Eryx.
I walked away.
Nobody stopped me this time. They took one look at my face and stepped aside without a word. Officials, guards, elders — all of them peeling back as I moved through the corridor like I was something to get out of the way of.
Good.
Because I had nothing for any of them right now.
The gathering was still going outside. I could hear it — the noise of it, the music and the fire and the pack waiting for their Alpha to come out and lead the ceremonial run like everything was normal.
Nothing was normal.
I walked past the doors that led to the grounds without breaking stride.
Someone called my title from behind me. I kept walking.
Someone else stepped directly into my path — one of the senior elders, his robes formal, his expression arranged into urgent disapproval.
