Soraya's Pov

I stood there frozen as the Alpha defended me fiercely, his voice booming through the hall. "Soraya is my mate and your future Luna. Anyone who disrespects her disrespects me. Anyone who threatens her threatens me and anyone who tries to harm her will answer to me personally. Do I make myself understood?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but I could feel the weight of unhappy stares, some glaring right at me, like I was the root of all their troubles. My heart pounded, the silence after his challenge hung heavy, no one daring to step forward.

Then an older woman raised her hand, her voice cutting through....