Alina's POV
Everything was in place.
I had spent days turning the pieces over in my mind—every risk, every word, every possible reaction. Tonight was execution. My heart beat steady as I walked down the long corridor toward Aiden's office, the silk of my dress whispering against my legs like a secret. This wasn't just escape. This was reclamation.
I knocked once and pushed the door open without waiting. Aiden sat behind his massive desk, reviewing reports, the weight of the pack on his shoulders like always. He looked up, eyebrows raised.
"A party?" he repeated after I laid out the idea, confusion flickering across his face. "Why now?"
I smiled, soft and convincing—the same smile I'd practiced in the mirror. "To celebrate the stability of the pack house. Everyone's been tense lately. A grand night like this… it'll remind them we're strong. United. And it'll make them happy." I tilted my head. "Don't you think a happy pack is a loyal one?"
