Elara’s POV
Something was wrong with the Citadel, but I couldn’t name what.
It started small. Warriors I’d seen every day for weeks suddenly transferred to the perimeter. New faces in the tower corridors. Conversations stopping the moment I entered a room.
The kitchens used to be loud. Noisy.Greta had run them with efficiency but also with laughter. With ease. Now Greta was exiled after the poisoning,the new head cook was a woman named Marta who gave orders in clipped tones and watched everyone like they were threats.
“You’re slow today,” Marta said to me as I prepared vegetables. “The Alpha’s mate will need fresh food. Make it faster.”
No one spoke about Vivian by name anymore. Just “the Alpha’s mate.” Like she was a thing instead of a person.
I’d only interacted with her a few time
