The banquet had begun to unravel. The great hall, once alive with music and laughter, was sinking into the sluggish haze of wine. Some guests slumped against the table, their heads lolling in drunken slumber. Others slipped away two by two, voices hushed, footsteps uneven. Only the sharp eyed councilors remained steady, their words barbed and measured even as the night waned. Aaliyah sat still at her place, her back straight despite the weight of hours. Her silver gown shimmered faintly under the fading light of the chandeliers, and though she smiled when addressed, her thoughts were elsewhere. She felt it again the faint tug, the bond thrumming quietly in her chest like a whisper she dared not acknowledge. Keith was not in the hall. She didn’t need eyes to know it. Her father, Alpha George, dismissed her with a glance, believing her too delicate to endure the night’s final hours. She rose gracefully, bowing her head. “If you’ll excuse me, Father,” she said softly, her voice w
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