Chapter 25
Raine
The bright morning sun filtered through the curtains of my room.
I was already up. I had been for a while now. I barely slept last night.
I couldn’t—not with the weight of Brian’s mother’s words pressing down on me.
Stay away from my son…
I’ve heard many warnings in my life. I’ve faced judgment and rejection from plenty of people in my pack. By now, I should be used to it.
But the way she looked at me… it was cold. Ancient. It still sent chills down my spine.
She didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t scold me.
But I felt it.
That presence. The moment she walked into the room, my pulse started racing. My instincts flared.
It wasn’t fear. Not exactly. It was something darker. Something primal. Like a part of me I didn’t even know existed had recoiled.
I shook my
