Claire’s POV
Rewritten Chapter
"You need to stay out of the lower levels," Scout said, her hand frozen on the heavy iron latch of the kitchen pantry.
I forced my chin down, letting my shoulders cave until I looked like the broken, harmless thing she expected. "I only want to help the ones who are hurting, Luna. The gossip in the halls is making my teeth rattle."
"The Alpha expanded the lockdown ten minutes ago," she muttered. She turned, her face pale, the skin beneath her eyes bruised with exhaustion. "Nobody moves without an escort. Not even the staff."
"Then let me walk with you." I stepped into her space, my boots scraping against the damp stone floor. I squeezed a small basket of clean linens against my ribs, the hidden parchment in my vest pocket pressing cold against my skin. "
