ra

. It was carved from black stone, vast and towering, the pillars shaped like claws frozen mid-strike. The ceiling arched so high it vanished into shadow, as if the mountain itself

was where wolves were measured. Wher

ramatic. Just sudden stillness, like all predators focusing at once. I felt it immedi

Some wore armor etched with territorial sigils, dulled by old blood and age. Others wore dark robes, showing authority not through

inevitable. The court parted instinctively. Alphas lowered their heads, not fully, n

wall itself. It didn't look built. It looked grown, as if the mountain had

e," he sai

r?" "She's smaller than I expected." "An omega?

led, but I held my head high. Simple dark dress, no jewels, no sigil

hand. Silence

ty carried through the hall, every corner, e

ered, ash-gray hair pulled back, scarr

st enough. "We were not told

d now," Kael rep

slid to me, ope

rejected under the Moon?" A few low chuckles ri

lose, eyes locking on mine, "then the court should understand her value. Is

s. He hadn't asked Kael. He had

oice cut through t

a froze

y. "You will not speak over her. And you wi

he Alpha stiffened. "M

crushing, stealing air. Several Alphas shifted. One steppe

st me," Kael sai

llowed hard.

d to one knee as if struck by an invisible force, a st

lpha forced upright, face pa

apologiz

at me. Jaw tight. Something ached in my chest.

's eyes sharpened. The Al

," he said,

ng eyes, some with interest. They

derstood. Anyone who speaks over her spea

vy with thought. Planning. Measuring. He

rd, female, older. "My King

ace her," Kael said. S

d. Kael answered quickly, decisively. No debate. No compromise. No challenge. But benea

bloomed behind my eyes, chest tightening. The air felt wrong, too thick, too

instantly. "Are you un

felt distant, like they

rged. For a terrifying moment, I felt it. A pull. Not away. Toward Kael. Toward the

llowe

me before I hit. Kael. His cloak wrapped around me instead, g

. "What is happen

Guards moved instantly. Alphas backed away, shock and ca

mine. "Elara," he said, l

vy, relentless. The last thing I felt was the court fading away, an

thing went black, I understood with chilling clar