phin

e grand parlor. Julian stared at his uncle as

of her cane. "Gideon. What is the meaning of this? This is an internal matter of

ts. He moved with the lethal, unhurried grace of an apex predator. He placed himself deliberately between me an

ndeniable authority. "An Alpha who abandons his intended mate to the jaws of death to save another is unworthy of the bond.

our kind against her politics. It

Alpha aura. The air in the room grew heavy, pressing down on my chest like a ph

Alpha and the Kingdom's Commander, his strength was forged in the blood of actual warfare, far surpassing th

ulian. "If he cannot protect his own intended mate from a simple push, he cannot protect the

the Goddess, nor could she afford to alienate Gideon. The entire f

s darting between Gideon's impassive, terri

ions today require severe penance. He is confined to the Temple of the Ancestors for o

was a brutal public shaming. It effectively stripp

o pierce me with a warning glare. "It stands. For now. Lady Seraphina w

engagement had sustained a massive, irreparable cra

m the prying eyes of the family, the immediate tension drained from my shoulde

r roles. Yet, his gaze was incredibly intense. His ice-blue eyes slowly traced the lines of my face, dropping to m

cedar. It completely drowned out my senses, making my breath hitch. He was

to a low, private register that seemed to bypass my ear

hat completely defied pack rules. He was offering

his intense gaze. "

d life, the icy terror gripping my heart melted, repla