Chapter 8

The whispers were deafening. They filled every corner of the grand hall, rising like smoke in the aftermath of Kaden's declaration. Wolves huddled in small groups, their voices low but no less cutting. “She can’t be serious.” “The Alpha’s mate? Her?” “She’s… damaged.” Althea stood frozen at Kaden’s side, her entire body trembling. The weight of their stares pressed down on her, suffocating her, making it hard to breathe. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the floor and escape the eyes that lingered on her with judgment, disgust, and pity. Her fingers twisted nervously in the fabric of her skirt as she kept her head down, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. “You don’t deserve this,” her father’s words echoed in her mind, cold and sharp. “You’re nothing but a failure.” Her chest tightened, and her vision blurred with unshed tears. Vera's voice rose above the murmurs, her tone biting. “Alpha Kaden, you must reconsider.” She stepped forward, her emerald gown swishing around her ankles, her ex