Ember felt crushed beneath the weight of all the eyes that were on her. Her heavy breathing sounded almost too loud in the silence of the hall. From the corner of her eye, she saw Dorothea watching her, her expression torn between belief and doubt. Ember’s heart clenched at the uncertain look on her face.
Even worse, Serene was there too, smiling smugly as she looked down at Ember, who was on her knees between two guards. Ember’s chest burned with hatred for her, but she forced herself to tear her gaze away from Serene and focus on Thorne.
“Answer me!” Thorne’s voice boomed angrily, echoing through the hall.
“I didn’t mean to keep it from you, Thorne…”
“It’s Alpha. Alpha Thorne to you,” he snapped, his voice thick with anger… and something else. Hurt.
Ember swallowed hard, her voice t
