Tonia's POV
The moment I burst through the grand hall doors, I knew I had missed everything that mattered.
The celebration roared around me like a living thing. Music blasted from every corner, voices raised in victory chants, and the thunderous beat of ceremonial drums echoed off the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of wine and sweat and triumph.
A new Alpha King had been crowned tonight.
My chest tightened as I pushed through the jubilant crowd, desperately searching for anyone who could tell me what happened. The sea of unfamiliar faces blurred together as panic clawed at my throat.
Who won? Was it Kermit or Chad? What if Bradley's twisted plan had succeeded while I was locked away? The guilt would destroy me if everything we worked for crumbled because I wasn't here.
Fighting through the celebrating masses felt impossible. Bodies pressed against me from all sides, everyone too drunk on victory to notice my frantic state.
