Lily
The silence in the grand ballroom was no longer respectful—it was thick, jagged, and smelled of Rowan’s escalating panic. I could feel the heat radiating off him as he stood beside me, his fingers digging into my waist with a grip that was meant to be supportive but felt like a warning.
Across the polished floor, Kara looked like a broken porcelain doll. Her chest heaved, her eyes darting between the shocked faces of the visiting Alphas and the stony expressions of our own pack Elders.
"This is madness," Rowan finally ground out, his voice cracking before he regained his Alpha baritone. He looked toward Elder Thom, who was standing frozen on the podium. "She’s a disgruntled Omega. She’s looking for a payout, a way to shame the pack because she couldn't have what she wanted."
"Thes
