Chaim's POV
The throne room felt unnaturally hollow this morning, with several empty seats where familiar faces should have been. The absence of certain Elders who had been fixtures throughout my childhood struck me as deeply unsettling.
Dad had issued his final instructions before signaling the Guardians to escort the next group of prisoners forward. Barbara and Harris entered the cavernous space in complete silence, their expressions unreadable as they received their orders and took their designated positions.
Uncle Patton's voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a blade. "Alphas, you witnessed the entire proceedings during the initial trial and heard every piece of evidence presented against my sister and her mate. We will review this evidence once more for the benefit of your pack members, who may not fully understand the gravity of their actions."
