Chapter 31 The Preparation

• The morning light filtered softly through my window, illuminating the delicate necklace in my hand—the necklace Alpha Cedric had given me. The simple silver chain was adorned with a small, ruby pendant that caught the light with a subtle glow, reminding me of the mystery that still shrouded my past. I wondered if wearing it at the coronation would be a mistake. It might spark questions from the court, raise eyebrows, stir fears… but maybe, in a strange way, that was what I wanted. Maybe it was time for the truth, for others to acknowledge that I was different—and that I was proud of it.
• I ran my fingers over the pendant, lost in thought. I felt a deep longing for answers, for some connection to my family that went beyond whispers and cautionary tales. So many people feared what I was without even knowing me, and the thought of spending my life under that shadow felt like a weight pressing on my heart. I didn’t want my wedding or my coronation to feel… tainted by secrecy.
• A gentle knock at my door brought me out of my thoughts. Quickly, I slipped the necklace back into the velvet box and tried to calm the flurry of emotions stirring inside me.