---- But Damon still wouldn't speak. He just stared coldly at Lydia, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, becoming more uncomfortable with each passing second. Tears finally welled up in Lydia's eyes, her voice filled with growing despair. "Fine," she said, her voice breaking. "I don't care about your political games anymore. I don't care about revenge or territorial disputes or any of it." She took a step closer to Damon, her hands clenched into fists. "T just want you to immediately withdraw the bonding application with her and submit a new one with me instead! Become my mate like you promised! Like our packs agreed!" When he still didn't respond, something inside her seemed to snap. She began pouring out years of suppressed emotion, her voice choked but determined. ---- "Do you want to know how many years I've loved you? Let me tell you exactly when it started." The guests leaned in despite themselves, drawn by the raw honesty in her voice. "The first time I saw you was in a banquet hall just like this one. I was seventeen years old." Her voice grew stronger as she continued, as if telling the story gave her power. "That year I had just come of age and experienced my first shift. It was your Alpha succession ceremony after your father's death. I attended with my family to show pack solidarity." She paused, her eyes growing distant with memory. "T saw you for the first time at that banquet. You wore ceremonial black steel armor, standing on the Moon Goddess altar to receive your Alpha blessing. The moonlight seemed to shine directly on you." Her voice became almost reverent. "You were so radiant, so powerful, so completely in ---- command. From that exact moment, my eyes could never hold anyone else." She looked directly at him, tears flowing freely now. "All these years since then, I've followed behind you. I've attended every public event where you might appear. I've memorized your schedule, your preferences, your habits." Her voice cracked with pain. "Even though you never truly looked at me-really looked at me as more than a political convenience-I was willing to wait. I told myself that someday you'd see me." She straightened her shoulders, gathering her remaining dignity. "When I learned our packs would unite in marriage, do you know how happy I was? I actually cried tears of joy because finally, finally, you would be mine." Her voice grew fierce again. "I would have gladly given you all of Ashen Peaks ---- Pack's territory! Our hunting grounds, our trade routes, our sacred sites-everything! I can give you wealth, power, political alliances, heirs to continue your bloodline." She spread her arms wide in a gesture of offering. "T can give you everything a mate should give and more. I just need you to admit one simple truth-that you don't love her. That you only use her for your plans." Her final words rang through the banquet hall like a battle cry. "Damon Blackwood, no matter what it takes, today I must have you publicly declare that you don't love Sage Rivers!"