The great hall shimmered with candlelight, gold spilling over polished tables and glinting in goblets of wine. Another feast, another excuse for Selene to flaunt her crown and station. The pack’s nobility gathered eagerly, drawn by both curiosity and fear—their Luna-to-be never failed to provide entertainment.
At the far end of the hall, Aria lingered in the shadows, her healer’s robes plain against the opulence. She carried a tray of herbs and teas, fulfilling her duty despite the ache in her chest. Her body felt weaker with every passing day, worn thin by endless work and unrelenting scorn.
She prayed, silently, that tonight she might pass unnoticed.
But Selene’s gaze found her the moment she entered.
“Aria!” Selene’s voice rang sharp and sweet, slicing through the hum of conversatio
