Freya's POV If Caelum had stopped Aurora back then… would things have spiraled this far? Aurora's voice broke the hum of the banquet. Her cheek was already red from Silas's first slap, but she bit back the pain and spat venom. "It was Freya's fault! If she'd said her parents were honored dead, I would never have done it. I only wanted to keep the plane safe! She set me up-" Crack. The sound of another slap echoed through the hall, sharp as a whip. Aurora reeled, and if Caelum hadn't caught her, she would've crashed to the floor. " Alpha Silas!" Caelum's growl rattled in his chest. "How dare you strike her again?" But Silas didn't even glance at him. His eyes-cold, merciless-pinned Aurora in place. "You think me a fool, little wolf? That I would believe such drivel?" Her face burned, both cheeks swollen now, her pride bleeding out in front of the entire hall. I knew why she'd come-dragging Caelum here to parade her usefulness before him. But instead of triumph, she'd been humiliated twice by the Ironclad Alpha himself. "You're only shielding her," Aurora hissed, her voice trembling. "I said nothing wrong! If I had known those ashes belonged to honored warriors, of course I would have respected them. But Freya hid it on purpose, just to trap me!" My blood went cold, then hot with fury. I stepped forward. "So if they had been ordinary ashes, not warriors, you think you had the right to paw through them?" She froze, her lips parting, but no words came. I let my voice cut through her like a blade. "Aurora, you love to ensnare others-but not everyone is as rotten as you." Her face twisted, shame and rage warring, and as the circle of eyes pressed closer, she bolted, shoving her way past the crowd. Caelum followed her quickly, shame written across his features. I turned back toward Silas. "Thank you." He looked surprised. "I thought you'd blame me for laying hands on her.""I'm not so much of a saint. I know who stands at my side." Two months of knowing Silas, and he'd defended me more fiercely than Caelum had in three years of marriage. My so-called mate-my ex-Alpha-hadn't spoken a word when Aurora slandered me. The irony cut sharper than claws. The crowd soon dispersed, the air of spectacle fading. The banquet resumed as if nothing had happened. But I caught sight of familiar faces-Thorne blood among the guests. Of course. The Stormveil Primals were one of Ashbourne's old founding families, and major stakeholders in the island project. "Freya." My uncle Abel Thorne's voice carried warmth as he greeted me. "Uncle," I replied with a nod. "You're here as Whitmor's companion?" he asked, curious. "You and the Ironclad Alpha…?" "It's business." I kept my voice firm. For now, my contract was simple: I'd been placed by command to guard him. Nothing more. Silas shot me a glance at that, unreadable, but said nothing. "Freya, I'd like a word in private." Abel's eyes softened. I hesitated, glancing toward Silas. My task was his safety, and my instincts told me not to leave him exposed. "Go," Silas murmured. "The Coalition's security here is tight. I'll manage." I inclined my head. "I won't be long." Abel led me to the balcony at the edge of the hall, the night air cool against my skin. "Your great-grandfather, Ken Thorne… his health falters," Abel said. My heart tightened. "What's wrong?" "Age, mostly. But after your parents' interment at the Hall of Martyrs, he's been… heavy with grief. He hasn't been the same since." "I'll go to him as soon as I can," I promised. Abel nodded, then studied me more closely. "And Freya… if you've no stable work now, the Thorne Group always has a place for you. You are the last of the Fifth Branch. The line must endure." "There is still Eric," I said sharply. "My brother lives. He is not gone. I will find him, and I will bring him back to stand before our parents' graves." Abel's gaze deepened. I saw it there-the respect. Among our generation of Stormveil wolves, few carried the same fire in their eyes. "Of course," he murmured. "Yes. Eric must be alive." Then, after a pause, his voice dropped. "And you and Alpha Silas… is it truly just business?"