The palace was unusually alive that morning. Whispers wound through the corridors, carried by servants, concubines, and guards alike. Every hallway, every stairwell, echoed with one piece of news: Lyria was pregnant.
In the grand hall, Kael Draven stood before the council, his amber eyes sharp, jaw set with authority. The Alpha's wolf thrummed beneath his skin, restless and protective. Around him, elders murmured, their usual composure strained. Even the palace guards, trained to remain neutral, stiffened as they sensed the shift in the pack's balance.
Kael raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room for question. "Lyria Selene is carrying my heir. That is not open for debate. She is no longer a maid. She is my mate."
Gasps rippled through the hall. Some bowed, others whispered incredulously. Even concubines who had long believed themselves untouchable shifted uneasily in their seats.
From her corner, Isolde's eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line. Her carefully constructed victory was crumbling. Nearby, Serina whispered urgently to her maid, Selena, the words sharp and conspiratorial.
"She cannot hold this position," Serina hissed. "We must act—before the Alpha binds her fully to the pack."
Selena nodded, eyes glinting with calculated loyalty. "I know, Mistress. I have been watching. The moment is ours."
Kael's amber gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on the concubines. "Lyria will be treated with the respect due a mate of the Alpha. Any interference will not be tolerated." His tone brooked no argument.
Meanwhile, the palace servants were in a mixture of emotions. Some smiled quietly, secretly happy for the maiden who had shown courage and wisdom beyond her station. Others scowled, whispering about their envy and the disruption of tradition.
High above, in her private chamber, the witch stirred. She had sensed the magical shift—the new life forming, the power radiating from the maiden—and felt a strange curiosity mingled with irritation. Kael's summons was expected. She would pay him a visit personally, but the game was far from over.
In the gardens, Lyria's pulse quickened when she sensed Kael's decision. Her heart fluttered, a mixture of fear and relief. She had not yet told anyone—how could she? The world was not ready for her secret. But Kael had acknowledged it publicly. He had stepped forward for her.
The Alpha's steps were silent but purposeful as he approached her. "You are mine, Lyria," he said softly, his hand brushing hers with deliberate tenderness. "The pack will know, and they will respect you. No one will harm you."
She looked up at him, her dark eyes wide with emotion. "But the others… they'll be jealous. They'll—"
"They will see reason," Kael interrupted, amber gaze unwavering. "And those who cannot will learn that challenging me has consequences." His hand tightened over hers for a brief moment, warm and grounding.
Elsewhere, Isolde fumed, loathing the truth. Her carefully hidden secrets—the whispers of seduction, her staged attempts—were now at risk. And Serina, with Selena by her side, began plotting their biggest move yet: a scheme aimed to hurt Lyria
The palace held its collective breath as the Alpha's decree settled over the halls. This was no longer a quiet whisper among maids. This was a statement—a shift in power, a heralding of the Alpha's forbidden heir.
And in the shadows, threads of intrigue twisted ever tighter, waiting for the next move.