The dining hall felt heavy as usual.

The chandeliers, burned brighter than usual, with each flame flickering brightly. There was a stretch of polished oak, lined with silver and crystal, gleaming under torchlight.

Aire stepped in last.

No one had come to walk her in, as they should to a new Luna. That was tradition. However, when it got to her turn, there was no announcement, no escort, and no acknowledgment.

Her gaze didn’t linger. She walked forward like she belonged there, even if no one else believed it.

The table was already filled.

At the head sat King Elijah, composed as ever, with a soft smile playing on his lips. To him, this was just another gathering where everyone trembled at his wish.

The air taste like quiet rebellion, and Aire didn’t like it. She couldn’t swallow.

To his right, the triplets sat.

Nate sat still, with his posture straight,and his gaze forward. His expression was unreadable. Aire couldn’t tell if he wanted to be here, or not.

Xanden leaned slightly back in his chair, with his fingers tapping lazily against the armrest. His eyes moved around, observing everything, and missing nothing.

Alaric sat quieter than the others, but his jaw was tight.

To Elijah’s left, the visiting Alphas of the Royal families sat there. Alpha Ashmere, Alpha Rowanfall, and Alpha Blackfen.

Power and pride sat with them. And tonight? Displeasure sat with them too.

Their daughters were seated close by.

Mabel sat, composed, elegant, and watching. As the daughter of the wealthiest family with extreme wealth, her whole composure yelled wealth.

Adele sat, silent, distant and barely touching her food. Her dark sharp features were so pretty, yet disturbed.

And Violet, her silver eyes didn’t move when Aire entered. They were already in Aire before Aire walked in, cold, sharp, and unforgiving.

Further down the table, Damien sat. Beside him, Beta Kole sat, smirking with Hannah by his side.

Aire reached her seat. It had been placed beside the triplets. At least, they thought of her worthy enough to seat beside the triplets.

She sat without a word. No one greeted her, nor one acknowledged her presence. And still, she folded her hands neatly in her lap.

The first course was served in silence.

Cutlery clinked with high tension, and wine was poured. The eyes around her watched her every move.

Aire didn’t reach for her food immediately. Unspoken questions lingered in the hall, and she waited for someone to say something.

Alpha Rowanfall was the first to break. His goblet touched the table with a soft, deliberate sound. Then, he parted his lips.

"Your Majesty."

King Elijah looked up, already smiling. "Yes, Alpha Rowanfall?"

The man leaned back slightly. "Since your sons have already chosen a Luna..." he paused.

His gaze flicked to Aire. Then back to King Elijah. "we would like to return to our packs. With our daughters."

The room stilled.

"whom you obviously don’t value." He added.

King Elijah’s smile didn’t drop. Not even slightly. "Now, now," he said smoothly, lifting his goblet. "Surely it’s not like that."

Alpha Ashmere scoffed quietly.

But Elijah continued, his voice calm, and measured. "You must understand... the bond between mates is not something we can simply dictate. My sons and the moon goddess have made their choice, yes, but that does not diminish the worth of your daughters."

He let out a soft chuckle. "They are still welcome here. Always."

Everyone heard the lie beneath his words.

A sharp clatter broke the moment.

Mabel had dropped her cutlery, deliberately loud enough. She cleared her throat softly, and all eyes shifted to her. "If it pleases the Luna," she began, her voice gentle and measured. "I would love to stay here for a few moons. Perhaps... until the next season. When I choose a mate."

Aire didn’t respond immediately.

She looked at Mabel. And for a moment, it felt as if she saw through the calm interior Mabel presented.

Across the table, Adele wasn’t listening anymore. Her gaze had shifted just slightly, to the side.

Her gaze rested on him. On Torak who stood against the far wall, with two other betas who belonged to Alaric, and Nate.

He stood still, and unmoving, and their eyes met. They held their gaze for a second too long. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Adele looked away first. Her reflex was quick like she had touched fire.

"To stay?" Alpha Blackfen’s voice cut in.

Adele stiffened hearing her father voice. He hadn’t even looked at her yet, but she feared for what he wished to say.

"If that is what you wish..." he said with a small pretentious smile. "My daughter will stay as well."

Adele choked. She literally choked as the wine in her mouth went down the wrong way.

She coughed sharply, with her hand flying to her chest. "Father_"

Her voice barely made it out when she felt a sharp, sudden, and brutal pain on her foot. His leg came down hard on hers under the table.

Adele’s body locked. Her breath hitched, and her face flushed immediately. But she didn’t speak again, nor resist.

Torak noticed.

His brow lifted slightly. He asked her a silent question.

Adele forced a smile at him. The smile was tight and painful, yet convincing enough. She looked away again.

Alpha Blackfen continued speaking like nothing had happened. "it would do her well to spend more time within the royal house to have more lessons."

His tone was calm, pleased, and satisfied. Like he hadn’t just crushed the bone beneath his heel.

When he finished speaking, his foot finally lift, and Adele exhaled quietly. Her fingers curled under the table, trembling.

"I see," King Elijah said, nodding. "Well, that is... unexpected, but welcome." His gaze flicked briefly to Aire, then back at Alpha Blackfen. "As I said, all are welcome here."

Another voice cut in.

Alpha Ashmere parted his lips finally. "If that is the case," he said slowly, "then my daughter will not be staying."

Alpha Ashmere’s gaze locked onto Elijah. "Since you chose a nobody over her..."he paused. "...you should consider finding another house more suited to providing weapons when war comes."

A low sound cut through the room.

Alaric let out a low growl, barely restrained. It slipped through his chest and he forced it down too quickly.

The room went still at his quiet warning.

Alpha Ashmere’s eyes flicked to him.

Aire didn’t react, but her fingers tightened slightly against the table, then stilled again.

King Elijah leaned forward slightly. "Let us not turn tonight into something unpleasant," he said smoothly. "A decision has been made. There is no need to question it further."

"Of course," Alpha Ashmere replied, but his tone said otherwise.

Aire spoke. "Mabel may stay." She said softly. Every head turned to her. "She has my permission."

She rested her gaze on Adele fr a second, the added. "Adele as well."

Adele blinked, caught off guard. Meanwhile, Mabel smiled faintly, satisfied.

Aire didn’t stop there.

Her gaze moved slowly across the table, meeting each of them, one by one. "I see no reason to refuse them."

Hannah let out a quiet laugh. "Oh? How generous." She said in a mocking cruel way.

Beta Kole smirked. "Playing Luna already?" he said, turning to Hannah. They shared a laugh.

Aire didn’t look at them. She didn’t spare them a glance.

At the far end, Damien watched her. His fingers curled slowly around his glass, tightening.

Violet finally moved. Her silver eyes shifted, from Aire, to her father, then back again.

"I will return with you," she said quietly.

Alpha Ashmere nodded once. "Ill leave with my daughter. And from now, I suggest you find a house who would make more reliable weapons when war comes."

King Elijah didn’t react. Rather, he lifted his goblet. "A toast, to our new Luna."