Mariam's POV
I was a bundle of nerves when I rejoined the party.
Had I really been able to speak to all those strangers and even make them laugh?
What was happening to me?
I wasn’t like this.
Several of my parents' guests surrounded me, which made me feel quite uncomfortable. Their intentions were good, I knew; they came to congratulate me, to welcome me to the pack, but my social anxiety overwhelmed me immediately. I was so nervous that I just wanted to push my way through those people and get as far away from them as possible. Then I felt Anthony’s hand gently but firmly take mine.
"Mariam, sister, will you join me?" Anthony’s smile caused all the people who had started to surround me to step aside kindly, without feeling excluded by my imminent departure.
And the look in Anthony’
