Without missing a beat, Isabelle turned her attention to Alpha Taylor, her voice sweetly confident. “I can remain at the castle to keep River company until the ceremony.”
River tensed immediately, her body reacting before her mind could process the words. Her hand squeezed Heiko’s instinctively, grounding herself for the moment, before she realized what she was doing. She glanced at him nervously, but his attention wasn’t on her.
Heiko’s sharp, assessing gaze swept over Isabelle, reading her like an open book. He recognized her type instantly, one of the countless power-hungry she-wolves who sought wealth and influence by any means necessary. Her flawless appearance and practiced charm didn’t fool him for a second.
He scoffed, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade. “T
