Suddenly, doors began to fly open.

"Elyan!"

The voice cut clean through the frenzy.

Calm, precise, sharp.

Azpen stepped out from the shadows of the hall, his posture loose but his eyes locked on her, unflinching.

The tension in his voice was threaded with something heavier.

"On behalf of Alpha Baron-" his tone dipped lower, commanding-"stand down."

Her chest heaved. The words clawed through the haze like iron hooks, dragging her back toward herself.

Her snarl cracked in her throat, ...