Chapter 705: The Hands That Know
The square remained suspended in silence after Orion's final words. Snow continued its slow descent, dusting the shoulders of the gathered pack members, settling on the platform where Sophia and Orion stood side by side. No one moved. No one spoke.
Then Orion's voice cut through the quiet again, steadier now, as if the hardest part was behind him.
"This should be the first and the last time that Sophia speaks and people question her authority."
He turned his head slightly, looking out at the crowd.
"She is my equal," he said. "No—I dare say she is of a higher authority than I am. She should be even more respected than me."
A few people shifted uncomfortably.
"She has the blessing of the goddess. She has a gift no one else has. It is not like mine—mine is a curse born of punishment. Hers is different. She was written into a prophecy that has been passed down from generation to generation."
His voice hardened slightly.
