POV: Lyra

The pavilion was packed with Alphas.

I sat at the head of the table with the crown on my head and power humming under my skin, and every leader in the region had their eyes on me. Some were curious. Some were cautious. A few were afraid.

Good.

Alpha Marcus stood at the far end of the table, a scroll in his hands and a calm, diplomatic look on his face. He was the one who had called this gathering and invited me. Now he was the one who had to steer a room full of wolves who didn't trust each other.

"Thank you all for coming," he...