The Betrothal Lantern Rite had concluded, but the night was still a long way to go. As the guests moved toward the central amphitheater, the manor announced the Alpha Dominion Rite — one of the oldest and most primal traditions of the solstice. Unlike the gentle, patient Beta courtship rituals of open vows and protective circles, the Alpha Dominion Rite celebrated raw power, possession, and dominance. Alphas would publicly display strength through ritual combat displays, deep-throated growls of claim, and symbolic marking of chosen partners under the watching eyes of the Bound Spirits. It was a visceral reminder of the manor’s own origin: born from a dominant spirit claiming a mortal in a pact of eternal submission.
Elara stood at the edge of the amphitheater, her silver robe stained and
