Aire’s reaction was immediate and sharp. However, her confusion vanished, and got replaced by recognition.

Her breath caught, and slowly, very slowly, her eyes lifted to Nate’s face. She turned away from him, and scanned the hall as though seeing it anew.

She stared at the long table, each watching royals, the daughters draped in silk, and the wives seated beside their husbands, observant and quiet.

Then her gaze landed on Madam and the women standing with her.

Aire’s fingers immediately curled into the fabric of her dress.

Xanden noticed instantly.

"She wiped you?" he asked, voice low and lethal, following the line of Aire’s sight.

Aire swallowed.

She felt the weight of the room pressing in with dozens of eyes, waiting. She hesitated just long enough to seem uncertain.

Then she nodded.

"She did," Aire said softly.

Madam scoffed. The words of a mere wolfless, cursed girl has nothing on her. The sound barely finished leaving her mouth before it turned into a sharp, horrified gasp.

Nate was already standing before her.

One second he was across the table. The next, his hand was locked around Madam’s throat, lifting her clear off the ground.

The hall erupted.

A chairs scraped back, and the wives stood abruptly. One of the daughters screamed before her mother pulled her down. Alpha Elijah shot to his feet, fury blazing across his face.

"Nate!" Elijah roared, beyond embarrassed.

Madam clawed at Nate’s wrist. Her face got drained of color, as her eyes bulged in terror.

Aire froze, then she moved.

"Nate." Her voice cut through the chaos, thin, and panicked. She stood up, and stepped forward, hands shaking. "Nate! You’re going to kill her!"

Madam eyes were wide now. Too wide. Her breath came uneven.

"Nate, please," she said, louder. "You’ll kill her."

The room went dead silent. No one had ever said please to Nate, or even tried to persuade him.

Nate gnashed his teeth, and turned. He didn’t look at Alpha Elijah. He turned to Aire, and stared at her.

His eyes still had furyvin them, with shades of gold but softness flickered in his eyes, and disappeared almost immediately.

His grip tightened once.

Madam let out a strangled sound.

Aire gasped.

And then, Nate released her.

Madam collapsed to the floor in a heap, coughing violently as air tore back into her lungs. The women rushed forward instinctively, but froze when Nate took a step back, with his expression utterly blank.

The shock in the room was palpable.

Alpha Elijah stared.

The leaders of Rowanfall, Ashmere, and Blackfen exchanged looks—unease threading through their authority. Their wives watched Nate with open caution now. Mabel and the other daughters sat rigid, suddenly aware that power was not as stable as they’d believed.

Aire didn’t look at any of them.

She rushed to Madam’s side, dropping to her knees. Her hands trembled as she helped steady the older woman.

"Take her," Aire said urgently to the women around her. "All of you, leave. Now."

They hesitated.

One of the women eyed Aire with scorn. "We don’t take orders from you," she spat out bitterly.

Nate shifted his weight. The woman who had just spoken paled immediately. She quickly joined the others.

Madam was lifted, supported, and hurried toward the doors.

Aire stood after they left.

She turned once.

Her gaze swept the table. She watched Alpha Elijah’s rigid fury, the calculating Alphas, the wives who now watched her differently, and the daughters whose interest had sharpened into something dangerous.

Her eyes met Nate’s last.

Aire’s inner voice sneered. ’We might be able to conquer enough with all three Alphas beside us.’

Aire lifted her chin, locked eyes with Xanden last and then, she walked out.

...

The corridor beyond the hall was quiet.

Aire hadn’t gone far when soft footsteps followed behind her. The footsteps followed her with every turn.

She stopped, but she didn’t turn.

"Bold," a woman’s voice said smoothly. "For someone who doesn’t belong."

Aire turned.

The daughter of House Blackfen stood there, blocking the corridor. She was beautiful in a sharp, polished way.

She had long dark hair cascading over one shoulder, and her features were carved with intention. Her silk hugged her like it had been made for her body alone.

Her smile was cruel.

"You should enjoy tonight," Blackfen’s daughter continued. "Nate will be mine soon. Days, maybe weeks. King Elijah supports it."

She stepped closer.

"Even if you bore him a son today," she added softly, eyes glittering, "it wouldn’t stop me from taking what’s mine. Also, before you think about fighting with me, you should at least get a wolf first."

Aire studied her. She said nothing.

"In case no one had told you, Alpha Elijah prepared a room for me tonight." She chuckled. "And that room is Nate’s room."

Aire raised her brow, unimpressed. Then, she stepped past her. "Delusional." She murmured under her breath, but enough for the imp beside her to hear.

"Don’t get too comfortable, Aire." The lady said turning to face Aire’s back. "You’ll regret being claimed by those Alphas, and I’ll make sure of that. I am Adele Blackfen. My name should be the first thing you think of when you wake, and the last in your mind as you go to bed."

Aire turned to her with a bright innocent smile.

Adele crossed her arms across her chest, and folded them with all authority. "Adele Blackfen is my name. Don’t ever forget it. You just signed up for torture."

Aire’s smile widened. She took a step closer to Adele, and stared straight into her eyes. "Don’t get this twisted. I have silver hair. You might have royal blood, but I have silver hair."

Adele clenched her fingers into a tight fist. Her face hardened. Aire swallowed. For a split second, Aire had though she’d hit her.

Adele scoffed. She unclenched her fists, renamed her rings precisely, and walked away.

Aire let out a deep breath.

The air was thick with anger.

"Interesting." Aire smiled. "I just made an enemy who knows why she hates me."