Maria.

Sonia finally decided to leave my room, but not without dropping her final threat, one laced with quiet danger and a confidence that lingered long after she stepped out.

For a brief moment, I stood there, staring at the door she had just walked out from.

But I didn’t dwell on it.

I couldn’t.

There were more important things on my mind, things that demanded my attention far more than her empty threats. Right now, all that mattered was the meeting with the elders.

Taking a steady breath, I composed myself and made my way out, heading straight for the throne room.

The moment I stepped inside, my gaze landed on him.

Noah.

Seated on the throne.

For a second, I stilled.

He looked... different.

Not just different, commanding. The Alpha attire suited him in a way I hadn’t truly noticed before. It brought out something sharper in him, something powerful and undeniable. His posture, his presence, the way he carried himself, it all spoke of authority, elegance and strength.

And somehow, it made him even more attractive.

My eyes lingered a moment longer than they should have, taking in his features, the sharp lines of his face, the calm intensity in his gaze, the quiet dominance he exuded without even trying.

It made me wonder...

Why hadn’t I noticed all this before?

"Greetings, Lady Moon."

The collective voices of the elders broke through my thoughts instantly, pulling me back to reality.

I blinked, snapping out of it, and quickly lowered my head slightly in acknowledgment before stepping forward. My movements were measured, composed, as I approached Noah.

He extended his hand toward me.

Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his, settling beside him where I belonged. The contact grounded me, steadying whatever lingering thoughts remained.

Then, Noah cleared his throat.

The room fell silent almost immediately.

"Elders," he began, his voice firm, carrying effortlessly across the room. "There is something I need you all to know."

Every gaze shifted to him, attentive and expectant.

"Maria and I will be getting married in fifteen days," he continued without pause. "So I will need you to send out invitation letters and arrange every other thing."

The moment the words left his mouth...

The room erupted.

Murmurs spread like wildfire among the elders, voices overlapping as surprise rippled through them. Some exchanged glances, others leaned toward each other, whispering urgently.

The reaction was immediate.

And loud.

I remained still beside Noah, though I could feel the tension rising around us. My fingers tightened slightly, but I kept my expression neutral.

Then, one of the elders raised his hand, seeking permission to speak.

Noah gave a slight nod.

"Alpha Noah," the elder began carefully, his tone respectful but cautious. "I think it’s too sudden. You just returned, and there is..."

I stiffened.

The objection was clear.

It settled heavily in the air.

But even then... I found a small sense of relief in it. It wasn’t outright rejection. They weren’t denying it completely, just questioning the timing.

Just asking for a delay but still...that alone was enough to make my chest tighten slightly as I waited, silently, for what would come next.

Sonia’s voice cut cleanly through the tension in the throne room, sharp and deliberate, as though she had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"There is my engagement with him."

Every head turned instantly toward the entrance. The soft echo of her heels against the polished floor filled the sudden silence that followed, each step measured, confident, and unapologetic. She had changed her outfit, and this time it was far more revealing, calculated, bold, and impossible to ignore. It clung to her figure in a way that demanded attention, and she wore it like armor.

"Am I right, Elders?" she added, her gaze sweeping across them one after the other, slow and knowing.

Almost immediately, the elders rose to their feet as if compelled by an unseen force. Their backs bent slightly in respect, their expressions shifting into careful politeness.

"Lady Sonia," they echoed in unison.

"You are right."

I felt the shift instantly. The air, the loyalty in the room, it tilted in her favor so easily that it left a bitter taste in my mouth. My fingers curled slightly at my sides, and I couldn’t stop the scoff that slipped past my lips.

They hadn’t welcomed me like that.

Noah didn’t spare them another glance. His expression hardened, jaw tightening as if he was already losing patience with the entire situation.

"I will advise you to quicken up the process," he said instead, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument.

The elders exchanged uncertain looks, clearly caught between two opposing forces.

"Yes, elders," Sonia added smoothly, stepping further into the room, her lips curving into a faint, satisfied smile. "With my name on each card."

"You wouldn’t dare." Noah’s voice thundered across the hall, cutting her words in half.

The force behind it was undeniable, his Alpha aura surged forward, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on everyone present. The elders stiffened instantly, some lowering their heads further as if to shield themselves from the intensity.

"Fifteen days," he added, his voice now controlled but no less commanding.

There was no room for debate.

Without waiting for a response, he stood abruptly, his hand finding mine with certainty. His grip was firm, grounding, as though he was making a silent promise with that single touch.

"Let’s go."

I didn’t resist. I let him pull me along, my thoughts still tangled in the scene we had just left behind. The murmurs of the elders faded as we exited, replaced by the quieter, emptier corridors of the palace.

We didn’t stop until we reached a more secluded part of the building, where the noise of the throne room could no longer reach us. Only then did Noah slow down.

Then he stopped completely.

I barely had time to process it before he turned to face me, his hands sliding to my waist, pulling me closer until there was barely any space left between us. His grip tightened slightly, as if he needed to reassure himself that I was still there.

"Ignore whatever they just did, Maria," he said, his voice softer now, but still carrying that same firmness.

I looked up at him, my emotions still unsettled, my thoughts racing.

"They are just afraid," he continued, his brows knitting slightly. "Her father is powerful, and they don’t want to cross that line."

His hands moved from my waist to my shoulders, holding me steady, forcing me to focus only on him.

"I will only marry you, Maria."

His eyes locked onto mine, unwavering, intense, there was no hesitation, no doubt lingering in them. Just certainty.

"I am ready to face whatever consequences come with it," he added, his voice dropping slightly, more personal, more vulnerable. "Because you are the only one that matters to me."

Everything else faded as, the weight of his words settled deep within me.