Chapter 17. Scorn

Madison’s POV

Silence swept over the crowd like a drape, with dozens of eyes staring at me like an animal on display as if I were an anomaly pushed into their midst.

Mendy seemed to see my hesitation as she leaned in and whispered silently beside me, “My lady, we need to proceed. The Alpha is waiting.”

I lifted my head to glance at Raymond at the far end of the hall. Our eyes met, and he remained composed, the slight nod he gave me served as a gesture that was both comforting and assuring.

Exhaling sharply, I took a step forward, and another…

Then, I found myself making my way towards Raymond without paying attention to the others.

However, not long after, the pleasant sound of applause resonated throughout the hall, and I was slightly startled. Although the applause carried a warm response, the undertone of tension wasn’t something I could ignore.

Soon, I reached my destination, and Raymond reached out his hand to me. I placed my han