The Great Hall had never felt this suffocating before.

Tonight, tension pressed so heavily against the walls. Even breathing inside the hall felt difficult.

Thousands of wolves filled the chamber from end to end in the middle of the night, restless and ready to listen to what their ruler had to say about Aire.

Military heads stood near the lower levels in dark uniforms and hardened expressions. The elders occupied the upper crescent seats with visible displeasure already etched into their faces. While noble families whispered among themselves.

However, Alpha Ashmere, Alpha Rowanfall–even after being called back to the court after Aire’s wish, and Alpha Blackfen were no where to be found.

Every corner of the hall carried unrest wolves.

Outside the palace walls, the kingdom had already begun dividing itself. Some wolves demanded justice, and others demanded blood.

The massive doors at the far end of the hall opened heavily.

Silence spread instantly as the wolves straightened, signalling the entrance of nobke wolves.

King Elijah entered first.

The authority around him was immediate and crushing. His expression gave nothing away tonight. No softness, or exhaustion. He only wore the sharp still expression of a ruler already prepared to snap and bend when he has to.

Torak followed behind him, then Alaric, then Nate.

Whispers immediately broke through sections of the hall when they saw Nate. He was armed tonight.

His sword rested visibly at his side like a warning, and they do not like the sight of that. Also, unlike usual, he did not look detached from the chaos around him.

He had a frozen cold expression on his face, hardened enough to unsettle even the older wolves present.

Suddenly, nobody spoke.

The room grew quieter when Aire entered. The atmosphere shifted violently. Some wolves physically stiffened at the sight of her, and others stared at her openly.

A few looked almost disappointed that she was no longer in chains.

The weight of their eyes settled across her skin with a look of disbelief and anger.

Aire walked forward, not sparing any of them a glance. Her movements were slower than usual today. The last days had drained her deeply.

Beside her, Nate stayed close enough to touch her, but he didn’t. His eyes moved constantly across the hall like he expected someone to try something.

Aire also noticed how many wolves lowered their voices the moment she looked their way. They all had the look of fear, distrust, confusion, and hatred in their gaze towards her.

Visibly, the kingdom still had not decided what she was.

King Elijah ascended the raised platform at the front of the hall slowly before turning toward the assembly.

The king’s gaze swept across the chamber once.

Then finally, he cleared his throat, looked around once more, and parted his lips to speak.

"The prophecy," Elijah began calmly, "was misread."

The hall stayed quiet for two minutes, as everyone tried to process what he had just said, and then, the hall exploded instantly.

Voices rose from every direction at once.

"What?"

"That’s impossible—"

"The prophecy was clear!"

"King Elijah—"

King Elijah raised one hand.

The hall quieted sharply again beneath his Alpha command alone.

His expression darkened.

"The original parchment recovered from the archives has been verified by three seers and the royal bloodline records." His voice echoed powerfully through the chamber. "The interpretation spread through this kingdom for centuries was incomplete."

Murmurs spread again.

Alaric stood near the right side of the throne platform, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

Unlike the others, he looked furious rather than relieved. Because he knew exactly what Aire had endured before this moment.

King Elijah continued.

"The prophecy never declared that Aire would destroy the werewolf race."

Silence crashed into the hall again.

Shock spread visibly now.

Aire herself froze faintly. She held her breath. Her eyes slowly lifted toward Elijah.

He did not look at her, and then, she slowly scanned the hall, looking for Hannah or Beta Kole.

It broke her hearth that they weren’t her. They were here for her crowning, but not here to stand with her even if she’s to get condemned?

Even if they weren’t the perfect people to be left with after her parents death, the last face to see before dying would be that of a family, but they weren’t here.

Aire was sure that the news got to them. Yet they didn’t even spare a day to see her or even, be here.

"The true wording," Elijah continued. His voice brought Aire back from her search for her family. "states that the marked Luna would stand at the center of a war that determines whether wolves survive extinction."

A heavy silence followed.

Torak stepped forward slightly.

"The prophecy spoke of blood, and the mark," he said calmly. "But nowhere did it name Aire as the destroyer."

"The wording was twisted over generations," Alaric added coldly. "Twisted by misinterpretation."

An elder rose abruptly from the left section. "And we are simply expected to trust this now?"

Several wolves immediately agreed.

"Yes!"

"What proof do we have?"

"The kingdom has already seen what she can do!"

Aire’s shoulders stiffened instantly.

Nate noticed her immediately.

King Elijah’s gaze sharpened dangerously. "You will lower your voice before me."

The elder reluctantly sat back down.

However, unrest still spread visibly through the hall.

Fear did not disappear simply because words changed, and King Elijah knew this.

Another elder stood more cautiously this time.

"Even if the prophecy was misinterpreted," he began carefully, "the girl still possesses abilities no wolf understands."

Aire looked down instantly.

The elder continued. "She lost control publicly. She frightened the kingdom. She—"

"Enough." King Elijah’s voice cracked through the hall sharply.

Silence followed instantly.

Elijah stepped forward slowly now.

"For days," he started coldly, "this kingdom has discussed execution before understanding truth."

No one answered.

"You chained your Luna beneath this castle based on fear."

Several elders visibly shifted.

"You demanded blood before reason." His gaze darkened further. "And from this moment forward, discussions of execution are forbidden."

He sealed his words with absolute authority when he was done speaking.

Some wolves immediately looked furious while others looked relieved. Confused murmurs spread rapidly throughout the chamber again.

Aire stood frozen beside Nate.

Execution discussions... forbidden. Something inside her loosened painfully at those words.

One elder suddenly rose again. He looked so old, sharp-faced, and visibly furious. "With respect, my king," he said tightly, "most wolves remains unsettled by her presence."

Several wolves nodded immediately.

The elder turned slightly toward Aire. "She remains unstable." He accused.

Nate’s eyes darkened instantly. He stared at the elder, but said nothing, as he inwardly gritted his teeth to give his father his share of respect by letting him speak tonight.

The elder continued anyway. "What happens the next time she loses control? What happens when more wolves die because sentiment blinded this kingdom?"

Aire visibly stiffened.

The elder noticed her tensed body language, and pressed harder. "She contributes nothing to the realm except danger."

Nate moved before anyone realized what he intended. The sound of his sword leaving its sheath rang violently through the hall.