Chapter 151 Chaos At Dinner (Part Two)

• The large dining table was set, servants moving in a rhythmic blur as they served the high-ranking guests. Elara sat quietly on the periphery with Angelo, while the Alpha claimed the head of the table, facing Nikolai at the opposite end. When Elara had entered the dining room, Lyra was already entrenched at Alpha Fenris’s right hand, her face lit with a triumphant smile as she leaned in to whisper to him. The room was crowded with power; Bernard sat nearby, alongside Axel and another elder Elara didn't recognize. Nica was there too, offering Elara a subtle, grounding nod over her plate.
• “This is delicious,” Nikolai announced, breaking the heavy silence as he chewed. Elara stared at her plate, her fork resting untouched. She caught Fenris’s eye; he, too, was merely pushing his food around. “Bernard, you've raised your daughter well… I can safely say Fenris will be in great hands,” Nikolai added, nodding with the deliberate slow motion of a man savoring a victory. Bernard let out a practiced, humble laugh.
• “She's indeed capable…” Bernard remarked, preening. Lyra’s beam widened as she extended her hand, boldly resting her palm atop Alpha Fenris’s.