Daphne's POV
The dining room atmosphere felt suffocating tonight. Perhaps it was the weight of unspoken tension, or maybe just my anxiety coiling tighter with each passing moment. The roasted chicken on my plate remained mostly untouched. I stabbed at a piece with my fork, watching how the flickering candlelight danced across its surface.
Alpha Cassius would be married within days.
Just days away, and I remained without any concrete strategy to attend. Mother had spent hours since our return attempting to persuade Father. She dropped subtle reminders about the significance of appearing at such gatherings. About preserving alliances with neighboring packs. About refusing to let the disgrace define our family's reputation.
Yet Father remained reluctant. His hesitation had persisted since the revelation that Lyra was the one beneath my wedding veil. Since that crucial moment when everything collapsed for Lyra, resulting in her marriage to Alpha Kaelen rather than me.
