Elyse pov
The walk to the great hall felt like walking to my execution.
Every person we passed stopped and stared. Some with curiosity. Some with hostility. All of them are judging.
Ronan kept my hand in his the entire way. Kept me close. Made it clear through body language alone that I was his. That anyone who wanted to hurt me would have to go through him first.
It should have felt suffocating. Should have made me angry.
Instead, it felt like safety.
The great hall doors loomed ahead. I could hear voices inside, hundreds of them. The entire pack, gathered to see the witch their Alpha had chosen.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered.
“You can. You’re stronger than you think.”
“What if they reject me? What if they demand you choose someone else?”
“Then I’ll tell them no.” He stopped,
