"The Lady Royal shall be of unblemished name, sound wolf and pleasing form, for she is the face of every she-wolf in the pack."
— Article Nine of the Harlow Hades Codex
014.
Seyra stood by the wall behind Orin’s chair, her hands folded in front of her and her eyes on the floor.
She had already wiped the desk twice. She had straightened the drapes and fixed the cushions, and there was nothing left for her to do but stand there and wait.
Her back throbbed with every breath. Red hadn’t said a word since Orin ordered her to stay, and Seyra was starting to think even her wolf didn’t know what to say.
The door opened.
"Astrid Bruce, Alpha," a guard announced.
Seyra’s fingers tightened.
Astrid walked in like the room already belonged to her. She wore a soft pink gown that hugged her waist and fell in light layers to the floor, and her hair was pinned up with a small gold clip that caught the light every time she moved. She looked like someone who had never heard the word no.
Seyra glanced down at her own uniform, the gray fabric rough against her skin.
She wasn’t proud of it, but for a moment, she was a little jealous. Not of the dress but how Astrid walked.
Her head was high and her shoulders were relaxed, like nothing in this palace could frighten her.
Seyra, meanwhile, trembled whenever Orin so much as breathed.
Then Astrid’s eyes landed on her.
She stopped for half a second. Her lips curled into a smirk, slow and pleased, like a cat that had finally found the bird it was looking for.
Seyra looked away first. She hated that she did.
By the time Astrid turned back to the Alpha, the smirk was gone. Her face had softened into that sweet, innocent look she wore for everyone except Seyra. She lowered herself into a deep bow.
"Alpha Orin. It is an honor to stand in your chambers."
Orin didn’t answer right away. He sat in his chair, one hand on the armrest, the mask giving nothing away.
Beta Magnus came in behind her and bowed. "Alpha."
"We will speak in the dining room," Orin said, standing. "Follow me."
Seyra walked behind them, already dreading every step, through a narrow hall to a room she hadn’t seen yet. It was smaller than she expected.
A long table sat in the middle with a coffee-brown cloth over it, and dishes were already laid out along the sideboard: roasted meat, warm bread, fruit cut into neat slices, and a jug of wine.
The smell made her stomach turn. Ruth’s bread felt like a distant memory.
Orin took the seat at the head of the table. Astrid sat on his right, and Magnus on his left.
"Serve them," Orin ordered without looking at her.
She moved and filled the glasses first, then set out the plates, careful not to let her hands shake. Every clink of a dish sounded loud in the silence.
When she reached Astrid’s chair, Astrid tilted her glass slightly, just enough that only Seyra would notice.
"A little more," she said sweetly.
Seyra poured.
"Careful, sister," Astrid whispered, so low that even Magnus didn’t hear. "Don’t spill. I would hate for you to be punished again."
Seyra’s jaw tightened.
"Drop the jug on her head," Red muttered.
Seyra almost smiled. She set the jug down and stepped back to the wall without a word.
Orin didn’t touch his food. His plate sat untouched in front of him, and no one dared mention it.
"Tell me, Astrid Bruce," he began. "Why do you want to be Lady Royal?"
Astrid put down her fork and folded her hands in her lap. When she spoke, her voice was soft and careful.
"I don’t want it for myself, Alpha. I have always felt the pack needs someone who listens. There are many she-wolves who are afraid to speak. Someone has to speak for them."
Seyra nearly choked.
"And what would you do for those who have no voice?" Orin asked.
"I would visit them," Astrid said, her eyes lowered modestly. "I would make sure no one is treated unkindly. Especially the weak ones. They need protection more than anyone."
Seyra stared at her. She had heard Astrid lie many times, but never like this. Her tone, her expression, even the tiny tremble in her voice, all of it looked real.
If Seyra hadn’t spent her whole life being torn apart by that same mouth, she might have believed every word.
Her eyes moved to Magnus.
He was cutting his meat calmly, but he glanced at Astrid at just the right moment and gave her the smallest nod.
Of course. He had told her what to say.
"You gave me your sister," Orin said.
The room went still.
Astrid’s hand paused above her glass. It was a very small pause, but Seyra saw it.
"It was Father’s decision, Alpha," Astrid said quietly. "It broke my heart. She has always struggled, and I only hope she is serving you well."
Seyra’s nails dug into her palms. She kept her face blank, but her chest burned.
Orin said nothing for a long time.
Then he leaned back in his chair. "I have heard enough."
Magnus straightened. Astrid held her breath.
"Personally," Orin said, "I have no need for a Lady Royal to stand beside me."
Astrid’s smile flickered.
"But the pack does. They need someone who will stand in for me, someone who will act as a mother to them."
Astrid’s nose wrinkled before she could stop it. For a second, she looked disgusted, like he had asked her to clean the servants’ quarters.
Seyra almost laughed. She pressed her lips together and stared hard at the wall.
"The Lady Royal will have her own private chamber in the palace," Orin continued. "Two guards, and maids who will come whenever she calls. She will also stand in during treaties and speak for the she-wolves of this pack when I am not present."
Astrid’s eyes lit up.
Seyra watched it happen. She could see the exact moment Astrid understood what it meant. Guards. Servants. A voice at the table when decisions were made. It wasn’t just a title. It was power.
Everyone in Harlow Hades would bow to her.
"Alpha," Astrid said softly, her hand pressed to her chest, "I would be honored."
"Your first duty," Orin said, "is to visit the pack’s pup shelter. See what it needs and give me a report."
"The pup shelter?" Astrid repeated. For a moment, her voice cracked.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, Alpha." She smiled quickly. "None at all."
Seyra bit the inside of her cheek. Astrid had never set foot inside that place. She had mocked Seyra for spending her evenings there, calling it a desperate attempt to be noticed.
Orin’s head turned.
"Seyra."
Her heart jumped. "Alpha?"
"You will go with her."
Her eyes widened.
"Astrid will give you the report. You will bring it to me."
Seyra opened her mouth, but there was nothing to say. Orin was already pushing back his chair. He stood and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing until they faded.
Magnus gave Astrid an approving nod and followed him.
The door closed.
For a moment, no one moved. Then Astrid turned in her chair and looked at Seyra.
She smiled, slow and cruel.
"See? I told you, sister," she said. "You will be below me and serve me."