A thunderous pounding on the door jolted me from Elroy's embrace. My stomach flipped unpleasantly; we’d known the council would move fast, but I’d thought we’d at least get through the first commercial break before they rattled our door.
I locked eyes with my Mate, a grim and wordless conversation passing between us. It was time.
"Alpha Elroy! We demand an audience, immediately!" A gruff voice bellowed from the other side.
My stomach clenched as I smoothed down my rumpled clothes. "Ready?" I whispered.
Elroy nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Remember the plan," he murmured.
I wasn’t about to forget it. It was the closest thing to a lifeline I felt like I had at the moment—this was not going to be pleasant, but I had known it wouldn’t be. We just had to muscle through it.
I
