***Dustin’s POV***
The weight of silence pressed like a storm cloud. Every wolf in the room waited for someone to move, to speak, to break the tension hanging sharp in the air.
Dustin felt Crystal’s presence beside him, her scent grounding, her wolf brushing against his like a steady heartbeat. For the first time in years, his chest didn’t feel hollow. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—ignore it anymore.
Katherine’s voice cut through the hush, velvet over steel. “What a surprise.” She tilted her head, smile brittle. “Our guest seems to have found her freedom. How curious.”
Murmurs sparked again. Guest. The word stung, and Dustin felt Crystal stiffen beside him.
“She is not a guest,” Dustin said, his voice carrying the weight of Alpha command. “She is my mate.”
The declaration landed like thunder.
