The crowd gasped, a few exchanged uneasy glances.
"Just because the Alpha was always there to back whatever they did," she said, her voice rising with each word, trembling between grief and accusation.
Her hands came up to her face, and she buried them there for a heartbeat, shoulders trembling. She sniffed, the sound sharp and fragile. When she peeked between her fingers, she caught sight of Ares, unreadable expression, and a whole ring of pack members leaning closer, hooked. Good. She has their full attention.
Rhea took a shaky breath and pressed on, her voice softening into something raw. "Eventually… my body couldn't take it anymore." She paused, drawing the moment out, her eyes glistening as she looked up at Ares. "I lost my breath."
The hall was utterly still, no one dared to move or speak. Even Eberhard, red-faced and twitching, seemed caught between disbelief and panic. Could this wench actually be saying the truth? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
