The room seemed to shrink the moment Kristen’s command shattered the silence.

“Seize him.”

His voice cracked like thunder, heavy with Alpha authority that made even the air in my lungs tremble. The guards didn’t hesitate—they moved as though tied to invisible strings, trained to obey their Alpha without a single question. Two broad-shouldered wolves advanced toward Arden, their eyes glowing faintly with the heat of the order.

But Arden didn’t flinch.

He stood as though ...