Applause and howls of celebration detonated simultaneously.
The torchlight swung to an unremarkable table tucked in the corner.
A young she-wolf in simple attire, her dark hair pulled back in a practical braid, scrambled to her feet. Bewilderment and disbelief were written across every feature.
A packmate gave her a nudge, and she finally snapped out of her daze, making her way to the raised platform on unsteady legs.
In that instant, Kael's face turned the color of raw liver.
It was a shade born of shock, humiliation, and barely contained rage all churning together.
His fists clenched so hard his knuckles went white. His once-straight spine curved forward slightly, coiled tight, his stare boring into Lyra on the stage.
Selene was clearly rattled too.
She twisted toward him, one hand pressing down on his rigid arm, her lips moving rapidly as she whispered something urgent.
Kael didn't seem to hear a word. His chest heaved violently.
Growing desperate, Selene reached under the table and seized his hand, her fingers locking around his palm, fighting to contain the explosion building inside him.
From the raised platform, I saw it all with perfect clarity.