Leaving no room for doubt, Gavriel continued firmly, “Treat her with the same respect you would give me.”

Gasps rippled across the hall. The musicians faltered for a brief moment before quickly recovering. No one expected the Alpha King to make such a declaration especially not during Minister Marius’s birthday celebration, a man everyone knew was like a second father to him.

Even the Queen Mother, seated on his right, struggled to maintain her composure. Her hand clenched tightly on ...