Kross and Lyra bowed deeply to King Elan, their movements precise and controlled. The hall was silent, the tension thick, until the king spoke.
"Alpha Kross, I didn't think I would see you this soon," Elan said, his voice steady, "especially after you claimed the entire North."
Kross' eyes narrowed slightly. He understood the meaning immediately. This wasn't just a casual remark, it was a pointed reminder. The king was signaling that Kross had acted without permission, taking control of the North and moving through the capital without informing him. It was a warning wrapped in formal words, testing Kross' reaction.
Lyra, standing beside him, stiffened slightly, unaware of all the implications but sensing the weight in the king's tone. Her hand brushed against Kross', and he gave a brief, almost imperceptible squeeze, an anchor in the tension-filled moment.
