated across different societies, there had to be a higher authority ensuring that chaos didn’t tear them apart.


    Saphira exhaled slowly, taking it all in. This world was vast,yered withplexities she hadn’t known existed. She had spent her life on the outskirts of werewolf society, believing that was all there was. But now, she saw the truth-there was an entire supernaturalwork, woven together by unspoken rules, alliances, and ancient traditions.


    “Alright,” Niks said, leaning forward. “Now that you know the basics, it’s time for some lunch before we meet the warriors.”


    Saphira nodded, feeling more informed and developed a new understanding. She wasn’t just an observer anymore. She was part of this world now. And she would make sure she understood itpletely.


    Together, they made their way to the dining room, where a vast spread of food awaited them, set out in a buffet style. The scents of freshly prepared dishes wafted through the air, but despite the weing disy, the room itself felt strangely still-eerily quiet.


    Saphira collected her food and took her seat beside Niks, her gaze sweeping the empty space. The absence of the pack was stark, noticeable.


    “Where is everyone?” she asked, curiosity threading through her tone.


    Niks ced his utensils down briefly, ncing at her with steady ease. “They’ll be in shortly,” he assured. “I didn’t want any distractions until after we get the information from the warriors. Hope that’s okay-I know you still want to meet everyone properly.”


    Saphira considered his reasoning and found herself agreeing. As much as she wanted to integrate into the pack, their priorities had toe first. Finding Zafira, understanding her new reality-those came above social introductions.


    “Oh, it’s fine,” she said, offering him a small, appreciative smile. “I actually agree with you. Thank you.”


    Niks gave a nod, his expression briefly softening before they both turned their attention to their meals, settling into a quiet,fortable silence. Though the room was absent of others, there was no unease between them. Only a growing sense of trust.


    C