|| Lilac’s POV ||

Two weeks had passed in a whirlwind of preparations, anticipation, and quiet dread. The day of the nomination declaration had finally arrived, and with it, the grand ball hosted by the Alpha King. This was no ordinary event— it was a celebration of power, ambition, and the future of the kingdom. The entire country buzzed with excitement, the air thick with the promise of change. For me, however, the day was tinged with a bittersweet nostalgia. I had lived this ...