The heavy oak doors of the High Council chamber swung open with a slow, echoing creak, letting the cold autumn wind sweep across the polished marble floor.I stood at the head of the grand hall, my shoulders back, my chin held high. Every single Alpha King, pack elder, and territory lord was staring at me. They sat in rows of tiered stone benches, their eyes wide, whispering behind closed fists. They expected a terrified girl to be dragged in chains by her grandfather's enemies. Instead, they watched the true heir of the Winslow line step forward alone, wearing a simple black velvet dress, her ice-blue eyes burning with absolute authority.Beside me walked Killian Vance.The master of the Red Lake horde wasn't wearing his battle-scarred leather trench coat or carrying his heavy iron weapons. He wore a clean, dark wool suit, his head held high, walking step-for-step beside me as an equal partner, not an invader. The shock wave of his presence sent a low, nervous rumble rolling through
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