The Alpha Dominion Rite reached its peak in the moonlit amphitheater. The air crackled with raw power as King Vortigern and several other dominant Alphas performed the ancient displays — deep, vibrating growls that shook snow from the trees, ritual combat forms showcasing strength and control, and the symbolic marking where an Alpha would press his palm to a woman’s throat or wrist, leaving a temporary glowing sigil of claim. These rites traced back to the manor’s earliest days, when dominant spirits and mortal Alphas sealed pacts through raw possession and unbreakable dominance.
Elara stood at the edge, Lord Rowan’s protective arm still firmly around her waist. The contrast was painful. The Alphas’ raw, commanding presence only highlighted how Kaelen had been treating her — rough, hidden
