Freya’s POV


    If Caelum had stopped Aurora back then… would things have spiraled this far?


    ? 75%<b>】 </b>


    Finished


    Aurora’s voice broke the hum of the banquet. Her cheek was already red from Ss’s first p, but she bit back the pain and spat venom.


    “It was Freya’s fault! If she’d said her parents were honored dead, I would never have done it. I only wanted. to keep the ne safe! She set me up-”


    Crack.


    The sound of another p echoed through the hall, sharp as a whip. Aurora reeled, and if Caelum hadn’t caught her, she would’ve crashed to the floor.


    “Alpha Ss!” Caelum’s growl rattled in his chest. “How dare you strike her again?”


    But Ss didn’t even nce at him. His eyes–cold, merciless–pinned Aurora in ce.


    “You think me a fool, little wolf? That I would believe such drivel?”


    Her face burned, both cheeks swollen now, her pride bleeding out in front of the entire hall. I knew why she’de–dragging Caelum here to parade her usefulness before him. But instead of triumph, she’d been humiliated twice by the Irond Alpha himself.


    “You’re only shielding her,” Aurora hissed, her voice trembling. “I said nothing wrong! If I had known those ashes belonged to honored warriors, of course I would have respected them. But Freya hid it on purpose, just to trap me!”


    My blood went cold, then hot with fury. I stepped forward.


    T


    “So if they had been ordinary ashes, not warriors, you think you had the right to paw through them?”


    She froze, her lips parting, but no words came.


    I let my voice cut through her like a de.


    “Aurora, you love to ensnare others–but not everyone is as rotten as you.”


    Her face twisted, shame and rage warring, and as the circle of eyes pressed closer, she bolted, shoving her way past the crowd. Caelum followed her quickly, shame written across his features.


    I turned back toward Ss. “Thank you.”


    He looked surprised. “I thought you’d me me forying hands on her.”


    “I’m not so much of a saint. I know who stands at my side.”


    Two months of knowing Ss, and he’d defended me more fiercely than Caelum had in three years of marriage. My so–called mate–my ex–Alpha–hadn’t spoken a word when Aurora ndered me. The irony cut sharper than ws.


    ? ??? 75%?


    Finished


    The crowd soon dispersed, the air of spectacle fading. The banquet resumed as if nothing had happened. But I caught sight of familiar faces–Thorne blood among the guests. Of course. The Stormveil Primals were one of Ashbourne’s old founding families, and major stakeholders in the ind project.


    “Freya.” My uncle Abel Thorne’s voice carried warmth as he greeted me.


    “Uncle,” I replied with a nod.


    “You’re here as Whitmor’spanion?” he asked, curious. “You and the Irond Alpha…?”


    “It’s business.” I kept my voice firm. For now, my contract was simple: I’d been ced bymand to guard him. Nothing more.


    Ss shot me a nce at that, unreadable, but said nothing.


    “Freya, I’d like a word in private.” Abel’s eyes softened.


    I hesitated, ncing toward Ss. My task was his safety, and my instincts told me not to leave him exposed.


    “Go,” Ss murmured. “The Coalition’s security here is tight. I’ll manage.”


    I inclined my head. “I won’t be long.”


    Abel led me to the balcony at the edge of the hall, the night air cool against my skin.


    “Your great–grandfather, Ken Thorne… his health falters,” Abel said.


    My heart tightened. “What’s wrong?”


    “Age, mostly. But after your parents‘ interment at the Hall of Martyrs, he’s been… heavy with grief. He hasn’t been the same since<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    “I’ll go to him as soon as I can,” I promised.


    Abel nodded, then studied me more closely. “And Freya… if you’ve no stable work now, the Thorne Group always has a ce for you. You are thest of the Fifth Branch. The line must endure.”


    “There is still Eric,” I said sharply. “My brother lives. He is not gone. I will find him, and I will bring him. back to stand before our parents‘ graves.”


    Abel’s gaze deepened. I saw it there–the respect. Among our generation of Stormveil wolves, few carried the same fire in their eyes.


    “Of course,” he murmured. “Yes. Eric must be alive.”


    Then, after a pause, his voice dropped.


    “And you and Alpha Ss… is it truly just business?”


    Send Gifts


    <b>。 </b>