The following morning, Queen Seraphina was summoned by King Alric regarding her mandatory presence at the upcoming Moon Pack Summit. Linda, however, remained behind, still recovering from the burns Lyra had inflicted.
In the private quarters of the Alpha, a quiet tension simmered. Lyra stood near the full-length mirror, her reflection a portrait of silent conflict. Casian was across the room, adjusting his cufflinks with deliberate precision when her voice broke the stillness.
"Is it necessary for me to join you?" she asked, her tone soft but edged with vulnerability. Their eyes met in the mirror, hers questioning, his unreadable.
The question lingered in the air like smoke.
Lyra had never attended any official gathering in her life. The idea of standing among high-ranking Alphas, Lunas, and foreign dignitaries unsettled her. Not because she feared them but because she wasn't sure where she truly stood yet.
