Chapter 148

The ballroom was wrecked. Where there had once been glimmering chandeliers and pristine marble floors, now there were shards of crystal and streaks of blood. The chaos had died down, but the weight of everything still hung heavy in the air.

Wolves stood scattered near the edges, exhausted and leaning against the walls, their expressions caught between relief and disbelief. The others—my people—were gathering around me, some celebrating while others were trying to catch their breath.

I stood apart, pressed against a marble column near the edge of the room. My gown was torn and stained. The shimmering embroidery that had once been so striking now faded beneath streaks of dirt and blood.

There was a glass of champagne in my hand—half-empty, though I didn’t remember drinking any of it. My fingers flexed around the stem, trying to ground myself while the voices of celebration carried through the room.

They were celebrating her defeat. Lovella was gone. Her wolves