Hazel’s POV
The throne room felt so cold.
The massive hall was silent and the air itself felt heavy, thick with tension and judgment. Every alpha, every council elder, every high-ranking member of the kingdom sat in complete silence waiting for one thing.
Judgment.
I sat on the throne beside Nicholas, my fingers resting lightly against the armrest while his hand stayed possessively over mine. Even without looking at him directly, I could feel the dangerous calm radiating from him.
Nicholas looked terrifying.
The king sitting beside me no longer looked like the teasing man who argued with me. This was the Alpha King. The ruler everyone feared. His face was unreadable as he stared at the woman kneeling in chains before us.
Liora.
Her hands and legs were bound tightly with silver chai
