c

's voice boomed through the council hall t

ing his arms around me in a

ghtened, and he whispered venomously in

he stepped back, but I offered him

y at the surface. His furious snarls vibrated ag

mmanded silently, forcing the

protested, his golden e

snapped

my gaze at my stepbrother. "I saw your wife, Alpha Drav

Or are you just burning with jealousy that the most beautiful she-wolf in the realm is marri

icy indifference. "If I want something, I take it. If I say she's mine,

eed to. I could already smell the bitter, sour stench of his spiked alpha aura

," Ronan muttered, falling into step besi

loses his t

. "That good-for-nothing brother of mine is a coward. A

ntion of falling into line. Instead, I dressed in a long black coat paired with a deep purple cape, black tailored pants, and tall lea

Ronan praised, nodding in ap

high collar of my coat in

ies are going to fawn all o

id, turning away

heir overdressed daughters. My brother stood at the center of the hall, holding court and talkin

roat, intentionally disr

he show arrives," he murmured, trying to sound unbothered, though his eyes narr

ooked to be in his late forties, subtly nudg

t smile, clearing his throat. "I forgot to introd

earth is s

mental whispers cut Dr

the entrance, and

e darkness of the hall. She was blindingly beautiful, but she wasn't wearing a blue gown. She stood completely

a dark, floor-length gown with a sweetheart neckline and long, flowing sleeves. The bodice was tightly fitted, giving way to a full, layered skirt that cut a dramatic silhouette across the marble floor. Sparkling silver accents were scattered across the heavy black fabric like fallen stars, giving her

nyone know she's

eps toward our table. Her presence carried an ot

er of the hall, Selena stepped forwa

Selena asked, her voice drippi

tood a petite maid dressed in black. Lyra quickly made a series of rapid,

ho explicitly told us black was the th

crowd. "How could you say that? Aren't you the Luna? How could you not know the colors of your own

tilt of her head and attempted to walk around Selena toward our table. But as

g, stumbling backward

und, my arm wrapping securely around her waist. A violent jolt of electricity sparked through my skin at the contact. A

hell was

answer. From the corner of the room, I s

s arms around his daughter. He squeezed her tightly, t

take it to heart," Draven spoke up, s

"It was merely a misunderstanding caused by my la

ven raised his cup high. "A toast to my younger b

But my eyes never left my mate. She stood stiffly beside Draven like a fragile pup

you back in the territory," a pack eld

Oh, thank you," I forced a shallow laugh, but then I notic

ning away from the noise of the ballroom, and

ew paces back to watch her small, ethereal figure

thought tightened s

forward. "Lady Lyra,

wly turned her beaut