Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110: The Empty Booth

Meanwhile, at the university auditorium, the fundraiser was already buzzing. Backstage, Kira stood in front of a small mirror, smoothing down the front of her burgundy dress for the tenth time.

Her hands felt clammy as she pulled out her phone again, tapped Derek’s name, pressed it to her ear, and waited.

The mobile you are calling is not available at the moment. Please try again later.

She pulled the phone away, her chest tightening. Derek had promised. He had sat in that kitchen, his hand over hers as he told her he would not leave her to face this room alone.

He knew what tonight meant. It was not just a fundraiser for her university club; it was her debut as a Queen who could actually lead.

A heaviness settled in the pit of her stomach, a weight that she could not explain. It was more than just nerves. It was a sense of wrongness, as if the very air around her had turned sour.

It had been there since she arrived, sitting quietly beneath the surface of everything she was doing, a feeling she could not name and therefore could not address.

"Kira! Oh my goddess, Ki"

Jessica burst through the curtain, her face flushed with excitement. She looked like she was about to levitate off the floor. "You have to see this! The auditorium is absolutely packed. I mean, standing room only at the back!"

Kira quickly shoved her phone into her clutch bag, forcing a smile onto her face. "Is it really?"

"It is a miracle!" Jessica grabbed Kira’s hands, squeezed them hard, and did a little hop. "You are a miracle worker. Do you realise what you have done? For the first time in literally years, we have high-ranking Lycans and werewolves sitting in the same hall. No growling, no snapping, no one tearing anyone’s head off. They are actually behaving!"

Kira laughed despite herself. "It’s the power of being married to the Lycan King. His name did most of the work."

Jessica scrunched her nose and let out a playful huff. "Stop that. Stop being so modest and just take your flowers, Ki. You did the work. You sent the invites. You built the club. Derek is just the... well, the very handsome cherry on top."

Kira chuckled again. "I suppose so."

"You look stunning, by the way," Jessica added, stepping back to admire Kira’s gown. "You look like a Queen."

The emcee poked his head through the curtain, checking his watch. "Mrs Wolfe? You are up. We need the opening speech in sixty seconds."

Jessica gave Kira a final, encouraging pat on the shoulder. "Go get them, Boss Queen."

Kira took a deep breath, smoothing the fabric of her dress over her hips. She stepped out from the wings and onto the stage.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the scale of it hit her like a wall of warm air. The stage lights were blinding, but beyond the glare, she could see rows upon rows of faces.

Goddess, there are so many of them.

What if he didn’t show up? What if the empty royal booth became the only thing anyone remembered tonight?

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