†Noca's POV†
The pack's square was abuzz with anticipation and anxiety. Anticipation from the roaring crowd gathered, each rooting for their chosen favorites in the selections and anxiety from every house each of candidates came from. The air was thick with tension, vibrating with whispered hopes and quiet fears. Some faces, however, remained calm and unreadable, the ones who seemed too certain of their bloodline's strength, too confident that their children would scale through without difficulty.
I stood up to leave. Sitting and waiting had begun to bore me. There was no thrill in watching what I already knew would unfold. I had seen enough to know what awaited them in the lands I'd sent them to and worse, what awaited those who might actually survive.
"Alpha, the competition is still ongoing. Where are you going?" Beta Thor's voice cut through the hum of the crowd as he hurried after me, confusion etched into his features.
