Delphine
The palace was eerily silent as I pushed the door open, the darkness pressing down on me as though it had weight. My footsteps echoed faintly as I stepped inside, each one amplifying the unease growing in my chest.
The day had been unbearable, and all I wanted was to crawl into bed and let sleep swallow me. But before I could take another step, a sharp voice froze me in place.
“Delphine.”
My heart stuttered in my chest at the sound of Alpha Alistair’s voice. I turned slowly, and there he was, standing in the dim light of the hallway.
His grey eyes blazed with anger, his broad frame taut with barely contained frustration. The air around him seemed to hum with tension, and I swallowed hard, suddenly unsure if I should have just stayed outside.
“Where were you?” he demanded,
