The ballroom still buzzed from the earlier scene. Whispers drifted through crystal glasses, and stolen glances moved like currency between groups.
At the far end of the room, Alpha Walton stood in the middle of a chatty circle. He nodded along as people flattered him, their words smooth, their smiles a little too wide. Their laughter came too fast to be real.
He didn't seem bothered. In fact, he looked like he expected it.
But the whispers kept spreading, like something straight out of a small-town grapevine.
People were still surprised the Frostfang Pack managed to land an alliance with the Shadowcoat Pack, easily one of the strongest clans on the East Coast.
Everyone understood what that meant : more influence, easier access to resources, and a bigger seat at the table.
