I was a werewolf in a red dress, I felt seen and in the spotlight. Yet, while everyone here was a wolf just like me, I felt like a sheep among them. The grand hall loomed before me, a beast of stone and grandeur waiting to swallow me whole. I stood at its maw, my heart thundering like a stampede in my chest. The sound of laughter and music drifted through the carved wooden doors, a stark contrast to the war drum of my pulse in my ears.
I tugged at the red dress, feeling exposed and raw. The silk clung to my skin like a second hide, emphasizing curves I'd rather keep hidden. This wasn't me. I was a warrior, not some painted doll to be paraded around for the amusement of others.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. I'd faced down werewolves and survived torture. I could handle a room fu
