She finished serving the table she was attending and made her way toward the Blackwood brothers. As she approached, she noticed other servers backing away, leaving the space to her. They understood. When an alpha of Nicholas’s caliber requested a specific server, the choice became non-negotiable.

"We require you to serve our table for the duration of the ceremony," Nicholas said, his voice smooth and commanding. It was phrased as a request, but they all understood it was an order.

"Yes, Alpha," Lilith said, her voice barely steady.

She positioned herself near their table, acutely aware of all three of them in her immediate vicinity. Her body responded to their proximity in ways she couldn’t control, her breathing becoming shallow, her skin prickling with awareness, a pull in her chest that made it difficult to think clearly.

Sebastian pulled out a chair slightly, creating a tighter space where she’d have to stand closer to him to serve. The movement was subtle but deliberate.

"Pour," he said, extending his glass without looking at her, his dark eyes fixed on something across the room with studied casualness.

Lilith poured, her hands remarkably steady despite the chaos of her internal state. As she poured, her hand was very close to his. Close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. Close enough that his scent...something dark and intoxicating, reached her.

When she finished and moved to pour for Lucian, he caught her wrist gently.

"How long will this ceremony last?" he asked, his gold eyes meeting hers for just a moment before releasing her.

"Three hours, Alpha," she managed.

"And you’re managing the work?" Nicholas asked from her other side, his voice carrying genuine concern beneath the authority.

"Yes, Alpha," she said.

"Do you need anything?" Sebastian asked, and there was something in his tone that suggested the question meant more than just water or food.

"No, Alpha," Lilith said.

Throughout the hall, the opening ceremony’s formality was being maintained, but subtle observations were being made.

The Nightfall alpha raised an eyebrow when he noticed the Blackwoods requesting a specific omega server. His expression suggested he understood that something was happening, even if he didn’t yet know what.

The Blackpaw alpha leaned toward his beta and whispered something. Both men’s eyes drifted toward the Blackwood table, assessing, calculating.

Luke, standing near the periphery of the hall in his capacity as Garrett’s representative, noticed the pattern immediately. His warrior instincts recognized strategy when he saw it. The Blackwoods were positioning themselves. Making deliberate choices. Creating opportunities.

But for what purpose?

As the ceremony progressed and other omegas approached the Blackwood table to serve, the brothers repeatedly requested Lilith specifically.

"We prefer this server," Nicholas would say calmly when another omega arrived.

Or Sebastian would simply shake his head and say, "Her."

The pattern became undeniable. The brothers had claimed Lilith’s service, and every other server in the hall understood it.

Lilith’s confusion deepened with each request.

Why were they doing this? During the contract, they’d used her body without regard for her comfort or preferences. Now they were requesting her specifically to serve drinks? The inconsistency made no sense.

Yet she couldn’t deny the way her body responded to their proximity. The way her skin flushed when their eyes met hers. The way she found herself hyper-aware of their every movement, their every breath, their every subtle gesture.

As she served them, she caught fragments of their conversation:

"The eastern pack is positioning for territorial expansion," Nicholas said to Sebastian.

"Expected," Sebastian replied. "They’ve been waiting for leverage."

"The Nightfall alpha seems interested in alliance," Lucian added, his eyes briefly flicking to Lilith before returning to the conversation. "He’s watching."

But underneath the political discussion, Lilith felt it, the constant awareness of her. The way their eyes tracked her movements. The way they found reasons to speak to her. The way they positioned themselves to see her clearly.

Across the hall, whispers were beginning:

"Why are the Blackwoods so focused on that omega?"

"Is she a gift? Some kind of tribute?"

"There’s something more going on here. I can feel it."

The speculation was creating a subtle current of tension through the hall. Alphas were noticing. Warriors were noticing. The question of why three of the most powerful alphas in the realm seemed so interested in a single Shadowmere omega was beginning to spread.

At one point during the evening, when another omega, a girl named Stephanie got too close to the Blackwood table while clearing glasses, Lucian’s entire body went rigid.

His eyes flashed completely gold.

His hand clenched into a fist on the table.

The possessiveness radiating from him was so intense that the entire table seemed to hold its breath.

But Sebastian caught his attention with a look, a subtle shake of his head, and Lucian’s eyes slowly returned to their normal color. The tension in his body eased fractionally.

But the message was clear: stay away from me.

Nicholas continued his conversation as if nothing had happened, but his silver eyes had flickered once, acknowledging Lucian’s near-slip and approving the recovery.

When it was time for Garrett’s formal opening address, he took the dais and delivered the ritualistic words that officially opened the Yearly Alphas Summit. His speech outlined the purpose of the gathering, the protocols that would be followed, and the expectations for all attending packs.

But the Blackwood brothers weren’t looking at Garrett.

They were looking at Lilith.

She stood ready to serve, watching the proceedings, and the three of them watched her with an intensity that made her feel like she was the center of something far larger than she understood.

Nicholas’s expression was unreadable but focused.

Sebastian’s lips curved into a slight smile as he observed her.

Lucian’s gold eyes barely flickered beneath his human facade, his wolf showing just enough to communicate possessiveness to anyone watching carefully.

The ceremony continued for exactly three hours as predicted.

When it finally concluded, alphas began to disperse. Some moved to private quarters to discuss territory and alliance. Others gathered in smaller groups to conduct business. The formal opening was complete. The seven-day Summit had officially begun.