of her tower room. The faint warmth of the morning sun kissed the stone walls, fillin

quiet, as alw

. Rising to her feet, she crossed the room, he

gaze sweep across the endless expanse of ocean. The soft hues of dawn reflecte

distant from the rest of Selas Manor. Here, she was offered br

pleasant. But in winter, when frost coated the walls and

ed her forehead against the glass and closed

one came to the southern tower unless they had to. It was better t

pe was shattered by the

epping inside without knocking. The woman's stern face twisted

Get ready. The royal family is having breakf

uffled into the room behind Roselle. Omegas. Their movements w

it," she snapped at the servants. "Dress her." She folded

r head with little care. It was a cheap satin gown, pale and wrinkled, its hem fraying at the edges. One of

indness. The harsh hands, the impersonal treatment-it was easi

ed forward to inspect her. The go

hey could do?" She shook her head. "Go to your parents' chambe

. Ayla stood in the empty room, staring at her faint reflection in the cracked

she wondered. Something pa

' chambers. The suns had risen fully now, casting golden light through the tall windows.

the door before

er father's

crackle of the hearth filling the space with warmth. On either side were the doors leading to t

d to look at Ayla over her glass of juice. Her father, Lord Sol, stood by the window, l

instantly disapproving. "Is this what they

onscious, started fidgeted wi

ntly, stepping toward Ayla. His voice

to a thin line, but she

ked at Ayla. "You look lovely," he said with a s

htly. She gave him a faint smile in re

oothing the folds of her gown. Without a wor

n't hide their disinterest in the least favored branch of the Royal Alpha family. The only reason they

hey were a picturesque pair, the only stain being their useless daughter. It was an

king behind her perfect pare

. On the other side of the corridor, her least favorite uncle appeared. Tau, Sol's eldest brother, accompanied by

r painfully aware about her family's standing in the royal p

tensed beneath her mother's hold, and his steps slowed. Tau'

dominance slowly radiating from

dly awkward on him. Donna and Ayla mimicked the gesture, lowering her gaze

ced leisurely at his wife and son. Eventually, his w

eep father waiting too long." he said, the fa

set of his shoulders. Her mother gave him a comf

ef smile before leading his family i

blets. At the head of the table sat Alpha King Yorrick, his commanding presence evident even in si

lus, his wife Jocelyn, and their two sons, Jaxon and Evaan. Across from th

d Alfie-barely acknowledged their parents' arrival beyond the barest nods. Ayla's pla

d had just been brought up by the chefs, so they got their food fresh. The room filled wit

l Alpha King Y

d, his deep voice cutting

freezing mid-air. Every eye at

said, his tone unreadab

lightly. "Have you forgotten the ag

he's so small. I tho

r blood." Tau'

at the insult against his cub. But before he

hter of the Alpha King." Maikel said, shooting a sharp look at his yo

ing. "No offense was meant. We're only concern

Her size is alarming. Compared to her exemplary brothers, she

rs, their cold stares warning her to choose her w

for me the most,"

impossible to read. An awkward tension fol

some time since the women gathered. We're planning

d. "I'd love to h

a will lead the effort. She is, after all, an interior designer. So much so, that she's won award

and her mother, Tau and his wife were humiliated in front of the King and Queen. Keithan was going

she'd avoid t

tly returned to her meal, once again i