Emilia’s POV
The royal hall was so packed I could feel the heat of every body in the room. Hundreds of alphas, betas, warriors, and their mates filled the marble floor, their eyes all lifted to where I stood beside Maximus. The air smelled of pine, wine, and power.
I scanned the sea of faces… and I found him.
My father.
Alpha Gregor stood amongst the other alphas, trying desperately to blend in with the pillars behind him. His spine was rigid. His gaze stayed glued to the floor. He looked smaller than I’d ever seen him—almost like he wanted to disappear into the stones.
Good.
Let him feel the humiliation he never cared I felt.
I joined my hand with Maximus's hand and squeezed once, soft, secret.
“I’ve got you.”
He squeezed back, then cleared his throat. The entire hall fell sile
