She opened her mouth to say more, to insist that River needed to be rescued, but Alpha Taylor suddenly straightened in his chair, his authority pressing down on them like a physical weight.
“Enough.”
His voice carried finality, leaving no room for debate.
His gaze locked onto Isabelle’s, sharp as a blade. “Isabelle, your sister is older than you. Everyone has the right to make their own choices, without needing to explain themselves to others. Whether you understand it or not is irrelevant.”
Isabelle stiffened, but he wasn’t finished.
“We may never know why Prince Heiko chose River,” Alpha Taylor continued, his voice steady. “But one thing is certain: if any of you interfere with the prince’s decision, you could suffer great consequences.”
The warning struck deep.
Mrs. Smith let out
