A round of applause broke out across the hall, sharp and sudden. It startled me, dragging me out of my swirling thoughts and back into the present. My chest felt tight as I pulled my gaze back to the ceremony.
I had barely taken a step away from where I'd spoken with Geraldine, my mind still spinning from our conversation, but the applause… It demanded attention.
I made my way back to my seat beside Alpha Evon. At least, I expected him to be there, but his chair sat empty. A strange sense of unease slithered through me as I stared at it. Where could he have gone? My fingers brushed the back of his chair lightly before I finally sat down. He must’ve stepped out to speak with someone important, I told myself. Surely, it was nothing more than that.
But my nerves didn’t settle. The nagging
