Alpha japhet pov
Delphine gave my arm a gentle squeeze, her soft touch grounding me in the moment. She leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, “Everyone’s so serious.”
Her innocence, her softness—it was both a balm and a dagger to my heart. She had no idea what these men were capable of, no idea of the danger she walked into by simply existing in their world.
“They’re always like this,” I murmured back, forcing a small smile despite the tension coiling inside me. “Politics, love. Nothing for you to worry about.”
She smiled, her light radiating through the oppressive atmosphere, oblivious to the storm brewing around her.
The meeting dragged on, a tedious ballet of veiled threats and power plays. Every word exchanged at that polished table was a weapon, every gla
