"The Alpha heir's voice rang out across the festival."

The final note of the haunting melody faded into the night air, leaving a silence so complete it felt like the entire world was holding its breath. I expected the crowd to resume their festival celebrations—the laughter, the animated conversations, the gentle mockery that always followed traditional dances. Instead, the hush deepened with an intensity that made my enhanced senses prickle with awareness.

Every eye in the courtyard ...