I hovered in the shadows of the grand hall, a tray of mead goblets balanced in my hands, playing the role of maid to perfection. The lodge buzzed with activity, omegas scurrying to hang garlands of wildflowers and evergreen boughs from the rafters, their scents a mix of excitement and sweat.
Torches were being lit along the walls, casting flickering golden light that danced across the carved wooden beams. Grandpa's decree had set everything in motion, and Elias, reluctant as ever, had taken charge. I watched him from the sidelines, my heart twisting in ways I couldn't untangle.
He moved with that alpha efficiency, barking orders at a group of betas hauling in long tables for the feast, but there was a tightness to his shoulders, a furrow in his brow that spoke of divided loyalties.
