Evaline:
The room went quiet after Elion's complaint.
Under any other circumstances, I might have panicked hearing someone speak to Alpha Orion Black like that.
But the absurdity of it... combined with the fact that it was Elion... almost grounded me instead. If anything, it reminded me that despite the intimidating power dynamics in the room, these men also had long histories with one another.
Alpha Black merely shook his head once, as if he had expected nothing less from the young Alpha.
Then he looked back at me.
And said something that knocked the breath right out of my lungs.
"I originally intended to promote you."
For a moment, I thought I had misheard.
Promote… me?
My mind went completely blank.
Alpha Black continued calmly, almost conversationally.
"Your analytical ability, initiative, and sense of responsibility are rare at your age," he said. "It would not have been unreasonable to move you into a junior strategic role earlier than scheduled."
