Astrid's Pov
The air in the dining hall was so thick with silence you could almost choke on it.. Every single person, from the youngest pup to the oldest elder, had stopped eating, their heads raised, their gazes fixed on me and Rita. This challenge that I had issued was probably the mini version of the raw display of power and dominance that happened between two Alphas but it was still terrifying and exhilarating.
I had fully expected her to make a scene, to argue, to hiss out a threat, but she did none of those things. Probably because my mates were watching her. Her nervous laughter died in her throat, her confidence crumbling under the weight of the pack's stare. Her eyes, filled with a fleeting mix of anger and shock, darted around the room, but found no support. She looked at me,
