I stepped into the hallway and felt the air shift—like the walls had been holding their breath too. Wolf’s door clicked shut behind me, and suddenly it was just me, Mama, and Mama Red. Their eyes were on me, but they didn’t push. They didn’t need to.
“I should’ve stayed,” I said, voice barely above a whisper. “If I hadn’t left…”
Mama pulled me into a hug before I could finish. Her arms wrapped around me like armor, like she could block out the shame clawing at my ribs.
“You didn’t know,” she said softly. “And you didn’t cause it.”
"But I left," I said. "If I had stayed, Beth would have never met Liam. He wouldn't have hurt her."
Mama steps up to me, gripping my shoulders firmly. "No... No, baby, you can't think like that. Liam's choices are his and his alone. You can't dwell on the 'w
