The weight of silence in the royal court was unbearable: pregnant with fear, tension, and barely restrained anticipation.
The hour that followed River's declaration passed with a sharp edge of urgency. Word of her decision to represent Heiko had already spread like wildfire through the palace and beyond. The court was now bursting with nobles, commanders, pack alphas, and influential figures from across the kingdom—each desperate to witness history unfold.
The atmosphere was charged, vibrating with speculation. Whispers danced through the halls like shadows, feeding on fear and curiosity. The omega mate of the accused prince… stepping into the lion's den? Madness, they thought. Or something else?
Then the guards opened the doors again—and the witnesses entered.
General Varak came first
