My eyes flit to the alpha, I refuse to call him my father, who has entered the room and is now standing on the dais in front of the hall and then, my eyes move to my mate, standing at the back of the hall, half shrouded in shadows. I grudgingly sit down, knowing the consequences would be serious if I were to disrespect the alpha. As it is, our family was treading on a very thin smile.

There was no mic on the raised podium and when the alpha started talking, I understood why. His voice boomed in the hallway, reaching every nook and cranny of the large hall,...