LYRA

The council chamber smelled like tension.

And cedar.

Mostly tension.

By the time we entered, the visiting Alphas were already seated around the massive stone table carved with old territorial markings. Conversations stopped immediately the second the doors opened.

Every eye in the room landed on me.

Fantastic.

Lucian stepped slightly in front of me instinctively.

The bond warmed at once.

Protective.

Controlled.

The corruption remained quiet beneath the surface.

Good.

For now.

Kael moved ...